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page created: 5/19/99



Pictures from the Line
Star Wars: Episode I Premiere Screening
Mann's Westwood Village - 12:01 AM

Well, the Star Wars fans were out in force last night all across the country, and Westwood, CA was no exception. The Mann's Westwood Village theater, nestled next to the UCLA campus, was bustling with anticipation as 12:01 AM approached. Outside, the line to get in stretched well around the block, filled with at least a couple thousand fans, who had come to see not only the first show, but also the 3:30 AM show as well! And lots of those who left the 12:01 screening got right back in line for the 3:30, and the 6AM, and so on.... They're still going strong over there.

The theater packs more than 1200 seats, and the show was absolutely full. Best of all, the crowd was fully rowdy after 16 years of waiting. I half expected Kiss to walk out on stage - it was a definite rock concert atmosphere. There were beach balls going, a couple attempts at the wave, and a gauntlet of TV cameras. The crowd even went nuts for the previews, cheering Austin Powers, Chow Yun-fat (Anna) and South Park's Cartman, and loudly jeering John Travolta (The General's Daughter) and Leonardo DiCaprio (The Beach). A hush came over the crowd when Fox's animated Titan A.E. trailer ran. And, naturally, all hell broke loose when the words, "a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away..." appeared on-screen.

All in all, it as great fun. We even met a bunch of regular Bits readers in line, including a pair of X-Wing pilots. And I'd like to say a quick hello to our new friends over at videogame maker Novalogic - the whole company it seems was at the show. Can't wait to see that new space-shooter, guys! There were some definite costumes in evidence, and more lightsabers than you could shake a... well, a lightsaber at. We've posted a few of the more interesting pix here for you to see. Enjoy!

Mann's Westwood Village theater.
Mann's Westwood Village theater.

About the first one-fifth of the line...
About the first one-fifth of the line...

...and the last one-fifth of the line, on the other side of the block.
...and the last one-fifth of the line, on the other side of the block.

Princess Liea's been taking hormone treatments apparently.Darth Maul and an unidentified female Jedi.
Princess Liea's been taking hormone treatments apparently. Darth Maul and an unidentified female Jedi were also in attendance.

Darth and the unknown Jedi put on a show for the crowd...
Darth and the unknown Jedi put on a show for the crowd...

...for quite a while (I think the result was a tie).
...for quite a while (I think the result was a tie).

A pair of Rogue Squadron's finest.
A pair of Rogue Squadron's finest (Joe D'Angelo and Greg Perrine).
They asked us to add the saber blade - who were we to turn them down?

The crowd going out... and getting back in line!
The crowd going out... and getting back in line!




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