According to Liberty Theatre general manager Nelda Simons, fans are purchasing tickets as far in advance as next Monday.

And while Mrs. Simons could not yet give the total number of tickets sold on the opening day -- last Friday, she said: "There were a lot of people who wanted to see it on its opening day. But even after the initial hype, tickets are steadily flowing for other days.'' The final tally for advance ticket sales will be determined after tomorrow's showing.

With the release of the movie only hours away, there are still tickets available for the 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. shows tomorrow.

Star Wars has produced good sales both here and abroad even though the film has as yet to open, and may well be on its way to the largest opening weekend.

The last film to do this was the Lost World: Jurassic Park which made close to $99 million in its opening weekend. And for the select few who have seen it, The Phantom Menace has received lukewarm reviews from critics.