The Empire Strikes Back Give-A-Show Projector

Kenner issued The Empire Strikes Back Give-A-Show Projector in the United States in 1980 as the first documented U.S. issue of this product/configuration. The Empire Strikes Back Give-A-Show Projector was Kenner’s second Star Wars-family use of its long-running Give-A-Show format, following the 1979 Star Wars edition and preceding the Ewoks preschool version. The projector itself was a simple, proven platform, but the licensed slide strips gave each edition its collector identity. SWCA documents a commercial Empire release as well as a Special Offer Empire box, confirming that the ESB version deserves its own catalog record rather than being folded into the 1979 Star Wars set. For collectors, original slide-strip completeness is critical: substituted, missing or reproduction slides materially change both authenticity and value. This First Issue is cataloged separately because its year, packaging or offer state is collector-relevant. Ranney Rank follows the underlying physical product unless a documented construction change exists; Collector Index and market confidence remain release-specific. Commercial Empire Strikes Back edition followed the Star Wars Give-A-Show and preceded the Ewoks preschool edition; a documented special-offer Empire box also exists.