The Spaceport

From even the beginning of the Star Wars Era, way back in 1977, Star Wars has flooded the collector and consumer market. Everything from bed sheets to action figures became hot sellers and die-hard fans became collectors.
After the hype and excitement of Return of the Jedi, the last of the original trilogy, died down the flood ended and fans were left wanting more. Not only did we want/need the rest of the saga but we needed more Skywalkers, Solos, ships, aliens, good guys, bad guys, and so forth to fill our basements, closets, and every inch of spare space.

At last! In 1996 and 1997 the original movies were re-released and the Special Editions were released and the market was once again swamped with Star Wars! New products we could not begin to dream of were out and once again children were trick-or-treating as Darth Vader and Princess Leia. We had 2 new sets of video tapes in pretty cardboard boxes, more t-shirts than we could keep track of, fast food restaurants giving away toys, cups, and even clothing with the famous SW logo, and so very much more.

In 1999 hearts of fans everywhere go pitter-patter for the great beginning of everybody’s favorite saga. Even before the movie hit the theaters merchandise and pictures were everywhere. Action figures hung on racks in every toy-selling store imaginable. Shirts featuring characters we had never seen before hung on hangers and fans wielding the new double lightsaber stood in line for tickets to the first screening of the new movie.

The new generation of Star Wars fan was introduced not just to the story but the extensive merchandising of Lucasfilm Ltd. They drank their juice from Darth Vader mugs, fought battles with their Gungan battle toy sets, fell asleep with the Jar Jar dolls, put together their R2-D2 3-D puzzles, and hung a wide selection of “Every Saga Has a Beginning” posters on their walls.

Episode 2 brought helmets and rubik’s cube puzzles in cereal boxes and large plastic cup toppers to the market. It brought themed puzzles in metal tins and lightsaber wielding Yoda’s to fans of all ages.

And now, in the start of the 2004 summer season, fans wait anxiously for their DVD collections and whole new sets of toys, clothing, and everything else. We look forward as well to the end of the beginning, Episode 3, and all that it will bring. Collectors of all ages all over the world will swamp stores to have their newest pieces of the saga, knowing full well that when it’s gone it might be forever gone. At least until someone decides to bring it all out again because we all know, because it’s Star Wars we’ll buy it.



	Diversity in Star Wars Merchandise & The Love of Fans From even the beginning of the Star Wars Era, way back in 1977, Star Wars has flooded the collector and consumer market. Everything from bed sheets to action figures became hot sellers and die-hard fans became collectors. After the hype and excitement of Return of the Jedi, the last of the original trilogy, died down the flood ended and fans were left wanting more. Not only did we want/need the rest of the saga but we needed more Skywalkers, Solos, ships, aliens, good guys, bad guys, and so forth to fill our basements, closets, and every inch of spare space. At last! In 1996 and 1997 the original movies were re-released and the Special Editions were released and the market was once again swamped with Star Wars! New products we could not begin to dream of were out and once again children were trick-or-treating as Darth Vader and Princess Leia. We had 2 new sets of video tapes in pretty cardboard boxes, more t-shirts than we could keep track of, fast food restaurants giving away toys, cups, and even clothing with the famous SW logo, and so very much more. In 1999 hearts of fans everywhere go pitter-patter for the great beginning of everybody’s favorite saga. Even before the movie hit the theaters merchandise and pictures were everywhere. Action figures hung on racks in every toy-selling store imaginable. Shirts featuring characters we had never seen before hung on hangers and fans wielding the new double lightsaber stood in line for tickets to the first screening of the new movie. The new generation of Star Wars fan was introduced not just to the story but the extensive merchandising of Lucasfilm Ltd. They drank their juice from Darth Vader mugs, fought battles with their Gungan battle toy sets, fell asleep with the Jar Jar dolls, put together their R2-D2 3-D puzzles, and hung a wide selection of “Every Saga Has a Beginning” posters on their walls. Episode 2 brought helmets and rubik’s cube puzzles in cereal boxes and large plastic cup toppers to the market. It brought themed puzzles in metal tins and lightsaber wielding Yoda’s to fans of all ages. And now, in the start of the 2004 summer season, fans wait anxiously for their DVD collections and whole new sets of toys, clothing, and everything else. We look forward as well to the end of the beginning, Episode 3, and all that it will bring. Collectors of all ages all over the world will swamp stores to have their newest pieces of the saga, knowing full well that when it’s gone it might be forever gone. At least until someone decides to bring it all out again because we all know, because it’s Star Wars we’ll buy it. --Empress Palpatine Archives