On May 25, 1977, Memorial Day weekend opens with an
intergalactic bang as the first of George Lucas’ blockbuster
Star Wars movies hit  American theaters.

The incredible success of Star Wars–it received seven Oscars,
and earned $461 million in U.S. ticket sales and a gross of
close to $800 million worldwide–began with an extensive,
coordinated marketing push by Lucas and his studio, 20th
Century Fox, months before the movie’s release date. “It
wasn’t like a movie opening,” actress Carrie Fisher, who
played rebel leader Princess Leia, later told Time magazine.
“It was like an earthquake.” Beginning with–in Fisher’s words–
“a new order of geeks, enthusiastic young people with sleeping
bags,” the anticipation of a revolutionary movie-watching
experience spread like wildfire, causing long lines in front of
movie theaters across the country and around the world.

George Raymond Stevenson  (25 May 1964 – 21 May 2023 )

(FOX NEWS) – Ray Stevenson, a veteran actor of movies like
“Punisher: War Zone,” “Thor,” “RRR” and major TV shows
like “Vikings” and a Star Wars spinoff, has died. 

A rep for Stevenson confirmed that he died on Sunday.

No other details have been shared at this time.

Francis Albert Sinatra (December 12, 1915 – May 14, 1998)

On May 14, 1998, the legendary singer, actor and show-business
icon Frank Sinatra died of a heart attack in Los Angeles, at the
age of 82.

Sinatra was one of the most popular entertainers of the 1940s,
1950s, and 1960s. He is among the world’s best-selling music
artists with an estimated 150 million record sales.

1998

Jones played offensive guard on Harvard’s undefeated
varsity football team in 1968. 

Actor Tommy Lee Jones will be 77 on
September 15.

The XK 120 was fully restored in 2011. (RM Sotheby’s)

.

A 1952 Jaguar XK120 originally owned by Clark Gable is being
put up for sale for the first time since 1982. He owned the car
until late 1953.

The Battleship Grey roadster was delivered to the Hollywood
legend in Cornwall, U.K., where he was working on the film
"Never Let Me Go."

Clark Gable (above) used the car to tour Europe after the
movie was done.

William Clark Gable
(1901 – 1960)