2OTH CENTURY FOX
STAR WARS
RETURN OF THE JEDI
1983
In the late Spring of 1983, United States-based BURGER KING restaurants launched their third quartet of STAR WARS-themed souvenir glasses -- and fans, especially young fans who had come of age during the Star Wars era -- rejoiced with a glee heard coast to coast.
Wildly successful, Burger King's Star Wars: Return of The Jedi glasses followed in the footsteps of their Star Wars and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back predecessors: one new glass per week for four consecutive weeks, each glass highlighting a fan-favorite character (Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, The Ewoks, Jabba The Hutt) from the film and offered for a "special price" if customers filled it with their Coca-Cola beverage of choice.
Even within the six years that spanned the original trilogy of films, Star Wars was recognized as a cultural phenomenon. For so many of us GenX-ers who came of age during that golden era, our young selves seated (or, more likely, beside our selves and unable to remain seated) in a dark movie theater until the moment the loud orchestral opening of the 20TH Century Fox logo appeared on the screen before it dissolved into "A Long Time Ago, in a galaxy far, far away...", Star Wars was far, far more than even that.
In the movie theater of my youth, I'd never have been able to define that. But forty years later in 2023, the year being the 40th Anniversary of Return of The Jedi and an occasion marked by a re-release of the film this past April, I'm aware that "that" which was, still "is" -- and I have my answer thanks to those unforgettable, assuring words of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Sir Alex Guinness): "The Force will be with you...always."
Always. Star Wars. Star Wars, the movie but more than it, the broadly felt experience of those films in life, is The Force. It's extremely powerful, perhaps even encompassing, and it remains present, just as it has always been present. To The Force, then, I hope you'll join me in raising a collectable glass --- whether Luke or Han, The Ewoks or Jabba or even all four -- comfortable in the knowledge that any purchase of a hamburger or medium-sized drink to go with that glass won't even be suggested.
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This listing is for one (1) Star Wars: Return of The Jedi vintage souvenir glass as specified below. Each glass is clean and unblemished, with sharp and non-faded color illustrations and text. Other Star Wars: ROTJ glasses from the Burger King series are available NOW and sold separately inside our eBay store. Collect All Four!
STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI
JABBA THE HUTT
BURGER KING SOUVENIR GLASS | 1983
"Intergalactic gangster, Jabba the Hutt, reclines on his throne with Salacious Crumb, while Princess Leia Organa is held captive beside him by a pig-like Gamorrean Guard. The Max Rebo Band provides entertainment for the court."
Vintage Souvenir Glass Is:
LIKE-NEW CONDITION
UN-BLEMISHED
CRYSTAL CLEAR & CLEAN AS A WHISTLE
DISTRIBUTED BY BURGER KING RESTAURANTS (USA ONLY) * 1983