This thread is for discussion of the Shea’79 VHS Bootleg.
The Shea’79 Bootleg is a VHS bootleg of Star Wars from 1979, on a Magnavox tape, introduced to us here at OT.com by PhotoDroid, with ownership attributed to a friend of his named “Shea”.
PhotoDroid sent me the tape for digitization in March 2013. I completed the project in a few days, using a Panasonic AG-1980 VHS deck, an AVTools TBC, and a Canopus ADVC-100. It is letterboxed widescreen, and seems (to me) have the 35mm mix. I suspect that it was originally telecined from a 16mm print, judging by the additional reel change dots in the same places as the Puggo Grande.
The quality, as expected, is fairly poor, exhibiting the typical bevy of old VHS symptoms - smearing, floating colors, wavering, etc. But the color balance seems very good and so it may be of some interest as an early color source.
I have added a webpage devoted to the Shea Bootleg on my Puggo website:
http://www.hardbat.com/puggo (then click on Shea bootleg)
Screen caps to follow!
"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars
A couple of screen captures:
"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars
Another:
"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars
And another:
"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars
As always, I do not distribute my restorations. If, for example, a copy were to accidentally fall into the hands of someone who does distribute it, I could not take responsibility.
"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars
uggo - Jar Jar's Yoda said:
A couple of screen captures:
What interests me about these caps is that shot seems to match the corresponding Puggo Grande version quite a bit in terms of color. I might be looking for that kind of similarity, though.
A Goon in a Gaggle of 'em
While I believe that the Shea tape is a 16mm bootleg, I am almost certain it is a different print than the PG. The soundtrack is different.
"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars
Interesting... by saying 35mm mix, I take it you mean the 35mm Dolby mix and not the Mono?
On your site you state that you believe it's from a different source than Grande because the audiomix on it is different, the print which you used for Grande had the 35mm Dolby mix, yes? so I assume you mean it's different than the DVD audio of Puggo Grande (which used the mono mix from the Swedish 16mm print) am I correct? Sorry, just want to be sure I understood it all correctly.
Does it contain the end credits? I'm also curious to see which X-Wing takeoff matte shot that's on it.
Nice job Puggo, and thanks for sharing PhotoDroid and Shea!
We want you to be aware that we have no plans—now or in the future—to restore the earlier versions.
Sincerely, Lynne Hale publicity@lucasfilm.com
Yikes, what a senior moment. You're right, the mono mix came from the Swedish print. I still don't think this is the same print as PG, though, because this one seems to have more and sloppier-looking reel-change markers.
Yes it has the complete end credits. Don't know the answer to your other question.
By 35mm mix, yes I mean the Dolby mix (not mono).
"Close the blast doors!"
Puggo’s website | Rescuing Star Wars
Thanks for bringing this to light Photodroid+Puggo. It's a shame its not from a 35mm print. I think it would maybe compliment the rest of the bootlegs depending on how certain scenes come out via the balances on this tape where they are distorting on other tapes. It is improved for me (subjective) with an auto-white balance >
Thanks for taking the time to digitize this, thanks PhotoDroid for bringing it to this forums attention, and Shea to saving it all these years.
[might want to add PhotoDroid's first post in your first post/webpage: http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/NEW-possibly-2nd-Generation-77-78-Bootleg/post/621425/#TopicPost621425 Hopefully more details of where it came from can be established.
Comparisons:
Shea: Catnap: 
Krig: 
Grande: 
PS78: 
mthr-swtc1: 
msycamore wrote: Does it contain the end credits? I'm also curious to see which X-Wing takeoff matte shot that's on it.
Here's an explanation of the X-Wing takeoff variation: http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/Print-variations-in-77-Star-Wars/topic/14705/ (view the pics full size for better understanding)
Do the credits have: 
or 
Further end credit stuff discussed here: http://originaltrilogy.com/forum/topic.cfm/Credits-Leaders-Thread/topic/12960/ (another aspect is the fade in from the static credits to the rolling ones)
On the subject of cue marks, when making these 16mm, the duplicated source would be punched, then the copies run off. Or does each copy get punched? Puggo if you want post Reel Change pics to compare to: http://fd.noneinc.com/Reel_Changes/Reel_Changes.html I'll add pics of this to the page.
Looking forward to checking this out, see what other aspects don't align with what we know.
Just checking into the thread to say hi. I will let those who know what they are doing discuss the Shea 79 Bootleg as I am just a novice when it comes to preservation and variation knowledge. If you have any questions about the tape itself or anything not too technical, just ask.
I want to thank Puggo for his effort in preserving this video.
Photodroid
anyone got a myspleen invite? been years. But I want this Shea copy.
Remember, Highlander, you’ve both still got your full measure of life. Use it well, and your future will be glorious.
Thanks, I am just looking for pre- ANH stuff. If you can help it would be appreciated.
Remember, Highlander, you’ve both still got your full measure of life. Use it well, and your future will be glorious.
frank678 said:
Mitch said:Thanks, I am just looking for pre- ANH stuff. If you can help it would be appreciated. PM sent. AntcuFaalb's PS78 raw captures are on the star wars newsgroup, but I don't think they have audio and are 50GB in size.
They're on MySpleen now, and have audio!
The bootleg recordings available from private usage/screening?? Or widely released in older times from MySpleen only? I love willing to share.