George Merhoff, the gaffer for most of TOS’ run, delivers fascinating details about lighting the sets.
Category: Reference books, novels, magazines
Is McCoy from Georgia?
Fans believe so. But…
Inside Star Trek 11: saucer separations and a hypothetical Vulcan
The penultimate issue of the 1960’s Inside Star Trek offers fan letters and a visit to the sound stages.
Inside Star Trek crossword: 25 across is SPVCK
This is a fun test of your TOS vocabulary, even if there are a bunch of errors.
Inside Star Trek 10: Visiting the sound stages and discovering the music editor
Music editor Richard Lapham was entirely unknown to me. Sadly, I didn’t learn much about him here.
Inside Star Trek 9: Polka-dot marshmallows and herding extras with Charlie Washburn
The second assistant director kept the set running on seasons two and three.
Relive John Belushi’s final captain’s log
Gene Roddenberry thought the Saturday Night Live parody of Star Trek’s cancellation was “delicious.”
Inside Star Trek 8: George Takei on almost everything except Star Trek
Read a wide-ranging interview with Takei and get confirmation that TOS did not employ invisible stagehands.
Before VCRs, we had the Fotonovels. And they were glorious
In the before-time when home video was unknown, we had Fotonovels. Those great photos meant we could examine the bridge, the transporter effect and the tricorder’s control panel. Fotonovel 1 retells the most famous episode, and includes Harlan Ellison informing readers his script was better.
Boarding the Enterprise, a review: challenging and fascinating insights into the original series
Star Trek’s take on the Vietnam War. Kirk/Spock slash fic. Is the transporter a death machine? Why no seatbelts? You should read this book, but first read my post about it.
Inside Star Trek 7: Bill Theiss’ favourite costume designs, plus some fashion advice
Theiss knew Andrea’s costume pushed censorship boundaries and he “was prepared for and eagerly anticipated the storm.” Read more about his favourite creations.
Inside Star Trek 6: bubble-wrap Klingons and warm Gorns
Ruth Berman takes us into Leonard Nimoy’s office, costumer Bill Theiss reveals the placemat origins of the Elasian costumes, and there’s a strange bit about a warm Gorn.
Harlan Ellison put a drug dealer on the Enterprise. That was not the biggest script problem
Gene Roddenberry was right: Ellison’s version of The City on the Edge of Forever was not suitable for Star Trek, but the story is inventive and compelling and IDW’s graphic novel brings it to life with beautiful illustrations.
Inside Star Trek 5: James Doohan said “warp drive” way back in 1953, following a change in career plans
James Doohan planned to be a dentist, but a radio play led him to acting, a forgotten Canadian sci-fi show and then to Star Trek.
The Concordance Color Book — and three fantastic surprise autographs
I bought this book years ago. I had never opened it. When I did, I discovered three major Star Trek autographs.
Inside Star Trek issue 4: Klingon side-projects with Matt Jefferies and coloured food cubes with Irving Feinberg
What helps you deal with rainbow food chunks? Real alcohol in the blue drinks. Go behind the scenes with two Star Trek production stars.
Inside Star Trek issue 3: DeForest Kelley on McCoy’s secret pain and the stress of television production
DeForest Kelley and DC Fontana had a great character idea for Dr. McCoy. Instead, we somehow got Chekov’s girlfriend from The Way to Eden.
33 stickers that take you back to Star Trek collecting in the ’70s
You have likely never seen this licensed Star Trek kids’ booklet. It was made in Canada and the only one I have ever seen in person is the one I own. But you can download a copy right here.
Inside Star Trek issue 2: two days to make Spock’s ears, 90 minutes to get Nimoy into them
It took two days to make Spock’s ears and 90 minutes to get Nimoy all the way into them. Issue 2 of Inside Star Trek featured makeup man Fred Phillips and art by modeler Greg Jein.
Inside Star Trek issue 1: selling IDIC and dumpster diving for set pieces
The Inside Star Trek newsletter is an invaluable source for Star Trek’s early voices. Issue 1 detailed William Shatner’s busy schedule, told us about searching through studio garbage and shared a made-up story about the Vulcan IDIC medallion.
A View-Master surprise, with Star Trek’s worst episode
The Omega Glory is the worst episode of the original series, but the View-Master version is magical. Step back to the 3D world of your childhood.
You don’t need to read Mission to Horatius
Mission to Horatius is the first original Star Trek novel published. The dialogue is terrible, the plot is ridiculous, Kirk commits genocide, and a dancing rat is an important character. So don’t read the book, but do read my fun teardown of it.
