Another week begins. I wish you all the blessings of the day and here’s a little smile to get you on your way 🙂 Get some fresh air when you can — it’s nearly 60 degrees F in my little corner of NYS right now. I just got back from a long walk. I do feel spring coming in on little cat feet.
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!Â
Vina gets her wish in The Cage
“Jim.” A sad second of helplessness from Gary Mitchell.
“I can hear it too!”
Uhura bored at a meeting in Corbomite Manuever
Spock nearly apoligizing to Kirk in Corbomite Manuever
Christine hears Corby for the first time in years
Eve tells Ben Childress what to do with his pots and pans
And he does.
Spock grins while playing his harp.
Uhura sings the charms of Spock
Riley in full cowboy mode
Spock collapses against door
Spock’s first mind-meld.
Jim’s beautiful eyes.
RUk lifts Kirk like a baby.
Sulu casually says ‘No’ to Trelane’s food.
Uhura does NOT like Trelane’s
“They are as high above us as we are above the ameoba.”
McCoy and his fantasy showgirls
“With all due respect to the young lady…”
“You’re holding a knife at your physcian’s throat.
Marla entranced by Kahn
‘WE offered the world ORDER!”
“You couldn’t pronounce it”
Guilty.
Kirk misty-eyed after Edith’s kiss.
McCoy gently giggles with Edith.
Kirk devastated.
“Athena! You were right!”
Evil Spock’s first appearance.
Jim reminding Marlena how a lover should kiss.
“Why are you monitoring my communications Mr. Sulu?”
Here’s some great rare shots of Leonard as Spock in a green jumpsuit! I’m guessing he’s in front of his trailer. Most likely during the filming of This Side of Paradise. Who else could make a jumpsuit look this good? Makes me smile!
I was just watching the marvelous To Kill a Mockingbird recently, such a beautiful film, and one of my forever favorites. Gregory Peck as Atticus is one of my all time heroes, and the entire movie was perfectly cast.
For those of you unfamiliar with it, To Kill a Mockingbird recalls the tale of young Scout Finch (Mary Badham) growing up in Alabama during the Depression, her father Atticus is a trial lawyer. When Atticus is called upon to defend a black man accused of rape, we see the tale unfold through Scout’s eyes. It’s a tale of prejudice and suspicion, but also a tale of the simple wonders of childhood, and how Scout learns compassion and tolerance. I cannot recommend it enough. (And as for the new prequel, Go Set a Watchman –– at first I was eager to read it, but now not so much as Atticus has been recast late in his life as a bigot…Can’t bring myself to read it–Yet.)
Anyway, it may seem trivial to point all the actors here who also appeared on Star Trek, but it just goes to show how caring the casting directors of Trek took great care to hire the best character actors. Enjoy.
First of all, Atticus’ friend and Sheriff of the town, Heck Tate, is played by Frank Overton, who TOS fans recognize as Elias Sandoval from This Side of Paradise:
Frank Overton as Heck Tate and Elias Sandoval
Scout’s summertime friend Dill Harris is played by a tiny John Megna, who would grow quite a bit a mere three years later to play the nasty ‘Bonk Bonk!” boy in Miri:
John Megna as little Dill, and as the “Bonk, Bonk!” boy in ‘Miri’
The father of the mysterious neighbor Boo Radley is played by veteran actor Richard Hall, who was also Goro in The Paradise Syndrome.Â
Richard Hall as Mr. Radley and as Goro
At the trial, Judge Taylor is Paul Fix, who’d be Dr. Mark Piper in Where No Man Has Gone Before.
Paul Fix as the Judge and as Dr. Piper.
Atticus’ opponent, Prosecutor Mr. Gilmer is played perfectly by the versatile William Windom, who cemented his Trek fame as Commodore Decker in The Doomsday Machine.
William Windom as Prosecutor Gilmore and as Commodore Matt Decker.
And finally, although he wasn’t in the original series, the poor defendant, Tom Robinson, is played with heartbreaking anguish by Brock Peters. Peters would later have prominent roles in Star Trek IV (Voyage Home) and Star Trek VI (Undiscovered Country) as Admiral Cartwright and in Star Trek Deep Space Nine as Joseph Sisko, the father of Commander Sisko 🙂
Brock Peters as Tom Robinson, Admiral Cartwright, and as Joseph Sisko.
I came across a few publicity stills of Spock and Leila from This Side of Paradise. Always loved this episode, and the goodbye scene is just one of the best goodbyes I’ve ever seen.
I haven’t had time to make one of these since March, but I hope to finish Season One by the end of summer! One of my favorite episodes of all time. Jill Ireland was so lovely, and the goodbye scene between Spock and Leila was so heartbreaking, yet tender. Ireland is missed, Kudos to Nimoy for keeping it real.