Unwrapping The Star Wars Holiday Special

Sunday, December 7, 2025
3:00 pm
The Paley Museum, 25 West 52 Street, NYC
Curator: Jason Lynch

A beloved curiosity of a galaxy far, far away, The Star Wars Holiday Special was broadcast just once, on November 17, 1978, and has been the stuff of legend ever since. It features Star Wars cast members Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, and Carrie Fisher—in a story line featuring Chewbacca and Han Solo’s attempt to visit the Wookiee home planet to celebrate “Life Day,” with the Empire fast on their heels—as well as variety show performances from Bea Arthur, Diahann Carroll, and Jefferson Starship.

To celebrate this unique holiday treasure, curator Jason Lynch and comedian Connor Ratliff (host of The George Lucas Talk Show) will guide you through the many surprises of this rare Star Wars artifact. Before the discussion, at 1:00 pm, The Paley Museum will screen The Star Wars Holiday Special in full from the Paley Archive—the same broadcast version seen on TV forty-seven years ago.

Free for Paley Members, included in General Admission.
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