Preserving the...cringe...Star Wars Holiday Special (Released) — Page 43

Not an idiot.

It’s one of the earliest DVD transfers IIRC. Rikter distributed two versions: WMAR (that was the one with the commercials, right?) and another whose callsign I forget. I think it was too early for KCCI, but even if it wasn’t the video quality is definitely surpassed by more recent transfers.

(KCCI was seen as the gold standard for many years and it was distributed in a variety of forms. Seemed like everyone had their own menuing over the KCCI content. That was the second and last version I purchased, that one from OCP Movie. I then learned about this community and started zealously turning in sellers on eBay (whence came my first version).)

I really shouldn’t be answering a technical question without checking my information at home but I’m at a Super Bowl party and kinda bored…

MattMahdi said:

Not an idiot.

It’s one of the earliest DVD transfers IIRC. Rikter distributed two versions: WMAR (that was the one with the commercials, right?) and another whose callsign I forget. I think it was too early for KCCI, but even if it wasn’t the video quality is definitely surpassed by more recent transfers.

(KCCI was seen as the gold standard for many years and it was distributed in a variety of forms. Seemed like everyone had their own menuing over the KCCI content. That was the second and last version I purchased, that one from OCP Movie. I then learned about this community and started zealously turning in sellers on eBay (whence came my first version).)

I really shouldn’t be answering a technical question without checking my information at home but I’m at a Super Bowl party and kinda bored…

I know Rikter distributed the KCMO (Kansas City) version, without commercials, as well. Not sure if he did a version of the WMAR broadcast; I don’t seem to have one with his menus on it. But for sure he did KCCI (Des Moines) and KCMO.

The other probably most common broadcast that made the rounds was the WCBS (New York) broadcast. That’s the one with the famous bumper with the newscaster saying “Fighting the Frizzies at eleven!” that South Park parodied.

–SKot

You’re so right (not that I actually thought YOU could be wrong in this, you’re the expert): AngrySun KCCI.

I’m fairly sure that he only did two different transfers so if he did KCMO then I’m definitely in the wrong.

And as you said, the WMAR I’ve seen has a far more elaborate menu than the one he used for KCCI. Had forgotten that completely.

nobodybutjarjar42 said:

is this the best quality WCBS broadcast copy with commercials?
Star Wars Holiday Special - WCBS w/o/c “Frizzies” on myspleen

It might be. I think it’s the best one I’ve got. There are a ton of low-quality copies of WCBS out there from way back; that one got a lot of mileage. But I have seen very few decent quality copies. Someone out there is probably sitting on the original broadcast recording all these came from.

–SKot

Hey all, would love to see hi-res version of this w commercials if available. Would greatly appreciate a PM link.

Thanks!
MTFBWY

Happy Life Day, all!

Is there any mention of the SWHS in Taschen’s The Star Wars Archives, 1977-1983?

It would make the book that much easier a purchase, especially at the 40th anniversary price which can almost fit my budget.

It’s actually the reason that I kept the copy of Star Wars Year by Year that I was gifted years ago.

digitalfreaknyc said:

The Paley Center here in NYC has a copy in their archives from KNXT in CA. Is that copy in the wild?

https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=&p=1&item=T:87211

It is in the wild, although not widely distributed.

I’ve looked at the copies of the KNXT at both the NYC Paley Center and the L.A. one. This version is okay but not a great recording - it has a lot of noise on the screen with heavy ghosting issues. I don’t think it would be very valuable as a preservation other than for historic value, and possibly for the commercials, some of which will be local.

–SKot

MattMahdi said:

Is there any mention of the SWHS in Taschen’s The Star Wars Archives, 1977-1983?

It would make the book that much easier a purchase, especially at the 40th anniversary price which can almost fit my budget.

There is, in fact - there’s a section for it that’s 5 pages long with some great text and photos.

Of course, there are two versions of the book now: the giant landscape-oriented coffee table book, and the much smaller portrait-oriented version that came out after. The large one is huge and a bit unwieldy, but the photos are gorgeous at that size. I have the large version, but I am tempted to get the smaller one just for ease of reading and photo scanning.

It’s actually the reason that I kept the copy of Star Wars Year by Year that I was gifted years ago.

I never picked that up. I think I was disappointed by the skimming over of the SWHS in that, but I can’t remember…what was actually in it?

–SKot

SKot said:

I never picked that up. I think I was disappointed by the skimming over of the SWHS in that, but I can’t remember…what was actually in it?

It’s an oversize book, which you probably know, and it has one page devoted to the SWHS.

Most of it is photos: Ralph McQuarrie’s painting; Itchy and Lumpy (SMALL); Boba Fett (small); Ackmena; Leia and Threepio (large); and the cover of the original press kit (large).

The text is only one paragraph:

November 17: The Star Wars Holiday Special airs on CBS television. Directed by Steve Binder (and an uncredited David Acomba), and based in part on a story attributed to an uncredited Lucas, the show is described by Fox’s production notes as a “two-hour visual and audio delight” starring “the cast from the hit motion picture, Star Wars, along with special guest stars in a live-animated-musical potpourri of pure entertainment complete with astounding electronic special effects.” Highlights include McQuarrie’s matte paintings of the Wookiee homeworld Kashyyyk and an animated cartoon sequence that introduces Boba Fett. In the Special, Kashyyyk is pronounced “Kazzookk” and is spelled that way in the script, reflecting Lucas’s earliest notes on the Wookiee homeworld. The Special is never rebroadcast or officially released on video.

Another question about the SWHS presence in a book, this time Star Wars: Life Day Treasury: Holiday Stories From a Galaxy Far, Far Away.

Does it have any links to the SWHS or Wookiees or Kashyyyk other than just the obvious Life Day genesis?

It’s a book I’m curious about but wary about owning.

Thanks,

Perseverant said:

Would someone please PM me a URL for the best version that includes the commercials?

Thanks to everyone who has invested their time and energy preserving this!

The best version without commercials is the Editdroid version, since it is sourced from a master copy. It does not have commercials, however, because it’s a pre-broadcast version.

The best version with commercials is probably a hybrid like Zion’s version, which is sourced from the Editdroid version but includes commercials from one of the better broadcast sources.

There are no URLs for this, however, and no websites to go to - any such hosting would get taken down pretty quickly. Your best bet is to search places like Usenet and torrent sites.

–SKot

none said:

The Holiday Special documentary “A Disturbance in the Force”:
https://www.disturbanceintheforce.com/
Is being show in some theaters soon. See if it is in your neighborhood.

Got a ticket to one of the Q&A shows so if you have a question to ask, post it up.

Enjoy! I loved the movie. Sadly, the Q&A was after the next day’s showing while I was at work.

Would gladly watch it again.

none said:

The Holiday Special documentary “A Disturbance in the Force”:
https://www.disturbanceintheforce.com/
Is being show in some theaters soon. See if it is in your neighborhood.

Got a ticket to one of the Q&A shows so if you have a question to ask, post it up.

Wish I could be at that one! I’ll be doing the Q&A at the Kiggins Theatre showing in Vancouver, WA on the 29th.

The film should be available for streaming as well soon, for those of you who don’t have a showing in your area.

–SKot

Interesting read:

Exclusive Interview – Producer Jeremy Coon talks about new Star Wars Holiday Special documentary: “Han Solo was married to a Wookiee”

https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2023/11/exclusive-interview-producer-jeremy-coon-talks-about-new-star-wars-holiday-special-documentary-han-solo-was-married-to-a-wookiee/?fbclid=IwAR3Jogok_kbHRe4ICDIPDhu1INmjNUIrpc8xSHZcKpiKT2q8SXE67wzrcfY

I know it’s wrong, but I keep seeing this advert in my Facebook feed. (No edits made to spelling or punctuation.)

Star Wars Holiday Special 1978 Blu ray Edition. Never Released - $18.00

1978 Star Wars holiday special now on Blu Ray ! DVD version doesn’t even come close to the quality of this Blu ray. Many special features even subtitles in Wookie ! This is a hard to find copy of the unreleased special from 1978. Don’t miss your chance to own a copy before they are all gone ! You will receive the movie on a BDr disc with artwork in a Blu ray case with artwork. These are made on demand not pressed .

MattMahdi said:

I know it’s wrong, but I keep seeing this advert in my Facebook feed. (No edits made to spelling or punctuation.)

Star Wars Holiday Special 1978 Blu ray Edition. Never Released - $18.00

1978 Star Wars holiday special now on Blu Ray ! DVD version doesn’t even come close to the quality of this Blu ray. Many special features even subtitles in Wookie ! This is a hard to find copy of the unreleased special from 1978. Don’t miss your chance to own a copy before they are all gone ! You will receive the movie on a BDr disc with artwork in a Blu ray case with artwork. These are made on demand not pressed .

Wow, in your FB feed eh? That may be an ad worth reporting to FB…if they even care.

I know there’s a new “5K” up-res of the Holiday Special that may look nice on Blu-ray. But I’m pretty certain that’s not what this is…most likely just a BD copy of the EditDroid version, or at best another earlier attempt at an up-res.

–SKot