Photograph of a beardless George Lucas from 1987 (Original photograph from 1987)

N.p.: N.p., 1987. Vintage borderless color still photographs from a photo shoot promoting the 1987 opening of the Star Tours ride in Disney World.

A rare and, frankly, mildly unsettling photograph of a beardless George Lucas in front of a few unknown "Star Wars" droids, taken during a photo shoot promoting the 1987 opening of the Star Tours ride in Disney World. Similar photographs of Lucas, in tweed jacket and bold geometric necktie, appear on the cover of the Spring 1987 issue of "Disney News" magazine, whose cover story discusses the opening of the Star Tours ride. A brief phase in Lucas' life, he has almost never been photographed without (truncated) his trademark salt-and-pepper beard since this photo was taken.

The first non-Disney film attraction to be included in any of their amusement parks, the Star Tours attraction was a ride simulator that allowed audience members to experience an immersive live-action first person experience in the beloved Star Wars Universe, and predicted Disney's later acquisition of the monolithic franchise. The ride operated in Walt Disney World until September 2010, at which point it was replaced by an updated ride experience, and the original ride was moved to Disneyland Paris.

8 x 10 inches. Fine condition. (Inventory #: 137214)