The Wings of Childhood Memories

One of the events of my childhood that comes equipped with such vivid memories is watching the movie “Wings” at the Egyptian theater in Boise when I was just 8 years old. It was a special showing of the 1927 film, the first movie to win an Academy Award and the last silent film to ever do so. The night must have been benefit of some sort. The Egyptian opened in downtown Boise in 1927 and Wings was one of the very first films, if not the first, ever shown.

On this night they flew in a special organist to play the amazing theater organ that sits just below the screen. If my research is correct, it was the famed silent movie organist, Gaylord Carter, that played the organ that night. I found a picture of him sitting at Organ on April 17, 1975.

I remember the amazing interior of the theater, the colors, the crowd, the buzz. People were dressed up and there weren’t many kids. I think my dad had been given tickets from his boss, Joe Terteling, and there was enough for him to take our whole family.

Dad remembers that they opened the night by showing a Laurel and Hardy film. That is just a dusty memory for me. Though that genre seems more kid-friendly, it was the war movie that so captured my imagination—shooting stars, the girl next door, infatuation, competition, romance, airplanes, friendship, sacrifice, revenge, sorrow, and love—themes that I may not have been able to articulate in the second grade, but still resonated with my young soul.

• I wanted to fly airplanes after that night. I’d send letters to airline companies and they’d send me brochures on their fleets. I had a drawer full of airline materials for years.
• I decided that I’d be a WWIII pilot when I grew up, flying corsairs off the deck of the aircraft carrier, Enterprise. I was devastated when I found out all prop planes had already been replaced by jets.

• I knew the sacrifice of war was devastating, and I was fascinated by those stories.
• I fell in love with romance and started looking for my life’s own Mary Preston.

Through the years the Egyptian has faced its challenges. Despite threats of being town down, new owners, restoration committees, and the Boise community have rallied, putting the historic building through a couple of major renovations, including some needed restoration for the organ. This week the theatre once again hosted Wings for a local benefit with the accompanying live organ playing. It hadn’t been played for a full-length silent move for those 35 years between showings.

I thought getting a chance to see a silent movie with a live score in this setting would be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Gleefully this week I got to sit through it again listening to the masterful playing of organist Clark Wilson who brought the audience to a standing ovation as soon as he had played his last note.

I sat right in the front row taking in the sights and sounds of this nearly lost art form, the significance of the story and the magic of memories all wrapped up in an event. I was ever conscious of the 8 year old in me and the remarkable accuracy of his recollections. I was equally as thankful that my son, Stephen, sat next to me enjoying the event just like my dad had done years before with me.

What childhood memories have you been able to revisit? What experiences are important for you to pass along?