It was 28 years ago today that Star Wars debuted as a low-budget science fiction fantasy picture to an unsuspecting world. I thought it'd be appropriate to bring out this starwars.com "Ask the Lucasfilm Jedi Council" question that Steve Sansweet answered back in 2002:

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Q: Where did Star Wars open on May 25, 1977?

A: Although it was quick to become a worldwide phenomenon, Star Wars only opened in 32 theaters on Wednesday, May 25, 1977. It wasn't until a month later that it crossed the 100-theater mark. And unlike today's theater business where multiplexes might play a hit movie on four or five screens at once, in 1977 one theater almost always meant one screen. No wonder Star Wars was still playing at some theaters on May 25, 1978.

Here's a list of those original theaters. We wonder how many have survived.

East
New York, NY: Astor Plaza
New York, NY: Orpheum
Hicksville, NY: Twin
Paramus, NJ: RKO
Pennsauken, NJ: Eric I
Lawrenceville, NJ: Eric II
Boston, MA: Charles
Philadelphia, PA: Eric's Place
Fairless Hills, PA: Eric II
Pittsburgh, PA: Showcase
Claymont, DE: Eric I
Washington DC: Uptown

West
Menlo Park, CA: Cinema
Hollywood, CA: Chinese
Los Angeles, CA: Avco I
Greater Orange County, CA: City Center I
San Diego, CA: Valley Circle
San Francisco, CA: Coronet
Sacramento, CA: Century 25
San Jose, CA: Century 22A
Seattle, WA: UA 150
Portland, OR: Westgate I

Midwest
St. Paul, MN: Roseville 4
Minneapolis, MN: St. Louis Park
Detroit, MI: Americana
Rock Island-Milan, IL: Cinema 3
Indianapolis, IN: Eastwood
Cincinnati, OH: Showcase Cin I
Louisville, KY: Cinema I

Southwest
Denver, CO: Cooper
Phoenix, AZ: Cine Capri
Salt Lake City, UT: Centre


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NOTE: Perhaps you've noticed that "Ask the Lucasfilm Jedi Council" is temporarily unavailable at the starwars.com. Fear not -- the feature (and archives) is coming back in new and improved "starwars.com Questions & Answers" format later this summer. Stay tuned!