If you’ve watched Stephen Spielberg’s latest film, “The Fablemans,” you may not have realized that the story begins with a recreation of the filmmaker’s childhood here in South Jersey. In the 1950s, Spielberg lived in Haddon Twp. while his father was an electrical engineer at RCA in Camden. He has said that some of the movies he first watched at the Westmont Theater inspired his iconic movie career.

Camden County Commissioners recently honored Spielberg with a historical placard at the site of the former theater. Spielberg sent the commissioners a letter to thank them for the recognition, writing: “When I sat down to write my semi-autobiographical film there was no question where the story should begin… in the place where all my dreams began…at the Westmont.”