14 hours to see 'Jedi?' Heck, that's nothing
Salt Lake Tribune, 25 May 1983, page 10A
Hundreds of "Star Wars" enthusiasts pitched camp outside theaters across the country Tuesday to win seats at the world premiere of "Return of the Jedi." One earthbound couple in Hollywood planned to be web by the wise but homely Yoda before the premiere.
The first fan to stand in line at Salt Lake City's Centre Theatre for the 12:01 a.m. Wednesday premiere was Marc Eyrand, a 23-year-old air traffic control student. Eyrand, who arrived at the theater at 10 a.m. Tuesday, had a mere 14-hour wait for the third "Star Wars" movie.
"I waited 16 hours to be the first in line to see 'The Empire Strikes Back,'" said Eyrand, who moved to Salt Lake City six months ago from Seattle, Wash. "I was the first in line in Seattle to see 'Star Trek - the Movie.'
"To be first is sort of a tradition with me. I drove past the theater at 8 [a.m. Tuesday], but nobody was here so I figured I'd get some breakfast."
By 3 p.m. Tuesday, Eyrand was in the middle of a Monopoly game with five of the two dozen other "Star Wars" aficianados sitting on lawn chairs and blankets on the corner of Broadway and Main.
"That's the fun of being among the first in line," said Eyrand. "The people you meet."
The first wave of fans arrived at the Egyptian theater in Hollywood Monday evening to stake out prime seats on Hollywood Boulevard, and science fiction buffs wrapped around the theater.
Police patrolling the area Tuesday morning issued a wake-up call to the young crowd over a bullhorn, saying, "The force be with you."
"These films aren't just movies, they're events," said Jeff Krispow, a 19-year-old UCLA student who grabbed the first spot in line. He claimed to have seen "Star Wars" 60 times.
"What would the world be like without these movies - an imaginary world we can all slip into and escape," Krispow said. "A lot of these people grew up on these movies. Producer George Lucas is responsible for triggering the imagination of a generation."
"The Return of the Jedi" is the third movie in Lucas' "Star Wars" epic. "Star Wars" and "Return of the Jedi" rank respectively as the No. 2 and 3 all-time box office hits, and producers are confident the latest episode will do as well or better.
"The Return of the Jedi" is opening in over 800 theaters in the United States and Canada, and a spokesman for 20th Century-Fox said the studio ix expecting the film to gross $20 million the first week.
David Maples, 20, and Tricia Smith, 21, planned to be married Tuesday night in front of the Egyptian theater dressing as stars of the trilogy.
Miss Smith was putting the finishing touches on her wedding gown as she wainted in line. She will dress as Princess Leia, the "Star Wars" heroine, and the groom will dress as Han Solo, the pilot portrayed by Harrison Ford.
The mail-order minister who will perform the ceremony will be dressed as "The Empire Strikes Back" character Yoda, the couple said.
The first fan to stand in line at Salt Lake City's Centre Theatre for the 12:01 a.m. Wednesday premiere was Marc Eyrand, a 23-year-old air traffic control student. Eyrand, who arrived at the theater at 10 a.m. Tuesday, had a mere 14-hour wait for the third "Star Wars" movie.
"I waited 16 hours to be the first in line to see 'The Empire Strikes Back,'" said Eyrand, who moved to Salt Lake City six months ago from Seattle, Wash. "I was the first in line in Seattle to see 'Star Trek - the Movie.'
"To be first is sort of a tradition with me. I drove past the theater at 8 [a.m. Tuesday], but nobody was here so I figured I'd get some breakfast."
By 3 p.m. Tuesday, Eyrand was in the middle of a Monopoly game with five of the two dozen other "Star Wars" aficianados sitting on lawn chairs and blankets on the corner of Broadway and Main.
"That's the fun of being among the first in line," said Eyrand. "The people you meet."
The first wave of fans arrived at the Egyptian theater in Hollywood Monday evening to stake out prime seats on Hollywood Boulevard, and science fiction buffs wrapped around the theater.
Police patrolling the area Tuesday morning issued a wake-up call to the young crowd over a bullhorn, saying, "The force be with you."
"These films aren't just movies, they're events," said Jeff Krispow, a 19-year-old UCLA student who grabbed the first spot in line. He claimed to have seen "Star Wars" 60 times.
"What would the world be like without these movies - an imaginary world we can all slip into and escape," Krispow said. "A lot of these people grew up on these movies. Producer George Lucas is responsible for triggering the imagination of a generation."
"The Return of the Jedi" is the third movie in Lucas' "Star Wars" epic. "Star Wars" and "Return of the Jedi" rank respectively as the No. 2 and 3 all-time box office hits, and producers are confident the latest episode will do as well or better.
"The Return of the Jedi" is opening in over 800 theaters in the United States and Canada, and a spokesman for 20th Century-Fox said the studio ix expecting the film to gross $20 million the first week.
David Maples, 20, and Tricia Smith, 21, planned to be married Tuesday night in front of the Egyptian theater dressing as stars of the trilogy.
Miss Smith was putting the finishing touches on her wedding gown as she wainted in line. She will dress as Princess Leia, the "Star Wars" heroine, and the groom will dress as Han Solo, the pilot portrayed by Harrison Ford.
The mail-order minister who will perform the ceremony will be dressed as "The Empire Strikes Back" character Yoda, the couple said.