The 1970s: When Star Wars First Became A Massive Hit

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Lucas And Spielberg With Best Director Nomination Placques American directors George Lucas (L) and Steven Spielberg hold their Best Director nomination plaques at the Directors Guild of America annual awards dinner held at the Beverly Hilton, Bevery Hills, California, March 11, 1978. Lucas was nominated for his film, 'Star Wars' and Spielberg for his film, 'Close Encounters of The Third Kind,' though neither won. Photo by Frank Edwards/Fotos International/Getty Images) (Fotos International/Getty Images)

JUN 15 1977 - 'Star Wars' has Given three Performers that All-Important Break JUN 15 1977 - 'Star Wars' has Given three Performers that All-Important Break. Featured in the popular science fantasy movie are, from left, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford. The three were in Denver for a press tour. (Photo By Steve Larson/The Denver Post via Getty Images) (Steve Larson/Denver Post via Getty Images)

May 25, 1977: Fans line up during opening weekend to see "Star Wars" at the Coronet Theatre in San Francisco. May 25, 1977: Fans line up during opening weekend to see "Star Wars" at the Coronet Theatre in San Francisco. The Geary Boulevard movie house seated close to 2,000 and became a Mecca for the "Star Wars" films, before it was demolished in 2007. (Photo by Gary Fong/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images) (San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst N/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Imag)

May 28, 1978: The Coronet Theatre in San Francisco, on the Saturday afternoon after "Star Wars" opened in the city May 28, 1978: The Coronet Theatre in San Francisco, on the Saturday afternoon after "Star Wars" opened in the city. The movie played exclusively in San Francisco at the Coronet, and lines snaked around the block for weeks. Longtime Chronicle photographer Gary Fong took this photo in the middle of the day for a Chronicle story on the movie's surprise popularity and impact on the neighborhood. On a busy day, Fong had to take the photo close to noon - he later said "the light was terrible" - but he still captured a moment in history. (Photo by Gary Fong/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images) (San Francisco Chronicle/Hearst N/Hearst Newspapers via Getty Imag)

May 03, 2025 at 12:05 pm EDT

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