Some people might ask who on earth would wait in line overnight for tickets to a movie. These people obviously aren’t “Star Wars” fans.

Last Wednesday, around 300 people stood anxiously awaiting their chance to be among the first to see “The Phantom Menace.”

I was among those in line. Some had arrived before me, many arrived after me, but we were all after the same thing.

Josh Bauer, senior in mechanical engineering, said he wanted to see the movie before it was ruined by the hype and reviews.

“It’s always been some part of my life, whether I was playing with the toys as a kid or watching the movies,” Bauer said. “I still watch the movies.”

The first people began arriving shortly before noon on Tuesday, 26 hours before tickets went on sale.

By the time night fell, 30-40 people had set up camp under the shelter of the awning of Movies 12 on South Duff.

I arrived shortly before 6 a.m. on Wednesday. By that time the line had grown to around 70. Those of us who hadn’t spent the night were without the shelter of the awning, and the cold morning drizzle would soon test our resolve.

Travis White, former Iowa State Student, was also near the middle of the line. He said he didn’t mind the rain.

“I think the rain adds to the mood somewhat,” White said. “We couldn’t care less [about the rain]; we’re in line for tickets to ‘Episode 1.'”

Although he didn’t have an umbrella, White did bring provisions to get him through the wait. Among them were a pack of Winstons, a deck of cards, a cell phone and a flask of Scotch.

Other people were more prepared for the weather. Bauer brought along a raincoat, a book to read, and a collapsible chair.

White said that he was disappointed with the nature of the people in line.

“I was hoping to see more, or even any, people dressed up in ‘Star Wars’ garb,” White said. “I wanted to hear louder ‘Star Wars’-related conversations — maybe even a few fist fights. Instead, all we got was the KCCQ guy, and he doesn’t amount to Bantha fodder,” White said.

Throughout the morning, a crew from each of the Des Moines-based network affiliates stopped by to record a segment.

There were also a fair number of people just driving by to see the line itself. Few said anything, but most of them seemed to have the same thing on their minds: “Hey, look at these freaks.”

Nine hours passes surprisingly fast when you’re dedicated to something, and soon two o’clock arrived and the box office was opened.

Each person in line was allowed to buy up to twelve tickets, and many took advantage of the opportunity to purchase large quantities.

Not everyone got a ticket for the show they wanted, but everyone who waited in line got a shot at a ticket for one of the shows on opening day.

Some people may think it silly for so many people to wait in line for a movie, but Bauer has a theory for them.

“The older generation asks why you’d sit in the rain for a movie,” Bauer said. “Then you think about the things that other people do. They’ll sit in the rain to catch a fish or shoot a deer. This is just our entertainment,” he said.