As many of you probably know, last Friday was the thirtieth anniversary of Star Wars. And while many claim that Star Wars opened at their local theatre on May 25, 1977, it actually only opened on 32 screens nationwide, simply because that was all the theaters they could book at the time. I have always claimed that it was at my local Century 22 theater on opening day (although I didn’t see it until at least August), and I am pleased to report that my memory has been proven correct in this fantastic article about the release of Star Wars, and its significance to the culture and the movie industry.
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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on May 29, 2007 at 4:27 PM.
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Comments (3)
Andy, great article link! I really enjoyed it. I still remember hearing, "Look sir, tracings" at the first few times I saw the Century 22 print. I do not however, remember when exactly I saw Star Wars that year. I do remember the 1 year Star Wars release birthday cake they had in the Century 21 lobby in 1978.
I have had a great time lately watching Star Wars IV, V, VI with Clara. We have also been watching Empire of Dreams.
Posted by DaveM | May 29, 2007 10:12 PM
Posted on May 29, 2007 22:12
Good article. Star Wars was the first movie I ever saw in a theater. That experience, completely overwhelmed by the immensity of the Century 22 screen, remains perhaps the most impressive moviegoing experience of my life. On second thought, there is no question ... it is definitely the most impressive moviegoing experience of my life. To a seven-year-old who had hardly even seen movies on TV to that point, the intense action on a screen that completely filled my vision rocked my little world. I still can't even think of Ben giving himself up without getting a little catch in my throat.
Posted by Dave Evans | June 1, 2007 3:06 PM
Posted on June 1, 2007 15:06
Dave (M), I also vividly remember hearing, “Look sir, tracings!” However, a Google search for that phrase turns up nothing. If it was actually in the soundtrack at some point, I have no idea who knows about it. I have certainly never been able to find any reference to it anywhere.
Dave Evans…yes, the moviegoing experience was much different back then. The lobby seemed bigger (I’m sure they didn’t have the big concession stand that is there now), and I remember them selling programs for Star Wars. I remember seeing a few movies at the drive-in*, but it wasn’t nearly the same effect. It’s funny to think that a surround soundtrack was considered a novelty at the time, but the mono soundtrack was considered the archival reference track. Oh, how times have changed….
* I know I begged and pleaded with my parents to take me to see a Pink Panther movie, but then I was bored when I realized that most of it wasn’t a cartoon. Judging by the date, it was either The Return of the Pink Panther or The Pink Panther Strikes Again. Hmmm…do either of those titles sound oddly familiar? Very strange.
Posted by Andy | June 1, 2007 4:21 PM
Posted on June 1, 2007 16:21