Catching up on News

It’s a slow day today, so I’m working to catch up on some of the 501st stuff around the web. Here’s a couple of articles that came out over the past couple weeks:

Chewbacca: Welcome to Hoth, I mean West Michigan
UPDATED 12/8/08 WITH MORE PHOTOS
Chewbacca: Welcome to Hoth, I mean West Michigan

Yes, I’m a big Star Wars fan, but no I didn’t really say my headline “welcome to Hoth” … it just seems like it was fitting with our current sub-freezing temperatures and non-stop snow. But I did tell Peter Mayhew it was nice to meet him as I shook his hand.

The approximately 7′0″ British born actor best known for playing everyone’s favorite wookiee in 4 Star Wars movies visited Grand Rapids Saturday, and it couldn’t have been a better peak to my birthday weekend!!!

Seriously – this is the man who played Chewbacca – one of the most recognizable movie characters from the 1980s – and not only did I get to shake his giant hand and get an autograph – I also got to take a picture with him.

Mayhew may have been big and imposing on screen in the Chewbacca suit, but in real life Mayhew is quiet and reserved, and at the age of 64, his tall lanky build has him using a cane these days.

And yes, there was charge for an autograph – but that’s okay when you realize most stars on the convention circuit charge for autographs anyway – and this was without the cost of admission to a convention, Mayhew made a stop at Celebration! Cinema North… but bottomline: can you really put a price on a special link to a favorite childhood memory? It was totally worth it.

Special thanks to the 501st Legion, Great Lakes Garrison (a fan based costuming group that works mostly for charities) for bringing Mayhew here from his home in Texas.

And thanks again Peter Mayhew – it was nice to meet you after all these years!

Full article

Chewbacca in Grand Rapids Saturday
Chewbacca (Peter Mayhew) makes a visit to Grand Rapids Saturday

The 6 foot 9 inch tall actor who portrayed the classic character in 4 Star Wars movies: Star Wars IV: A New Hope (1977), Star Wars V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars VI: Return Of The Jedi (1983) and Star Wars III: Revenge Of The Sith (2005) will be in Grand Rapids tomorrow.

Mayhew will be appearing in person at Celebration Cinema! North Saturday, December 6, 2008. He will be available for autographs and photos from 7:30 pm until 8:30 pm in the lobby of Celebration Cinema! North, located at 2121 Celebration Drive NE at the corner of Knapp and East Beltline.

Mayhew will also be in attendance with Star Wars characters from the 501st Legion, Great Lakes Garrison, a fan based costuming group.

Article

Darth Vader stops by Crossgates Mall
Updated: 12/06/2008 09:55 PM
By: Web Staff

Article

Star Wars Enthusiasts to Help Raise Money for Make-A-Wish Foundation
December 4, 2008

From NewsChannel 19:

Are you a Star Wars fan? Here’s your chance to get a really cool keepsake and help a great cause at the same time.

Head to Parkway Place this Saturday, December 6 between 9:00am and 3:00pm. You can meet members of the 501st Legion, which is a group of Star Wars costume enthusiasts who volunteer their time to the community. They’ll be downstairs at the mall near the Customer Service desk.

For $5, you can get your picture with members of the Legion. That money will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Last year, Legion members raised $2,200 in six hours for Make-A-Wish, and they hope to top that this year!

The Legion has members all across the world who dress up as Darth Vader, Stormtroopers, Bounty Hunters, Sith Lords, Chewbacca and other characters from the Star Wars films.

Source

Local video game store to host charity event
Contributed by: Drew Paterson on 12/2/2008

GameXplosion, an Aurora located video game store is hosting its annual fund raising drive for Children’s Hospital on Dec. 6th, 2008 from noon to 4:00 PM.

At this time of year, particularly for children, and in these difficult economic times, the need is greater than ever.

GameExplosion, as a member of the Aurora area business community, is hosting its 2nd Annual Children’s Hospital fund raiser. Come on in and meet members of the 501st Mountain Garrison, a Colorado contingent of Star Wars characters. See Storm Troopers, Darth Nihilus, and Stealth Troopers.

Get 20% off all Used Games. Enter to win a FREE XBOX 360. And, while supplies last, every minimum purchase of $25 gets a FREE black GameXplosion T-shirt.

A portion of all sales for the day will be donated to Children’s Hospital. Let’s help Children’s help children!

Source

Star Wars stormtroopers to invade city for charity
A member of the Australian chapter of the 501st legion, a Star Wars group which takes part in charity events, he and his fellow stormtroopers will be volunteering at the Powerhouse Musem’s Star Wars: where science meets imagination exhibition.

This is the first time the exhibition has been to Australia, and it will include props, models, and costumes from all six films, and modern-day innovations that could one day make them a reality.

While Mr Feeney, who lives at Kirrawee, has seen all six Star Wars films, he is partial to the original trilogy.

“We see ourselves as purists,” he said.

“We’re fans of the ones released before the prequels. There’s a lot of stuff that we don’t like, especially some of the characters in the new movies like Jar Jar Binks he’s very annoying.”

Even with the introduction of annoying characters, Mr Feeney’s interest in the films shows no signs of waning.

An avid collector of Star Wars memorabilia, he has amassed more than 300 pieces. His rarest find was a prototype helmet that was never used in a film, and the priciest is his Storm Trooper suit which cost $2000.

“It’s a big part of my life, and no, I don’t think I’ll ever give it up,” he said.

The exhibition is on at the Powerhouse Museum, Harris Street, Ultimo from December 4 to April 26.

Full article & Video

Truce between warring enemies at Chapman Heights Elementary
By BILL BROWN
Staff Reporter

Enemies from a galaxy far, far away traveled to Chapman Heights Elementary School this past week and called a truce for the sake of the students. Biker Scouts and Storm Troupers came to do battle in the Chapman Heights area and to face the Rebel Legionnaires. However, two men from the school stepped up and held an event that compelled the warring parties to call a truce.

Erik Sahakian and Nathan Garza were not about to let the Star Wars battle turn their “book faire” at CHES into disorder and disarray.

The two men had organized the book faire with the help of parents, school staff and the Principal Andy Anderson. It seemed to be the thought that a war at the school site might make Anderson unhappy that helped bring about the truce.

Actually, the characters from the star wars trilogy were asked to come to the book faire. A group called the “501st Pathfinders” travel to charity events, school happenings and local community gatherings. They bring the Star Wars Trilogy to life in an enjoyable experience for all to see. Each realistic costume is worn by men and women who give of their time to make public events more interesting and unique.

For more information about this unique group or to request their participation at an event, contact them at: 501st.com or bikerscout.net.

Full Article

Young ‘padawans’ storm library for ‘Star Wars’ event

Article in for the Great Lakes Garrison:

Young ‘padawans’ storm library for ‘Star Wars’ event
By Cortney Casey
C & G Staff Writer

STERLING HEIGHTS — Today’s youngsters were but a twinkle in their parents’ eyes when the inaugural “Star Wars” film debuted in 1977, but that hasn’t deterred a new generation’s enthusiasm for the franchise.

The turnout at an Aug. 23 Star Wars Day at the Sterling Heights Public Library, featuring costumed characters from the movies, proved that. Youth Services Librarian Tracy Harnish, who organized the event, said all 400 slots filled on the first day of registration nearly a month prior.

“We didn’t expect it to be quite so overwhelmingly popular,” she said.

The recent release of the “Clone Wars” animated movie, as well as last year’s 30th anniversary of the original film, were the main impetuses behind the celebration, which attracted adults and kids alike, said Harnish.

“The children’s part of the library does try to keep current with kids’ culture, whatever’s popular at the moment,” she said. “There was kind of a fever pitch building for ‘Star Wars’ again.”

Elaborately costumed members of the 501st Legion’s Great Lakes Garrison, representing “Star Wars” villains, and the Rebel Legion’s Midwest Base, portraying the series’ “good guys,” were the highlights of the event.

The actors led several activities during the pair of two-hour sessions, including a Blasting Range where participants fired Nerf darts at taunting Stormtroopers and an outdoor light saber training academy, where participants earned certificates declaring them “padawans” — young apprentices training under Jedi knights.

Attendees also could participate in a “Star Wars” Bounty Hunt, which sent them searching for photos of characters hidden throughout the library, and get their pictures snapped with the costumed participants against a background depicting the Death Star.

Sterling Heights resident Gino Prljaskaj — who took aim at Stormtroopers in the Blasting Range and learned how to properly brandish a light saber using moves “over your head” and “down on the ground” — declared the event “cool.”

Photo by Randy Wilcox
Surrounded by fellow actors portraying “Star Wars” characters, Jon Leopold, commanding officer for the 501st Legion’s Great Lakes Garrison, reads to children at the Sterling Heights Public Library Aug. 23.

Prljaskaj, 10, said Darth Vader is his favorite character.

“He’s like, evil,” he said. “He’s the best one from all the ‘Star Wars’ people. He always wins.”

Jon Leopold, the Great Lakes Garrison’s commanding officer, opened the event with a reading from the “Revenge of the Sith” novel.

“There’s a really great message at the end about believing in heroes,” he said.

Leopold, a Goodrich resident, said he became part of the 501st Legion about five years ago, after seeing people in Stormtrooper garb at several large “Star Wars” conventions.

“They looked like they’d stepped right out of a movie,” he said. “I was determined to join the group.”

The Great Lakes Garrison, which encompasses 79 members, participates in 70-80 events annually, ranging from parades and sporting events to birthday parties and charity walks, he said.

Some of the members play one character consistently, while others have multiple costumes, explained Leopold, who dresses up as a Stormtrooper or an AT-ST driver in a flight suit.

All are volunteers, he added, and can participate in as many or as few events as they want.

Leopold said the garrison’s appearances often have a charitable component. On Aug. 23, members sold light sabers to raise funds for the Friends of the Sterling Heights Public Library, the nonprofit organization that supports the facility’s programs.

“A big reason why we do this is to give back to the community,” he said. “Since the beginning of 2007, we’ve raised $29,000 for various charities.”

Leopold said he feels the trio of “Star Wars” prequels released in recent years appeals primarily to kids, prompting a renewed burst of interest in the franchise.

It’s amazing when children approach the actors and launch into in-depth discussion of minute details, like the names of the various clone commanders, he said.

“It’s just fantastic to see the love of ‘Star Wars’ that we had back 30 years ago is still around for the little kids,” he said.

Library Director Tammy Turgeon can empathize; she was a fan herself, as are her young twin sons.

“Obviously, there’s a big fan base for ‘Star Wars,’” she said.

Harnish said library staffers have already decided to host another Star Wars Day next year, shortening the sessions and adding a third to accommodate more guests. The plan, she said, is to move it to June and use it as the kick-off event for the Summer Reading Club, which sports a theme related to theatrical creativity.

But for some, that might not be soon enough.

“We’ve had a lot of people ask us if we could do it every weekend,” laughed Harnish.

For more information on the “Star Wars” costuming organizations, visit www.501st.com and www.rebellegion.com.

Source

501st Caught on Camera

Here’s the latest videos from the past week:

501st Weird Al Cincinnati 2008 – 4

http://youtube.com/watch?v=lSgIWTfExf8

501st Weird Al Cincinnati 2008 – 3

http://youtube.com/watch?v=cS_QlcboSYA

501st Weird Al Cincinnati 2008- 2

http://youtube.com/watch?v=CmRGQM-aOrY

501st Weird Al Cincinnati 2008 – 1

http://youtube.com/watch?v=Ctyvg9lV1yA

501st Legion Midsouth Garrison with Weird Al Yankovic. Tennessee Theatre, Knoxville, TN

http://youtube.com/watch?v=6_ksxjvsOMw

Weird Al 501st GLG 7-17-08

http://youtube.com/watch?v=As1fsPVpVf0

501st MI GLG/Weird Al Meadowbrook 2008

http://youtube.com/watch?v=vdZgDcZ0AYI

man in uniform

http://youtube.com/watch?v=_WF0O1A-WI8

Sci-Fi Convention in Gothenburg 2006

http://youtube.com/watch?v=SxubRaBXKrg

Star Wars Weekend: Comedic Stormtroopers

http://youtube.com/watch?v=MEQW3Ub4A-k

stormtroopers at one man star wars

http://youtube.com/watch?v=yJIDdMAPXdo

Star wars stormtroopers at Causeway Bay

http://youtube.com/watch?v=9I1HbZIJmAQ

puebla concierto star wars 3

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GPlPevpekJk

501 french belgium garrison and rebel legion

http://youtube.com/watch?v=OPqWQP_jND8

501st Caught on Camera

The latest pictures from flickr featuring the 501st:

Garrison Carida at a Relay for Life:

A Dewback created by members of the Japanese Outpost:

TK at Disney:

Czech Outpost, event: festival fantazie

(I LOVE this picture, the way it’s structure)

Unknown garrison, Forgotten Realms:

Great Lakes Garrison Trooper:

Old Line Garrison w/ Weird Al:

Garrison Carida, unknown parade:

More from Star Wars Weekends:

Chinese trooper?

Tie Pilot:

Garrison Excelsior w/ Weird Al:

UK Troopers having fun:


Troopers from Wizard World:

More next week!

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

501st on Film

Here’s a number of videos from the past week. There’s a lot of concerts, which is pretty cool:

Marcon 2008

501st Legion Puertorican Outpost Darth Vader Conduct Symphony

501st ES St. Marks Troop

Several from the recent Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra troop:

Star wars @ JSO Finale

Star Wars – 501st

Star wars @ JSO

Jax Symphony/jedi vs stormtroopers

A couple from Motor City Comic Con:
Motor City Comic Con 08: Darth Nihilus

Great Lakes Garrison And Rebel Legion MCCC Star Wars Parade

NYCC 08: The Magic Of Conventions 1/2

(The dancing trooper is Anna, TK-7888)

Live Webcam from the Motor City Comic Con!

The Great Lakes Garrison has set up a webcam of their booth at the Motor City Comic Con this weekend. Go check it out!

Caught on Tape

Here’s a couple of videos that were uploaded in the past week with the 501st.

501st Rose Parade-ITALICA GARRISON

Newport – Fantasy Events UK – “23rd March” Dodgey Character

(This one’s my favorite)

A couple out of Michigan:

Star Wars @ Muskegon Fury Hockey game

Clone Commander Rocks the Nat’l Anthem on Electric Guitar

Skating Stormtrooper practicing

And a little how-to video:-

How to Add a Fan to a Helmet or Mask