40 years ago today, Star Wars was released. That was what it was called. It wasn’t called Episode IV or subtitled A New Hope. It was simply Star Wars when I saw it in the theater back in 1977. And it will always remain Star Wars to me.
I clearly remember the first time I saw Star Wars. I remember it as vividly as my first kiss. Her name was Lisa, I was 15, and she made the move because I was too shy. Yes, things do change.
But that’s a story for another day. Let’s stay with Star Wars and the first time I saw it.
I was 5 years old. and it was toward the end of the school year. I was in Kindergarten at Riverview Elementary School back in my hometown of Norco, California. My parents told me we were going to the movies that week to see something called Star Wars. I didn’t want to go.
You read that right. The guy who has his own set of Jedi robes, drinks his coffee from a Star Wars mug daily, and can recite lines from all the movies – even The Phantom Menace – “Youssa think people gonna die?” – didn’t want to go see Star Wars in 1977.
I’m not exactly sure why. For some reason or another it didn’t appeal to my 5 year old sensibilities. Planet of the Apes was more my style back then.
To top it off, one of my classmates, Jerome Gonzales, had seen Star Wars and loved it. He even made his own Star Wars character puppets out of brown paper sandwich bags and brought them to school.
While Jerome would become and still remains one of my best friends, back then in room K-2, I didn’t care for him. And I certainly wasn’t going to like any movie he liked.
I remember complaining on the playground at recess about my parents forcing me to see this Star Wars to Kelly Froncek. She had already seen it and told me I’d like it. It had a golden robot in it and a big hairy Wookie.
I had no idea what a Wookie might be, but the golden robot sounded neat. Kelly also seemed to have better sensibilities than Jerome, so I figured I’d give this Star Wars thing a chance.
That night my parents took me to see Star Wars at the Arlington Theater in Riverside. It was an awesome old school cinema with one screen and a balcony. It’s since been demolished which is a shame.
Anyway, I went into the movie with an open mind and wound up having my mind blown away. Star Wars was the most incredible thing I’d ever seen! Obviously I wasn’t alone in that sentiment.
I also learned a very valuable lesson at the movie theater that night. No, it wasn’t not to pre-judge movies before I see them. I still do that to my chagrin. Too often movies I think I’m going to love disappoint, while those I reluctantly watch become my favorites.
No, my lesson was about drinking a big soda while watching a movie.
Three times I needed to pee during Star Wars. My dad had to take me to the restroom and I missed Luke Skywalker being attacked by the Sand People and the Millennium Falcon getting sucked into the Death Star.
The third time my dad told me to hold it. It was during the trench run. I would’ve been standing at the short urinal while Luke blew up the Death Star with a photon torpedo by trusting his feelings and the Force. Just like my book says, Dad Was Right.
To this day I refuse to drink anything before or during a Star Wars movie. At least the first time I see it. This has turned into a wise practice as these films are running longer these days.
But Star Wars impacted me in many more significant ways.
Star Wars showed me the importance of standing up to evil and fighting for what’s right.
Star Wars revealed that a small determined group committed to freedom can defeat the tyranny of a larger and more powerful entity.
Star Wars reinforced the values of friendship, love, and loyalty.
And Star Wars was the first movie where I wanted to know how they made the movie. More importantly, I wanted to know how George Lucas came up with this incredible story. It made me want to become a storyteller as well.
So today Star Wars turns 40. Despite the passing of years, its ability to inspire children and to make us all feel like children remains intact. I have a feeling that will continue for a long time to come.
I’m grateful George Lucas had this crazy and original idea to create a galaxy far, far away to entertain us. Life would be much different and potentially less enjoyable without Star Wars.
Thank you Mr. Lucas for this wonderful creation that came from your imagination.
Happy birthday Star Wars. It’s been a heck of a ride these last four decades that looking back feel like they went by at light speed.