The theater in my home town was a 2 screen theater and had all these lightbulbs underneath the entrence. I didn't understand how theaters worked and thought Star Wars owned the theater (because of the lightbulbs for some reason). For a couple years I thought it was how it worked and movies owned theaters and then rented it out to other movies. Sorta funny.
Anyway, when my dad took me to see Empire in 1980, I was just blown away. I don't know how much I understood the plot and all, but I got Luke as good and Vader was bad. Like most kids, I was just amazed at the special effects. I don't remember the crowds reaction that much.
After I saw Empire, they were playing Star Wars up on campus (at the Penn State University) and since my dad worked there we got in for free. Anyway, Star Wars blew me away as well, the crowd loved it too (remember this was before video tapes became popular so they haven't seen it in a few years). Since then, I was infatuated with the Star Wars Universe and had to have all the toys I could have. I had a pretty big opperation when I was 4 and my grandparents bought me a huge set with all the action figures and a remote controlled mini R2-D2. I still remember walking around the hospital playing with it. Man, I wish my grandparents bought 2 sets of each so we could have stored one of them LOL.
I went and saw ANH in '97 on opening night. It was a packed theater with all college kids (I was in highschool at the time). I think the same lady was at that screening rennervision, b/c a bunch of girls went "Awww" at that scene also. The crowd laughed their asses off at Luke's "power-converter" line. I don't remember that much else about the screening, but the crowd did love it and cheered when Luke blew up the death star. I remember thinking though when Han shot 2nd, WTF!?! I didn't mind the other changes but thought Jaba looked aweful, though I did like the scene except for Han stepping on the tail. I didn't see Empire or Jedi SE's in the theater though so it must have said something in my sub-conscious.