The commercials in the Star Wars Holiday Special

An ad for Kenner Star Wars toys during
The Star Wars Holiday Special on CBS

On November 17, it will be time to celebrate – if that's the word – the 40th anniversary of The Star Wars Holiday Special.

I've looked before at its most excruciating moments (in a two-part blog post here and here). I've also tried to appreciate the things a young viewer in the 1970s might have loved about it (which only took one post).

In recent times, someone has posted all the commercials from a recording of the Holiday Special, and I think they deserve a post of their own. 

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.

Our 7 geekiest Star Wars 1977 blog posts

Declan Mulholland as Jabba the Hutt in deleted footage from Star Wars

I suspect that all of us who like Star Wars may have pondered small points of trivia for longer than is healthy.

It's not uncommon for fans to be accused of lacking a sense of proportion. But as long as your preoccupation with obscure detail is not hurting anyone else, why should anyone else judge you for it?

In my latest recap of previous posts, before I return with all-new material in September, I'd like to point you to some of the geekier subjects that have occupied Episode Nothing in its five-year existence.

Book review: The Star Wars Phenomenon in Britain by Craig Stevens

The Star Wars Phenomenon in Britain by Craig Stevens

You might think that when it comes to the release of the original Star Wars, there are no stories left untold.

Well, author Craig Stevens has found some.

His book The Star Wars Phenomenon in Britain chronicles the release, merchandising and promotion of Star Wars in the country where it was made. And whether or not you were around in the UK in 1977-78, I think you're going to like it.

Star Wars is now as old as Flash Gordon was in the 1970s. What does that tell us about its staying power?

Star Wars in 1977, when Flash Gordon was 41

Star Wars is as old today as the original Flash Gordon serial was back in 1977.

Today, Episode Nothing ponders that sobering thought – and considers how Star Wars has aged compared with some of the films that inspired it.

40 years ago: Star Wars Weekly #1 arrives in the UK

Star Wars Weekly issue 1 arrived just as the film was spreading across the UK

Star Wars in black-and-white. It was a much more appealing prospect than it might sound when Marvel Comics’ Star Wars Weekly arrived in Britain in the week of February 8 1978. 

Today, Episode Nothing looks at how the UK got the Marvel Star Wars without the colo(u)r but with some extras that the US missed out on. 

Spoilers in 1977: How much did people know about the original Star Wars going in?

The Marvel Star Wars comic book was
one of many ways to get Star Wars spoilers
Photo: Comics A-Go-Go! 

The phrase "spoiler warning" is a pretty recent invention. Back in the 1970s, you could stumble upon films' plot twists quite easily. 

Today, Episode Nothing considers the spoilers that were around in 1977, as news spread of the incredible success of Star Wars.

As Dave Prowse retires: a tribute to the original Darth Vader

Dave Prowse as Darth Vader

As Dave Prowse, makes his final public appearance this weekend, Episode Nothing considers the legacy of the original Darth Vader.

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 story of a boy, a girl and a universe: the original Star Wars teaser trailer from 1976

The 1976 teaser trailer for Star Wars, before the final logo was produced

Almost forty years after cinema audiences saw the first trailer for Star Wars, Episode Nothing considers what people would have made of this strange new movie.

Why the Rogue One re-shoots? Star Wars always was a war movie.

The X-wings attack, World War II-style, in Star Wars

It has been reported that Disney executives, who ordered re-shoots on the forthcoming Rogue One: a Star Wars Story, didn’t like the rough cut of the film because it "had the feel of a war movie”. 

Episode Nothing looks at how odd that quote is, in view of the fact that war movies are a major influence on the original film.

The music of Star Wars that we never heard again – part 2

John Williams conducting the score to Star Wars

Episode Nothing continues to look at the musical themes that played a major part in Star Wars but were never reprised in the sequels. Last week it was the motif for the Death Star. Today, the piece that was originally known as Darth Vader's Theme.

The music of Star Wars that we never heard again – part 1

John Williams conducting the Star Wars score

Episode Nothing takes a look at a tiny fragment of music which played a memorable role in the original Star Wars – and was never to feature in the films again.

Book review: How Star Wars Conquered the Universe by Chris Taylor

The cover of How Star Wars Conquered
the Universe by Chris Taylor, published by Head of Zeus

You would need a wookie’s lifespan to read every book published so far about Star Wars – and most of that time would be spent on spin-off novels or the sumptuously illustrated official guides to the films.

But Chris Taylor's book How Star Wars Conquered the Universe is something different: an intelligent, entertaining unauthorised account of the influence Star Wars has had on the world – and a record of the highs and lows experienced by Star Wars fans over the past four decades.

RIP Kenny Baker, 1934-2016: the man who was R2-D2

Kenny Baker with Anthony Daniels
on the set of Star Wars in 1976

The fan reaction to the death of Kenny Baker, the man who was R2-D2, showed how much the character meant to generations of Star Wars lovers. Episode Nothing reflects on Kenny Baker’s contribution to the original Star Wars – and considers what difference it made to have a real person operating the levers and lights to bring R2-D2 to life.

Star Wars on TV: how Britain's TV Times celebrated its arrival on the small screen

A chance to win Empire Strikes Back toys in
TV Times as Star Wars came to television

When Star Wars reached British television in 1982, the listings magazine TV Times gave it an unprecedented amount of space. It even commissioned short comic strip telling us something of how the Rebel Alliance stole the plans to the Death Star – and almost certainly contradicting the forthcoming film Rogue One. Episode Nothing takes a trip back to October 24 1982.

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.

What the censors made of Star Wars: British paperwork reveals their views

A UK poster for Star Wars, displaying the 'U' certificate

The bodies that apply age ratings to films around the world had to consider whether Star Wars was appropriate for all children. Episode Nothing considers some fascinating documents from the archives of the British film censors which record their conclusion. 

7 key similarities between American Graffiti and Star Wars

Poster art for American Graffiti (1973) and Star Wars (1977)

Star Wars was George Lucas's third feature film. It couldn’t be more unlike his first, THX 1138 (1971). But it bears a surprising number of similarities to his second, the low budget smash hit American Graffiti (1973). Today, Episode Nothing explores the connections between Lucas's vision of small town California in 1962 and the galaxy far, far away. 

What's the record number of times anyone has seen Star Wars? Anyone beat 102?

A 1977 audience waits in line to see Star Wars

Last time at Episode Nothing, we considered the case of Daniel Henning, a boy who saw Star Wars 102 times – and not on video, but in a cinema. Today, we give further consideration to the people who saw the film multiple times, and who became a key part of the Star Wars phenomenon.