Gallery 1988 Celebrates 30 Years of Ghostbusters

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Los Angeles based Gallery 1988 is taking an art show on the road for Ghostbusters' 30th (Courtesy Gallery 1988)

Pop-culture enthusiasts Gallery 1988, famous for their art installations that pay tribute to Wes Anderson, Gremlins/Ghostbusters/Goonies, and the films of Edgar Wright have teamed up with Columbia Pictures for an officially licensed traveling art show to help celebrate the film franchise's 30th anniversary.

The art show promises limited-edition prints of artwork, original t-shirts, and a whole lot more making it a nirvana for Ghostheads. Some of the artwork and merchandise will be available through the gallery's official site: http://www.ghostbusters30th.com/

I'll be on-site for the Los Angeles gallery debut and will be posting to SPT after my visit for those that aren't able to check it out - but here's where you can see the traveling show and when!

New York - April 19 through the 26th - 69 Leonard Street New York, NY 10013

Los Angeles - May 17th through June 1st - 7308 Melrose Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90046

Chicago - June 20th through 22nd - 2780 N. Lincoln Ave. Chicago, IL 60614

...and then appearing at the San Diego Comic-Con on the exhibit hall floor for its grand finale.

It Coulda Been Worse Volume 1: TMNT

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Leonardo and April O'Neil (Megan Fox) in Paramount's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" (Courtesy Paramount Pictures)

Okay, let's face it: a Michael Bay-infused Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles might not have been at the top of a lot of our "must see" lists. Regardless, the movie directed by Jonathan Liebesman is on the way and hitting theaters August 8th.

And in its honor, we're going to start a new feature here at SPT: It Coulda Been Worse. This feature will be an optimists view on something which might entirely suck, but really could have been a lot worse. 

Here's how:

• M. Night Shyamalan's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

• Tyler Perry Presents: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (starring Tyler Perry)

• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Mutation After Next (a spin-off film of the Power Rangers-esque series)

How else could it have been worse? Tell us in the comments!

Star Wars' Hair Companion

Karen Gillan as "Amy Pond" in Doctor Who - Courtesy BBCAmerica.com

In a recent interview with Collider, Doctor Who and Guardians of the Galaxy star Karen Gillan reveals that she has a role in the new Star Wars film. Well, rather her hair will have a role. Since the actor had to shave her head for her role as Nebula in the upcoming Guardians (opening this August 1st), her hair was graciously donated to the Star Wars Episode VII production team to create a new character's wig. Gillan calls the process of shaving her head Alien 3 style hysterical, "It's just so funny to think that my hair is made into a wig, next to all these Star Wars monster heads in a warehouse." Read more at the full Collider interview and look forward to a Karen Gillan Hair action figure from Hasbro in 2015.

The Birth of the Lightsaber

Star Wars creator George Lucas, actor Mark Hamill, and sound designer Ben Burtt discuss the concept and creation of the lightsaber. George Lucas recalls that Star Wars was influenced by pirate and swashbuckling films of the '40s, which showcased the romantic side of fighting, illustrated in characters like Errol Flynn's Robin Hood.

StarWars.com has released a fantastic bonus feature from one of the 1997 DVD releases on their YouTube page. This 15-minute featurette produced by Gary Leva focuses on the creation and concept behind the iconic lightsaber and is well worth a look. The only thing it leaves out is why the laser emitter only extends to four or five feet and stops mysteriously... and don't tell us "it's the Force."