Imagine if you will, it’s 25th May 1983. You’re about to watch what many believe is the last ever Star Wars film, the culmination of what will later be better known as the Original Trilogy and all the answers fans had been dreaming of since May 1980 when The Empire Strikes Back delivered the greatest sequel of all time. Return of the Jedi starts….but there are only 7 of the 8 reels needed to screen the entire film. What happened next? Watch to find out.
May 25, 1983 Imagine going to see a much anticipated film on premiere day and a big chunk of the film is missing! That’s what happened in San Diego at the Return of the Jedi premiere. Movie goers weren’t happy. Lorraine Kimel was there to get reaction.
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” program book for $3.00. The building of the theater now houses a “mega church.”
