I happened to be in San Francisco recently and found myself doing what has become a ritual for many Star Wars fans: the big visit to see the tech campus that houses the Lucasfilm headquarters in San Francisco, located within the Letterman Digital Arts Center nestled within the Presidio. If you go, it might be a bit of a downer, more of a subdued pilgrimage since you’re only going to get to see the campus (which is, no doubt, beautiful) and then loiter around the reception lobby. There’s a fair amount of movie memorabilia to view but, it’s basically a work place so don’t expect to see your favorite characters ready to pose for photos. I’d be curious to know if any of my readers have made this visit and what you thought. I went in with no expectations or maybe I assumed the space was more lived-in, part of an actual communal library for employees. It’s not. It’s mostly a place to pick up your food delivery, and assorted business, just like any other office.
Amid books and Star Wars figures.
Sadly, I discovered that the library was basically fake. Many of the books are only props: real enough books but only a certain amount that you could call relevant. For instance, there’s a copy of the novel, An Affair to Remember, which was adapted into the 1957 film starring Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr. Okay, that’s definitely movie-related but not really something you’d expect Darth Vader to be reading, am I right? How about another title on these shelves: An Only Child, by Frank O’Conor? I guess that sort of echoes the childhood of Luke Skywalker but that’s a bit of a stretch. Then there’s Pop Culture Mania, by Stephen Hughes: a guidebook on how to collect various items of pop culture ephemera. Closer but not exactly satisfying. But, hey, I’m just being silly, I suppose. That said, I can only imagine there might be some kind of corporate library somewhere beyond the reception lobby. If you happen to work at Lucasfilm, please let me know if you have such a library! Just wondering!
Nevil Shute finds a home in the reception lobby library.
Perhaps the best looking match-up of books on display with curio in the lobby is this combination: A “bust” of a Star Wars storm trooper and a collection of the works of Nevil Shute, a notable science fiction writer. His best-selling novel, On the Beach, first published in 1957, is an all-time classic work of post-apocalyptic science fiction.
It’s the beginning of summer. I’m in San Francisco. George Lucas and Star Wars loom over me. I’m ready to see a Sci-Fi blockbuster! Is one fast approaching? I did overhear some heated conversation on the topic but no industry secrets were revealed, just idle conversation. If you want upcoming attraction news, you can go over here and you’ll be hip to Ryan Gosling set to appear in the next major Star Wars movie in 2027! At one time, Gosling was set to appear in the sequel to the 1976 Sci-Fi cult classic, Logan’s Run but that did not take hold. I believe everything did take hold for Star Wars. So, all’s well that ends well and Nevil Shute finds a welcome home in the reception lobby library of Lucasfilm HQ in SF.
