Ménage Á Pop is a three times a week intimate discussion between two people and a piece of pop culture.
In the 80s we all had an R2D2 light switch, a Boba Fett tooth brush or an Admiral Ackbar tackle box. We were fanatical about Star Wars and would surround ourselves with pretty much anything Lucasfilm slapped that logo onto. Of course, there were always some elusive items... affordable at release but still, somehow, missed out on. Well today, Mike Cowgill talks about just such an item with his childhood copy of The Wookie Storybook (hopefully translated to something just a little less guttural).
You can listen to today’s guest MIKE COWGILL on his podcast BATTLE OF THE NETWORK SHOWS currently streaming at www.battleofthenetworkshows.com.
POP NOTES
THE WOOKIE STORYBOOK was originally published on September 12th, 1979, written by Eleanor Ehrhardt and illustrated by Patricia Wynne.
In addition to THE WOOKIE STORYBOOK, author Eleanor Ehrhardt also wrote the companion Star Wars storybooks, THE MAVERICK MOON (1979) and THE MYSTERY OF THE REBELLIOUS ROBOT (1979).
Patricia Wynne also illustrated DARTH VADER’S ACTIVITY BOOK (1979), THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK POP-UP BOOK (1980) and HELLO BUMBLEBEE BAT (2016).
While no longer cannon in the Star Wars saga, this book did follow up on threads from the previous year’s STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL, including Chewbaccas’ full family and the visual design of their home world Kashyyyk.
The full (and fully pronounceable) names of Chewbacca’s family are Mallatobuck (his partner), Attichitcuk (his father) and Lumpawarrump (his son).
The storybook establishes that Wookies possess psychic abilities as demonstrated when Malla calls Chewbacca for help via “thought waves.” While integral to this particular story, this ability is not reference in any other Star wars material.
When Star Wars author Michael P. Kube-McDowell wished to portray Chewbacca as polyamorous, Lucasfilm cited this Storybook as evidence of Chewie being monogamous and the proposed character trait was dropped.
Tune back on Monday July 20th as screenwriter Brent Simmons (MEGAMIND) hides from a viewing of 1982’s POLTERGEIST.
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MUSIC FEATURED IN TODAY’S EPISODE:
“Three Ways To Do That” (opening theme) composed and performed by The Madeline Prior. All rights reserved with Not A Holograms podcasts.
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