Tolerance Project extra a long time ago in a Galaxy far far away
Part 2 The Galatic toybox Star Wars in other media and the start of the out of this this world Toyline
Hello there and welcome to chapter two of this revised blog that looks at the original Star Wars film from 1977
Part one looked at the making of Star Wars this chapter looks at Star Wars in other media from the books and the comics to the 1981 radio series and the out of this world toyline that started in 1978
This edition includes new material on the Star wars annual from 1978 The story of Star Wars LP and the Topps Trading cards and the 1982 UK television Premire
Star Wars From The Adventures Of Luke Skywalker Alan Dean Foster
Though initially credited to George Lucas, this Star Wars novelization was actually ghostwritten by sci-fi icon Alan Dean Foster, who wrote it based off the film’s shooting script and Xerox copies of artist Ralph McQuarrie’s pre-production paintings. Foster also spent a day in an Industrial Light And Magic screening room with Lucas and graphic designer Saul Bass, watching unedited, soundless footage of Tie Fighters zooming around and getting blown up.
From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker was published six months before the movie came out in May 1977, and it was panned by critics—but audiences loved it, and the book sold through its initial 500,000-print run by February, still three months before the film’s premiere. By the time the movie came out, another 3.5 million copies had been sold, making it one of the most successful novelizations of all time. (Foster was paid $7500 for the work—worth about $40,000 today
The novelization hits all the movie’s high points, but there are some fascinating differences (a lightsaber is described as a “gizmo” with “a number of jewel-like components built into both the handle and the disk,” for example) that give it a different type of feel from the film. It all adds more to the Star Wars universe, and some of details about certain planets, languages, history, and technology have since become canon for fans.
To go with the book that was in publication while George lucas was still making Star Wars the film was adapted into a a four part comic book series by Marvel Comics you can read about it by watching these 2 videos from Retro Marvel Man on Youtube click here
In the UK, where oversized hardcover "Annuals" are a Christmas tradition, all three films received dedicated releases. In the US, Marvel’s Star Wars Annuals were standard-sized comic books and generally featured original stories rather than film adaptations.
Star Wars (A New Hope): The 1978 Star Wars Annual was the very first. It adapted the original film, famously starting in black and white and switching to color midway through.
in 1979 Star Wars was turned into a 24 page book and tape by the Disney company you can listen to that version by clicking here
The story of Story of Star Wars
In 1977, before the era of home video (VHS/Betamax), fans had no way to "watch" Star Wars at home. To fill this gap, 20th Century Fox Records released The Story of Star Wars, a record album that became a massive cultural artifact of the 1970s.
Unlike a standard soundtrack which only features music, this album was an audio drama—a condensed, 50-minute version of the entire movie.
Key Features of the Album
Narrated Experience: The story is guided by the deep, authoritative voice of Roscoe Lee Browne. He provides the connective tissue between scenes, describing the action as it unfolds.
Original Audio: It uses the actual dialogue, sound effects (Ben Burtt), and music (John Williams) from the film. This gave fans the "real" experience of the movie in their living rooms.
Gatefold & Booklet: Most copies came in a gatefold sleeve containing a 16-page full-color booklet. This was essential for fans to follow along with the visuals of the film while listening.
Commercial Success: The album was a smash hit, eventually being certified Gold by the RIAA (selling over 500,000 copies).
To listen to the record click here
The 1977 Topps Star Wars trading cards are some of the most iconic non-sport collectibles ever produced. Released alongside the original film, the set was so successful it eventually expanded into five distinct series, totaling 330 base cards and 55 stickers.
Series 1Blue (Starfield)1–66 Includes #1 Luke Skywalker and core character debuts.
Series 2 Red 67–132 Features many iconic action shots from the film.
Series 3 Yellow 133–198Focuses more on supporting characters and aliens.
Series 4 Green 199–264Home to the infamous "Golden Rod" error card
.Series 5 Orange 265–330 The final set, often harder to find in pristine condition.
Just before Star Wars got a television Premiere in the UK it was adapted into a 13 part Radio series braodcast by NPR radio in the United states and BBC radio 1 in the UK.
It first aired in the US on March 2nd 1981 It was adapted by Brian Daley from the 1977 film, and directed by John Madden, with music by John Williams and sound design for Lucasfilm by Ben Burtt. The serial was recorded in 1981 at Westlake Recording Studios in West Hollywood, California.
Daley adapted the script partly using material from earlier drafts of Lucas's scripts, and restored several scenes cut from the final edit of the film, as well as adding original new scenes created specially for the audio version. The narrative of the first two episodes takes place entirely before the opening scene of the 1977 film, and expands the background to events leading up to the capture of the Tantive IV spacecraft above the planet Tatooine.
Episode 1, largely based on cut scenes from the original, explores the life of Luke Skywalker on Tatooine. During the story, Luke's skyhopper (a vehicle seen in the background in Luke's garage during the film) is damaged during a desert race; Luke sees the distant Star Destroyer battle in the sky; and he is reunited with his childhood friend, Biggs Darklighter. Episode 2, made up of material written entirely by Daley, provides backstory to Princess Leia's acquisition of the Death Star plans from agents of the Rebel Alliance on the planet Toprawa.
In scenes set on the planet Alderaan, Leia discusses the plans with her father, Prestor Organa, and determines to go in search of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Later episodes mostly follow the storyline of the film, but additional scenes expand the narrative. In one scene, Han Solo has a meeting with an agent of Jabba the Hutt called Heater; this dialogue is based on a scene in which Solo meets a humanoid Jabba in the docking bay, cut from the original film but later reinstated in the 1997 Special Edition in modified form. In another episode, Daley inserts a conversation in which Admiral Motti attempts to convince Grand Moff Tarkin to leverage the Death Star as a political tool.
The radio version of Star wars proved to be very popular so much so that the other two films in the Original trilogy Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi were also adapted to the radio format Empire was adapted into a 10 part radio series with a running time of 4 hours 22 mins recorded in 1982 at A&R Studios, New York City.The series debuted on NPR on February 14, 1983. in the United States
The last film in the Trilogy Return of The Jedi was adapted for radio in 1996 it was adapted into 6 chapters by by Highbridge Audio, the company that had released the first two series on tape and CD. The production returned to the Westlake Recording Studios, where the original series had been recorded.
Star Wars Gets its first TV airing in the UK in 1982
I remember watching on its first British TV premeire when the ITV network showed on the 24th of October 1982 as a a 5 year old it left a rather big impression on me . with its massive space battles light saber fights and the souring music by John Williams
To watch some video from that Star Wars Premire in 1982 click here
The Beginning Of the out of This World Toyline
The toys were made by Kenner in the US and released by Palitoy in the UK which imported the figures and packaged them in the UK on Palitoy branded cardbacks.
Between 1978 and 1985, Kenner produced and sold action figures based on the Star Wars franchise. From a line of over 100 unique toys, a total of more than 300 million units were sold during their original run.
The license for Star Wars action figures was offered in 1976 to the Mego Corporation, which was the leading company in action figures in the 1970s. Mego refused the offer and the license was subsequently picked up by Kenner.
Star Wars was the first film to successfully market toys based on the movie. In fact, they were so successful that George Lucas independently used the funds to finance the next two movie chapters, The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983).
Although the original Star Wars film had been released in May 1977, Kenner was unprepared for the unprecedented response to the film and the high demand for toys, mainly due to George Lucas's unwillingness to provide character/vehicle designs for fear his creations would be plagiarized by movie/TV competitors. Unable to build sufficient stock in time for the lucrative Christmas market, they instead sold an "Early Bird Certificate Package" which included a certificate which could be mailed to Kenner and redeemed for four Star Wars action figures. The first four figures to be distributed were Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Chewbacca and R2-D2. The box also contains a diorama display stand, some stickers, and a Star Wars fan club membership card.
By the time the action figures were offered for direct sale in shops, the range had been augmented with a further eight figures—C-3PO, Darth Vader, Stormtrooper, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Han Solo, Jawa, Sand People, and Death Squad Commander—bringing the total number of figures in the initial release to twelve. These were supplemented later in 1978 with a number of vehicle and playset accessories, as well as the J.C. Penney exclusive Sonic controlled landspeeder and the Sears exclusive Cantina adventure playset which introduced four new figures.
You might also want to watch this documentary which covers the first 21 figures in the Star Wars toy range asking the question are they any good (95) Kenner's first 21 Star Wars figures | Are they any good?! - YouTube
Like most children growing up in the 1980s Star wars was part of the landscape growing up Me and Matthew bought most of the toys and played Star wars at home..
I used to be Han Solo and Matthew my Brother would be Luke Skywalker my bed would be the Millennium Falcon and my Teddy Edward would be Chewbacca. To watch a documentary on the Star Wars toy range click here
The very first Star wars figure me and Matthew got as presents were a Darth Vader figure for me and Luke Skywalker Jedi knight for Matthew from our Nan.
From then on we would get figures as treats save up our pocket money or a get the figures or a spaceship/Vehicle for Christmas or a birthday present.
So it must have been about 1983 when we first got those figures I remember Luke Skywalker had a lightsaber that didnt fit in his hand very well and mum flattening Luke's blaster with her iron ha ha we sorted out the lightsaber problem when I bought the R2D2 figure that came with a lightsaber that seemed to fit his hand like a glove
Apparently the issue with Luke Skywalkers lightsaber has been fixed when the figure was re-issued for the Star Wars Black series
The first big Spaceship I remember getting as a birthday present was the Snow Speeder that Luke Skywalker flew during the Battle of Hoth in Empire a great flyer but very heavy to lift when your little the guns on the speeder would light up when you pressed a button. Advert for the snowspeeder click here
Matthew got Luke’s X wing fighter the wings unfolded when you pressed a button on R2D2s head Toy Advert for the X wing and Tie fighter click here
The best Christmas present I ever got was the Millennium Falcon playset and Matthew was rather pleased when on the same day he got the Ewok Village . Toy adverts for the Millennium Falcon playset click here
and Ewok Village click here
Star Wars from the Adventures of Luke Skywalker book cover from 1976
Star Wars the Story of record cover
Star Wars Topps trading card from 1977 from series 1 featuring Han Solo
Star Wars Radio Poster from 1981
TV Times Magazine cover from October 1982
Comic strip advert advertising Star wars toys
Early Bird toy promontion
Darth Vader action figure
Luke Skywalker Jedi Knight figure
R2D2 action figure with realible lightsaber
Thank you to Wikipedia for the background information on the making of Star Wars and its Toyline Thank you to Youtube for the Vairous adverts for the Star war toys also thank you to the vairous websites for their Star Wars articles featured in this first chapter including Movieweb, Screenrant, Gizmondo and Retro Marvel Man for his Youtube videos on the Star Wars comic adaptions
And the Star Wars Radio Youtube page for the 1979 storybook and tape version of the film
The Movieweb website included Darth Vader at Number 3 in their article 10 Best Movie Character Introductions, Ranked you can read the full list by clicking here https://movieweb.com/movie-character-introductions/#james-bond-mdash-dr-no
This article list 20 of John Williams best film scores with both the scores for Star Wars and its sequel the Empire Strikes back both in the top 10 for the full list click here John Williams' best film scores of all time, ranked (avclub.com)
The Mary Sue film website also published a list of his 12 best film Scores you can read that by clicking here https://www.themarysue.com/best-john-williams-scores-ranked/
Collider.com reporting an AFI list (American film institute) of the top ten best Film soundtracks of all time Star Wars was number 1 in this list you can see the full list by clicking on this link 10 Best Movie Scores, According to the AFI (collider.com)
The Movieweb website published a list called the 18 greatest Scifi film Franchises of all time Star Wars was number 2 on their list you can read the full list by clicking here https://movieweb.com/best-sci-fi-film-franchises/#bill-and-ted
Tolerance Project extra a long time ago in a galaxy far far away part 3 a lost sequel an ice planet.
