What Mark Hamill and Gary Kurtz told science fiction fans about Star Wars in 1976

Charles Lippincott, Gary Kurtz and Mark Hamill promoting Star Wars at MidAmeriCon 1976

In 1976, well before Star Wars was ready for release, a campaign was going on to make science fiction fans aware of it. 

Charles Lippincott, who was in charge of merchandising and publicity for the film, organised convention appearances, at which he or producer Gary Kurtz would explain what the film was about. They would take artwork and information sheets with them and slow slides (yes, slides) to give some idea of the look of the movie.

As I wrote in a blog post at Amazing Stories recently, Gary Kurtz was the face of Star Wars for many fans back then, patiently explaining what the film was about.
One of those appearances is available on video – and it reminds us of a time when pictures from Star Wars seemed weird and exotic, and no one knew quite what the movie would be like.

Star Wars on TV: glimpsing the characters on the small screen in the 1970s

Star Wars meets Donny and Marie, September 1977 

In the days before home video, films disappeared for years between their big-screen release and their appearance on TV.

That meant Star Wars fans lapped up any appearance, however fleeting, of the film's characters on TV.

Star Wars debuts part 2: The first work of the people behind the film

The principal heroes of Star Wars

Last time, I looked back at the earliest work of some of the older people behind Star Wars. We found that the earliest film to share personnel with George Lucas's film was probably Rookery Nook, the 1930 British movie which had Gilbert Taylor as assistant cameraman.

Today, we move into the 1960s and 1970s for the film debuts of some of the film's principals.

Everything that's good in The Star Wars Holiday Special

We could go on mocking The Star Wars Holiday Special for a very long time. It is the most bizarrely misconceived product ever to bear the name of the franchise. But is it all bad? Today, Episode Nothing combs the special for good points.

The Star Wars Holiday Special: The 10 Most Excruciating Moments – Part 1

An ad for The Star Wars Holiday Special

It’s time we talked about something painful. Today, Episode Nothing begins to look at the single most bizarre moment in the history of Star Wars – the infamous 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special.

A 1977 interview with Mark Hamill from Blue Peter - and what it reveals about Star Wars

 

Mark Hamill interviewed on the BBC's Blue Peter in December 1977

Millions of children will have seen it in December 1977, but a fascinating clip of Mark Hamill on the British children's show Blue Peter has only recently reappeared. 

Episode Nothing considers what it tells us about the 1970s and the early days of Star Wars fandom.

A day long remembered: Star Wars comes to television

The UK's TV Times heralds the 

arrival of Star Wars on television

Several years after it changed film-going forever, Star Wars came to television. 

George Lucas was angry about it, we were told. But for the young fan, the arrival of Star Wars on the small screen was a huge event. Today, Episode Nothing takes a look at the very different experiences in the US and the UK as Star Wars made its TV premiere on HBO, CBS and ITV.

The Force will be with you: Star Wars' own religion

Vader chokes Motti: Just one of the things
the Force can help you do in Star Wars

It was Star Wars Day this week – surely the only fan event which owes its date to a pun: "May the Fourth be with you."

What better time to examine the Force, the "energy field created by all living things"? Is it George Lucas's unique and personal take on religion and spirituality – or just a lot of New Age mumbo-jumbo?

Mark Hamill before Star Wars: the Hanna-Barbera series Jeannie

Mark Hamill voiced Corey in the
Hanna-Barbera cartoon Jeannie

How the animated series Jeannie introduced children to Mark Hamill

Back in 1977, which Star Wars performer was the best-known?

It would have been quite an easy question for adults to answer, since it would just have involved a toss-up between Peter Cushing and Sir Alec Guinness. But not so for children.

Look-In: the British youth culture magazine that kept featuring Star Wars

It’s been quiet at Episode Nothing, but I have been laying plans for some in-depth blog content which I hope you’re going to like. 

Until I get going with that, here are some memories of a youth culture magazine that first generation British Star Wars fans are sure to remember fondly.

Star Wars: The Deleted Scenes #2: Biggs, Fixer and Koo Stark as Camie

"That's no battle": Koo Stark as Camie, Anthony Forrest as Fixer, Mark Hamill as Luke and
Garrick Hagon as Biggs Darklighter in a deleted scene from Star Wars

Our look at the deleted scenes of Star Wars takes us back to Tatooine, where Luke Skywalker looks foolish for promising to show his pals a space battle. We meet his pal Biggs Darklighter – and are also introduced to one of the tabloid press's favourite actresses, Koo Stark.

Biggs Darklighter - the original Rebel

"The Rebellion's spreading, Luke": Garrick Hagon as Biggs confides in Luke Skywalker

I can distinctly remember a thought that crossed my mind about half an hour into my first viewing of Star Wars, one fateful Saturday afternoon in February 1978.

It was at just about the point when Luke, Obi-Wan Kenobi and the droids were arriving at Mos Eisley, heading for their first meeting with Han Solo.

Looking back at Star Wars Weekly – issue 2

The cover of Star Wars Weekly issue two

February 15, 1978. In most of Britain, Star Wars had been on release for less than a week.   

That Wednesday saw the arrival of issue two of Star Wars Weekly – Marvel's UK version of the comic that the US had seen the previous year.

The characters of Star Wars: Luke Skywalker

Our hero: Luke Skywalker watches the binary sunset in Star Wars

To create a great story, you have to have a great mix of characters.

George Lucas got that right with American Graffiti. He got it spectacularly right with Star Wars. And he would struggle to get it right again.