George Merhoff, the gaffer for most of TOS’ run, delivers fascinating details about lighting the sets.
Tag: Inside Star Trek newsletter
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.
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.
One of everything, please: 1969’s Catalog #3 from Star Trek Enterprises
IDIC pendants, all the scripts, even actual film footage from the set. Gene Roddenberry had collectors in mind even as the show was still in its first run.
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.
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.
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.
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.
