I want to introduce Star War to my son (the original one, sorry, can never call it episode 4).
It’s been called episode IV for almost as long as it has existed. Even as a purist you can call it that.
“The film was originally released in 1977 with the title "Star Wars". The
subtitles Episode IV and A New Hope were only added to the opening crawl in subsequent re-releases.
[86][16] Accounts differ as to when this designation was first added; some date the change at the theatrical re-release of April 10, 1981,
[87] while others place it much earlier at the re-release in July 1978.
[88] The
retroactive addition of these subtitles was intended to bring the film into line with the introduction to its sequel, The Empire Strikes Back, which was released in 1980 bearing the designation "Episode V"”
I was trying to take a pic of my original laser disc opening crawl to show you, but my son and I can’t figure out what Input his father put the LD player on. Later, maybe...
ETA....
Here we are. Purchased/released in 1982.
So really, even as a purist we can do this.

And I hadn’t actually realized that ANH was added that early either.
As for players, just ask. As far as I know all community centers are still renting out dvds, so they kinda have to have the players somewhere. Now they aren’t automatically in every room, but just ask.