Sunday 14 July 2013

SUMMER WITH 'STAR WARS' - 1978 UK STYLE


Carrie Fisher has fun with the British press aboard the cuddly Jerba Beast prop created for use in the original STAR WARS 1976 Tunisian filming (for more on the creature, check out our PDF feature here: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B80ITjM31EVRN1pmQjh5bUJkR0U/edit?usp=sharing), during a Equestrian/Charity event, The Star Wars Cross Country Team Event, circa October 1978, held at Daventry, Northamptonshire, hosted and organised by Captain Robert Hawkins and his wife Ann.



This would be a FOX/LUCASFILM/STAR WARS CORPORATION sponsored venture with Imperial Stormtroopers in attendance, as well as other props from STAR WARS and the upcoming THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK to be seen in an outdoor display (including one of the larger remaining prop pieces used in various larger Death Star sets filming from 1976). Also present for what looks like a very enjoyable day were Dave Prowse and Peter Mayhew, plus producer Gary Kurtz and other representatives from the UK division of 20th Century Fox.

Peter Mayhew and Dave Prowse are reunited. Behind them stands a Jerba Beast prop.

Mayhew would hand out unique competition prizes of Rumph's made Chewbacca mugs. Image: STARWARS.COM.

Fisher was most likely the key invite, though-not only linked to her STAR WARS popularity, but also due to the fact that, earlier in the year (May 14th), she had played a horse trainer in a US ABC TV MOVIE OF THE WEEK: Leave Yesterday Behind, alongside the late John Ritter.

Carrie enjoys some refreshment whilst a lady rider dressed in Vader-ish clothes races past. Image: Carrie Fisher/Debbie Reynolds.

Carrie hands out some winning medallions. Image: Carrie Fisher/Debbie Reynolds.

Carrie and Peter Mayhew (background) sign for fans. Image: Carrie Fisher/Debbie Reynolds.

Carrie with two of the event riders/charity supporters.

Handing out a Chewbacca mug to a lucky competition winner.



If anyone out there has any more info on this UK event, please get in touch...

One of the Artoo shells was showcased to the public, within an exhibit tent at the event. The girl seen here may be the daughter of TESB's production team member Alan Tomkins.

Collection of merchandise and images from the event, from the collection of Darren Simpson/Facebook.

Note: to get the best viewing results from the Google PDF, it would be best to download the file directly to your desktop.


2015 feature on the lost Jerba creature: Beasts of Burden: The Last Original Dewback | Prop Store – Ultimate Movie Collectables

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

There may also be a jerba head mounted on the wall of Jabba's Palace in ROTJ - to the side of carbonite-frozen Han, with the mounted tauntaun head on the other side. But I don't think there are any good photos of it so no one knows for sure what it really looks like.