The contest announcement
The Official Star Wars Comic Strip Contest, also known simply as the Star Wars Contest, was a contest that was created after A New Hope premiered.
Background
After the successful release of Star Wars: Episode IV A New Hope, as well as the release of the daily strips in the Los Angeles Times, Lucasfilm created a national contest promoting the eventual release of Star Wars: Episode V The Empire Strikes Back.
At least three ads advertised the contest, all largely similar to each other:
- A picture of C-3PO and R2-D2 floating through space had the words "Announcing the Official Star Wars Comic Strip Contest!!!" above the image and "You could win First Prize and attend the gala U.S. film premiere of the continuing Star Wars saga 'The Empire Strikes Back'" below it, just before the text describing the contest and how to enter.
- This replaced the image and the large print accompanying the text with an image of R2-D2 saying "Join me at the gala U.S. film premiere of my new film 'The Empire Strikes Back' I want you there with me" and closing with a "bleep bleep," and the text stating "R2-D2 wants you to enter his official Star Wars Comic Strip Contest." This ad is the only instance of R2 speaking Basic.
- This ad's image had Luke Skywalker mentioning to Leia that she has no idea what Star Wars comic strip fans have in store for them, with Leia replying that she had heard about the new contest that will send the national winner to the U.S. gala premiere of The Empire Strikes Back, and the accompanying text stating "Enter the official STAR WARS comic strip CONTEST."
Entry
To enter, the contestant simply had to send a letter and/or postcard to Lucasfilm Ltd. confirming that they have read the comic strip in the Spokesman Review, by midnight on Halloween of 1979, of which the winners would then be determined randomly at an independent firm.
The letter/postcard was to be submitted to:
- STAR WARS CONTEST
- The Spokesman-Review
- C/O LOS ANGELES TIMES SYNDICATE
- P.O. Box 511
- LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, 90053
Prizes
Grand prize
The grand prize was an all-expense-paid vacation for two to the gala U.S. premiere of the next Star Wars film, The Empire Strikes Back. The winner and their guest would fly on a commercial airline, stay at a luxury hotel, and receive a full allowance on all meals.
Runner-up
The runner-up won a selection of Star Wars toys, games, books, and craft kits worth $150.00, as well as two complimentary tickets to The Empire Strikes Back that would be issued upon local release.
Third prize
Those who won third prize locally would receive one Random House book, The Star Wars Question and Answer Book About Space, per letter/postcard.
