53 TOS Images for Star Trek’s 53rd Anniversary!

Yesterday, September 8th was the 53rd Anniversary of Star Trek, and aren’t we lucky to have had this happyplace in our lives? Wishing Happy Anniversary to the surviving cast of The Original Series, William Shatner, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei and Walter Koenig, and happy memories of our beloved other cast members, Leonard Nimoy, Deforest Kelley, James Doohan, Majel Barret, Grace Lee Whitney, and of course the creator, Gene Roddenberry. The dream of a better future lives on with Star Trek in all of it’s incarnations! May its vision of a peaceful and caring society truly live long and prosper!

One thing I loved about the original series is that even though not all characters had equal time, there were countless little moments where we’d see the human (or otherwise) nature of characters that would give us a peek into their personalities. Little quirks anyone could understand. In honor of 53 years of Star Trek, here are 53 moments of my favorite TOS episodes, 🙂

Also, more coverage of my visit to TreKonderoga in August coming this week! 

 

Star Trek’s ‘Navel Battle’ with NBC – Who Won the Battle of the Bellybutton?

UPDATE! (7-4-2021) I found another one! In The Omega Glory, the Kohm servant has a naked navel, but the moment is so quick, you may not have noticed! Sneaky!

In crazy times like these, perhaps we should contemplate our navels; or at least the ones on TOS.

As someone who loves costume design,  I’ve always been curious as to the battles that costume designers face, be it making the costumes under budget and on time, to keeping within any restrictions given by the studio or network.

When the Original Series aired from 1966-69 on NBC, the network’s Standards and Practices (S&P) team were recruited to assure that rules were being followed to avoid censorship.  For some reason, a woman’s navel was considered too sexy for family time, which is why Barbara Eden’s costume on NBC’s I Dream of Jeannie kept the waist of her harem pants high.

So how did William Ware (Bill) Theiss, master of the costume universe,  keep to this rule?  Well, he didn’t; just enough that the S&P didn’t notice!  Bill figured no one would care about navels in the future, and slipped in the scary umbilicus whenever he could.  But who won the battle of censorship?  Let’s keep score – TOS vs. S&P: (and my scoring system is total nonsense!) 

Exhibit A: The Cage.  Theiss designed the iconic costumes from The Cage (1964) onward. And in The Cage, everyone knew Vina as the green Orion in a shiny reptile skin, with no navel exposure but lots of cut-outs.  HOWEVER,  there were also servers and other dancers in the background in harem-ish costumes with exposed navels:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SCORE:    TOS – 1    S&P – 0

Exhibit B: The Corbomite Maneuver & Charlie X  The network had no trouble with the good Captain exposing his navel, and practically welcomed it. Probably to present Kirk as the macho alpha male.  Both sides win.  Look at that nice flat tummy. Put a pin in these pictures for now.

SCORE:    TOS – 2    S&P – 1

Exhibit C: Mudd’s Women. 

Although Harry Mudd’s ‘escorts’ were quite stylish, none had exposed navels (although there were hip, thigh and cleavage slashes).   

SCORE:  TOS – 2    S&P – 2  

Exhibit D: The Naked Time. 

The S&P need not worry at the episode’s title, as Sulu (George Takei)  was the only one who was half naked, but even his navel was covered with a high modest waistband!

SCORE:  TOS – 2    S&P – 3

Exhibit D: What Are Little Girls Made Of.

 

Andrea the Android (Sherry Jackson) exposed plenty with her X-shaped jumpsuit bodice, but not her navel!  Theiss gets a half point for it’s daring.

SCORE:  TOS – 2.5    S&P – 4

Exhibit E:  Shore Leave

 

McCoy’s Showgirls may have worn fluorescent Tribbles for brassieres, but their dangerously inappropriate navels are plugged up with teeny tiny Tribbles; making them safe for democracy. Half point for cleverness.

SCORE:  TOS – 3   S&P – 4.5

Exhibit F: A Taste of Armageddon

Mea 3 (Barbara Babcock) and the women of Eminiar VII exposed their flanks in fancy togas,  but not their navels!

SCORE:  TOS – 3   S&P – 5.5

Exhibit G: Catspaw

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Sylvia’s (Antoinette Bower) little fashion show for Kirk, she exposes her rib cage, but no navel! 1/2 point for daring.

SCORE:  TOS – 3.5  S&P – 6.5

Exhibit H:  Who Mourns for Adonais?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Who could forget Carolyn Palamas’ iconic candy pink toga?  It exposed Leslie Parrish’s entire back, right arm, some leg and a considerable amount of torso and hip, but no navel.  There are two conflicting stories about this stunning creation. Theiss stated in The Making of Star Trek , the costume held in place without any need for anchoring tape, while later I read that Ms. Parish did have to be taped in to avoid censorship.  I’m still giving this one a full point for just being beautifully designed and engineered! They each get a half point because I want to round up the score!

SCORE: TOS -5  S&P- 7

Exhibit I: Wolf in the Fold

 

 

 

 

 

There was a big trend in 1960s movies and TV for belly dancers and harems (maybe inspired by I Dream of Jeannie?).  Trek was no exception.  The first person we see in Wold in the Fold is Kara (Tanya Lemani) in her magnificent belly dancer garb, complete with plastic used-car-lot fringe!   Beautiful! But she dare not show her navel so a little pink flower was plunked in there! Must be a good adhesive because despite Kara’s shimmy, it never falls out!  Btw, Tanya is one of my Facebook pals, and Tanya, if you’re reading this,  <3 Hi! <3  Tanya is still dancing these days and she rocks! Love ya, girl!  TOS gets a half star for daring.

SCORE:  TOS – 5.5  S&P – 8

Exhibit J: The Apple Well, the S&P must have had that week off, because all the natives of Gamma Trianguli VI had nekkid navels!  Three points for Bill Theiss getting away with it!  TOS inches into the lead!

SCORE:  TOS – 8.5   S&P – 8

Exhibit K:  Mirror, Mirror   With this blatant display of the alternate universe female uniform, it is said that the crew lured the S&P member off the set with a big lunch to film Uhura’s bridge scene! But how did he not notice Marlena? By now it was 1967, maybe the Summer of Love got the censors less uptight! (Now if only Spock was allowed to wear his tunic open!).  Two points for each actress getting away with it!

SCORE:  TOS – 10.5   S&P – 8   

Exhibit L: I, Mudd  For heaven’s sake! Even Norman had a navel! (maybe a charger port…or three?) But the Alices and all the other female android series kept theirs hidden! 1 for S&P!

SCORE:  TOS – 10.5   S&P – 9

Exhibit : Bread and Circuses The network never seemed to complain of exposed hip bones on minor characters like Drusilla here, but no navel.  Clever (and a bit creepy) credit for use of chain as an accessory here, 1/2 point to TOS for originality, 1 Point for S&P.

SCORE:  TOS – 11   S&P – 10

Exhibit M: A Private Little War Nona (Nancy Kovak) may have been a Kanutu Woman, but she was also a perfect precursor to 60’s hippie girls!    Between her low slung leather bell bottoms (with the emphasis on bell) and her macrame necklace she was ahead of the Woodstock generation by 2 years!  Of course, California is usually ahead of the curve fashion-wise from the rest of the country, so Theiss was probably surrounded by this in LA.  Even so, she’s proud of her navel and you better not cross her S&P, she’s armed!  1 point for TOS!

SCORE:  TOS – 12  S&P – 9

Exhibit N – The Gamesters of Triskellion

Everyone remembers Shahna (Angelique Pettyjohn) for her aluminum bikini, but despite it’s boldness and its possibility as a popcorn popper, it still modestly hides her navel.  And that bikini is also a marvel of engineering.  Whereas all the other drill thralls (and the Enterprise crew) wore their harnesses on the outside, Shannah’s harness is incorporated into her bikini; which means she can’t wear one without the other. Well, at least she could tuck her matching gloves into it when she wasn’t using them.  Half point to TOS for its skimpiest costume yet, but a full point to S&P.

SCORE:  TOS – 12.5  S&P – 10          

   Exhibit O – Patterns of Force

Well well,  two navels appear here, although the Captain’s we’ve seen before, (see above), blessedly, this will be the last time we see Kirk’s navel for the rest of the series.*   The good Captain is not quite as fit as he was in Season 1, but then, ANYONE would look a bit doughy next to Spock’s remarkably lean frame. TOS gets a 1/2 point for finally letting Spock lose his shirt.                                                   *and YES, I know that Kirk was stripped to the waist in The Empath, but we only see his front from the pectorals up!)

SCORE:  TOS – 13  S&P – 10    

Exhibit P – The Omega Glory and The Savage Curtain    Did you ever notice that Sirah of Omega Glory and Zora of  Savage Curtain both wore the same tattered two-piece? Zora added a fur piece, but there was no denying that Theiss had cleverly covered their navels (just barely) with a convenient flap?  Of course in battle scenes, the flap would flip up, but censors didn’t catch it! One point for TOS recycling!

SCORE:  TOS – 14  S&P – 10

Exhibit Q: Assignment: Earth   We only see her for a second, but when Isis (April Tatro) is revealed as a woman, she’s breaking the rules, as any good cat would.  1 point for TOS sneaking it in!

SCORE:  TOS – 15  S&P – 10

Exhibit R:  Elaan of Troyus               The warrior Elaan got to wear 4 different gorgeous costumes while on the Enterprise, all stunning and suggestive, but none with the dreaded navel. Her silver appliques here blot it out.   S&P gets 4 points for still getting their way with 4 different costumes!

SCORE:  TOS – 15  S&P – 14

Exhibit S:  That Which Survives   Losira (Lee Meriwether) might have been for Mr. D’Amato, but her pants were purely for modesty.  High-waisted with a ridiculous anti-navel flap, the S&P had won again! And we’re tied.

TOS – 15  S&P  15

Exhibit T – For the World is Hollow and I Have Touched the Sky.

For the leader of a civilization, it’s a shame Natira had only one glorious gown (maybe Elaan used up all the budget!) But despite her prestigious title, she was beholden to the network S&P, with her navel wrapped up like a very fancy mummy. Still quite gorgeous.  Kudos and a point to Theiss for continuing to work with metallic fabrics (which he loathed!) and a point to S&P for winning again! Like Natira’s gown, we’re still tied up!

 

TOS – 16  S&P  16

Exhibit U:  The Cloud Minders   I think by this time in Season Three, Theiss was getting pretty sick of navel restrictions.  By the time they filmed The Cloud Minders, the 74th episode of the last season, I don’t think S&P were too vigilant anymore.  Hence, Theiss let ’em have it with two prominent displays here.  2 points for TOS!  Someday I want a tummy like Vanna again – (Droxine, please eat something!) <3

TOS – 18   S&P  16

Exhibit V: The Way to Eden

Gotta let Hippes be Hippies.  Yeah, the episode was dated, but Irina’s gown was impeccable!  With a lonely little navel in the flower patch, it’s Hippie chic! One  point for TOS.

TOS – 19  S&P  16

Exhibit W: All Our Yesterdays   Zarabeth’s covering is little more than rags tied around her body, but she still keeps her navel modestly covered. Kudos for remaining remarkably clean in a damp cave!  Theiss gets a full point for leading the way in TV costume, S&P get’s a  point for still getting their way.

Final Score TOS – 20  S&P  17

The Navel Battle was Won by Star Trek!

My Weekly Spock – As the Snow Flies…

Hi Kids,

As I write this we are at 2+ feet of snow outside my door!  (I live in NYS)  This is a whopper of a storm, so naturally I thought I should feature Spock and company in a snowy backdrop today!  Stay warm my fellow storm-bearers!

Poor Sulu. Apparently in The Enemy Within, The Enterprise forgot it had shuttlecrafts!

Spock kisses the howling wind in All Our Yesterdays.

You know it’s cold when your extremities turn white!

Hey That Guy was on Star Trek! Marplon & Zarabeth in the Jungle…

Found another one! It’s Drums of Africa (1963), an exciting tale of love and slavery in the darkest continent!  that is, A teen dream musical with Frankie Avalon!  What I mean to say is, it’s marvelous  really a marvelous piece of crap!IMG_8932

Let’s see…A guy goes to Africa in the 1910’s to survey a railroad site for his boss, brings along his boss’s lightweight teen son and goes on safari, employing ‘the best guide in Africa’ and falling for the lovely young missionary woman who works with the guide.  Unfortunately, there are greedy slavers loose in the jungle, and his lady love is their main target!   Sounds exciting right?  Well…

Here’s our hero, David Moore (Lloyd Bochner, right) and teen-sidekick-that-he-didn’t-want-to-bring-along Brian Ferrers (Frankie Avalon) seeking out their guide. IMG_8942

With all this nice manliness on screen, the film inexplicably gives viewers a major beefcake valentine of…Marplon! (Torin Thatcher as Jack Cuortemayn ) IMG_8935IMG_8937

(Okay, Sorry about that — I better cleanse your memory palate here…)

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Much better.

Anyway, Marplon spends the rest of the movie proving his virility to the other two guys by insisting on keeping his shirt unbuttoned…

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And on the way out of his office, who should come screaming out of the jungle and into the arms of our hero but Zarabeth.(Mariette Hartley as Ruth Knight)IMG_8940

She’s being chased by slavers who  find her pure whiteness a  perfect target for their evil trade.   Zarabeth’s  Ruth’s fresh faced beauty has  the three  men gaga for her and pitching woo.  Of course for Frankie, that means–IMG_9252

Aaaaugggh!   And what a sappy number it is (The River Love)

This was a step down for Hartley’s career. She had recently finished the brilliant  Ride the High Country and compared this  job to going from president to janitor in two days. Of course she’s virginal and sweet here, and has been too busy in her young life to know love.  In one of queasiest moments of dialogue, Marlpon confides in Zarabeth that the only problem with their relationship is that they’re friends.  Ugh! IMG_8946

But Zarabeth isn’t into a May-December with Marplon, or a  December-May with Frankie, and despite the awesome gorgeousness of Marplon’s man-servant Kasongo (Hari Rhodes)…

See?

…she can’t help but find herself attracted to bland white bread David (no surprise there).  But first she has to do an obligatory Dove soap commercial… IMG_8950

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He meets her after she’s squeaky clean, of course, compares trunks with a baby elephant, and she admits that his kiss ‘brought her world alive!”  Please.   Little does she realize that years later, her lover will change his name to Cecil Colby and die while copulating with Edith Keeler (In her Alexis Karrington years) on Dynasty!  But that’s another post…

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After much inter-cut animal action from King Soloman’s Mines, the pair live happily ever after in the jungle.  Did the railroad come through? Did Marplon ever button his shirt?  Did Frankie find Annette?  Can’t remember, think I fell asleep…  All in all 2 stars our of 5.

FArFri 2/22/13 Spock and Zarabeth by Marcello Baez

Spock_And_Zarabeth_by_Marcelo_BaezContinuing our romantic theme for February, here’s a beautiful, if sad moment in Star Trek history.  Spock reluctantly  bids Zarabeth goodbye in Spock and Zarabeth by artist Marcelo Baez. You can really feel the cold here.   It’s nice to see that many modern artists still like to draw characters and images from this classic series, and Bael is a wonderful artist!   I recall wishing that Spock could have taken her with him!  Well, they’ll always have that cave!

My Daily Spock — 5/29/12

One of the most romantic Spock moments ever, the pre-kiss kiss.  He kisses her quickly as if he might get stung, then decides it’s a good idea! Beautifully acted by Nimoy and Hartley.  Man when I was a teenager, this was my go-to rerun (it was on about 8 times a week, pre-VCR’s).   I wanted Spock to live happily ever after in the Sarpeodon Ice age!

By the way, today I celebrate the most romantic day in my life–My sweet husband and I have been married 19 years! 🙂 <3  Viva L’amour!