A brief overview of the OriginalTrilogy•com down the years…
Hopefully the OriginalTrilogy•com Timeline Thread will help chronicle just some of the rich history from this immense and unique site - from humble beginnings as home and beacon for the petition (for a release of the theatrical cuts to be released on DVD) - with also becoming an effective resource for the fan pressure campaign shortly after - to then becoming a community hub for many like-minded Star Wars fans in general. It’s further evolution over time to be a home for some superb and varied fan preservations, fan edits and projects - plus documentaries, technical, audio, and archival endeavours etc. As well as discussing some of the more prevalent news and events from in and around Star Wars since 2003 (or maybe 2002…), and also some of the other intriguing ventures from Star Wars fandom since.
Those of us who have been on here from the start, with the successful fan-led petition campaign on here resulting in Lucas finally relenting on previous promises that the theatrical cuts of the OT would not be seen again on home media again, actually seeing such a release (albeit a lazy, obsolete and intentionally sub-standard quality release being the 2006 ‘GOUT’ DVDs - as ‘bonus discs’ as part of a repackaging of the 2004 Special Editions on DVD). By this time members of the OT had long undertaken their own projects to preserve the theatrical cuts of the Original Trilogy in the best possible quality, along with other similar projects in assembling a more complete and thorough Special Edition than Lucasfilm had rushed out with many baffling image and quality control issues.
Some members, especially those around at the time of the release of the Original Trilogy, also catalogue Lucas remarks and statements… from both around the time of the early Special Editions - and also in the years before… ranging from his re-writing of Star Wars history, his previous decrees that movies should not be digitally altered, that films belong to the public once released etc… to many of his disingenuous and debunked edicts as why there couldn’t be an actual quality release for the theatrical cuts of the OT. Even today, members still highlight and discuss Lucas’ divisive and gaslighting statements, and the nonsensical claims he continues to make (see the ‘Archival / Historical Discussions’ section of An Index for Original Trilogy Discussion for more).
Members contributions also resulted in projects such as ‘The People vs George Lucas’ documentary, the ‘The Secret History Of Star Wars’ book, and the ‘Saving Star Wars’ website, and the ‘Star Wars Visual Comparisons’ platforms (StarWarsVisComp)… amongst many other fine projects looking to give an authentic and accurate portrayal of Star Wars history and events. Such projects helping to highlight and redress many of the numerous retconned claims and mythologising by George… that even many of the more ardent Lucas-fans have now come to acknowledge and accept… such as Lucas certainly not having 'it all planned out from the start’™ or that 'Star Wars was always the tragedy of Darth Vader’™ etc.
The forum also served as a haven for those fans who were censored and banned from the official forums and other similar sites (notably TFn) in the early-mid 2000s - for simply wanting to discuss the theatrical cuts of the Original Trilogy, the issues with the Special Editions, and highlighting Lucas’ revisionism and re-writing of history. Unfortunately the site also became a target for some Lucas zealots and bad-faith actors - issuing threats to fans undertaking such preservation projects and edits, or even for simply debunking Lucas’ claims and statements over the years. Even today, threats to life are still issued by some Lucas zealots, along with dismissing efforts made by members on here over time. (See the ‘Other websites / communities supposed issues with the OT•com or the unaltered theatrical cuts’ section of An Index for Original Trilogy Discussion for more).
However, today… thanks to fan-made preservations on here and like-minded sister-sites… everyone now have an option and choice to view and experience the theatrical cuts of the Original Trilogy on 4K/UHD and HD - whether that be the 4K77 / 4K80 / 4K83 projects, Harmy’s Despecialized Editions, oohteedee 4K’s projects, TR2N’s 4K AI efforts, and a growing number of other quality fan preservations. Not to forget the countless other fan preservations made across the long journey on here - from laserdisc & VHS rips to DVD transfers, fan edits, and numerous other fan projects (a huge shout-out for the OT Filmumentaries).
Still the OriginalTrilogy•com remains and thrives - whilst persevering to hold George’s many baffling, gaslighting and divisive claims, oft-debunked statements, and ongoing retcons and rewrites of history to scrutiny and account…
…and continues to ask for that option - that choice - to have a high quality official release of the theatrical cuts of the Original Trilogy made available on a modern digital format… completed with the love, care and attention it so deserves.