George Merhoff, the gaffer for most of TOS’ run, delivers fascinating details about lighting the sets.
Tag: Star Trek
Is McCoy from Georgia?
Fans believe so. But…
How a high-school story and a DC Fontana letter launched Howard Weinstein’s writing career
The New York Times bestselling author was kind enough to tell me a bunch of his Star Trek stories.
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.
There were no resurrections in Obsession
Lieutenant Leslie was killed in the middle of season two — and then pops up in later episodes. Eddie Paskey’s explanation for that is unlikely.
Hauling garbage: the best trash can in half a quadrant
I love this little Cheinco trash can. It says so much about Star Trek collecting in the ’70s.
Playing with dolls: the Mego Enterprise Action Playset
Mego’s bridge playset was a big miss on accuracy but a big hit for playability.
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.”
The Enterprise is not a Constitution-class ship
Knowing the Enterprise’s class was a point of honour for young me, a bit of trivia that set me apart from kids who only liked Star Trek. It’s unfortunate young me had it wrong.
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.
The last-minute Roddenberry rewrite that elevated Balance of Terror
“Bones — what if I’m wrong?” Kirk asked in a touching scene in Balance of Terror. The original version of that scene was a mundane exchange until Gene Roddenberry fixed it the day before the cameras rolled.
What did AMT get for building the Galileo? And just how much does a shuttlecraft cost?
If I had a time machine, I would return to August 1966 and pay AMT to make me a Galileo. And I wouldn’t need to bring much cash.
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.
Pain on screen and in real life: Diamond Select’s Devil in the Dark diorama
The diorama is detailed, accurate and you can pick one up fairly cheaply, and it represents both William Shatner’s professionalism and a sad time in his life.
Star Trek as Canadian content
Although thoroughly American in origin, the diversity and peaceful collaboration the show espoused is very Canadian in tone.
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.
A defence of The Way to Eden: it’s better, and much darker, than you remember
The episode is widely disliked, so you probably haven’t seen it in a while. I encourage you to watch it again. It’s not hippies and bouncy songs. It’s a mass murderer and his enthralled gang.
Waiting on Walter. My lunchbox needs him
Walter Koenig, I need you. Please come back to Toronto. Also, did you know Canadians got to see Star Trek before the Americans?
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 Ebony magazine that got me two minutes with Nichelle Nichols
Nichelle Nichols owns a copy of her Ebony magazine-cover issue, but it’s in poor condition. I tried to give her mine.
I am unqualified for the 1988 Toronto Trek official trivia quiz
I am a Star Trek fan. I mean, look at this web site. And yet I only scored 9/10 in the qualifying round. Read the post and tell me how you do.
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.
Thank you, Doug Drexler, for trying to save the Gold Key comics
Before Doug Drexler’s huge contributions to four Star Trek series and five movies, he did his best to save the Gold Key comics.
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.
Kirk and Spock were meant to bust out of your wall. I got my poster signed instead
This is the best Star Trek poster I have ever seen. It’s big, it’s quirky, it’s a good likeness and you were supposed to cut them up, so that’s cool. Mine is also signed by Leonard Nimoy and William Shatner.
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.
William Shatner was always nice to me
I have 13 William Shatner autographs. Eight of those I got in person. Three of those are extra special. This is the story of those three.
Download Star Trek’s most important document
Gene Roddenberry’s 1964 pitch for his new show is arguably the most important Star Trek document ever. The pitch, usually referred to as Star Trek is…, was designed to sell the show to network executives and it’s an interesting look at Roddenberry’s earliest creative ideas.
A fun fake: Flight Deck Officer certificate
Do you have a Gene Roddenberry autograph in your collection? If it’s on a Flight Deck Officer certificate then…probably no. But it’s a fun item anyway.
Leonard Nimoy sued Paramount — and won
Henry Fonda kicked off a dispute over a beer ad that almost kept Spock from appearing in The Motion Picture.
Leonard Nimoy to Trek fans: Don’t smoke. Live long and prosper
Leonard Nimoy used his celebrity to encourage others to quit smoking. He signed this American Cancer Society poster for me in 2006. And then, weirdly, Shatner signed it too.
Franklin Mint’s 25th anniversary Enterprise
The Franklin Mint 25th anniversary Enterprise is one of the most beautiful models ever produced, and I took a bunch of really nice photos of it.
Fire torpedoes at your friends: two starships from Dinky Toys
I love the Enterprise. Its design is both beautiful and functional, and importantly it looks great on camera from any angle. I own a number of exquisitely detailed and highly accurate Enterprise models. This is not one of those, but I like it a lot anyway.
The Roddenberry memo that helped launch The Making of Star Trek
The Making of Star Trek is one of the most important books in TOS fandom, and Gene Roddenberry was an early advocate of the project.
No Chapel, no T’Pau. The original Amok Time story outline
I own the Amok Time story outline Ted Sturgeon submitted to Gene Roddenberry. It’s a fascinating look at the process of creating an episode and at the Trek that could have been.
Bobby Clark signed a Gorn mask
Two guys pulled on the Gorn wetsuit costumes on the set of Arena in November 1966. I was fortunate to spend 20 minutes chatting with Bobby Clark, the better known of the two. Clark asked why Star Trek and the Gorn mattered to me.
