It
was the
summer of 1977
when I witnessed one
of the best films I had ever seen.
"Star Wars"
My friends and I stood at the ticket booth, first in line from 10am until they let us in for the 12:00 showing.
It wasn't because there were long lines outside of the theatre, that soon followed as word of mouth spread about this great and wonderful film.
It was because by that time I've been reading so much on this film that I just had to be the first to see it. Small articles in magazines like 'Fantastic films' and 'Starlog' had my friends and I eagerly awaiting it's arrival.
The
early news reports had claimed that this would be a swashbuckling tale of adventure and
romance.
True it was what they'd claim, but it also so much more.
It was good vs. evil, action, comedy, a totally entertaining experience wrapped up in with the greatest special effects that had yet to be seen on the silver screen.
This movie had changed the way filmmakers made movies.
It had opened the doorway to a whole fantastic universe that fans and fandom would be talking about to this day.
The story was a simple one. A young lad with hopes and dreams of excitement
travels to the center of adventure when he gets caught up in a search for a beautiful
kidnapped princess.
Along for the ride are two clanking robots, A hotshot pilot smuggler, A 7 ft tall hairy character called Chewy, and a mysterious old magician that knows more than he is telling.
And then there was the villain Darth Vader. Human? Machine? We didn't know and we didn't care. We were just to wrapped up in the film. But he was the bad guy alright, tall dark and breathing heavy through his mechanical mask.
But after this film took off and after countless viewings it was reviled that a whole new life was created by the film's director George Lucas.
For with this single film he had created a Pandora's box of media and merchandise frenzy that rivals that of the television show Star Trek, and perhaps surpasses it.
Star Wars had taken the world by storm and everyone was quickly trying to keep up with the hype.
Toy manufactures were in a bind for the Christmas holiday because the toys weren't available in such large numbers yet.
News reports flashed that fans were lining up again and again around the block to see the film, some dressed in they're home made costumes.
It wasn't long until I jumped on the band wagon and started collecting movie posters, t-shirts, books, masks, and toys. I was instantly swept into the madness along with the rest of the world. You just had to, if you didn't know Star Wars you were a square.
This was indeed the event of 1977.
A View From Perry: Well,It was a beautiful portrayal of fantasy space/reality. When we see the star destroyer fly from the top of the screen to is fullest, it was like Holy shit! This is big! Something I never seen before and only dreamed of. Lucas was the guy who wanted to show you the way it was, the way you would imagine it to be. My favorite....Every boys fantisy, to fly a fighter. The trench scene is my favorite of all time. Out of the three Star Wars films, the first will always be the best.
A View from Doc: I saw the first Star Wars movie (Episode 4) 2 or 3 months after it opened at an old theater in Downtown Waukegan. I can't say there was anything I didn't like about it back then. As for now, I think the only part that I "dislike" is the somewhat campy finish. The medal ceremony. I understand how it plays a part in the movie. It just seems a little contrived. The acting could have been better. I wonder if that scene may have actually been the first filmed. The actors don't seem at ease.
A View From Terry: I saw Star Wars shortly after it opened in 1977 with my Grandfather. I was 14 years old, and had just finished 8th grade. I felt like the movie was "tailor made" for me (that sounds a little selfish; it was probably "tailor made" for every 14 year old boy in America). I was all hyped up to see the movie; I had already read the novelization and (I think) the first issue or two of the Marvel Comics adaptation. The opening scene with the Imperial Star Destroyer emerging from the top of the screen absolutely blew me away! Of course, I loved all the space combat scenes...they were my 8th grade school notebook "margin doodles" brought to the silver screen. I wound up seeing the movie in the theater(s) at least 25 times (remember the $1 admission at the Colony on 59th Street?). About the only thing I didn't like was the "trash compactor" scene; although it did have a (slightly) unique twist on the sci-fi movie cliché' of escaping the bad guys via a ventilation shaft. The more I saw Star Wars, the more I found myself identifying with the Luke Skywalker character (like the other 14 year olds...I initially thought Han Solo was waaaayyyy too cool). I guess I identified with Luke desire to leave home and go off to do something significant and adventurous.
One of the bonuses of being a collector and a fan of Star Wars was that somewhere back in my mind I had the idea to create a Star Wars Scrapbook with newspaper reviews and articles about the film Star Wars.
When the three Star Wars films were re-released recently as Special Editions I decided to dig out and dust off that scrapbook.
It is one great treasure, and now something to share with all of you.
Below you can now go page by page of my scrapbook. At the top of each page is a photo of the original page, and then the translation of text below for easy reading. It is all original, and contains many rare information for those of you who weren't even born when this great film was released.
So enjoy!
And May The Force Be With You!
(All articles are from Chicago Newspapers or otherwise noted)
(Each page will open a new window for easy loading, and not having to go back and forth)
Page 1 - The Very First Article Of The Film (That I seen)
Page 2 - The Advertisement Poster That Appeared In The Newspapers
Page 3 - The First Review Of The Film In Chicago By Christine Nieland
Page 4 - Chicago Sun Times Review By Roger Simon
Page 5 - A Weekly Article On The Film By Robert L. Rose, With Interviews With Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, And Harrison Ford
Page 6 - Dow Jones Article On Star Wars Breaking Records
Page 7 - Three Star Review By Carol White
Page 8 - Technical Wizardry Of Star Wars By Robert Kerwin
Page 9 - 6,000 Star Wars Photos Stolen Off The Set
Page 10 - Roger Ebert Contest To Readers To Create A Sequel To Star Wars
Page 11 - Clipping About The Money Star Wars Is Making
Page 12 - Advertisement For The 'Making Of Star Wars' Television Special From 77'
Page 13 - Did You Know That Star Wars Toys Were Unavailable Christmas Of 77'? Read About It.
Page 14 - No Toys For Christmas Sets Off A Toy War
Page 15 - Star Wars Review By Roger Ebert
Page 16 - Results In The Star Wars Sequel Contest
Page 17 - Star Wars Merchandise Clippings
Page 18 - Star Wars Called A Biblical Remake & Some Stock Reports
Page 19 - Article On The Man That Gave The Green Light To Star Wars - Alan Ladd Jr.
Page 20 - Advertisement For The 'Star Wars' Soundtrack And 'The Story Of Star Wars' Album
Page 21 - Robot Talk & The Advertisement For The Star Wars Holiday Special On Television
Page 22 - Quite An Interesting Essay On
Star Wars
Page 23 - Newspaper Ad For The First Toy Light Sabers & More Money Reports
Page 24 - Advertisement For The National Public Radio Broadcast Of 'Star Wars'
Page 25 - Order Sheet For 'Star Wars' Merchandise From Starfleet Command
Page 26 - A great Harrison Ford Interview From 'Film Collectors World'
Page 27 - Advertisement For The Original Don Post 'Star Wars' Masks
Page 28 - 'Star Wars' Weapon Descriptions From Fantastic Films Magazine
Page 29 - Display Flyer For The Premiere Of The 'Star Wars' Video Release
Page 30 - Page Of Interesting Collectables
(Note: There are a few ads for some Star Wars merchandise in the Toy Section of Remember When)
Back to
Copyright ©1999 Roger B. Domian