guiser said:

Nick66 said:

chyron8472 said:

1978.

Believe it or not, my earliest memories of Star Wars are listening to the Return of the Jedi Read-Along Book and Tape. :)

Actually, I used to love the "Story of Star Wars" LP myself. :)

And the black bars you recall during the throne room scene could have still been a P&S version. Unless I'm mistaken (and I'm sure someone will correct me if I am), some of the old P&S videocassettes switched to "widescreen" in the final moments of the film, just before the credits. I once knew the technical reason for this, but I've forgotten it. Though I do remember something like that happening in many old VHS films, not just SW.

I always thought it was so they could show the credits at full width without having to stretch them vertically (or re-create them in the narrow P&S format)?

I believe you are correct.