How and when did your interest in things audio start?

I got intested when I was a lad in the 50's and 60's mainly due to those 3
strip 'Cinerama' presentations, all 7 audio tracks running at 29 ips with
valve amps through to those huge Altec 'Voice Of The Theatre' speakers. (800
to over 3000 lbs.) I can still remember the start of the show with Lowell
Thomas appearing in black & white on a small screen in mono sound talking
about the film...then he says 'LADIES & GENTLEMEN, THIS IS CINERAMA'..the
curtain above the small screen goes up, the curtains to the sides move
sideways to reveal a 120' screen, the film then changed to colour covering
the whole screen and the stunning multi-track sound filled the entire
theatre. WOW I was hooked... from then on I dragged my poor parents to many
different showings in many different places, even the 'Itinerama' in that
huge 'big top'

That certainly hit the emotions, from then on I went for gear that did
that...it had to hit those emotions no matter if it was orchestral or rock
or whatever..it had to hit that spot. I have a feeling KeithG is coming
from a place near to that ;-) If its accurate but doesn't have that
emotion - then I'm not interested. (I would love both but I haven't heard a
system that does that for me yet) From then on I've bought, listened to
and sold more bits than I care to think of...though for the last 8 years
I've had Nirvana & I'm happy.

Ok, your turn...maybe your first Fisher Price record player ;