The next part in the history of my fandom would begin in a theatre in Denver Colorado.
I had watched the Star Wars movies over and over and over until I eventualy wore out our VHS copies to the point we had to get new ones. I loved the movies and books and was excited by the rumors that because of Jurrasic Park that the maker had given the go ahead to a prequel trilogy. (At that piont in time prequel was not in America's vocabulary.)Before doing this however the Maker planned to rerelease the original trilogy with new footge! WHAT?! Star Wars! On the big Screen?! I could not believe it.
In Denver at the time the ultimate screen in town was the Paramount. It towered 2 1/2 storries tall and the theatre was huge and the sound system state of the art! It was the only place worthy of seeing Star Wars.
I must admit that I loved movies, and I especialy loved Star Wars, but I had never quite gotten what my parents meant by "It changed everything about movies" until I saw Star Wars at the theatre.
The air was tense. We all chatted softly, our excitement barely contained. "Did you know blah blah blah?" everyone would ask thinking they knew the ultimate piece of trivia. My best friend and I would smile and answer easily as our knowledge of Star Wars lore was unparralelled. Then the lights dimmed. A hush fell over the crowd. All was dark and silent until...
THE FANFARE and two words blazing in gold filled our senses.
"STAR WARS" the screen cried out and in response to the joyful noise of the brass we lept to our feet and applauded. I had never done this at a movie before, but it seemed so natural.
After a moment our adulation abated and as Tatooine came into view and we took our seats. Then, it came. Huge, looming, loud, its power and malevolence filling the air. A Star Destroyer. But this was not the Star Detroyer I was used to. This was the monstrosity that subjugated a thousand star systems, and finally I knew what my parents meant. This changed everything. From that time on the theatre was not just movies. I could now go and experience CINEMA. I will never forget that moment. That moment when George Lucas gave us A New Hope.