Welcome to the Dark Side

This article just came in from Tulsa World:

Welcome to the Darth side

by: MIKE AVERILL World Scene Writer
7/31/2008 12:00 AM

Why would Sam Bell choose the Dark Side? "Ask anybody who the best villain is. Even people who don't know 'Star Wars' know who Darth Vader is," Bell said.

Sam Bell always loved the Storm Troopers in the "Star Wars" films. Growing up, he watched the movies and played with the toys. "Now," he said, "I'm my own action figure."

Bell is the head of the Oklahoma Fire Team of the Star Garrison, part of the 501st Legion, or Vader's Fist — an organization whose members dress in costume as members of the Empire. Bell and other members of the 501st Legion will be decked out this weekend at DefCon 7.

"The conventions are for fun," he said. "If I can make one kid smile, I don't care how much I spend on armor. That's all I care about."

Members of the 501st Legion will check for admission badges at the entrance to the convention and will also have an information booth.

"And we want to make sure that no rebels are acting up," he joked.

Bell purchased most of his outfit on eBay and assembled it with hot glue, foam and Velcro. His blaster is hand-made through resin casting. He said his outfit cost about $600, but some people spend up to $1,200.

"I saved up my money and bought everything piece by piece," he said.

The 30-piece uniform is lightweight plastic.

"The disco boots are the heaviest part of the outfit," Bell said.

He declared that the 501st Legion is George Lucas' preferred group.

"We pride ourselves in being as close to the movies as possible. We're not extremely strict, but we are portraying people's childhoods and hopes."

So why does Bell align himself with the Dark Side instead of siding with the Rebel Alliance as a member of the Rebel Legion?

"First, it's simply cooler," he said. "Second, I've always been attracted to the shiny armor."

And there's the fact that the Storm Troopers are led by one of the best villains, Darth Vader.

"Ask anybody who the best villain is. Even people who don't know 'Star Wars' know who Darth Vader is," Bell said.

Bell's been a "Star Wars" fan since his father took him to see "Return of the Jedi" at a drive-in theater.

" 'Jedi' was the first movie I'd seen. I remember loving seeing things that I never could imagine were possible. The biker scouts zipping through the forest hooked me."

He also enjoys the Star Wars films because they have a story that other movies try to live up to.

"It shows humanity at its best," he said. "There's turmoil and overcoming that turmoil and delving back into it. And I'm simply just a geek."



About the 501st Legion


The Oklahoma Fire Team has nine members, one short of being a squad, and the Star Garrison — which encompasses Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma — has 170.

The goals of the 501st Legion are to celebrate the “Star Wars” movies through the wearing of costumes, to promote the quality and improvement of costumes and props, and to contribute to the local community through charity and volunteer work, its Web site says.

The 501st Legion has more than 4,000 members around the world, even in Antarctica.

For more information on the Star Garrison and how to join, go online to tulsaworld.com/stargarrison or e-mail info@stargarrison.com

Source: http://www.tulsaworld.com/lifestyle/article.aspx?articleID=20080731_17_D1_hAbout389210

FAMILY: 'Star Wars' convention at The Summit

This article just came online:

FAMILY: 'Star Wars' convention at The Summit

July 31, 2008 09:48 am

— By Anthony Custode Jr.

Light ... saber, action!
The National Star Wars Convention rolls into town this weekend at Omega Sports in The Summit mall. Brenden Bronson, owner of the sports memorabilia store, expects a huge turnout.
As of Monday, there were 120 tickets remaining of the 3,500 made available. The convention is unique compared to the autograph sessions he normally holds at the store, Bronson said.
“We have a ‘Star Wars’ DJ and a band. We also have a laser light show and smoke machine inside and an epic battle between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader,” Bronson said.
Of course, it wouldn't be a “Star Wars” convention without stars from the movie. According to Bronson, David Prowse, Jeremy Bulloch and Felix Silla, who played Darth Vader, Boba Fett and the hang-gliding Ewok from “Return of the Jedi,” respectively, will be on hand to sign autographs and mingle with fans.
Bronson also says he expects a “massive amount of celebrities,” including World Wrestling Entertainment diva Tammy “Sunny” Sytch. There are other celebrities tentatively scheduled to appear, as well.
Sytch says she looks forward to the convention, even though it isn't wrestling-related.
“I've been booked for signings at other (”Star Wars” conventions) and it's actually a lot of fun,” Sytch said. “Everybody expects to have a great time and meet their favorite characters. It's a fun, friendly atmosphere, and we're just trying to give them a good time.”
Bronson said the attendance of the 501st Legion, a fan organization whose members often dress up in Stormtrooper armor, will be a huge hit.
“The 501st Legion will be here all dressed up, and it's great because they actually look better then the characters in the movie because they spend so much more time on their costumes,” Bronson said. “They look amazing. I'm actually more excited about getting my picture taken with the legion because I'm such a big fan of the movie.”
Although hosting a convention with such a popular theme may be new to the Niagara Falls area, Bronson said he holds one annually, but the location changes each year.
“Last year was in Las Vegas, this year is in Niagara Falls and next year will be in Tampa, Fla.,” he said.
Sytch believes making appearances at these conventions will help enlarge her already popular fan base.
“Wrestling fans and ‘Star Wars’ fans are usually one in the same, but if I meet some people who aren't wrestling fans, maybe I can turn them on to it and hopefully turn them into a fan of mine,” Sytch said. “I do love meeting new people. The more people I meet, the broader my fan base gets.”
There will also be movie passes given away to the upcoming theatrical release “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” at the convention, Bronson said.
General admission tickets are $50 and VIP tickets are $100. Both tickets will allow access to the convention on each day, but the VIP ticket grants access to autographs from all celebrities in attendance.
Autograph signings will be held from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, but a complete list of stars appearing has not been released. According to Bronson, that’s done by design.
“We like to have a few surprises that people don't know about so they think, ‘Wow, this is a great deal,’ ” he said.

IF YOU GO
* WHAT: National Star Wars Convention
* WHEN: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
* WHERE: Omega Sports in The Summit mall, 6929 Williams Road, Wheatfield
* MORE INFORMATION: Call 605-0985 or visit summitniagara.com
http://www.niagara-gazette.com/nightandday/local_story_213094925.html

The Force is with them

This fantastic article came in from the Star Tribune, out of Minnesota:

The Force is with them

By Randy Salas, Star Tribune

Adam Brown, 6, left, and Sam Liang, 6, both of St. Paul, were surprised to find a real person — Steve Carter, 56, of Woodbury — behind what they thought was a static stormtrooper outfit during a visit to the Science Museum of Minnesota. “It freaked us both out,” Adam said.

July 29, 2008
It's not every day that you're riding an elevator and the doors open to admit an ominous "Star Wars" villain. But that's exactly what happened on a recent visit to the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul.

Enter Boba Fett, the lethal bounty hunter whom Darth Vader dispatched to track down Han Solo in "The Empire Strikes Back." As the imposing armored figure silently strode into the crowded elevator, trapped families and others quickly parted to the perimeter. One small boy ducked behind his father's legs, peering out in wide-eyed awe.

Later, in a secluded room at the huge museum, the faceless Fett removed the helmet to reveal not a ruthless male warrior, but a bright-eyed St. Francis woman named Stacie Hanson, who was all smiles.

"I just love it!" she said about impersonating one of the coolest, baddest dudes from the popular sci-fi films. "Seeing the kids' reactions is great -- even the parents'."

Hanson is one of a few dozen Twin Cities fans who appear regularly as "Star Wars" characters in authentic costumes that they often put together themselves. You can catch them Saturday and four other dates in August at the museum's special exhibit "Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination," but you're just as likely to see them in a community parade, at a store opening or even at a charity event.

And they do it all as volunteers.

They belong to local chapters of the 501st Legion and Rebel Legion, companion costuming clubs that have the blessing of "Star Wars" creator George Lucas as long as they adhere to rules that include:

• The costumes must look authentic.

• The general public can't see any members partly costumed -- not wearing a helmet, for instance.

• Members can't be paid for their costumed appearances. (The nonprofit Science Museum has given them volunteer benefits, such as free admission and Omnitheater passes, said Joe Imholte, project leader for special exhibits.)

It's all about authenticity

Members of the 501st and Rebel Legion look as if they just walked off a "Star Wars" set. They compare constructing their costumes to building a scale model. Even if they don't make the parts -- usually ordered from specialty replica companies or other fans -- they paint, trim and do other things to customize the components to fit their bodies.

Hanson, 28, who works at a finance company, estimates that she has spent "well over $2,000" on her getup for Boba Fett, a character she takes turns playing with two other Twin Cities fans, who have their own costumes. She's continually upgrading, too, with plans to add working lights and a cooling fan for the sweltering helmet, for example. And Fett is just one of four "Star Wars" characters she portrays.

"This is my main hobby," she said.

Then there's Mike Hansen, 39, of Woodbury. He has built a full-sized, working replica of R2-D2, the cute dome-shaped droid and plucky sidekick of the golden C-3PO.

Hansen's R2 unit beeps and whistles. It also rolls around, rotates its dome and lights up -- all controlled remotely by Hansen, whose day job is at an insurance company.

He wouldn't say how much he has spent on the little fella other than "it was a lot." What's more, he added, his R2 might never be done. Planned upgrades include opening doors and a periscope.

"He looks so good that if I'm not where people can see me, they think he's right from the movie and totally running on his own," he said.

Dealing with the skeptics

Now, the reaction from nonfans of "Star Wars" might be, "What is with these people?"

Steve Carter, executive officer of the 501st's Central Garrison, has heard it before. The 56-year-old Woodbury resident, a technology company executive, says skeptics often experience what he calls "scoff and awe."

"Initially, they scoff at the idea of a grown man wearing a costume in public," said Carter, who plays Darth Vader and a stormtrooper. "But then when they see me in it, the scoff is quickly followed by awe. Once I am in costume, I rarely have anyone make fun of me."

Ed Cook, 28, commanding officer of the Rebel Legion's Central Base, doesn't let derisive comments get to him.

"Obviously, we can't take ourselves too seriously," said Cook, a Minneapolis resident who works for a mortgage company. "We're grown adults who go out and play dress-up, basically. But when you do a charity event or have a kid come up to you and see the smile on their face, it's just so totally worth it."

Chad VanVorst, 35, of Maple Grove, knows all about it. Another 501st member who plays Darth Vader, he's swarmed by young fans at events.

"It's cool to interact with the little people at that level," said VanVorst, who works at an insurance brokerage firm. "They look past the darkness -- the armor, the immediate visual ugliness that Darth Vader is. When you see those wagon-wheel eyes and the big mouths just agape, it's fulfilling."

As VanVorst stood in the Science Museum recently in full Vader gear -- all 70 pounds of it -- a tiny girl slowly but bravely approached the Dark Lord of the Sith. She whispered something indiscernible. VanVorst bent down and asked her in Vader's deep, amplified voice to repeat the words.

"High five?" she said a little louder.

He gently patted his gloved hand against her open palm. She hurried back to her waiting family, grinning all the way.

Source

There are some more pictures on the website.

Using the force...for a purpose

This is really cool - the Dune Sea Garrison made it onto the television on fox news:

Watch it here:

http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail?contentId=7030071&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=VSTY&pageId=1.1.1

ONLY ON FOX. They are not really from a galaxy far, far, away. They may actually be your co-workers, your neighbor, maybe even your friend. What they do is follow a strict code of giving, of themselves and their time... and have a little fun with the force along the way. FOX 10's Yetta Gibson has more on the Dune Sea Garrison

Fun triumphs at BabelCon 3

I believe that this was the Mississippi Outpost:

Fun triumphs at BabelCon 3

Phenix Crowley, dressed as a ‘Star Wars’ stormtrooper, leads Ali Harcrom, dressed as Spiderman, back to the children’s area Saturday afternoon during BabelCon, at the Holiday Inn Select in Baton Rouge. Organizers say BabelCon is a conference that uses science fiction to generate interest in science and history.

By MARK H. HUNTER
Good triumphed over evil Saturday morning when Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, flashing their blue lightsabers, rescued a hostage from Darth Vader and a squad of Imperial storm troopers.

And that was only the beginning of BabelCon 3, an eclectic convention of “Star Wars,” “Star Trek” and science fiction/fantasy fans meeting again today at the Holiday Inn Select, 4728 Constitution Ave.

Named after a “Star Trek” television episode about a diplomatic gathering on planet Babel, the convention has mushroomed from a single celebrity visitor and dozens of fans three years ago to a half-dozen celebrities and an estimated 1,000 or so fans this year.

The hostage, BabelCon 3 chairman Andrew Myers, was introducing celebrity host Bob May, the human inside the Robot in the 1950s TV series “Lost in Space,” to about 75 fans when a dozen pirates swarmed the center aisle of the “Imperial Senate Chambers” meeting room.

Their seizure of Myers lasted only a minute or two until Vader, played by Gary Breaux, and his storm troopers of the “501st Legion” overpowered the pirates.

Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi, played by Wayne Dupree and Tommy Chaisson of the Red Stick Rebellion Star Wars Collectors Club, quickly defeated Vader’s squad. They released Myers to Queen Anne of the Society for Creative Anachronism and members of her court, who then knighted Myers and officially opened the event.

“This was the best opening of any ‘con’ I’ve seen, and I’ve been to a lot of them,” said Linda Anderson, an avowed “Trekker” who sat in the second row.

A librarian in real life, Anderson hosts science fiction and fantasy book clubs in the Jefferson Parish Public Library system. “Science fiction fans are the best — you know that ‘fan’ is short for ‘fanatic’ and we are fanatics!”

May, who attends conventions all over the world and was the lone celebrity at BabelCon 1, said the Baton Rouge meeting is one of his favorites. “Coming here is like seeing friends and family,” May said. “I adore these people.”

Josh Sonnier, 19, and Alex Louviere, 18, both from Jennings, were sitting on the front row and barely avoided several lightsaber blows during the hostage rescue.

“We’re fans — we came here on a whim,” said Sonnier. “We’ll be here Sunday, too.”

“I almost got hit by Vader’s sword,” added Louviere. “I’ve been to some comic cons, and this is just as good.”

Richard Hatch, who played Captain Apollo in the original “Battlestar Galactica” TV show, was happily signing autographed photos for a cluster of fans. Hatch has a recurring role as Tom Zarek in the current remake of "Battlestar Galactica."

Source

A galaxy not so far away

A galaxy not so far away
Hank Long Woodbury Bulletin

There’s no better time than the present to be a storm trooper. That is, if you’re Mike Hansen and Steve Carter.

The Woodbury residents are members of the “501st Legion,” an international Star Wars fan-based organization dedicated to the construction and wearing of those famous white armored suits.

Steve Carter of Woodbury, regularly dons the guise of “Darth Vader” from the Star Wars films to make public appearances at various events. Among these events is the Star Wars exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul. Carter and fellow Star Wars devotee Mike Hansen are members of the “501st Legion,” an international fan-based organization dedicated to the construction and wearing of Star Wars-themed suits, such as those of Imperial storm troopers.

The idea behind the club, said Hansen, who lays claim to having watched the original Star Wars film in the theater seven times the summer it was released, is part nostalgia and part giving back to the community.
Steve Carter of Woodbury, regularly dons the guise of “Darth Vader” from the Star Wars films to make public appearances at various events. Among these events is the Star Wars exhibit at the Science Museum of Minnesota in St. Paul. Carter and fellow Star Wars devotee Mike Hansen are members of the “501st Legion,” an international fan-based organization dedicated to the construction and wearing of Star Wars-themed suits, such as those of Imperial storm troopers.

“It’s one of those things where if you didn’t know much about it, you’d think it was just one of those geeky fan groups,” Hansen said. “But when you find out about all the 501st does, it really is a great organization to be a part of.”

Already this summer, the only two 501st members from Woodbury have marched in a local parade, volunteered at the Woodbury Relay for Life cancer fundraiser and made several appearances at the latest touring exhibit to make its way to the Science Museum of Minnesota. All in the name of the Force.

The Science Museum exhibit, entitled “Star Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination,” has given the duo and a plethora of other Twin Cities-based 501st members the chance to don their vast array of custom-built Star Wars-themed costumes.

“That’s one of the key pieces to being a member of the 501st Legion,” Hansen said. “Everyone has to have a costume that makes it appear as if they just walked off the movie set. When we all get together, it really brings the movie to life.”

Those strict costume rules have meant a heavy investment of time, money and effort for both Carter and Hansen.

Each originally joined the organization as an imperial storm trooper. Each has an assigned identification number. Carter’s ID is No. 4999. Hansen is storm trooper No. 7517.

And each has had the chance to expand their repertoire and increase their standing within the group.

Carter, who is well over six-feet in height, said he felt compelled by the force of his fellow 501st members to become Darth Vader.

He eventually bought the parts to the suit and has since assumed the role at most of the events he’s attended in the last year.

“It’s funny, because you’d think Darth Vader would be the most intimidating of the Star Wars characters,” Carter said. “But one of the last times I was at an event a little kid came up to me, gave me a hug and said ‘I love you.’

“What is Darth Vader supposed to say to that?”

Hansen has devoted much of his time lately to supporting the Rebel Alliance (the good guys). In June, he unveiled for the first time a near-perfect, operating replica of R2D2 at the Grand Old Day parade in St. Paul.

The 501st and other Star Wars fans from around the Twin Cities marched at the parade to promote the current Star Wars exhibit that will run at the Science Museum through Aug. 14. R2 was a hit with parade attendees.

“R2 is not even human, but he is probably the most liked personality,” Hansen kidded. “The kids will chase him around and come up and talk to him before they interact with any of the other characters.”

Distinguishing reality from fantasy

Although Carter and Hansen said they are definite fans of the Star Wars franchise, each said they have plenty of other hobbies they’re into.

“I’m actually more of a movie buff in general than I am a Star Wars fan,” Hansen said. “I was eight years old when ‘A New Hope’ came to the big screen, and the special effects were what got me.”

Carter said he’s always respected the story line of the Star Wars movies, and didn’t actually decide to get involved in the 501st until his children were grown.”

“I’m really not a big Star Wars memorabilia collector or anything,” Carter said. “I just discovered this group online one day and found out about how community service oriented the 501st really is. I thought it would be a fun way to do something good for people.”

“When you’re dressed up as an imperial storm trooper or especially Darth Vader and see the looks on the kids’ faces and the adults’ faces, it makes you feel good. Everyone seems to love Star Wars on some level.”

Carter and Hansen are part of the local 501st Legion members who will continue to appear at the Science Museums “Star Wars” exhibit through Aug. 14.

For more exhibit details, visit www.smm.org/starwars

Source

Polka Fest is more than music

The 501st made it into the papers once again:

Polka Fest is more than music
By Megan Hanson

SEAFORTH - Who knew that stormtroopers liked to Polka?

The 501st Legion of Stormtroopers (yes, like in Star Wars), will return to the Seaforth Polka Fest on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

"One of the men in the troop lives in Seaforth; the kids really enjoy seeing them," Maureen Bernardy, chairperson of the planning committee for Polka Fest said.

Maureen and her husband, Marv Bernardy, are both planning the 35th annual event.

They said the event typically draws 700 to 800 people, almost 10 times the number of the small, 80-person town of Seaforth.

"Some people who have lived here before have come back all the way from Colorado," Marv Bernardy said.

He said they see a lot of people from Iowa and the Dakotas.

The Bernardys said they also see a number of younger people attend the event, in addition to the polka lovers.

"Not a lot of them dance polka," Maureen Bernardy said, but they do come for the bean bag tournament, and the country and rock music.

"Sometimes the younger kids like to see how it's done," Marv Bernardy said.

"If they would come up to anyone and ask, they would dance with them," said Maureen Bernardy.

Maureen Bernardy also said they see a lot of polka dancers who want to learn the "Polka Hop," a variation on the classic dance.

There is much more available than just polka for people who want to attend.

"We are trying to program it this year toward a family celebration, so we have the bean bag tourney and the softball tourney," Marv Bernardy said.

"Don't forget about the tractor pull for the kids," added his wife.

Campers are also welcome to attend the event, but no hook-ups are allowed.

The event, which is put on by the Seaforth Booster Club, will raise money for replacing playground equipment in the park. If extra funds are available after that project is complete, the rest of the proceeds will go to the local firehouse.

Maureen Bernardy, who has been polka dancing for more than 30 years, says her favorite part is meeting people and seeing people who moved away from Seaforth come back.

"And, of course, the dancing," she said.

Source

Changing Hands to Host Star Wars Author Karen Traviss

This article just popped up regarding the Dune Sea Garrison:

July 15, 2008
Author: Kathee Austin

In celebration of Star Wars’ Clone Wars (the movie) release, Changing Hands Bookstore presents Karen Traviss, author of seven Star Wars novels, who will read from and discuss her latest Star Wars adventure, The Clone Wars.

And yes, of course, Storm Troopers will make an appearance.

In The Clone Wars and across the galaxy, the Clone Wars are raging. The Separatists, led by Count Dooku, the onetime Jedi and now secret Sith Lord, continue to press forward, and more and more worlds are either falling, or seceding and joining the cause. Under the leadership of Supreme Chancellor Palpatine, the Republic heroically battles on, championed by its huge army of cloned soldiers and their Jedi generals.

Anakin Skywalker, believed by some to be the prophesied “Chosen One” destined to bring balance to the Force, is now a Jedi Knight under the tutelage of his Jedi Master, Obi-Wan Kenobi. Death is a constant possibility—but there’s no time for Anakin to question his latest orders: He and Obi-Wan have been assigned a new mission, and failure is not an option. Jabba the Hutt’s infant son has been kidnapped, and the vile gangster has sought to enlist the Jedi for help. Much is at stake: A grateful Jabba might allow the Republic access to the Hutt-controlled space lanes that the Grand Army desperately needs in order to beat the Separatists into submission.

It’s up to Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Anakin’s new apprentice Ahsoka, a brash and inexperienced young Padawan to track down the evidence and retrieve the missing Huttlet. But the Republic is not the only power that craves access to those space lanes. Count Dooku, determined to win the prize for the Separatists, has set a trap for the Jedi. When they find the Huttlet, they will also find Dooku’s master assassin, Asajj Ventress, and countless legions of battle droids waiting to spring a trap.

On Monday, July 28th at 7pm Jedi Knights of all ages are welcome to visit with Karen Traviss–who will be joined by the Members of the 501st Legion’s Dune Sea Garrison– as she signs and discusses The Clone Wars at Changing Hands Bookstore.

Changing Hands Bookstore
6428 South McClintock Drive
Tempe, AZ 85283
480.730.4828

Source

Stamford Symphony's music heads 'out-of-this-world'

This article popped up from the Stamford Times, featuring the Connecticut Garrison:

Stamford Symphony's music heads 'out-of-this-world'

STAMFORD — The Stamford Symphony will perform "out-of-this-world music" at a free pops concert conducted by Maestro Eckart Preu in downtown Stamford on Wednesday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m.

"Pops in Outer Space" will be performed on the Heineken Stage at Columbus Park.

Presented by Seaboard Properties and HSBC, the concert is produced by Stamford Downtown Special Services District and the City of Stamford.

The symphony's music will fly with Superman, cross "Moon River," and travel the universe with light-hearted music from "Star Wars."

Returning to earth, they'll also play lively works by Scott Joplin, John Philip Sousa, along with Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture.

Attendees can also take pictures with characters from "Star Wars," with members of the "501st Regiment" or "Vader's Fist" on hand.

"I invite everyone to travel with the Symphony into outer space," said the symphony's conductor, Eckart Preu. "This program is just the right combination of fun and classics for listening on a beautiful summer's night out-of-doors. Anyone who has seen 'Star Wars' will recognize some of the music, while classical music fans can look forward to music from Holst's 'The Planets.'"

"The Symphony loves that the audience in Columbus Park is always ready to have some serious fun," Preu added.

Audience members are also invited to bring a picnic to enjoy on the grass or to make reservations at one of the many restaurants surrounding Columbus Park.

The park is located at Main Street and West Park Place in downtown Stamford.

All listeners can also enter to win a Stamford Symphony prize package.

Upcoming performances of the free "Pops in the Park" music series include appearances by singer Barbara Cook on July 23 and Bowzer's Rock 'n' Roll Party on July 30.

For further information, contact the Stamford Symphony at 203-325-1407 ext. 14 or the Stamford Downtown Special Services District at 203-348-5285. More information can also be found at www.stamford-downtown.com.

Source

501st In the News

The 501st was in a rash of newspapers over the past couple of days with events all over the place:

Crestline festival draws thousands
CRESTLINE - Plenty of people lined Lake Drive on Saturday to watch a parade of small businesses, big bikers and others fly the American flag on floats, fenders and fire engines.

Thousands turned out to the Jamboree Parade and Festival, presented by the Chamber of Commerce.

The parade snaked to Lake Gregory, where vendors sold summertime staples - hamburgers, hot dogs, shaved ice and schwag.

Humberto Sandez set up shop under a flag-emblazoned welcome banner that hung from a street light. He sold Lucha Libre wrestling masks.

"Rey Mysterio is most popular," he said. "And Nacho Libre."

There were almost as many dogs as hot dogs. Boxers, bulldogs and mutts abounded.

Tina Taylor of Running Springs and her daughter, Danielle, took advantage of the crowd and sought owners for two 9-week-old mastiff and Australian Shepherd mixes, the last of a 12-puppy litter.

Corey Abrantes of Crestline took the fawn-colored one for his daughter, Adriana.

"My wife saw it," Abrantes said.

Attendees wore red, white and blue wherever they could. On buttons. On bikini tops. On beaded beards.

Plenty of tattoos, too. Baby boomers with ponytails, and tattoos. Generation-Xers with soul patches, and tattoos. Kids with ball caps, and rub-off tattoos.
Advertisement

The Star Wars 501st Legion of Stormtroopers made an appearance. They didn't cause any trouble. "Vader's Fist" was on a goodwill mission to raise awareness for various charities.

Scott Linting, also known as "Stormtrooper TK7971," arrived from Las Vegas. He and about 20 others from Arizona and Southern California signed autographs and took pictures with fans.

"In order for me to suit up, I have to have a higher purpose," Linting said. "I like to work with Make-a-Wish Foundation."

His suit costs about $1,200.

A chili cook-off starts at 8 a.m. today.

http://www2.sbsun.com/news/ci_9797815


METRO--CRESTLINE--LAKE GREGORY--JAMBO--Stormtroopers with the 501st Stormtrooper Legion walk the parade route as thousands of people turned out for the 2008 Jamboree Parade and Festival in the Lake Gregory area of Crestline in the San Bernardino Mountains, Saturday, July 5, 2008.


METRO--CRESTLINE--LAKE GREGORY--JAMBO--Bounty hunters Jango Fett, Scott Chana of Phoenix Az.,right, pretends to put gas in Boba Fett's tank, Andy Forrester of Las Vegas, as the 501st Stormtrooper Legion unwinds after the parade. Thousands of people turned out for the 2008 Jamboree Parade and Festival in the Lake Gregory area of Crestline in the San Bernardino Mountains, Saturday, July 5, 2008.

Fourth of July/Mary Lou Retton parade Friday

FAIRMONT — The parade route for the Main Street Fairmont Fourth of July Celebration — Welcome Home Mary Lou Retton parade has been announced.

Lineup is at 4 p.m.. and the parade will start at 5 p.m.

The parade route will start at Third Street, turn down Fairmont Avenue/Adams Street, turn right at Jefferson Street, go over the Million Dollar Bridge, turn right onto Merchant Street and disband at Palatine Park.

The numbers below represent the parade line up and will be painted or drawn on the street and the location/direction follows. If you have any questions please call the Main Street Fairmont office at 366-0468.

37. Garrison Carieda of the 501st Legion — at corner of First Street and Virginia Avenue, face Virginia Avenue.

Full Article: http://www.timeswv.com/intodayspaper/local_story_185020258.html

Can't rain on our parade
By Michael Hays, mhays@pottsmerc.com

POTTSTOWN - Instead of sparklers, the wet masses along High Street held umbrellas as they watched a procession of cars and floats, horses and dogs, and people both young and old during Friday's parade.

The soggy Independence Day celebration ended Friday night, as thousands turning out despite the damp to watch the annual fireworks display.

Once again rain was an unwelcome blemish on Pottstown's Fourth of July celebration, but residents appeared to take it in stride. A light drizzle fell during the parade's early moments before falling more steadily after 11 a.m.

For a holiday honored with red, white and blue, a spattering of umbrellas in brown, black, green, orange and purple contributed to the sidewalks' visual diversity.

Tom Smoyer, a quarry worker from Bechtelsville, needed no such protection. Standing beneath a dripping gutter, a shirtless Smoyer took it all in with a cold drink in his hand.

"It ain't that bad. People take showers all the time. It's just a drizzle," he said.

Smoyer had a bit of the revolutionary spirit in him on this Independence Day, saying it might be time for another protest similar to the Boston Tea Party. He'd like to see gas prices drop to $2 per gallon, even if for just a couple of months.

"Give at least the working man a break," Smoyer said.

In 1978, Pottstown held its first community-wide Fourth of July celebration. Americans were in the midst of an oil crisis, complete with rationing and long lines at the station. The federal government set the national speed limit at 55 mph - in an attempt to help people conserve gasoline - only to lift the restriction in 1995.

With a barrel of oil setting new record highs in 2008, AAA predicted there would be 400,000 fewer vehicles on the road during this holiday.

Gasoline at $4 per gallon doesn't appear to bother everyone, as several cars sat idling on side streets throughout the borough, providing both cover and air conditioning for occupants.

People sought shelter wherever they could - under trees, storefronts, carports and front porches. A small crowd gathered under the drive-up window at National Penn Bank.

Winston Kelly and Kevin Wright were among them. Although happy with this parade, both men would like to see the annual Memorial Day parade grow in both size and significance.

"We should honor the vets, but we don't," Wright said.

A more visible Memorial Day parade would bring more recognition to men and women who have served their country, they said.

"What does Darth Vader have to do with the Fourth of July?" another man asked, in reference to the unit of "Star Wars" stormtroopers, members of the Fighting 501st costuming organization, that was a small part of the parade.

Full Article: http://www.zwire.com/site/index.cfm?newsid=19831744&BRD=1674&PAG=461&dept_id=635482&rfi=8

Space Classics

This is in from a couple days ago:

Space Classics | MSO Pops
Written by Jack Teiwes
Sunday, 22 June 2008

Having not been to an orchestral performance in quite some time and never to one of the “Pops” programmes, this collection of music with a celestial motif dubbed Space Classics was a delight.

Perhaps they should have called it “John Williams and Friends” though, since over half of the pieces they played were from Williams’ memorable film scores, and most of those in turn were from the Star Wars movies specifically. Actually, if there’s any criticism I could level at this rousing night of music it would be a mild conceptual fuzziness in its choice of works, using the theme of “space” to include scores from science fiction films and television (with the arguably tangential inclusion of Superman), some more classical material such as the pieces of Strauss used in Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, as well as three movements from Gustav Holst’s astrologically-themed suite The Planets. In theory it might have been more tidy had the programme either been restricted to film scores (or music used in films, thus encompassing Strauss) or had more of a balance with the inclusion of further space-inspired classics… but why quibble? No one was complaining of the delightful final product, least of all myself. Still, it might have been nice to have brought in a few other great sci-fi movie scores in lieu of some of the less iconic Williams pieces from the Star Wars sequels, such as “Jabba the Hutt’s” leitmotif, for example.

The whole show was a tremendously jolly event from the moment of arrival. A half-dozen fully armoured Stormtroopers from the local Terror Australis Garrison of the 501st Legion (google them!) greeted the audience at the door of Hamer Hall, under the watchful eye of a resplendent and suitably towering Darth Vader. All these good sports were more than happy to pose for photos with the delighted crowd.

Once in the auditorium, proceedings were off to an excellent start in the hands of the affable and quite funny conductor/presenter Anthony Inglis, who guided the audience through the programme with disarmingly unaffected charm. Able to discuss the pieces with equal enthusiasm as both a musician and a genre fan, Inglis managed to air his Trekkie pride (etc.) endearingly without becoming embarrassing.

The performance itself was splendid. I have heard it said that sometimes this sort of event (perhaps not MSO Pops specifically) will have the orchestra perform backed by a screen upon which is projected silent clips of the film from which the music originated. Fortunately it was not the case here, as that would have merely been a distraction.

The sweeping power of some of the works was very moving and wonderfully brought to life, with excellent performances of the indelible main title piece from Star Wars, Strauss’ “Thus Spake Zarathustra: Sunrise” and Jerry Goldsmith’s main piece for the first Star Trek film were high points. The only performance which struck me as a little disappointing was that of Williams’ powerful “Duel of the Fates” from the first Star Wars prequel, the arrangement here somewhat drowned out the strings and simply couldn’t quite compensate for the lack of a choir.

There was some additional showmanship, with a relatively unobtrusive lightshow that worked to thematically match the music, such as an ominous red for the “Imperial March” of the evil Empire. Towards the end Inglis engaged in some further theatrics, such as gentle audience participation in getting us to launch Thunderbirds with the famous countdown, yelling “THUNDERBIRDS ARE GO!” in unison. The final advertised item on the bill was Williams’ sublime theme from Superman in which our conductor half-heartedly tried to get the audience members to all enact the famous shirt-spreading moment of transition from secret identity to superhero, before declaring he’d show us “how it’s done” and, indeed, splitting his shirtfront to reveal the iconic S-symbol beneath, to much applause.

An encore was evidently anticipated, as after taking his bow and departing the stage, Inglis re-emerged a few moments later in full Jedi robes, brandishing a glowing lightsabre before ascending to his podium again and announcing that they would send us off with the full end-credits score to Star Wars. After a swelling phrase or two the audience chuckled with delight as a certain Dark Lord of the Sith made his reappearance, leading his squad of Stormtroopers down the isles in a processional march before taking up a perimeter at the foot of the stage. In what seemed an improvised moment, Vader turned around and pretended to conduct with his lightsabre for a few bars, much to the crowd’s amusement.

Finishing off with some small indoor fireworks, this thoroughly enjoyable evening had a very happy crowd spilling out into the foyers with many a grin to be seen.

Full Article

Legoland Star Wars Days Fast Approaching

This in from Wired Magazine:

Legoland Star Wars Days Fast Approaching
By Dave Banks EmailJuly 02, 2008 | 8:49:39 AMCategories: Lego, Star Wars

We are on our annual pilgrimage to Legoland in California. While waiting in line in the new Land of Adventure section of the park, I passed the time by reading the list of upcoming events. My eye immediately caught the Star Wars Day event, coming to the park September 13 & 14.

Visitors on those days are encouraged to dress as their favorite Star Wars character. The 501st Legion will be in attendance. And Legoland will be featuring special product viewings, building activities, costume contests, scavenger hunts and - best of all - product giveaways. What's more, everyone who attends the park that day will receive a commemorative Star Wars brick.

So mark your calendars, call your travel agent and have a blast at Legoland Star Wars Days 2008.

Full Article

The Western Michigan Whitecaps Will Restore Balance To The Universe

The Western Michigan Whitecaps Will Restore Balance To The Universe

Welcome to Minor Enterprise. You will never find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy.

Saturday is Star Wars Night with the Western Michigan Whitecaps, where once again science fiction geek and baseball stat nerd call truce and come together for a night of revelry and excitement ("Hey, give me back my inhaler!"). Never before have so many costumed Star Wars characters descended on a minor league ballpark. Never before have your children witnessed Emperor Palpatine taking a leak in a trough urinal. Never before have so many adults been driven to the game by their parents. Plus, the players will be wearing Star Wars-themed jerseys (shown following the jump), Darth Vader will throw out the first pitch, and the National Anthem will be played on guitar by a Clone Trooper. And it's all for charity!

Many Bothans died to bring us this information.

To get you in the mood, here's an action-packed promotional video by the Whitecaps staff, featuring their mascot, Crash, in deleted scenes from Star Wars: A New Hope. (Even though he's wearing a mascot gopher head and can't change expression, he's still a better actor than Hayden Christiansen). Oh, and the young Anakin Skywalker will be there, bragging about his Midichlorian count and using his powers to get all the foul balls. This has become an annual event with the Whitecaps, with members of the 501st Legion, a Star Wars costuming fan group, showing up each year and helping to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation (last year's haul: $3,000). Whitecaps players will be wearing custom Star Wars jerseys for the game, some of which will be auctioned off afterwards for that same charity. Here they be.

Full Article: http://deadspin.com/5019790/the-western-michigan-whitecaps-will-restore-balance-to-the-universe

Connecticut Garrison In the News

The Connecticut Garrison just made the news:

'Invasion from Outer Space' in Danbury
Dress as your favorite 'Star Wars' character for pops concert Saturday on CityCenter Green
News-Times Staff
Article Last Updated: 06/20/2008 02:09:55 AM EDT

Storm Troopers from “Star Wars” will do battle as the Danbury Symphony Orchestra...


DANBURY ­-- Saturday the CityCenter Green will be invaded by "Star Wars" Storm Troopers. Have no fear, though ­-- this invasion is just for fun.

The Storm Troopers' appearance, plus a great family-friendly concert featuring the Danbury Symphony Orchestra, kicks off CityCenter Danbury's Summer Music Festival.

Everything gets started at 7:30 p.m. The Storm Troopers will do battle as the Danbury Symphony, directed by Ariel Rudiakov, performs a medley from "Star Wars" by John Williams. The DSO will also perform other selections including 2001: A Space Odyssey; "Fanfare for the Common Man," by Copland; "William Tell Overture," by Rossini; "Superman" by John Williams; and much more.

"Most of the music is from the movies, but there is a segment that we're dedicating to the armed forces," said Rudiakov. He also joked, "The music director may be fighting Darth Vador."

Everyone is invited to come dressed as "Star Wars" characters. At the end of the concert, which is free, parents may take pictures of their children with the Storm Troopers.

The Storm Troopers are from the Connecticut Garrison of the 501st Legion of Storm Troopers, a volunteer organization that appears in "Star Wars" costumes at various charity events. Charles Corrente, a founding member of the Connecticut group, organized the troopers for Saturday's show. He and other members, wearing impressive, homemade trooper costumes, are receiving a small donation for their appearance, which
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they will give back to the Danbury community.

"The music is fantastic and the kids love us," Corrente said. "And the adults do, too."

Saturday's event will conclude with an outdoor laser light show presented by CityCenter.

The Danbury Symphony Orchestra has been the premier orchestra in Danbury since 1935. Its mission is to provide opportunities for area residents to perform great music and present concerts of high quality to the public.

Rudiakov said over 800 people attended last year's kickoff concert, and he's confident this year's event will be just as successful.

While the fun begins at 7:30 p.m. on Danbury's CityCenter Green on Ives Street, early arrival is suggested. Bring your lawn chairs and a picnic supper if you wish.

Lawn chairs are available for rent; ample parking is available at the Patriot Garage; downtown restaurants will provide take-out meals; and refreshments will be available for purchase.

In the event of bad weather, the rain location is at Danbury High School. The decision to relocate will be made by 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Source: http://www.newstimes.com/ci_9643377?source=most_emailed

At AdventureCon, fathers become superheroes

At AdventureCon, fathers become superheroes
KNOXVILLE (WVLT) – Fathers Day was Sunday, and for many, their dad was a hero all weekend. In downtown Knoxville, a convention of superheroes proved to be the perfect spot for dads to celebrate fatherhood with their sons and daughters.

"Why not wear purple spandex on a Saturday?" asked Joe Reinwald, who attended the Great Smoky Mountain's AdventureCon Show at the Knoxville Conventional Center with his young son. "There are other people here who are just as freaky as we are!"

During a trip through the large exhibition hall, you could run into Storm Troopers from Star Wars and even the Ghostbusters. Nearly 70 vendors took up residence in the shows booths and sold various sci-fi and superhero collectibles.

For the father-son, superhero-sidekick duo of Reinwald and son, it was a love for comics that brought them downtown.

"I'm dressed as Zan from the Wonder Twins, my son is my faithful sidekick Gleek and we're from the comic books," said Reinwald, before taking pride in his son following in his own footsteps. "He's just now starting to collect the Iron Man series, mainly because I was tired of him tearing up my own."

Another father and son duo included Andy Lane's and his boy, who was dressed in a homemade Storm Trooper uniform.

"It took a lot of trimming, sanding, and gluing stuff together," he said, mentioning he passed up wearing his own homemade uniform. "It's a little hard to dress up with a three year and follow him along."

According to Lane, sharing his passion for Star Wars is what made the weekend so special.

"Just having fun with him is better than actually getting a gift," he said.

Organizers admitted that they had heard similar stories from many people attending AdventureCon.

"I was watching the ticket booth, and all these dads and sons and dads and little girls were coming in," said JP Parks, an organizer. "It was very special."

AdventureCon warped up on Sunday, June 15th, 2008. Tickets cost $12.

Source - http://www.volunteertv.com/home/headlines/19949534.html

Aliens invade Tampa Convention Center for Scout Con 2008

Aliens invade Tampa Convention Center for Scout Con 2008

By Robbyn Mitchell, Times Staff Writer
In print: Sunday, May 25, 2008
TAMPA — Jacob Polk and Clay Cumbee came all the way to the Tampa Convention Center from Dade City to see characters from one their favorite movies, Star Wars.

Flanked by storm troopers, Christian Allyn, known to his fellow Klingons as tIn’HIch’nuj, and Richard Woods, also known as Qahoine thlolrop, wait for the verdict in the Scout Con 2008 costume competition. The Klingons, from Clearwater and Tampa, respectively, took first place.


"There was an Ewok and a storm trooper," Clay mused.

Dressed in their Boy Scout uniforms, Jacob, 12, and Clay, 13, took photos with Vader's 501st Legion, which tours sci-fi conventions in full battle gear with replica weapons of those in the movies.

Hundreds of people came out to Scout Con 2008 Saturday to talk about space and see the stars of their favorite sci-fi TV shows.

The proceeds of the miniconvention will help maintain Scout troops in low-income areas that got a huge funding cut from the state this year.

Classic actors like Erin Gray of Buck Rogers and Grace Lee Whitney of Star Trek mingled with Scouts and their excited leaders and parents to help try to bridge the gap between space curiosity and exploration.

"I'd been to a lot of events like this before," said Ted Johnson, director for the Scouts' gulf region. "And I thought it would be great to do something like this in our area."

Johnson said 90 percent of all NASA's astronauts had been in Boy Scouts, so tying the organization to sci-fi didn't seem like a stretch.

Other actors better known for their work outside of Science fiction, such as Police Academy's Michael Winslow, also participated in the event.

"I was in the Scouts back when I was in Colorado," he said. "So any time I get a call from them, I'm interested."

Winslow, who is famous for his beat-boxing and noise imitations, was sure the Scouts would get a kick out of requesting sounds from him at his performance in the afternoon.

"I always get requests," Winslow said. "That's why I know the value of hot tea with lemon."

Sunnie J'oy Planthold, dressed in Star Trek gear with matching red and white hair, greeted children as they entered the convention.

"I'm a retired teacher, so I love to come to these things to help out my kiddies," she said.

Planthold and her husband, Ralph, run the USS Gasparilla, which gathers Trekkies to do community service in the area.

"It's great to translate something I'm a fan of into something good for the entire community," she said.

Johnson couldn't agree more.

"Events like this bring together Scouts from all over, and it benefits our lower-income Scouts," he said. "I can't think of a better reason to do it."

Robbyn Mitchell can be reached at (813) 269-5313 or rmitchell@sptimes.com.

Source: http://www.tampabay.com/news/humaninterest/article523614.ece

PHOTO: War on Trash

PHOTO: War on Trash

Kristin Quick dons her Storm Trooper helmet at the Red Spring picnic area near Las Vegas on Saturday. Quick was attending "Don't Trash Nevada," an event sponsored by various public lands agencies to raise awareness about illegal dumping in the desert.
Photo by John Locher.

Source: http://www.lvrj.com/news/19437589.html

501st Mention in If magazine

I came across this mention of the 501st in this interview with Liam Sullivan:

iF: Your videos have Stormtroopers from STAR WARS, and dancers, and zombies, and a wide variety of interesting background players. Are these all people you know?

SULLIVAN: Yeah pretty much. The Stormtroopers are from an organization called the 501^st Legion. They donate their services at function and then you donate charity in their name. I found them online and contacted their local chapter. Everyone else were friends or friends of friends. It still has that feel of ‘hey guys you want to shoot a video?’

Read the full interview here.

The video that they mentioned is here:
(Caution, there's a lot of strong language here)

..

May the Force be with you, Owen

From the Lake Oswego Review:

May the Force be with you, Owen
Star Wars wish is coming true for Lake Oswego boy
By Cliff Newell
The Lake Oswego Review, Jun 12, 2008

Matthew Ginny / Trillium Media Services

Lake Oswego’s Owen Miller takes on Darth Vader with his new light saber last week at Pioneer Place in Portland as part of the Make-A-Wish Foundation’s kick-off event in Oregon. In addition to the light saber, Owen also was given a full Stormtrooper uniform. The Miller family soon will depart to Disney World in Florida for a special Star Wars vacation. The Star Wars characters are from Cloud City Garrison, a local chapter of the 501st Legion of Stormtroopers.

Owen Miller is getting some re-enforcements in his brave battle for life – the Star Wars Stormtroopers.

Last Tuesday, the 6-year-old Lake Oswego boy was totally unaware of why he was standing at Pioneer Square in Portland, along with his parents Rich and Lisa Miller and his 2 ½-year-old sister Sela.

Then a MAX train pulled up, the doors opened, and out poured steam and smoke while the Darth Vader theme from Star Wars played. Out bounded Darth Vader and his Star Wars Stormtroopers, to shake Owen’s hand and present him his new Stormtrooper costume, because his old one was almost totally worn out from him wearing it several times a week; plus a light saber, with which he got to duel with Darth Vader, as cameras clicked.

Truly, the Force was with Owen.

“It made Owen feel very special,” Rich said. “It went above and beyond anything we expected. It was something extra special for our whole family.”

This whole operation was called “Destination Joy,” and it was just the beginning of what Owen will experience for being a recipient of the Make-A-Wish Foundation. It was the kickoff event for Make-A-Wish in Oregon, and while it was quite special in and of itself, Owen’s Star Wars wish will really be fulfilled June 18 to 23 when the Miller family will travel to Disney World in Florida for the Star Wars Weekend.

“Make-A-Wish asked Owen what would be best and most appropriate, and the trip to Disney World worked best,” Rich said. “It will be great for our family to have this time together, especially with everything that has happened the last few months.”

It was last September that young Owen was diagnosed with Wilm’s Tumor, a cancerous condition, and the idea of contacting Make-A-Wish came up soon after Owen had to be taken to the hospital.

“We knew about Make-A-Wish, but we didn’t know much about it,” Rich said. “We knew they did good work, but we didn’t know anyone who had been granted a wish. Our oncologist and Emmanuel Hospital told us we should get in touch with them and that started the process.

“We were not sure that Owen would be chosen. Only about half of the people who apply get their wishes granted.”

Coming up with an idea was no problem.

“Just about every 6 ½-year-old boy I know is obsessed with Star Wars,” Rich said.

But a lot of hard work and effort went into making Owen’s wish come true. One of the people most responsible was Marlene MacEwan of Lake Oswego, who has long been a liaison with the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“It helped so much to have someone here like Marlene, who could talk to Owen and who would work so hard to make sure he received his wish,” Miller said. “For a kid like Owen and a family like ours, who have had so much control of our lives taken away, this is something great, something for our whole family.”

For the Miller family, Owen’s condition made life not just a matter of day to day, but hour to hour.

“To be so focused on the present is tiring,” Rich admitted. “This is something we’ve been looking forward to for months through the whole process. It’s like a carrot on a stick. We thought, ‘There’s something good up ahead.’ It was a constant incentive for us. To have something on the horizon that was super fun was very meaningful.”

When Owen and his family get to Florida they will be greeted by people from the movie, parades, special events, and, of course, more Star Wars Stormtroopers.

While Owen knew that the trip to Florida was coming, he did not know what to expect at Pioneer Square, and his parents only knew “a teeny bit.” But Owen had been chosen by the Oregon chapter of Make-A-Wish as the state representative for the national Destination Joy campaign. Just one child is picked in each state.

But if anyone is deserving of Star Wars treatment, it is Owen Miller.

For more information about the Make-A-Wish Foundation, visit the Web site www.orwish.org or call 800-934-WISH.

Full article

TK-7888 & Del Rey

Anna, TK-7888 made Del Rey's photo of the month on the Del Rey Internet Newsletter, alongside Terry Brooks and Robert Napton.

PHOTO OF THE MONTH

We think this photo encapsulates all things Del Rey: Star Wars fan Anna Jannsen stood in line at the New York Comic Con to meet one of her favorite authors, Terry Brooks, and have him sign a copy of the new Del Rey graphic novel, Dark Wraith of Shannara. On the left is Robert Napton, who scripted Dark Wraith.

Photo by Judine Brooks