In 1965, 'The Sound of Music' Shaped My Love of Movies

"The Sound of Music" is the first remarkable film I saw in a theatre. It was 1965. The movie and the entire process of that big day in the city with one of my two my great aunts, stirred a fusion of emotion in my young world. It was truly a significant occasion in my life. The big screen event and Julie Andrews' role as Maria left a mark on me that was impossible to remove.

"The Sound of Music" proved to be the catalyst of my adoration for cinema. At the time, things were not so great in my home life. Oddly or in a cornball sense, I remember the film providing me with an unambiguous feeling of comfort and hope. It was the start of my life-long passion for film and specifically, film of the musical genre.

Movie Day at a Big City Theater

Today, the cinema experience itself has a nearly untouchable standard. Therefore, there is no way to recount the day I saw the "Sound of Music" without sounding exceedingly mundane.

Allow for it being the '60s: It did not take much to entertain a young girl from the woods of Massachusetts. Although they lived only 50 miles away, visiting my great aunts in the thriving city of Lowell was a big deal. However, going to the theatre for the first time ever was titanic.

Spending the day in the city with the aunts, required me wearing frilly, silk ankle socks and patent leather shoes. Yes: that went for a trip to the movies as well. I was OK with that because I loved dressing up. My aunts were extremely prim and proper. Besides, I hardly wore shoes at home. Except in winter!

While waiting for the taxi that would take us to the theatre downtown, my aunt informed me that I had to wear my white gloves. That is the way it was back then. My worry was how I would eat popcorn while wearing gloves. Would my great aunt even let me have popcorn? To get to see the "Sound of Music" I would have worn my Easter hat if that were what it took to get to the theatre.

First Theatre Film Perfect Life Distraction

When I saw my first film, I was young and my parents were getting divorced. Divorce, deeply frowned upon, was my dark secret and a big burden for my small shoulders. Surrounded by negativity in my life at the moment; Julie Andrews' portrayal of Maria provided me with the perfect diversion I needed to feel better about my life.

Maria was beautiful. She was also funny. And, if I had to guess, as to what an angel must sound like; surely it would be equivalent to Maria's pleasant-sounding voice. I lost myself in the stunning music. I recall wishing the songs in "The Sound of Music" had no end. It was wonderful.

Despite the von Trapp children initially snubbing their potential nun turned governess, I was positive Maria would win them over. I actually thought the Captain's children were quite rude to the person who was trying to take care of them.

Because of her engaging and exuberant disposition, I secretly wished for a Maria in my life. Little did I realize then that my great aunts were my very own Marias.

Becoming a Saturday Matinee Addict

"The Sound of Music" had such a terrific impact on me, there was no turning back when it came to cinema. I did not attend the movie, forget about it and move on. For months after my first movie experience, I drove my mother batty about being old enough to take the bus to the Saturday matinee with my older brothers.

Much to my brothers' dismay -- hounding my mom worked like a charm. For years, I rode the bus almost every Saturday to a nearby city theatre.

Bus fare was cheap, the movie ticket was cheap and best of all: because my mother could not afford it, my brothers paid my way until I started earning my own movie money when I was 13. Thank heavens for brothers and "The Sound of Music."