Some films rekindle memories of childhood. In the old movie houses youngsters forgot for a fleeting moment the harshness of the world outside. During a matinee they would laugh their heads off or identify with heroes in their fearless battles. In the years of depression the products of the dream factories lifted the crowds out of their miseries, leaving behind a fond memory. Such nostalgia becomes the soil for the urge to collect the films that brought joy.
Amateur films are a category apart.
Although most people filmed their family and holidays, some were inspired to record what went on in the streets of their cities. Their films have become of particular interest nowadays as they contain street- and human interest scenes that are hardly to be found in professional documentaries and newsreels of that era. Some museums collect them. They often supply copies of scenes from amateur movies donated to them to television and other institutions. Movie memorabilia .