After the dramatic pause of A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..., I was immediately hooked the second that bright yellow Star Wars lettering hit the screen and John Williams triumphant Star Wars main theme came blairing out of the theater's speakers at the beginning of A New Hope. The rest is history...
I was six when Star Wars came out, and it pretty much took over my childhood (along with video games and Little League that is). Of course, having all of the toys to go along with the movie was a given. I was a completist, even at the age of seven. I loved the Star Wars figures, and had to have them ALL. I vividly remember when my neighbor was the first kid in town to get the 12-backs. Of course I got mine soon after, and this trend continued well into 1984, though I had to temper my Star Wars fandom a bit in Jr. High, when it wasn't very cool anymore.
But I jumped back into collecting in the early 90's when I was off in college (still kept myself in the closet though), and started snatching up at conventions all of the Vintage POTF that I had missed out on, then followed by the early Galoob offerings, finally sealing my fate with the release of the POTF2 line. Carded and loose completist ever since September of 1995!
But it all started with that opening scene of Star Wars, way back in May of '77... The movies and toys (I call them collectibles now) pretty much go hand in hand IMO!