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Hear How Exciting It Was To See 'Star Wars' In Theaters In 1977
When William Forsche was just 13 years old, he snuck a cassette recorder into a 1977 screening of Star Wars.
Back in 1977, Star Wars was a brand new concept with stunning special effects. Forsche, then just a boy, took the recorder with him into the theatre the second time he saw the film, the AV Club reports. The five-minute long recording—taken during the (spoiler alert) destruction of the Death Star at the end of the film—reveals a different kind of movie-going experience, where audience members loudly clap and cheer. Forsche was accompanied by his mother, who chuckles at the film a few times.
The best part, in our humble opinion, is when the audience cheers at 2:51. That's when Han Solo swoops in to save Luke Skywalker's butt. Also, as Forsche and his mom exit the theatre, you can hear an excited Forsche making laser noises.
In modern times, Forsche is a makeup and effects artists with credits including Buffy the Vampire Salyer and A Nightmare on Elm Street. According to his IMDB biography, he hitchhiked from his home in Wisconsin to Los Angeles with a fake ID and a fake beard at only 15 to work at Universal Studios.
For reference, here's the actual scene from Star Wars:
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