Electric Star Wars: Dominion Theatre - Tottenham Court Road - London 1977

A LONG TIME AGO IN A CITY FAR FAR AWAY

Love this photo showing the Dominion Theatre marquee for the original release of STAR WARS. You can almost feel the sense of place, the defining decade, and creation of cinematic history oozing from the photo. From memory, I think it only had a very limited release which made the madness surrounding it and the anticipation to see it all the more fun. It seems like only yesterday I was 14 and stood in a huge line outside my local cinema for that first showing - 34 years ago. Everything was so different back then. When blockbusters were new and to see them was an experience never forgotten. These were the STAR WARS days and they were the bestest days ever. 

Electric Star Wars: Arrival at Mos Eisley Spaceport.

"YOU WILL NEVER FIND A MORE WRETCHED HIVE OF SCUM AND VILLAINY"

Under the early dawn light of Tatooine's twin suns, Luke Skywalker scans Mos Eisley spaceport before entering with Obi-Wan Kenobi and his droids to seek a pilot and transport to hire. A beautiful example of Ralph McQuarries epic portrayal of alien landscapes on a grand scale.

Electric Star Wars: the SW Collectors Edition (1977)

- memories of those original star wars days - 

DISCOVERING A LONG TIME AGO IN A GALAXY FAR FAR AWAY

Well, here we go, this is it. My very first encounter with STAR WARS. I was 14. It was a rainy Wednesday in early April 1977 and I was coming home from a trip to visit Grandma when I decided on a whim to pop into a local newsagent to buy a can of coke. Can remember walking into the shop, buying sed fizzy drink, and turning to look at the magazines stacked neatly on the shelves in the far side of the shop. There amongst all the usual publications and comics was the above magazine. I picked it up and flicked through it. "Wow." What was this? A movie? Is that a robot? OMG, bigfoot is in it. Luke Skywalker? Han Solo? Whoa, she's cute and hot. And how much does this thing cost? I had to buy it. The geek in me made me do it. And that was it. The first WARS thing bought and the first of many such things bought over the coming months and years.

Those days before it arrived were amazing. The sense of anticipation of its arrival was raw. Every kid I knew was desperate to see it. Every snippet of news or image released was poured over and discussed to death. Those original STAR WARS days were great days. Nothing since has come close to those times...

Expect many more STAR WARS memories in ELECTRIC PIX.

Retro Sci-Fi Magazines: STARBURST #1

STARBURST ISSUE #1 - UK'S GREATEST SCI-FI MAGAZINE

First published in January 1978, STARBURST was the number one go to mag for UK sci-fi enthusiasts during the early months of the STAR WARS boom. Along with USA publications STARLOG, FANTASTIC FILMS and CINEMAFANTASTIQUE, I had this on monthly order with my local newsagents and I remember going into the shop, asking if anything had come in for me and watching the owner go over to a big pile of "on order" magazines and go through them looking for my name. It was always a huge thrill when he picked out something for me. One time he pulled out a STARBURST, STARLOG and FANTASTIC FILMS in one go and I ran home on cloud nine and didn't leave my bedroom for the whole weekend. STARBURST ceased publication in early 2009 having reached issue #365. I had them all. Great magazine.

Retro Sci-Fi Magazines: Fantastic Films.

THE STAR WARS YEARS

The excellent Fantastic Films - 46 issues from 1978 to 1985.