I was looking through my collection the other day and came across a memory from my early experiences of Star Wars. While I have amassed a large collection of SW toys over the last 29 years (Most of which are well worn with carbon scoring from long ago fought battles). My most prized piece is actually no toy but an autographed photo the Dark Lord of the Sith himself, Darth Vader.

I first saw Star Wars in 1977. I was four years old at the time. Little did I know going into the movie that it would in the words of Yoda, "forever dominate my destiny." I was hooked from the opening title onward. I was so excited my mom called it a five bathroom movie, but that is for another blog. Needless to say I wanted to be Luke Skywalker, wanted an R2 unit, fell in love with Leia, and feared Darth Vader.

The scene is 1978 and a local Memphis, Tn. furniture store was advertising a publicity stunt to introduce the new line of Star Wars bedspreads, pillowcases, curtains , etc. "Meet Darth Vader from Star Wars" the ad read. My mom showed it to me and I knew I had to be there. I remember begging. My mom agreed and the next was a long two week wait in which the event was held over my head several times to bribe me into being good or cleaning my room.

Finally the blessed evening had arrived . We were standing in line when they announced that Darth Vader's TIE fighter had landed on top of the building. It was more exciting than Santa Claus and just as real for a five year old. A few moments later an entourage comes in with the towering black figure of Vader. He walked a pass along the line of people as if doing a military inspection, pausing a moment directly in front of me where he bent down toward the little girl standing next to me. All you could hear was his breathing. He then moved on from the cowering girl toward the dias they had set up to do the autographs. The girl then started crying saying "he breathed on me!" This girl was undeserving of his attention. Jealousy setting in.

I waited for my turn to meet the silent figure. They moved everyone through very quickly so I have to say it was anticlimactic. But I remember standing beneath the imposing figure as he signed the photo and the pillowcase I grabbed while wating in line. I still have both.The pillowcase would eventually lose the signature after many years of being used and washed. I remember looking to the roof to see if I could see the TIE fighter perched there. I may have even caught a flash out of the corner of my eye as it took off into the distance.

I don't actually know if it was David Prowse in the suit (though my mom says it was). All he signed across the black and white photo of the Dark Lord was Darth Vader, and in my memories that is exactly who it was.

May the Force be with you!

*edit*
I have since found out the identity of the man behind the suit which doesn't change the childhood experience any. It would be interesting to find out if he remembers the event. Probably not seeing as there are so many he did at the time.
Here is the autograph