45 Years of Star Wars Nostalgia: A Psychologist Remembers
I recently watched a Star Wars marathon for probably the 100th time. It never gets old. One of the reasons I watch the original film so many times is almost exclusively about nostalgia. The film reminds me a really special time in my life and the first PG film of my life. I was 8 years old.
Seeing the original trilogy films is essentially my childhood. And so, here is a psychologist’s 40 most nostalgic moments from 1977-ish.
40. Not the Christmas Special!
39. Mark Hamill on the Muppet Show
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxWuacDLc9U
38. Waiting for the preorder of the Kenner action figures based on paper cutouts.
37. Famous Monsters of Filmland highlighting behind the scenes of Star Wars (pre-internet)
36. My first R2-D2 stuffed animal
35. Luke vs. Vader racetrack. I would kill to still have this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa4m1LtZqiI
34. The Sears Christmas Wish book and circling all the Star Wars toys from the movie
33. The release of the Kenner “sound effect” Millenium Falcon
32. Going to Episode IV with someone who never saw it
31. The news that there would be a sequel to An New Hope
30. Braided buns and Leia as a killer female character
29. X-Wing and Tie Fighter and the action figures fit!
28. May the Force Be With You
27. The first X-wing lunch box
26. Han saving Luke and the destruction of the Death Star
25. The original comic books with a green Darth Vader
24. The Burger King “actual glass,” glasses (don’t put in dishwasher)
23. Trading cards with behind the scenes images, gum, and if you collect them all, a puzzle
22. Jawas and the capture of R2-D2
21. The first time we see the Death Star Fire, “You may fire when ready.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0qLzsIhUMk
20. Being a child of the 70’s, World War II movies made Star Wars feel like a real war movie.
19. The Cantina Music and Han shot first!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6PDcBhODqo
18. My first Tusken Raider puzzle. And I never opened it.
17. Plastic models by MPG and the sweet smell of plastic glue
16. Light sabers slid out of the toy Vader and Kenobi arms
15. Watching Star Wars again the following summer (1978) because...no VHS.