The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/ROTJ

lambotour

Sr Member
RPF PREMIUM MEMBER
I wanted to document a Darth Vader timeline utilizing all available information and pictures from various sources. This thread is a combined effort from everyone. It would have been impossible to do if not for all the pictures and information made available from LFL, promotional/tour ceremonies, museum displays and fans alike. It is due to their generosity over the years on forums such as this one and throughout the net, in addition to the countless articles, books and videos etc, that this thread is possible. Some pictures were shared privately and some were openly shared, but they have all contributed into making this thread possible along with all relevant information.

I want to thank Carsten, (TooMuchGarlic/NoHumorMan) for all of his help to get this started and his continued help as we progress through the thread. He has helped me organize and collect an abundance of pictures. I will be adding a list of all known contributors and thanks to those who remain nameless.

This is a huge endeavor. Starting from the beginning (or at least as far back as we can go based on the info that is available) into the creation of Darth Vader and continuing with his journey through the years of ANH/ESB/ROTJ.

I would appreciate any help with pictures and information, so that an accurate timeline can be established and continued. My only requirements for the contribution to this thread is that you give information as accurate as possible and submit any pictures (if possible) to support whatever you contribute. This thread is not about who is more knowledgeable or the typical, "You are wrong, but I can't tell you why" nonsense. This is a community contribution thread. If you are only willing to contribute negativity, then don't bother posting in it.

I realize it's quite a task to chronicle every picture and event Darth Vader has been in, but with combined efforts from everyone that is able to, we can attempt something that hasn't been done before.

This is a work in progress thread and will be for some time. I will update the initial post as information and pictures become available. I have a ton of pictures already on hand, it will just take some time to sort out. For those that I have no information on, I will post in a section asking for information. Hopefully someone will be able to give some information on those pictures so we can correctly document them in the timeline. This is going to be a rough draft up until the end, so don't mind the mess. In the end, it will all be organized in an easy to read and follow format.

I hope this is an enjoyable and educated read for newbies and vets alike. I want to begin with ANH first and work from there up through ROTJ. If you have any pictures or information to contribute, either post here or contact Carsten by pm and he will provide you an email to send the information to.

I would like to thank everyone in advance and hope you enjoy it. If you see one of your photos and wished to have it removed or be given credit for it, please contact Carsten or myself.

We have a lot to cover still, so here we go.......

1975-1976 Darth Vader is created with the combined incredible talents of Ralph Mcquarrie, John Mollo and Brian Muir



July 23 1976 is the last day of second unit shooting at EMI (aka Elstree
Studios). The remaining shoots take place in Ca, USA.

Sept 3-6 1976 is the first time Darth Vader is shown publicly at the
World Con in Kansas City, MO USA. The complete costume was on a
mannequin at this time and every time after until KE wore it



January 11, 1977 all filming is completed in Los Angeles, Ca.

May 1, 1977 First preview showing of Star Wars

May 25, 1977 The US release of Star Wars

May, 1977 Charles Lippincott employs KE to serve as Vader for tours




Late May '77 Ghost Host (young boy in pic) meeting Vader at the Emporium-Capwell's department Store in Albany, CA (right next to Berkeley)



June 24 1977, Vader meets JS (Corbis pics)




Lord Vader in limo on way to radio interview with Bob Mackay in San Francisco-1977



June-Nov 1977 (Unknown specific date) The first Chronicles was printed in 1995 in Japan and at that point, it had been a 3 year project (first appearance of the repainted look of the helmet)











Aug 3 1977 Vader, 3PO and R2D2 at the Mann's ceremony



Sept 8, 1977 CBS Wacko Saturday Preview Show



Sept 9, 1977 The ABC ALL-STAR SATURDAY preview show



Sept 1977 (Appearing in Tiger Beat magazine)



October 1977, Disney appearance




October 1977 Appears on Toyota Today Magazine

magazine.jpg


October 1977 TRU Madison Heights, Michigan (pics courtesy of Todd, TK765)



Donny and Marie Show Christmas Special Late 1977



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMW4Ad8fIF4

1977 Wolfman Jack The Midnight Special Show

YouTube - Star Wars - Darth Vader Meets Wolfman Jack Spoof

Ok, I believe all 3 of these are related. I purchased the magazine so as soon as it arrives from the UK, I'll know the date. I think it's May 1977.




April 3rd 1978 Vader appears in the 50th Academy Awards show



May 1978



Sept 24, 1978 Vader and Fett make their appearance in San Anselmo
Country Fair parade, in San Anselmo, Ca

th_Tour-MarinCounty-Sep24-78-002.jpg




November 1979 - Gold Circle - Columbus , Ohio



1980 Mervyn's Department Store Visit



Various Unsorted ANH Tour and Photo shoot Pictures

Need dates for these shots:

 
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Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

Wow this must have taken a lot on input :)
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

Awesome pics! :D
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

Wow Lambotour, thanks for putting this together , nice to see thoese pics with a time line ,hope it continues to grow.
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

This is awesome work. Well done!!
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

Great stuff Pete! I remember seeing pix of that SW Celica when I was a kid....I thought it was the coolest car ever.
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

Wow, very well done Lambotour!!!!
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

Thanks guys. It really is a combined effort. I have a ton of pics to go through and the hard part is coming up with dates, locations etc. Most won't have any info attached to them unfortunately, but they will be listed here. Once I have as much as possible on ANH era, we'll move onto ESB then ROTJ. It's going to take a while.:eek
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

That is a beautiful timeline and I imagine that took a LOT of time and energy. Thanks for sharing. Some of those photos were really amazing. Great work there from all of you!
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

As I have said many times, Vader is not my thing, but this is awesome!!! Love the pics!
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

Great thread mate here's some better caps from the Mann's event from a HD documentary.
ILM Creating the Impossible is the name for anyone wondering.

 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

Excellent work!

Vader made an appearance in 1977 or 1978 at Gottschalks department store in Fresno, CA. I may still have snapshots and my autographed 8x10; I'll check.
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

Thanks Gary for the caps, I'll update the thread soon with those. MFP, that would be great! Thanks gents.:thumbsup
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

I'm sorry to report that the snapshots did not survive the Great Photo Purge of 2009. (If it's any consolation, they were faded and yellowed.) I may still have the negatives, so I'll keep searching. Still looking for the 8x10 shot.
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

This is Awesome! I remember Darth vader coming to Louisville a long time ago. I wish We could've taped the story from the news. I'd love to see more pics of the Tour Vader
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

Excellent thread!
It will get messy when you add the later films and tours but I am looking forward to seeing what we can come up with.
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

Great thread and pics. Thanks for sharing. Will be watching with great interest.
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

Yeah, it's nice to see the pictures sorted and with dates attached. I know there are still a lot we've collected that needs to be added and cool to see people contributing. :thumbsup

Personally I think it would be easier to sort things if each movie had their separate thread.
 
Re: The Definitive Darth Vader Timeline. Screen/Tour/Promo/Museum Displays: ANH/ESB/

Good lord, Pete! That is a maddening amount of work. Thanks for putting it out there for us all.
 
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