FORCE STILL STRONG IN RUN-UP TO FINAL FILM

In this case, it was paramedic Scott Mathena of Rio Rancho who donned the costume. Mathena is a member of several Star Wars fan groups, including the 501st Imperial Legion. The legion is the world's largest costume club based on the Star Wars movies. Its membership is spread around the globe, a...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Santa Fe New Mexican (Santa Fe, N.M. : 1988)
Main Author HENRY M. LOPEZ, PHOTO BY HENRY M. LOPEZ
Format Newspaper Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Santa Fe, N.M Santa Fe New Mexican 15.05.2005
Subjects
Mathena, Scott
Moss, Greg
Sanbonmatsu, Kevin
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Summary:In this case, it was paramedic Scott Mathena of Rio Rancho who donned the costume. Mathena is a member of several Star Wars fan groups, including the 501st Imperial Legion. The legion is the world's largest costume club based on the Star Wars movies. Its membership is spread around the globe, and it adheres to strict standards of quality. A mask held on with a rubber band won't cut it in the legion. Mathena's costume, which he said other club members marveled at, cost about $3,000. For two hours, Mathena posed with children, some who brought their own toy laser swords to duel with the dark lord. The elaborate costume was outfitted with a water bladder and tube that quenched Mathena during the long photo sessions. Most children posed happily. Others cried at the site of the intimidating costume. Joining Mathena were other legion members who had dressed for the occasion in $700 stormtrooper or spaceship-pilot costumes. 1. [Ken Van Lyssel] of Albuquerque gets into character with his son at a Star Wars event this month. 2. Scott Mathena of Rio Rancho donned the dark garb of Darth Vader this month and posed for pictures at an Albuquerque Toys "R" Us to raise money for charity. Mathena, a paramedic, paid $3,000 for the costume he wears to Star Wars -related events.
ISSN:1938-4068