A wagon train to the stars took flight. STAR TREK would be the trail-blazer
against future space-oriented science fiction tv and even movies would be
judged. It wasn't the first to discover tv science fiction, but like
Columbus wasn't the first European to discover America, its path shone so
brightly, it would be credited with the discovery. Others would follow in
its path.

For all its faults, and there were quite a few, it got so much right, which
was far more. After much behind the scenes struggle to make to air, two
pilots, several recastings, and not just recasting the lead but changing the
lead character altogether, but finally, finally, one Thursday evening,
September 8, 1966, at 7:30 PM Central, STAR TREK took to the airwaves.

This particular human adventure ... was only the beginning .... 5 spin-offs,
including an animated version, ten movies and hundreds and hundred of books
that were really able to realize Star Trek's potential in ways even the
televised budgets could at best hint at. Then again, fans of science fiction
were used to the smallest sparks igniting their larger than average
imagination into filling in the blanks. Star Trek happened to a gigantic
spark for many fans old and new.

-- Ken from Chicago

Here's a 1966 commercial promoting the show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtzLPGDDe2c

On 9/8/06 9:50 AM, "debdav1@comcast.net" wrote:

Here's a 1966 commercial promoting the show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtzLPGDDe2c



There is still another Star Trek promo that I remember that had shots of
ships, including, I think the Space Seed spaceship.

I think this promo was the first time that I became aware of Star Trek.

Greg Bryant wrote:
On 9/8/06 9:50 AM, "debdav1@comcast.net" wrote:

Here's a 1966 commercial promoting the show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtzLPGDDe2c



There is still another Star Trek promo that I remember that had shots of
ships, including, I think the Space Seed spaceship.

I think this promo was the first time that I became aware of Star Trek.

Order of Geritol for Mr. Bryant!

I kid, I kid... I was 1-1/2 when Trek debuted. I'm pretty sure I was
busy pooping my diapers when it was on. Now it's your turn. Ha ha,
still kidding.

Doug

This particular human adventure ... was only the beginning .... 5 spin-offs,
including an animated version, ten movies and hundreds and hundred of books
that were really able to realize Star Trek's potential in ways even the
televised budgets could at best hint at. Then again, fans of science fiction
were used to the smallest sparks igniting their larger than average
imagination into filling in the blanks. Star Trek happened to a gigantic
spark for many fans old and new.

Ken from Chicago wrote:
This particular human adventure ... was only the beginning .... 5 spin-offs,
including an animated version, ten movies and hundreds and hundred of books
that were really able to realize Star Trek's potential in ways even the
televised budgets could at best hint at. Then again, fans of science fiction
were used to the smallest sparks igniting their larger than average
imagination into filling in the blanks. Star Trek happened to a gigantic
spark for many fans old and new.


We must remember that many years passed between the end of the TV show
and resurrection of the idea into a movie. They had to wait for
special effects technology to catch up as well as public interest in
sci-fi space entertainment. I think Star Wars came out before the S/T
movie and played a role.


I still think the original TV show, as campy and low-tech as it was,
was the best. Since it was lo-tech, they had to focus more on the
story lines and not fall back on high tech. Many of their plots dealt
with the failure of technology or wrongful application of it.


My favorite episode was "Mirror Mirror" which for once broke the
goody-two-shoes benevolence of the Federation. In that, the Federalion
was a nasty empire. Cool!

(Would anyone know if that gets run on TV anywhere?)

Greg Bryant wrote:
On 9/8/06 9:50 AM, "debdav1@comcast.net" wrote:

Here's a 1966 commercial promoting the show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtzLPGDDe2c



There is still another Star Trek promo that I remember that had shots of
ships, including, I think the Space Seed spaceship.

I think this promo was the first time that I became aware of Star Trek.

Order of Geritol for Mr. Bryant!

I kid, I kid... I was 1-1/2 when Trek debuted. I'm pretty sure I was
busy pooping my diapers when it was on. Now it's your turn. Ha ha,
still kidding.

Doug

"trike" <dougtricarico@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1157740807.769085.238760@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...

Greg Bryant wrote:
On 9/8/06 9:50 AM, "debdav1@comcast.net" wrote:

Here's a 1966 commercial promoting the show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtzLPGDDe2c



There is still another Star Trek promo that I remember that had shots of
ships, including, I think the Space Seed spaceship.

I think this promo was the first time that I became aware of Star Trek.

Order of Geritol for Mr. Bryant!

I kid, I kid... I was 1-1/2 when Trek debuted. I'm pretty sure I was
busy pooping my diapers when it was on. Now it's your turn. Ha ha,
still kidding.

Doug


I was not even a gleam in my parents' eyes, not for another year and a half.

-- Ken from Chicago

On 9/8/06 4:33 PM, "hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com" wrote:


Ken from Chicago wrote:
This particular human adventure ... was only the beginning .... 5
spin-offs,
including an animated version, ten movies and hundreds and hundred of
books
that were really able to realize Star Trek's potential in ways even the
televised budgets could at best hint at. Then again, fans of science
fiction
were used to the smallest sparks igniting their larger than average
imagination into filling in the blanks. Star Trek happened to a gigantic
spark for many fans old and new.


We must remember that many years passed between the end of the TV show
and resurrection of the idea into a movie. They had to wait for
special effects technology to catch up as well as public interest in
sci-fi space entertainment. I think Star Wars came out before the S/T
movie and played a role.


I still think the original TV show, as campy and low-tech as it was,
was the best. Since it was lo-tech, they had to focus more on the
story lines and not fall back on high tech. Many of their plots dealt
with the failure of technology or wrongful application of it.


My favorite episode was "Mirror Mirror" which for once broke the
goody-two-shoes benevolence of the Federation. In that, the Federalion
was a nasty empire. Cool!

(Would anyone know if that gets run on TV anywhere?)



I keenly remember the 70's and every build up of anticipation followed by
a
huge let down when they announced another attempt to revive Star Trek.

Trek had never been successful in network broadcast. It was only when it
hit
syndicated TV around 1970 or 1971 that Paramount saw what a goldmine it
had.
They began countless attempted plans to bring the series back, but each
faltered for some reason or other.

The early 70's did see the Saturday morning animated series.

But it was may of 1977 that really got the ball rolling. Star Wars smashed
through all box office expectations. Every studio got on the bandwagon
after
Star Wars, planning their own space epic. Even James Bond. The followup to
The Spy Who Loved Me was supposed to be For Your Eyes Only, but those
plans
were shelved in favor of sending James Bond into space with Moonraker.

Paramount immediately saw the writing on the wall and announced Star
Trek:TMP.

On 9/8/06 9:50 AM, "debdav1@comcast.net" wrote:

Here's a 1966 commercial promoting the show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AtzLPGDDe2c



There is still another Star Trek promo that I remember that had shots of
ships, including, I think the Space Seed spaceship.

hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote in message
news:1157747581.582636.259890@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
Ken from Chicago wrote:
This particular human adventure ... was only the beginning .... 5
spin-offs,
including an animated version, ten movies and hundreds and hundred of
books
that were really able to realize Star Trek's potential in ways even the
televised budgets could at best hint at. Then again, fans of science
fiction
were used to the smallest sparks igniting their larger than average
imagination into filling in the blanks. Star Trek happened to a gigantic
spark for many fans old and new.

We must remember that many years passed between the end of the TV show
and resurrection of the idea into a movie. They had to wait for
special effects technology to catch up as well as public interest in
sci-fi space entertainment. I think Star Wars came out before the S/T
movie and played a role.

Altho clearly 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY was influential on the movie's style.

Ken from Chicago wrote:
hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com> wrote in message
news:1157747581.582636.259890@e3g2000cwe.googlegroups.com...
Ken from Chicago wrote:
This particular human adventure ... was only the beginning .... 5
spin-offs,
including an animated version, ten movies and hundreds and hundred of
books
that were really able to realize Star Trek's potential in ways even the
televised budgets could at best hint at. Then again, fans of science
fiction
were used to the smallest sparks igniting their larger than average
imagination into filling in the blanks. Star Trek happened to a gigantic
spark for many fans old and new.

We must remember that many years passed between the end of the TV show
and resurrection of the idea into a movie. They had to wait for
special effects technology to catch up as well as public interest in
sci-fi space entertainment. I think Star Wars came out before the S/T
movie and played a role.

Altho clearly 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY was influential on the movie's style.

As I just stupidly posted before I read your post, in 1971, ABC had
attempted to create a new SF series inspired by "2001", called "Earth
II" (not to be confused with other productions with similar titles).
They chose not to greenlight the series and broadcast the pilot film
instead as a made-for-TV movie. And it was clearly influenced by
"2001," depicting life aboard a giant orbiting space station, with space
shuttles rendezvousing with it with a waltz-like musical score
reminiscent of "Blue Danube."

Too bad it wasn't greenlighted. It was 20 years ahead of "Babylon 5."

hancock4@bbs.cpcn.com wrote:
Ken from Chicago wrote:
This particular human adventure ... was only the beginning .... 5
spin-offs,
including an animated version, ten movies and hundreds and hundred of
books
that were really able to realize Star Trek's potential in ways even the
televised budgets could at best hint at. Then again, fans of science
fiction
were used to the smallest sparks igniting their larger than average
imagination into filling in the blanks. Star Trek happened to a gigantic
spark for many fans old and new.


We must remember that many years passed between the end of the TV show
and resurrection of the idea into a movie. They had to wait for
special effects technology to catch up as well as public interest in
sci-fi space entertainment. I think Star Wars came out before the S/T
movie and played a role.

Actually, it was amazing how far SFX advanced in just a few short years.
In 1971, ABC broadcast an unsold pilot, "Earth II," about a giant
orbiting space habitat. (Back then unsold pilots were commonly
broadcast as made-for-TV movies.) And its SFX were stunning, compared
to Star Trek TOS. Reminiscent of the 1968 movie "2001: A Space
Odyssey," in fact. Anticipated "Babylon 5" by 20 years.

(ABC's "Earth II" is not to be confused with other productions with
similar titles, including one Roddenberry himself did.)

If Star Trek had been revived in the mid 1970's, even before Star Wars,
it could have benefited from vastly improved SFX. "Space 1999"
premiered in 1975, two years before Star Trek, and its SFX were vastly
improved over TOS.