Star Wars At The BBC
At the recommendation of a customer (thanks Will), last weekend we popped along to the incredible Echo Base Live: Destroy The Death Star convention in Redditch, Worcestershire. This twice a year event is a Star Wars toy collector's dream. I had never seen so many original figures.
This fantastic video from VTR Dave on his Vintage Toy Rush YouTube channel captures the day perfectly.
Growing up, I only ever had a single C-3PO figure, but I cherished it. Echo Base took me right back there, to the days of the late 1970's and 1980's. To an all together better time.
Do you remember the Saturday morning excitement of the Multi-Coloured Swap Shop?
Whenever my sister stepped out of line, my father would threaten to call Noel Edmonds and swap her. What for, I was never sure. Perhaps it was an original Millennium Falcon toy. Back then, to eight year old me, that would have been a good deal. (Sorry Sis.)
Each week Noel, Keith Chegwin, John Craven and Maggie Philbin would chat with some special guests and perhaps have a competition. I will never forget the week that C-3PO appeared! They had a terrific Star Wars competition and despite research in the local library for the right answers, I didn't win.
That was just one of a number of appearances on the BBC by Star Wars actors during promotion for the original trilogy and the Beeb has put together a wonderful compilation, hosted by the fantastic Peter Sarafinowicz.
Let this take you back to long-hair, flared jeans and lightsaber fights in your Nan's garden! :-)
I think the young Peter liked Carrie Fisher. :-)
If all that has whetted your appetite for more Star Wars nostalgia, the next Echo Base Live event is in October.
We cannot wait!
