Las Vegans line up in force

Billie Richards of Las Vegas remembers when the original "Star Wars" came out in 1977, all she had to do was walk up to the box office window, buy a ticket and go inside the theater.

For "Star Wars: Episode I -- The Phantom Menace," the first film of the new prequel trilogy, she stood with about 30 others outside the Texas Station theaters early today to buy tickets for the 12:01 a.m. first public showing next Wednesday, the day the film is released nationwide.

"My three sons are taking their finals today, but they still wanted to be here," Richards said. "So I came here at 6 a.m. today to stand in line for them. Otherwise they would have come here rather than take their exams."

Tickets were to go on sale at Texas Station noon today, with a limit of 12 per person. Tickets also went on sale today at other venues around the valley for next week's first local showings.

It is expected to open on 2,800 to 3,000 screens nationwide.

The new film picks up the "Star Wars" fable a generation before hero Luke Skywalker comes of age. It traces how his father Anakin Skywalker becomes the evil, black-masked Darth Vader, who later leads Empire forces against the Rebels in a battle for galactic control.

As sale time neared, theater operators and independent ticket sellers were gearing up for an expected onslaught of thousands of fans seeking tickets at theater box offices, over the Internet and by telephone.

Richards said she was a big fan when the first George Lucas-produced/directed "Star Wars" movies hit the theaters two decades ago.

"I bought all of the action figure toys and everything," she said. "This is exciting."

Christian Prohaska, 22, of Las Vegas started camping outside the Texas Station theaters with his friends at 1 p.m. Tuesday. They were the first in line and played cards throughout the evening to pass time.

"This is the 'Star Wars' for our generation," he said.

Don Ellis, 21, was born the year the first "Star Wars" came out.

"I love all of the hype and I just want to be there on the first day," he said.

Russell Namanny, 20, said being part of "the opening day experience" is a big part of the excitement. "You can feel the energy," he said.

But, what if "Star Wars" bombs?

"Some critics are saying that it starts out slow, but I don't care what they say because critics are paid to say a movie sucks," Prohaska said. "You've got to go see for yourself."

Peter Nehn, 23, said his older brother, a special effects artist in Los Angeles, has seen the film and says he thinks it is excellent.

"They have made three good, solid movies so far so I am not looking for a letdown," Nehn said.

A pair of 17-year-olds standing in line said they were out of school with their parents' permission so that they could camp out.

Clark County School District Spokeswoman Lori Harris said there were no indications that large numbers of kids would be absent from school today to stand in line for "Star Wars" tickets.

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