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May the 4th Be With You

April 29, 2026 · 30 min

Show notes

A long time ago, in movie theaters not far away, Star Wars: A New Hope revolutionized American entertainment. In honor of May the 4th, we explore how a scrappy space fantasy reinvented a tale as old as time — and gave Americans hope in a time of difficulty. We'll also trace the journey of two bickering droids from a galaxy far, far away to the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

Guests:

Ryan Lintelman, curator of entertainment at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History

Eric Jentsch, curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History

Dawn Wallace, objects conservator at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History

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