For those wondering the exact location of this theater: This was the Pacific Sweetwater 6 Theaters which opened May 25, 1983, located in the Town and Country Shopping Center, next to the 805 Fwy at Sweetwater Rd. off ramp exit. 1920 Sweetwater Road, National City, CA. The theater's gala opening coincided with Jedi's release. Jedi played in 2 theaters. The movies playing in the other 4 auditoriums were: Max Dugan Returns/The Man from Snowy River (double-feature), Raiders of the Lost Ark/High Road to China (double-feature), Harlequin, and Chained Heat. Tickets for adults were $4.50 and $2.50 for children under 12. The theater was also selling a Return of the Jedi souvenir "Official collector edition" programme book for $3.00. The building of the theater now houses a "mega church."
LOL, amazing that they did a double feature of Raiders and the Tom Selleck rip-off version. Also amazing that they would actually start a film knowing they didn't have all the reels.
California had alot of Town and Country Shopping centers. They were fun on Saturday afternoons. I think there is still one left across Stanford University, in Palo Altos
@@lloydthompsonartto be specific. 1. Star Wars tabletop rpg and game masters with their own canon in their circles. A lot of the names in Star Wars for Aliens, weapons and such that you hear now that weren’t mention in the original movies originated from the trpg if word spread and name got popular. 2. Basically paid fan made stories to cover as canon with Lucas not making official stuff between rotj and pm. Also some of those used the trpg as bases including thrawn trilogy. 3. Then once internet got known and ppl access forums you got wave of nerds from various circles argue what’s canon and praying which stories Lucas will deem true and better then this story. 4. Except pm released, he didn’t care for nerds fan canons and from argue with one another they throw their anger at him and ppl involved with pm. Thus the fandom menace was born. For better/worst the tabletop rpg of Star Wars built the fanbase during legends era. In a reality if Lucas maintain official stuff between RotJ and pm for sure ppl will not care for those legends story even possibly shun thrawn trilogy and threaten Timothy zahn for trying to compete with Lucas. Edit: to add his powerful the Trpg is. It’s still going wifh so much fan content for it. Then when a new trpg was made they shunned it and anyone that plays/talks about it. Again up to ppl on if it was good or bad the Star Wars trpg was made.
There is a time to put away childish things. Star Wars are films for 12 year olds, and old people who wish they had been 12 years old for a few decades longer.
I saw it that day at Sweetwater 6, but since this is 70mm, would it have been the Mission Valley? That was a one screen theater. The one closest to the 8 freeway?
this is about the time when you had to buy the newspaper to see the movie showing for that friday and weekend lol and buy the tickets at the movie theatre. had to stand in long lines for your showing .. good old days
I got to see movies in the theater in the early 90's as I was 8 years old going into 1990. A great time to be a kid. Waiting in line about4 5 mins until the movies starts, hearing everyone in line talk about the movie ,hyping each other up . When the "upcoming move attractions" would play we would all get excited to see what we're getting into later in the summer. That feeling could never be replicated but it's nice to have TH-cam clips like this to take me back in time -"to a time of simplicity, a moment in time where a kid could dream and believe that even he could dream of a dream" - Kevin Arnold "wonder years " voice
I still remember when I was 12, waiting in line on a very warm day to see this. The lines went out of the box office and around the corner. I fear we may not see this type of magic surrounding films anymore. Hopefully I’m wrong.
@ Like not interacting with real people? Like looking at your phone the entire time you finally get forced into going out to dinner with your family? I don’t think so, but whatever helps you sleep at night
Kid got hit by a car and woke from his coma only to see Han Solo get murdered by his son then threw himself in front of a bus outside of the same theatre. Let’s make this movie
That was a quality theater. It's so amateurish that there's a woman representing the ' empire ' and only one male Jedi in line. If that had happened in the bay area there would have been trucks driving around with flaming scarecrows, shaped like George,in the the back of the flatbeds 😂❤
Love to see the cosplay going on in line! The customers have genuine awe and joy on their faces at the end. This is what a Star Wars movie is supposed to do. It touches your emotions while wowing you with groundbreaking special effects. Just not something the franchise has been able to do in the Disney era.
I was 13, i went to watch it with all my friends … im still watching all the new star wars stuff on disney lol even tho it doesnt compare to the originals
@PhilMoskowitz Of course problems back then as they are now today, than it was electricity discovered a year earlier. As crazy for just one movie as compared to the hype of 1999 Star Wars movie to 1983 on certain cuts in the movie for angry customers in line. Plus the Batman movie back in 1989 for long lines.
I can't say I've managed a theater before but it's INSANE to me the manager is fine telling the TV news that will be broadcasted all over the metropolitan area that they're just gonna go right ahead and run that projector AGAIN even though they still didn't have the missing reel yet and is just acting like "well it's not MY fault if a second showing is ruined hurrrr"
Wow this is 42 years ago , can’t believe it , seems like SD yesterday 😢😢, many of these patrons are now in their senior years , 70s and 80s, the cinema owner most likely went to the happy hunting grounds a few decades ago , the stormtrooper kid is in her mid 50s now 😂😂…how time passes, life goes on and the only certainty is death and taxes 😢a😢😢
After the movie... pizza and the arcade! I miss the 80's❤
Dude I know. Feeling grateful for when I grew up. Didn't expect to say that later. 🤘
I miss how peaceful it was without diversity.
@gregsolo666 With that bs name you should be loving the downfall of society unless you're a larping edgelord.
Now it would be stabbings and shootings
00:55 don’t piss off an Imperial officer
I mean that's really Rotton!😡☝️
😂😂😂
This lady went from
The Dark Side 0:52
To The Light Side 1:26 😂
Four decades and four husbands later ...
She is correct. And the guy afterwards had a great cosplay. I wonder where that girl is now.
@LegendarySpaceRipper great mustache
I feel bad for the theater staff that has to deal with people like that.
🤣 Also look at her walking in with that unmarked toy gun like no big deal
You could not walk into a theatre today with a blaster!!
Blasted nonsense of today.
Oh I don’t know. James Holmes did.
yes those days are long gone, you cant even buy toy guns anymore
I had a blaster!!
@@Len1977gt now you can buy real guns for your children, or just 3D print them. that's progress for ya! 🙃
obi-wan's moustache was hanging on by a whisker
The right side of it had the high ground
That guy's the original Reddit mod
Yes, that mustache was very amateurish and unprofessional... " "You don't need to see his Mustache...this isn't the mustache your looking for"
@@davewebb415😂
@@heartburnjay😂
damn i miss the 80s
Remember how well society functioned then compared to now?
@@michaelh.8945 i'm waiting for the pink haired troll to reeee at this comment saying things like "but racism, and patriarchy." or some nonsense.
@@michaelh.8945 I mean, the movie stopped playing 45 minutes in. This isn't a ringing endorsement of '80s technology.
0:59 he declares it is amatuerish and unprofessional as his fake moustache is falling off his face.
The best😂
Ernest Goes to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Premiere
He wasn't being paid.
Oddly enough, he has more screen time in this segment than Alec Guinness did in the movie. 😜
Notice how there aren't any really fat people in this video?
For those wondering the exact location of this theater: This was the Pacific Sweetwater 6 Theaters which opened May 25, 1983, located in the Town and Country Shopping Center, next to the 805 Fwy at Sweetwater Rd. off ramp exit. 1920 Sweetwater Road, National City, CA. The theater's gala opening coincided with Jedi's release. Jedi played in 2 theaters. The movies playing in the other 4 auditoriums were: Max Dugan Returns/The Man from Snowy River (double-feature), Raiders of the Lost Ark/High Road to China (double-feature), Harlequin, and Chained Heat. Tickets for adults were $4.50 and $2.50 for children under 12. The theater was also selling a Return of the Jedi souvenir "Official collector edition" programme book for $3.00. The building of the theater now houses a "mega church."
Wow!! This is amazing information!! So cool!! Thanks for posting!!
How strange. I never see white people in national city lol
I still have my collector book from the opening day 😂
LOL, amazing that they did a double feature of Raiders and the Tom Selleck rip-off version. Also amazing that they would actually start a film knowing they didn't have all the reels.
California had alot of Town and Country Shopping centers. They were fun on Saturday afternoons. I think there is still one left across Stanford University, in Palo Altos
I once sat through 3 showings of that film when it played at the Space and science center in Oakland, California in 2002. It was shown on the celling.
Holy crap, that must’ve been amazing. I first saw when I was 12 back in 1983. It was magic.
@@NemeanLion- Cool! I saw it on my birthday in June 83 then a million times in 97 but yeah sat through 3 showings in a row in 02. Was cool!
The only movie in my life where I saw it with both parents in a theater.
Me too, I was 7yrs old.
I feel ya. For me it was Raiders of the Lost Ark
I saw Episode 2 & Episode 3 with my parents in a theatre.
14 reminds me of first star wars and the lines all around to watch it.
ALIEN 3 for me
Gawd who's the blonde woman with the headband...time machine me back to her 😉
We took those hydrogen peroxide blondes for granted.
@@zoso73 Remember Heather Thomas? .. She was one of my favorites
@@Fiveash-Art yeah bro Heather Thomas is my all time #1 i dont think they make women like that anymore
@@phttran675 Zapped .. The Fall Guy ... When I was a kid that woman was the ultimate.
@@phttran675Well at least you got those bbls now
1:48 Back when you could bring your toy gun into the theater, before the world went batshit insane.
You mean before Diversity was our strength lol. Yeah.
it only takes one nutbag to ruin things for everybody else...
Yep, your culture is completely screwed many of your country folk are UTTERLY INSANE
Back before there were mass shootings all the time necessitating such concern
had to read the comments just to see who said it. i only had a glimpse of it and it still jumped out at me
Even the dorks of the 80s were better than todays smh. What happened to us lol
Computers, Cellphones
@@lloydthompsonartto be specific.
1. Star Wars tabletop rpg and game masters with their own canon in their circles. A lot of the names in Star Wars for Aliens, weapons and such that you hear now that weren’t mention in the original movies originated from the trpg if word spread and name got popular.
2. Basically paid fan made stories to cover as canon with Lucas not making official stuff between rotj and pm. Also some of those used the trpg as bases including thrawn trilogy.
3. Then once internet got known and ppl access forums you got wave of nerds from various circles argue what’s canon and praying which stories Lucas will deem true and better then this story.
4. Except pm released, he didn’t care for nerds fan canons and from argue with one another they throw their anger at him and ppl involved with pm. Thus the fandom menace was born.
For better/worst the tabletop rpg of Star Wars built the fanbase during legends era. In a reality if Lucas maintain official stuff between RotJ and pm for sure ppl will not care for those legends story even possibly shun thrawn trilogy and threaten Timothy zahn for trying to compete with Lucas.
Edit: to add his powerful the Trpg is. It’s still going wifh so much fan content for it. Then when a new trpg was made they shunned it and anyone that plays/talks about it. Again up to ppl on if it was good or bad the Star Wars trpg was made.
@@lloydthompsonartIn other words, technology originating from these same kind of dorks.
Liberalization of society.
@ If that means American morons got indoctrinated by watching a cable news channel owned by a foreigner over the decades then YES
If they only knew that day, that 40 years later the franchise they held so dear to their heart, would meet its demise at the hand of a mouse. 🐁
It met its demise at the hands of its creator in 1999.
There is a time to put away childish things. Star Wars are films for 12 year olds, and old people who wish they had been 12 years old for a few decades longer.
@@biffboffo Lucas selling the IP, was the first sign of the end times, but Disney truly destroyed any semblance of respect it had left.
What theater is this!?? Dude! Cosplay in 1983! So awesome!
I'm sure it's gone.
Looks like the Sweetwater Pacific 6 Theaters in National City
@@battyjunkie Wow. Now it would be a totally different crowd.
I saw it that day at Sweetwater 6, but since this is 70mm, would it have been the Mission Valley? That was a one screen theater. The one closest to the 8 freeway?
lol, there’s always somebody on the Internet that can answer a random question about a specific location from 40 years ago
"What do you mean this is Return of Jedi? I'm here to watch Xanadu!"
Saw both in the theater, one with my uncle, the other with my aunt.
1:54 They even had John Landis tearing tickets 😉
Yeah he was really slumming it there in those years immediately after the Twilight Zone helicopter incident bwahaha
this is about the time when you had to buy the newspaper to see the movie showing for that friday and weekend lol and buy the tickets at the movie theatre. had to stand in long lines for your showing .. good old days
Or call the theater and listen to the recording of the times
Had to stand in a long line to get tickets. Then get into another long line and wait a couple of hours for the next showing.
Yeah, large scale purchasing of tickets online has only been a thing for the last five to ten years. There was no internet in 1983.
yes one more opportunity to socialize that the internet has robbed us of.
Now everybody just stays home and we wonder why developed countries are more lonely than ever before lol
0:08 That woman looks so 80's.
But she is an absolute honey.
People got reel mad 😬✅
That was a reelly witty comment.
They were reeling in anger...
For reel!
0:52 Is that an imperial military uniform? She’s got the attitude down for it too!
The blonde at the beginning was 💯% 80s baby!
She wad getting her ONJ on.
I was in 6th grade at the time, my buddy Eric and I tried to sneak in to see it, but we were caught and kicked out what a great time to be alive!!
aaah the days of sneaking in lol as a adult its some easy to sneak in but who has time for it ?! LOL
@@lopezrome1982not to mention if you get caught as an adult sneaking in that’s just beyond sad 😅
Kudos to the Imp cosplay girl.
Back when they actually played a film in theaters. Good times.
I miss these days so much🥹
the cop car should've had the Impirial March blasting from the speaker 😅
Or a black 1977 Trans Am comes screaming up driven by one Mr. Burt Reynolds just in time to win a bet, thust saving the day (insert Bandit laugh)
Wow, what a time to be alive…San Diego in the 80’s ❤.
Could you only imagine how people would have reacted in this day and age?!😮
Lootings, shootings and arson with accusations of racism?
@@JoseyWales44s
He meant "react to the film".
You just describe the daily routine.
History. Awesome history, on so many levels.
Including how the TV station shot this.
Much love, from 2025.
MISS THE 80'S 💯
Emperor is coming here? Yes, he’s most displeased with your lack of progress.
I was 3 yrs in 83. I didn't even get to see return of the jedi until 90 when my poor family finally got a vcr.
I was a baby and saw it on vhs in 86 and saw it in cinemas in 1997
People were reasonably mad back then when such things happened; unfortunately, with people nowadays, the result could have escalated much worse.
True, probably when have been looting and arson involved. Progress.
yep nowdays there would have been carnage probably. So sad how far we have fallen.
People seemed more relaxed and happier back then.
Less dieversity.
I was born in 1971, much simpler times back then, yeah, ok boomer etc lol.
Ah, yes. The Members Only jackets....
Only for select members.
I owned 2😁
This is awesome!! The quality is amazing
Ah, the days when this was our biggest worry!
I wish, i remember a nuclear war with the USSR was the biggest worry for me back then and I was 8 in 1983. still miss the the 80s though.
I remember waiting in line at Mann Theatre in Oceanside, CA with my parents to see this.
That is quite interesting that a reel was missing on the premiere, how did this happened at first glance? Why didn't anybody notice before?
Back when you had to make your own costume, like that custom Imperial Officer chick. Well done!
1:58 bro stoned to the bone good ol hippie days
I got to see movies in the theater in the early 90's as I was 8 years old going into 1990. A great time to be a kid. Waiting in line about4 5 mins until the movies starts, hearing everyone in line talk about the movie ,hyping each other up . When the "upcoming move attractions" would play we would all get excited to see what we're getting into later in the summer. That feeling could never be replicated but it's nice to have TH-cam clips like this to take me back in time -"to a time of simplicity, a moment in time where a kid could dream and believe that even he could dream of a dream" - Kevin Arnold "wonder years " voice
I saw it in National City at the Sweetwater theater. It was awesome
imagine seeing yourself years later in this video lol
You would be lucky to be seen in this video - some major 80s coolness happening. There was no better time to be alive.
Probably the last cool decade well ig the 90s were
Love the cosplay on the girl with the Imperial uniform.
I was born in Aug of 83
I watched more than a few movies at that theater in the mid eighties. I lived like a mile away.just up the Euclid Ave hill in Lincoln acres.
That's real 1983. The Real 80s.
Everyone seems happier here. Is that an 80s thing?
It's pre-internet. Internet has made everyone miserable.
@@effyiew7318 That's a good point...I mean you wake up each day to a new horrific accident reported on your phone it does dampen the mood.
Yes sir people were nicer and happier then. We didn't realize how great we had it.
Back during the Good Times!
I dig the 80's headband.
Look how fit and healthy people look. This was when obesity was frowned upon instead of glorified like it is now.
Such a nicer time back then.
People were less hostile I guess- and obnoxious
To be such a dork back in 1983…good times.
I still remember when I was 12, waiting in line on a very warm day to see this. The lines went out of the box office and around the corner.
I fear we may not see this type of magic surrounding films anymore. Hopefully I’m wrong.
You fear it? It's misplaced enthusiasm for a generation with nothing better to do. Everyone has something better to do now.
@ Like not interacting with real people? Like looking at your phone the entire time you finally get forced into going out to dinner with your family? I don’t think so, but whatever helps you sleep at night
Man, the 80s were awesome!! This is like looking at a time capsule on screen! 😎 ROTJ was my personal favorite out of the original trilogy films! 👍❤️
Why was the dude at 1:00 wearing a fake moustache?
i was 7 years old at this time i remember seeing this in the movies
Man, I remember being in 5th grade and a kids dad came in and took him out early to go see this. I was so jealous.
That’s so cool. It would have been awesome to have seen this as a kid in theaters. Only one I ever got to see was attack of the clones… not the same
I never hear girls talk so warmly about SW nowadays.
That little kid went to bed and woke up to find himself in midlife crisis now.
Kid got hit by a car and woke from his coma only to see Han Solo get murdered by his son then threw himself in front of a bus outside of the same theatre. Let’s make this movie
0:59 I love watching professional fans and master jedis talking about unprofessionalism.
I saw T2 there ….. back in the day. Miss that place as a movie theater. Still live by it.
I remember that, wow.
"I'M HAPPY NOOOOWWWW!" (gone) 😂😂😂
What a nostalgia
After waiting 3 years to see it, the manager should've told the patrons going in that this could've happened.
Imp cosplay girl would have got shot by the police and banned for life for having that blaster these days.
Yeah, seems the Empire is running things now.
This was where fandom was still under control. People were still fairly normal back then
Glad to see the Blues Brothers got out on parole
Well there is a Carrie Fischer connection.
That was a quality theater. It's so amateurish that there's a woman representing the ' empire ' and only one male Jedi in line. If that had happened in the bay area there would have been trucks driving around with flaming scarecrows, shaped like George,in the the back of the flatbeds 😂❤
Reel 4 had a police escort
Reel 2 Dialogue 2 was present, though. 😄
"Amateurish and unprofessional" he says has his mustache falls off.
2:05 Tell me that she doesn't look like a young Patricia Arquette.
Looks like the old Town and Country Theater in National City. But I could be wrong.
I would love to see a 70mm showing
Oh, would many of us ever. No dumbass add-ins!!
I remember watching Jedi at the cinema as a kid when it was released.
First movie I ever saw in a theater. Me (6 yrs old) and my dad. 😊
They certainly picked the right blonde hottie to start the interviews off with. 😍
She is and absolute stunner 😍
"its ameturish and unprofessional" (mustache falls off 🤣) 00:58
Notice how no one said "um" or ended every sentence with a question mark?
0:20 Popeye!👌
It's WALDO wearing a Popeye shirt! 😎
this video perfectly depicts the hardcore star wars fanbase.. crazy as phock
"This is not the reel you are looking for."
This is insane
Ah.... A peaceful time when there wasn't sideshows or stores being robbed by a mob.
This is awesome lol
Love to see the cosplay going on in line! The customers have genuine awe and joy on their faces at the end. This is what a Star Wars movie is supposed to do. It touches your emotions while wowing you with groundbreaking special effects. Just not something the franchise has been able to do in the Disney era.
But but but…Star Wars Theory said girls and women DON’T like Star Wars?!?!
I remember this. I was seven.
very traumatic for a 7 yr old i would imagine! lol
I remember this. I was 8 months old.
I was 13, i went to watch it with all my friends … im still watching all the new star wars stuff on disney lol even tho it doesnt compare to the originals
i wish i could have been there.
Wonder if that theater is still operating?
All the men had Chewbacca like features back then....
Did they ever get to see how the movie ended?
It was like that in the 80's?
Yes. Thankfully electricity was discovered a year earlier.
@PhilMoskowitz Of course problems back then as they are now today, than it was electricity discovered a year earlier. As crazy for just one movie as compared to the hype of 1999 Star Wars movie to 1983 on certain cuts in the movie for angry customers in line. Plus the Batman movie back in 1989 for long lines.
Lets take time machine back to 1983 and see what it was like
I can't say I've managed a theater before but it's INSANE to me the manager is fine telling the TV news that will be broadcasted all over the metropolitan area that they're just gonna go right ahead and run that projector AGAIN even though they still didn't have the missing reel yet and is just acting like "well it's not MY fault if a second showing is ruined hurrrr"
Wow this is 42 years ago , can’t believe it , seems like SD yesterday 😢😢, many of these patrons are now in their senior years , 70s and 80s, the cinema owner most likely went to the happy hunting grounds a few decades ago , the stormtrooper kid is in her mid 50s now 😂😂…how time passes, life goes on and the only certainty is death and taxes 😢a😢😢
Nobody would carry on about a movie like that today. It was a different time.
People today suffer from media overload. Nothing is special anymore.