Here’s today’s flashback:  I remember bringing a piece of my own Star Trek art to the convention, it was a white clay bust of Mr. Spock that I had made in my high school ceramic class.   Unfortunately, after lugging it all the way to NYC, I found I couldn’t enter it into to Art Exhibit because I hadn’t pre-registered for it. (more lack of planning on our parts).  I recall getting weepy over this, since I had worked so hard on it, and my Mom insisted on taking a picture of me with it in the art exhibit room, tears and all.  Fortunately (for me at least) the crappy camera struck again, and that picture didn’t develop. however, one of my photos from the art exhibit did survive, albeit off center (I cropped the top of this image out because it was all gold wallpaper) — You can see a portrait of Leonard Nimoy, and a painting of Spock and McCoy, (this was eons before ‘DeviantArt’)  That was the first time I was exposed to erotic Star Trek art too; I’ll never forget there was a nude pencil sketch of Spock, reclining on his right elbow, with his left arm modestly concealing his manhood.  As I recall, the picture was titled “R&R”.  Of course my Mom wasn’t too thrilled with it –‘That’s dirty!’ — But one could not deny the female fans their fantasies.  In the end I was just forever grateful to my Mom for letting me go to this convention, and putting up with all the Trek mania around her. You can see some of her notes here.   “I guess I’ll have to watch Star Trek now” she joked.  Thanks Mom! (she’ll be 93 in February).

And here’s a few more pages from the Trek Convention program — Three winning entries from the “Why Star Trek Lives for Me” writers contest, and a listing of prizes for the various contests.  Of course, once Tristar Industries, who promoted the convention got hold of my address, they had to send me updates on future events.  Here you see an ad for “Star Trek America”, which was the convention planned for 1978, and even though I filled out the form I never got to that one.  But I’m sure it was fun.

Here’s our receipt for two nights at the Statler Hilton –#73.44!!  I don’t think that would get you a cot on a sidewalk in NY today!  And my Mom’s notes on the trip;  she always was on top of these things.  It may look cheap now, but this was a bit undertaking for us. I’m eternally grateful. Just wish my camera worked.