Star Wars at the Movies

With the Man in the Hat returning to the big screen for the first time in 15 years for one “last” adventure, enjoy this one-time-only special presentation dedicated to Henry Jones, Jr. Mark Newbold closes a pub with Robert Watts, Jason Gibner stealthily skips school to see The Last Crusade on opening day, Ryan Beise ponders Indy’s immortality and Imagineer Tony Baxter looks back on bringing Disneyland’s Temple of the Forbidden Eye to life. It’s an INDIANA JONES EPIC MOVIEGOING MEMORY SPECTACULAR!

Writer, researcher and all around Star Wars enthusiast Amy Richau shares memories of seeing the Original Trilogy during her youth in Billings, Montana and traces her career path in film preservation that led to a stint in the vault of the Lucasfilm Archives at Skywalker Ranch. Amy also reflects on the inspiration for and development of the 365 Star Wars Women project and finding a second family among the Star Wars fan community.

Talking Bay 94's Brandon Wainerdi recalls formative movie-going moments growing up in Plano, TX in the late 90s and early 2000s. Traversing the entire modern and postmodern Star Wars theatrical experience, Brandon shares how it's inspired his behind-the-scenes passions and creative fandom. Plus, an observance the Star Wars Trilogy: Special Edition's 25th Anniversary.

The 20th installment of the podcast commemorates 20 years of Attack of the Clones with a battalion of fans and friends sharing their Episode II recollections and reflections. From online spoiler forums and Celebration II to red carpet encounters and the hunt for the elusive “digi-proj,” 2002 springs back to life like an incredibly old frog dueling an evil retired Jedi in this retrospective on a movie created at a pivotal crossroads of cinematic art and technology.

To cap off Season 5, host Stephen Danley descends alone into the Erso homestead cave bunker to take a retrospective look at Rogue One on the 5th Anniversary of its theatrical release in 2016. The film’s advertising buildup and onscreen follow-through as a “war picture” sets the stage for Stephen’s personal Rogue One movie-going “Star Wars Story” in cinemas around Los Angeles and an epilogue of on location memories from the South Coast of Iceland.

Genre geek podcaster and fan Carlos Perrone shares memories of his introduction to Star Wars (or La Guerra de las Galaxias) in Uruguay’s capital of Montevideo before moving with his family to New York ahead of the release of The Empire Strikes Back. Carlos then recalls an opening day double viewing of Return of the Jedi in his Queens neighborhood of Jackson Heights and making a special trip to Los Angeles for Starlog’s 10th Anniversary convention.

Washington DC local and lifelong fan Erik Janniche shares stories of seeing the Original Trilogy while growing up in the nearby Maryland suburbs of Greenbelt and New Carrollton. Erik then discusses collecting ephemera documenting the area’s theatrical Star Wars history and recounts the spark of seeing Star Wars: Special Edition at DC’s legendary Uptown Theater that led to him to organizing (and negotiating) the venue’s epic campout for The Phantom Menace.

A trio of key contributors to the Rancho Cucamonga Public Library’s “Star Wars Day” lead off Season 5 of the podcast. Event co-founders Allen Callaci and Adam Tuckerman along with Master of Ceremonies Shawn “Obi-Shawn” Crosby recall seeing the classic films in several cherished Southern California theaters (and one unidentified cinema in Illinois), then share memories of the Library celebration’s humble beginnings and reflect on its growing community impact.

Aviation enthusiast and first generation fan Hal Bryan recalls seeing the Star Wars Trilogy in some of the Seattle area’s classic movie theaters, including the UA 150 where The Empire Strikes Back’s record-setting 61 week run took place. Bryan also sheds light on the origin and development of The Rocketeer Minute podcast. Plus, a behind-the-scenes look at Empire’s Fall 1979 theatrical trailer in celebration of the ultimate sequel’s 40th anniversary.

Disney Legend and Imagineer Tony Baxter shares memories of seeing Star Wars at Graumann’s Chinese Theatre and remaining wide awake for a 5am opening night screening of The Empire Strikes Back. Baxter then recounts the trajectory of his long and impactful career designing Disney theme park attractions, including the pathway of collaboration and ingenuity that made the Star Wars adventure real with the original landmark Star Tours simulator ride in 1987.