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Burger Chef Darth Vader Star Wars FunMeal Box

Specifications

Burger Chef Darth Vader Star Wars FunMeal Box

Category

Recreation

Classification

CHENHALL - Distribution & Transportation Objects - Containers - Box

Object Origin
Copyright Holder:

Burger Chef Systems Incorporated

Collaborator:

The Coca-Cola Company

Copyright Holder:

Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation

Date Manufactured:

1978

Physical Characteristics

Object Description: Collapsed black Burger Chef Star Wars FunMeal box. At the top of the front lid flap are two (2) parallel silver lines that transition into the "STAR / WARS™" logo on the viewer's left side. Beneath the Star Wars logo is the text "DARTH VADER™ / CARD GAME" in red and yellow. Below the text are eleven (11) rectangular cards that can be punched out. Each features a different Star Wars character. From left to right, top to bottom, the characters sho...

Materials:

cardboard

Marks: "BURGER CHEF IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF BURGER CHEF SYSTEMS, INC. COPYRIGHT © 1978 BURGER CHEF SYSTEMS, INC. PRINTED IN U.S.A. / STAR WARS FUNMEAL IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY The CocaCola Company AND BURGER CHEF SYSTEMS, INC. © 1978 TWENTIETH CENTURY-FOX FILM CORP."

Measurements: Object:
    Length: 14.875 in, Width: 11.375 in
    Weight: 0.324 lbs

Credit

Gift of Jeff and Marilyn Escue, 1996.18.1508a

Display Status

Not On View

Burger Chef Darth Vader Star Wars FunMeal Box

About: Burger Chef Darth Vader Star Wars FunMeal Box

About: Burger Chef Darth Vader Star Wars FunMeal Box

On May 25, 1977, Star Wars: A New Hope debuted in theaters and launched a successful franchise that has since included many theatrical films, multiple animated and live-action television series, along with numerous books, comics, games, and toys. In 1978, shortly after the film was released, the fast-food chain Burger Chef released seven different Star Wars-themed FunMeal boxes with games and puppets featuring spacecraft and characters from the film. This FunMeal box shows the scene where Darth Vader boards Princess Leia Organa's Blockade Runner. The box also includes punch-out cards with images of Star Wars characters along with directions on how to play. Today, a complete set of Star Wars FunMeals, along with many of the early Star Wars toys, games, and books, are considered collector's items.


Burger Chef was the first fast-food chain to offer customers a children's meal that came with a burger, fries, drink, and toy, all located inside the Fun Meal box. The first Burger Chef was founded by Donald and Frank Thomas and opened in Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1957. Frank was the president of General Equipment Company and opened the restaurant as a demonstration store to show off the company’s new food-service machines they manufactured which included the flame broiler Frank and Donald had patented in 1954. The demonstration store was so successful that the brothers opened a second store, and in 1958 incorporated Burger Chef into a fast-food restaurant chain. By 1972, Burger Chef had over 1,200 locations across the U.S. and Canada. In 1973, Burger Chef debuted the FunMeal with packaging featuring Burger Chef and his young sidekick Jeff, along with riddles and puzzles.

Additional information

Copyright information

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