Spielberg ‘Surprised,’ ‘Honored’ By Haddon Township Historical Placard

HADDON TOWNSHIP, NJ - Steven Spielberg paid tribute to the town where he watched his first movie in “The Fabelmans,” his 2022 semi-autobiographical film up for several Academy Awards this year. Now, he’s set to pay tribute to his hometown in-person “very soon.”

In a letter to the Camden County Board of Commissioners dated March 8, the seminal director behind “Jurassic Park,” “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Jaws” admitted he was “surprised” and “honored” to learn of a historical marker commemorating the place where he saw his first movie at the age of six: the former Westmont Theater. Read more: Steven Spielberg's Camden County Childhood Featured In Oscar-Nominated

The historical placard was unveiled at a ceremony Tuesday at the site of the old theater, located just about four blocks from his elementary school, Thomas Edison Elementary.

During his time in Camden County from 1952 to 1957, Spielberg’s family resided at 267 Crystal Lake Terrace and were members of the Beth El congregation in Haddon Heights. The budding director was an avid cub scout, and made “large donations” to the scouts later in life based on his experience in Haddon Township, county officials said.

“The Westmont Theater is an iconic location here in Camden County that has played a part in so many of our childhoods, including that of Steven Spielberg,” said Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. in a statement. “We wanted to honor Spielberg and his connection to South Jersey by installing a commemorative placard at the site where the Westmont Theater once stood.”

The former theater at 49 Haddon Ave. is now a Planet Fitness gym.

The director added in his letter to the county commissioners that he is set to visit Haddon Township to “pay my respects to your wonderful community very soon.”

“The Westmont was the movie house where I watched many films after 'The Greatest Show On Earth,'” Spielberg wrote. “Another film I specifically remember seeing there was John Ford’s "The Searchers" in 1956. For a budding storyteller, that theater was kind of a place of worship and when my father left RCA in Camden to join GE in Phoenix, Arizona, I sadly knew I’d be learning the memories of so many great afternoons and weekends at that movie palace behind.”

"The Fabelmans" tells a coming-of-age story about a fictionalized version of Spielberg's upbringing. The movie recreates his experiences at the Westmont. When Spielberg was 5 years old in 1952, watching "The Greatest Show on Earth" sparked his interest in film. And from there, the theater served as a springboard for his passion which turned into an iconic Hollywood career.

“When I sat down to write my semi-autobiographical film there was no question where the story should begin," Spielberg wrote. "In the place where all my big dreams began … at the Westmont.”

-With reporting by Josh Bakan.