Beach Darklighter

I decided to use this space to write about the first time I saw Star Wars. I encourage you to do the same...

I was eight years old in the summer of 1977. We lived in Fremont, CA but spent many weekends in Carmel for some reason. I remember seeing Star Wars for the first time in the movie theater in Carmel. I think it was the one Clint Eastwood owned. I saw it with my dad and older brother. My sister stayed with my mom and went shopping or something. It was a matin?e. The theater wasn't very crowded. There was a kid about my age who sat near me who already knew all the words. I thought it was cool that he recited the lines. He said that his brother worked at the theater and all he was doing that summer was seeing the film.

I remember the smell of popcorn and the squeaky, rough theater seats. I remember when the opening text faded into space (too much to read for an eight year old) and the first ships came into view; the imperial star destroyer slowly revealing itself exchanging fire with Leia's vessel... I was in awe.

There was an intermission. I don't know why, but there was. We went out into the lobby and my dad asked how I liked it so far and I couldn't speak. All I wanted was to get back in the theater to see what happened next. I didn't care that I got a Three Musketeers bar.

We went to see it the next day; same theater, same time. We had to. There was no choice. The kid who knew the words was still there. It was better the second time.

That summer, every birthday party was a Star Wars party. It was required. We'd do the party stuff, then rush to the theater to watch it again.

We'd make our own Star Wars toys. I'd wear a karate gi top, my dad's belt, and horseback riding boots to be Luke. A flashlight was our light sabre and a squirt gun was our blaster. It didn't matter. It was awesome.