'STAR WARS' AT 40: FANDOM BEGINS!

Advert from Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine.

Back in the halcyon days before the home computer and social media revolution, there was the fan club. And in the bright and breezy mid-seventies, there were so many great fan clubs celebrating now iconic film and TV stars. But surely the biggest and most popular worldwide in 1977/78 had to be the one soon launched for the overwhelming enthusiasm and demand of fans for all things Star Wars, and anyone who joined the official STAR WARS FAN CLUB, run by members of the Star Wars Corporation itself, certainly got good value for money with a terrific, high quality and exclusive merchandise pack, including pens, a patch, photos, new poster art by Ralph McQuarrie and, of course, the start of a regular newsletter: Bantha Tracks.

Oh, what a joy it was to be a STAR WARS fan in the prime of that original film's release...

'STAR WARS' AT 40: RACING FROM OBLIVION!

Time is running out, the Death Star is in firing range and his best friend Biggs in his accompanying X-wing fighter has been murdered by a TIE fighter trio intent on wiping out any intruders, yet Luke Skywalker, guided by the mysterious presence of Obi-Wan Kenobi, is approaching the exhaust port target zone. Will Luke succeed in his mission?

Spectacular poster art by Ralph McQuarrie for the worldwide STAR WARS FAN CLUB in 1977, that more than sums up the original STAR WARS brilliant and suspenseful finale.