I Found a Review of Star Trek: The Movie from 40 Years Ago!

This year marks the 40th Anniversary of Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and I just happened to come across this old article that I hadn’t posted here before!  It’s a review from the local college paper Pipe Dream, and it has a lot of  nice local Binghamton, NY flavor, which filled me with nostalgia for simpler times.

The writer, Robert Greenberger, was just as excited to see this new incarnation of Trek as the rest of us, and he gives a loving review.   He was clearly delighted, and saw this effort as ‘well worth the wait’.  However, he did note that the glut of special effects did overpower the heart of the story.  He says one of the best sequences is the first time we see The Enterprise and “the ship is explored for the next ten minutes” (To me, that part was 8 minutes too long!)

He also rightly points out the the supporting characters were not given enough to do and that the plot tends to have annihilation encroaching every  every five minutes, leaving character development in the dust.  But he’s still happy to see that the positive message at the soul of Star Trek is still there:  The future need not be bleak.   Something we truly can hope for in these strange times 40 years later.   I hope Robert will find this and say Hi!  Enjoy.

 

My Weekly Spock: “Introducing Mr. Spock” (Trek Premiere in Australia -1970)

Here’s a great tidbit:  A brief article in The Australian Women’s Weekly from August of 1970 — Star Trek begins global syndication and a star is born!  The writer was impressed with Mr. Spock most!

The small print reads:

“STAR-TREK”

The National Nine Network’s new science-fiction series takes viewers into deep space.

“Star Trek” tells the story of the starcruiser Enterprise and her crew.  Cruising in deep space, they monitor life in outer space, enforce space laws.  It is an incredible ship and an incredible crew.  My favorite is Science Officer Mr. Spock, right, (Leonard Nimoy).  Mr. Spock is a new breed, half earthman, half planet man — one parent from earth one from the planet Vulcan.  Note his pointed ears — NAN MUSGROVE

Introducing MR. SPOCK

  • “Star Trek may be seen in Sydney on TC429 Thursdays, 8:30 p.m. in other capital cities later.

(Lower caption)   ENTERPRISE chief officers with two ‘other ranks’. From Left; Mr. Spock, O/R John Hainsworth, Yeoman Janice Rand (Grace Lee Whitney) Captain James Kirk (William Shatner) O/R Wayne Thomas, Medical Officer Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley)   Yeoman Rand shows that mini skirts and bouffant hairdos have survived thousands  of years into the space age.”

 

 

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Classic 1977 ‘Federation Trading Post’ Trek Catalog from reader Reece

Hey Kids,

Way back in March of this year, one of our readers, Reece, sent me these great stills of his 1977 Star Trek catalog form the (legendary) Federation Trading Post  (FTP)– –and it’s a wonder.   Reece had auctioned this catalog on eBay and  sold  it  for $65.00! And graciously  let me use these auction pictures for this post.  Thanks so much, Reece, and congrats on your noteworthy sale! (See, sometimes it pays to save stuff from your childhood!)

As to the catalog itself, boy, does this take me back!  Imagine, color prints (color!) for a dollar,  color slides for 50 cents, buttons, bumper stickers, models, books, color slides!  It’s a year-round convention huckster room!  There’s even a two record album of William Shatner Live!

You see, In a pre-internet era, if you wanted Trek images, you’d have to find them at conventions or back pages of Starlog or in brochures like (Roddenberry’s) Lincoln Enterprises or this.  FTP was a Trekker (and Star Wars fan) paradise.  I never got a chance to see it in person, or order stuff like this, but if I did my walls would have been plastered with this stuff!  (Ah the teenage mentality)  However I did (and may still) own the actual full color collage poster on the front page

Looking at this makes me wonder how much of this stuff is still available to collectors today? Does anyone here have any of the Trekkie stuff buried away in their attics?  I know I still have some of the original cutting floor 35mm slides that I got from a friend somewhere!   If you find anything, let me know and I may just post it here!  (You can contact me here)  Enjoy this tasty nostalgia everyone!

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Nimoy Interview in Films In Review (1984)

A good friend of mine gave me some of her old Films in Review magazines and to my delight, I found this interview with Leonard Nimoy in one of the issues!  He discusses directing Star Trek III and almost gives away the ending!   Alas, the only picture they use her is Nimoy in 1/4 profile, but it’s a good interview and insight into an early directing experience for the actor.  (btw, Films in Review actually blasted the movie in the August ’84 edition,review STIII August 84 (see here)  but at least they gave Nimoy a chance to talk nicely about it in the November issue.

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Leonard’s Helmet in my Backyard!

The Bundy Museum in Binghamton, NY has a permanent display to local and national legend Rod Serling.  Now as many of you know, Serling created, wrote for,  and produced the marvelous Twilight Zone.  The reason Bundy has this exhibit is because Serling, although born in Ithaca NY, grew up in Binghamton from the age of two.  Life in Binghamton inspired many of the Twilight Zone‘s stories (Walking Distance in particular) and he’s long been our local hero.

Well here’s some exciting news — as Trekkies know, Leonard Nimoy appeared in the classic TZ episode A Quality of Mercy.  Leonard’s face is the first thing you see in the episode, as his character is sending field reports on his walkie-talkie during a Pacific WWII battle.  Imagine my surprise when I read this article in our local paper the other day — Leonard’s helmet has now become part of the permanent Serling display at The Bundy!   I want to thank the 8 Serling fans who pooled their resources to buy the helmet, I can’t wait to see it!

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Binghamton  is just a stone’s throw away from me, so it’s nice to know that a little bit of Leonard’s legacy is now practically in my backyard!   I’ll post again as soon as I see it!

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FArf: A Computer Read Out Spock!

Hey Kids,

Back around 1978 or 9 I was given this cool (and for the time) state-of-the-art computer-printed illustration of Spock!  (Possibly from one of my siblings) It’s antiquated by today’s standards, but still pretty cool.   I love the quote, yet although I don’t think Spock ever said this, it totally fits his personality.

I recall ‘tweaking’ the original with a felt-tip marker (making more hairs on his head and darkening the collar).  It’s been  mounted on cardboard and has been sitting with my stuff in the basement for years.   I scanned it and fixed its yellowing and age marks with Photoshop, but it still has a place in my heart 🙂

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My Weekly Spock: Mother and Son

Hey Kids,

Sorry I’m late today with Weekly Spock.  I’m probably not going to post too much this week; my family and I are starting the housekeeping of my Mom’s things.  It will take a while off and on  throughout this year, but it’s good to get started. I know she’s watching over all of us –  🙂

With Mom in mind,  here’s some family time with Spock and Amanda.  I have to say, I was always glad that Jane Wyatt and Mark Lenard were still available to reprise their role in The Voyage Home.   

Here’s some Mother/Child bonding , enjoy.

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The Daily Scrapbook – “He’s out of this world…Leonard Nimoy”

From March 1967 — you know you’re hot when you’re featured in a Archie-Style comic book!  In this case, it’s “Tippy Teen”, and Leonard Nimoy is “Out of this World!”  The article is presciently predicts that ‘Len’ “will keep going strong for a long time”! And he does!  🙂   (I honestly don’t think anyone in real life calls him “Len”, but what a groovy guy!)

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