Buy some cardboard and a certificate...fun will arrive eventually.

When Star Wars was released in May of 1977 it was such an unexpected smash that toys simply weren’t ready to hit stores in time to meet demand. As this ’77 TV spot shows, Kenner sold “Eary Bird Certificate Packages” with the promise of action figures that “Will be sent between February 1 and June 1 (1978)”! And, yes, we bought it anyway, such was our desire.

“R2-D2. Chewbacca. Luke and Princess Leia. They’re the Star Wars Early Bird set of figures. These action figures are not yet available.”