Memory Studies 2017, Vol. 10(1) 35–48 © The Author(s) 2016 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/1750698016670787 mss.sagepub.com Film at the border: Memories of cinemagoing in Laredo, Texas José Carlos Lozano Texas A&M International University, USA Abstract This article addresses the memories of 28 filmgoers between the ages of 64 and 95 in Laredo, Texas – a city located on the border between the United States and Mexico. It explores respondents’ memories of US and Mexican films, actors and local venues against the historical background of a fluid and complex border. In particular, it examines the negotiation of cultural identities among residents with strong connections to Mexican heritage but who are also influenced by the structural characteristics of the American political, economic and educational systems. Keywords audiences, cinemagoing, cultural identity, memories of films, US–Mexico border Minutes away from Mexico, and with a historically predominant Spanish-speaking Mexican- American population – 95.6% in 2010 (Ryan, 2013) – Laredo Texas constitutes a singular case for exploring the historical role played by cinema exhibition and cinemagoing in the cultural produc- tion and negotiation of border identities and in the cultural memory of its residents. Based on the findings of 28 in-depth interviews with respondents aged 65 years and over, this article explores the memories of US and Mexican films, actors and exhibition venues against the historical background of a fluid and complex border and the negotiation of distinct cultural identities among residents strongly connected to their Mexican roots but also influenced by the structural characteristics of the American political, economic and educational systems. By doing this, the study aims to add a distinct location to the increasingly diverse list of cities, countries and regions covered by empiri- cal studies on cinemagoing, film experience and memory (Gómez, 2004b; Kilbourn, 2010; Kuhn, 2002, 2004, 2011; Meers et al., 2010; Richards, 2003; Stubbings, 2003; Torres de San Martin, 2006; Van de Vijver and Biltereyst, 2013). Culture, identity and memory in the border town The US–Mexico border, spanning over 3,145km, separates two countries with profound cultural, linguistic and religious differences between and within them. This separation, however, is not Corresponding author: José Carlos Lozano, Department of Psychology and Communication, Texas A&M International University, 5201 University Boulevard, Laredo, TX 78041-1900, USA. Email: jose.lozano@tamiu.edu 670787MSS 0 0 10.1177/1750698016670787Memory StudiesLozano research-article 2016 Article