'HAPPY LIFE DAY!' FOR 'THE HOLIDAY SPECIAL'!

It's back to business for Bea Arthur's memorable Ackmena and her memorable weird and wonderful patrons at the Cantina, in this great posed B/W shot for The Star Wars Holiday Special of 1978, a programme whose unique legacy remains both a positive and negative factor for its makers and fans within the franchise's early history!

HAPPY LIFE DAY! to all STAR WARS AFICIONADO readers worldwide!

BEHIND THE SCENES: THE EVOLUTION OF THE 'TONNIKA TWINS'

The Tonnika Twins (centre) were a memorable part of the original Star Wars Cantina scenes.

If there was ever a sequence in the original Star Wars that fans assuredly signify as a space-age western homage, it has to be what took place in the smoky den of inequity that was Mos Eisley's Cantina, where a veritable host of unusual creatures gathered together to share laughs, share anecdotes, make business deals, and get drunk in between watching blaster (or lightsaber) brawls. Adding to the diverse mix were the two 'Space Girls' (as referred to in the call sheets for the mid-April 1976 filming on this busy Elstree Studios soundstage), to be played by classy, and tall, top British models/ supporting artists Angela Staines (green outfitted) and the late Christine Hewett (blue outfitted). They were definitely considered at that time the typical Western 'saloon girls'-type for the film, but handled in a subtle family audience way, with their striking beauty on display for several atmospheric background scene moments only (not all of which made the final cut). Off set, the near all-male UK film crew adult-humorously and cheekily referred to the characters, not the actresses (though they were certainly aware of the attention they were getting), as 'Star Whores'! 

Staines recalled on her Facebook page in 2020 that the pipes the two girls smoked at the bar 'probably were Hukah pipes without the herby stuff! I think I can remember blowing bubbles in the coloured liquid in the bottom!"

By the time the Classic Trilogy's events and characters were being exhaustively archived and referenced by Lucasfilm and fans during the 1990's with the era of home media, the girls officially became known as 'The Tonnika Twins', with a reputation firstly as clever con artists then as lethal warriors from The Mistryl Shadow Guard, whilst their original 'occupation' in the Cantina was quietly brushed under the carpet. By 1997 onwards, the saga was now creating more aspiring and influential female characters to attract its momentous and inspired fanbase...

Angela Staines and Christine Hewett as the "Space Girls'. Note the subtle referencing to the Saloon girls of the American West with the almost holster belts and the futuristic garter ornamentation worn by Miss Staines. 

Contact sheets for the 'Space Girls' costume reference photography.

Reference image linked to the BTS documentation 'naming' of the Mos Eisley duo by the late seventies, as presented on STARWARS.COM.

Angela Staines and Christine Hewett go through a scene with an unknown crewman.

A deleted scene from an early rough cut assembly, as they confer with a Mosep (Eileen Bellson).

Angela Staines having fun on the backlot. Image: Angela Staines.

Staines and Hewett at Elstree with an unknown crew member-likely Peter Diamond's informant character (middle), Marcus Powell ('Little Flash Gordon', from a deleted Mos Eisley street scene) and Gilda Cohen during April 1976.

2000's visual production information compiled for STARWARS.COM from original reference materials.

Both Staines and Hewett were no strangers to playing intriguing alien beauties in sci-fi, having prior been psychedelic-costumed people alongside the iconic Christopher Lee in an excellent episode of the then first-time-aired Gerry and Sylvia Anderson series Space: 1999, a show which, only the previous year (1975), had already altered the visual destiny of George Lucas's famed smuggling ship, the Millennium Falcon, due to early visuals of the vessel being too close to that TV show's memorable Eagle Transporters.

Hewett (left) and Staines (middle) as they appeared in SPACE: 1999, alongside Barry Morse. Image: ITV Studios.

Christine Hewett signing at Celebration Europe, London, during 2007. Image: FACEBOOK.

Angela Staines at a recent US convention signing event. Image: FACEBOOK.

Though Christine Hewett would go on to attend SW events and signings up to her sad passing, it would seem that long-term Lucasfilm behind the scenes legal/merchandising disputes may have prevented Angela Staines, now a successful businesswoman in her own right, from becoming as immersed in her convention participations/meeting the fans as she would have liked. Thankfully, things have changed for the better, and Miss Staines has already attended several signing events this past year.

Angela Staines video interviews: 

https://vimeo.com/26840820

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezw2AKxozu8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8Yu1fKCDko

UPDATE -August 2024: Good news from Angela Staines via her FB page:

THE 'HOLIDAY SPECIAL' AT 40: MORE SCUM, MORE VILLAINY!

Casting top television personalities of their time for The Star Wars Holiday Special, one notable example was popular actress and comedy star Bea Arthur, best known for her roles in Alice and The Golden Girls. Here she played Ackmena, the kindly but strict owner of one of the top Cantina's on Tatooine, often prone to singing with her clientele of very familiar aliens created or adapted/modified from stock by Rick Baker and his team for Star Wars just a year earlier. (Alongside several still intact creations from Stuart Freeborn's UK side of the shoot, too.)

Here's the great rogues gallery listing that originally appeared in Star Wars Insider magazine a few years back. This great collective image also memorably graced the cover to the classic Starlog magazine that covered the 'event' TV special back in the day.

http://starlogged.blogspot.com/2012/09/1978-star-wars-holiday-special-in.html

BEHIND THE SCENES: MASK MYTH MAKER!

Posing for an of-its-time magazine shoot wearing the mark of a horned devil of the US filmed Cantina insert sequences (later known as a Devaronian, and played in January 1977 by one of the female ILM secretaries), Rick Baker's job on the original Star Wars, despite pretty low pay and little time to do his work in comparison to another project he was then working on, was ultimately a dream come true for the makeup/mask pioneer, on the kind of space adventure he'd always wanted to see come to cinematic life. Recommended to Lucas by ILM staffer Denis Muren, Baker had already started to become an enthused legend in his field, and had recently played King Kong in a 1976 remake.

Classic Rick Baker 1977 interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4CFR6sv3Ak&feature=youtu.be

Modern Baker interview: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDyq6p7_dQo

With thanks to Chris Baker.

CLASSIC IMAGE: UNFRIENDLY GESTURES!

He said things 'could get a little rough', and Ben wasn't kidding, as Luke finds out during an unfortunate incident with wanted criminals 'Ugly Human' (aka Doctor Evazan) and 'Walrus Man' (aka Ponda Baba), in an intriguing Cantina scene angle not seen in the finished Star Wars.

Alfie Curtis's original UK UGLY agency showcase advert from the seventies.

I was sad to hear of the recent passing of Alfie Curtis, who played Evazan, at the end of last year:

https://www.fanthatracks.com/news/film-music-tv/alfie-curtis-dr-evazan-passed-away/

A look at the human characters of the Cantina: http://www.starwars.com/news/meet-the-humans-from-the-mos-eisley-cantina

'STAR WARS' AT 40: BACK TO THE CANTINA...

On a hastily built set within a downtown Los Angeles studio, George Lucas and fellow film-making chum Carroll Ballard (later director of the children's classic, The Black Stallion) as his director of photography, prepare to film a 24th January, 1977 shot of a Hammerhead creature for an aliens insert scene set in the Mos Eisley Cantina, for the original Star Wars.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: CANTINA DELIGHTS...

In the diverse human and alien filled Cantina of Mos Eisley spaceport, barkeep Wuher (Ted Burnett) enjoys the view and company of the statuesque and striking 'space girls' later named the Tonnika Sisters by the Expanded Universe (played by lovely model/actresses Angela Staines (in green) and Christine Hewett (blue), whose scenes were filmed in mid to late April 1976 on a smokey and atmospheric set at Elstree Studios.

Check out this great all-new interview via Victoria's Cantina with the rarely seen, lively and informative Angela Staines:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8Yu1fKCDko

With thanks to Chris Baker for the heads-up.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: BACK TO THE CANTINA!

Another one of the finest STAR WARS posters ever produced, as the Hildebrandt Brothers take us back into the atmospheric delights of the creature-packed Mos Eisley Cantina- nostalgically, I first remember seeing this image used in the UK/US STAR WARS souvenir magazine of 1977/78, whose faded pages and ripped corners are a fine testament as to how much I enjoyed reading it from cover to cover, both then and now.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: "SORRY FOR THE MESS!"

The original "Han shoots first" scene with Greedo, as presented in the original 1976 Marvel Comics adaptation: Issue Two, 1976. Art by Howard Chaykin. Adaptor Roy Thomas uses most of the dialogue as originally scripted and filmed beween Harrison Ford and Paul Blake at Elstree.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: A NEW LEASE OF DEATH!

Greedo's alive. Then dead. Then alive again! The latter condition occurring temporarily in late January 1977 reshoots via Canadian actress Maria de Aragon, stepping into the mildly revised costume previously worn in the UK by Paul Blake during April 1976, which this time holds internal workings for the alien's large hands, whilst wearing the hot and restrictive redeveloped Greedo mask courtesy of Rick Baker.

Note background left the three-legged Artoo awaiting some additional close-in shots for late editing inclusion.

Maria de Aragorn.

Maria De Aragon, Greedo in A New Hope, Has Died Aged 81 - Jedi News

'STAR WARS' AT 40: "FAST SHIP?"

From first impressions, Luke may not be impressed with Han Solo's grand blase about his Corellian flying skills and starship, but Ben Kenobi senses that there's more to the pilot and his loyal Wookiee friend than meets the eye, in this alternate take image of a classic image in the Cantina.

Seemingly one of their primary operating bases, Tatooine and the Mos Eisley Cantina will hopefully make some kind of appearance in the new standalone HAN SOLO movie, which commenced shooting at Pinewood Studios yesterday.

With Alan Dean Foster's novelisation of the original film being done without seeing much completed footage, Chewbacca is described as wearing two bandoliers around him (an idea that can be seen in pre-production concept art for the film in 1975/76.

'STAR WARS' AT 40: A FATAL MOVE!

All aggressive, quick to draw their blasters humans and alien scum of the universe should take heed of the fate of the humanoid Doctor Evazan and his associate Ponda Baba in the Mos Eisley Cantina on Tatooine. They thought they could intimidate, bully, threaten and kill a seemingly innocent and precocious young boy and his old hermit acquaintance. Unfortunately, they didn't count on the old hermit being a Jedi and carrying a lightsaber. So that was the end of them!

Alec Guinness gets ready to film the lightsaber move.

Curtis and Ilsey photographed before the rehearsal/filming. Guns and limb already positioned on floor.

Taken out by Kenobi in this reaction footage.

Falling to the floor.

Further reaction shot of the duo, with limb nearby.

Filming the classic scene took place at Elstree on Tuesday 20th April 1976, with Alfie Curtis as the "Ugly Human" and Tommy Ilsey (presumed) as "Walrus Man". Note the original severed alien cup hand replaced in post production with a hairy five-fingered arm. In one of the pre-filming script drafts, the little bat-like creature next to them (credited in that day's call sheet to Gilda Cohen, though Rusty Goffe is the official inhabitant of the mask) was supposed to have been with the evil pair in taking on Kenobi, though this was ultimately changed (the idea of a third creature participant- a little rodent-like being, is also present in the official 1976 novelisation- all three slain in a fast and gruesome way by Kenobi). Off screen from the aftermath, we presume that the mutilated duo limped off fast after collapsing from Obi-Wan's strike, or that the Cantina management had the bodies quickly spirited away by a clean-up crew before any Imperials showed up!

'STAR WARS' AT 40: THE TRANSATLANTIC CANTINA SCENES

Lucas oversees the new Cantina insert filming.

With the UK Cantina set footage not proving as successful as he'd wanted it to be, the necessity of extra filming during post production saw some additional alien creatures photographed and inserted into the final editing, created courtesy of rising star make-up genius Rick Baker and his inspired, youthful team, including the likes of Phil Tippett, Jon Berg and Laine Liska.

Filming on a smooth booth set in a Los Angeles studio in January 1977.

Rare and Wacky Behind-the-Scenes Photos of the... - Gwynne Watkins

http://www.starwars.com/news/much-to-learn-you-still-have-9-things-you-might-not-know-about-the-aliens-of-star-wars-a-new-hope

'STAR WARS' AT 40: THE CANTINA

Though he's never not been aware of other worlds and lifeforms, Luke is briefly taken aback by the wide variety of humanoid and alien creatures gathered in one of Mos Eisley spaceport's most popular Cantina den's of iniquity and deal making- a perfect place for Ben Kenobi to open discreet channels for a passenger charter vessel to Alderaan with some local, or not so local, pilot talent.

A classic scene showing the many make-ups and masks created by Stuart Freeborn and his UK team, and the now iconic diverse and interesting looking extras hired in, from careers spanning across UK film and television appearances of the sixties and seventies, to play the various bar attendees.

Meet the Humans from the Mos Eisley Cantina | StarWars.com

BEHIND THE SCENES: IN WITH THE CANTINA CROWD!

On the small Cantina set recreation within a downtown Los Angeles studio, involving extra filming for the now classic scene, and using additional various masks created by Rick Baker and his friends, Producer Gary Kurtz takes some reference publicity images of a sitting down bar alien (known on set as "Louie", and later called a Devaronian in the Expanded Universe), as effects/make-up technician Jon Berg holds onto the head and neck of a removed "Hammerhead" (Ithorian) mask, in this great 1977 behind the scenes shot for the original STAR WARS.

Where possible, the added creatures for the insert sequences made the most of existing Halloween horror masks prior created by Rick Baker (notably the Devaronian), as well as some additional new creations made within a tight budget carefully controlled by Kurtz. Baker was, however, disappointed with the ultimate editorial choices made by Lucas when seeing the final Cantina sequence put together in 1977, primarily because several of the new masks didn't make it to screen.

BEHIND THE SCENES: HAN SHOOTS FIRST!

Without the mask, Paul Blake's Greedo confronts Harrison Ford's Han Solo during rehearsal.

Already a week over schedule at Elstree Studios, life is hectic for the cast and crew of STAR WARS, as the busy and smoke-fuelled Cantina interior set now sees the filming of the classic original confrontation between Harrison Ford's Han Solo and Paul Blake's out of his depth thug Greedo, whose character was originally just referred to as "the alien" in pre-production. Blake, who had previously filmed scenes in the green mask and costume for the Mos Eisley Docking Bay 94 scene, procured his role on the original STAR WARS in 1976 thanks to the help of his then friend Anthony Daniels. The Greedo mask was one of the very first developed for the movie by make-up legend Stuart Freeborn, a re-imagining of a popular creature he had conceived and built for use in a UK Bird's Eye Peas advert that Lucas had liked when first visiting his studios the year before.

Blake with the Greedo mask on for the similar publicity image.

Blake in costume as Greedo.

Cornering the Corellian in another rehearsal image.

The sequence was always conceived, scripted and filmed as Han shooting first, under the table. Important story dialogue from the later aborted Jabba the Hutt meeting sequence filmed a few short weeks prior would be incorporated during post production editing.

Original Cantina Scene - A New Hope [1080p HD] - YouTube
Han's Original Scenes : Han Shot First! - YouTube

The start of the confrontation, as scripted in March 1976.

Below are a couple of UK Script Supervisor Ann Skinner's behind the scenes continuity Polaroids during the filming, originally displayed at the UK's BFI during late 2014.

A zany reference shot of Paul Blake. Image: Ann Skinner/BFI.

Another variation image on the classic scene's rehearsal. Image: Ann Skinner/BFI.

With thanks to Ann Skinner and the BFI.

Watch the Cast of ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Weigh in on Who Shot First - YouTube
Jimmy Fallon Convinces Harrison Ford To Do A Greedo Shot First - YouTube

PARTY-TIME FOR 'THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL'!

We will surely never see its like again now that DISNEY are in charge, so let's all raise a glass anew to our zany alien compatriots at the Tatooine cantina and celebrate another glorious year for that bizarre and beloved entry to the universe that is The STAR WARS Holiday Special!

'The Star Wars Holiday Special': Read THR's 1978 Review - Hollywood Reporter

STAR WARS - HOLIDAY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL (BEST OF) - 15 MIN VERSION - YouTube