"Star Trek": 50 years ago today

[Benzadmiral]

Originally Posted By: DoubleWasp
Just MHO.

TOS was extremely groundbreaking for a few reasons:

Earth as a socialist utopia
Japanese, Russian, and female/African-American bridge officers
Interracial kiss

The series was very bold and forward-thinking. . . .

For years I thought Trek had shown the first interracial kiss on TV, but I've read somewhere that there was such a moment between Robert Culp and France Nuyen on I Spy the year before. I'll try to find out more.

ETA: I was right, but this site suggests a number of other contenders: http://www.agonybooth.com/tvs-first-interracial-kiss-star-trek-27382

 

[UncleDave]

Who saw it when it premiered, or remembers the promos on TV or in TV Guide (you remember TV Guide, don't you, that indispensable roadmap to television viewing, rather than the gossip and fan mag it's become)?

I did not see the early episodes until some years later. My family and I came across the "Arena" episode, the one with Kirk vs. the reptilian captain, and I recall later switching channels and seeing part of the "Devil in the Dark," with the silicon mother protecting its eggs. Both were very strange to me; I was not much of an SF fan in those days, despite having visited the Twilight Zone every week, and frequenting The Outer Limits as well. It was not until the next year, when my best friend coaxed me into it, that I began to enjoy the adventures of Kirk, Spock, & Co. (He said that he was watching the first episode, expecting the starship to land, as all space ships had in TV and movies before . . . and was utterly astonished to see Kirk and McCoy "beam down.")

Who knew that something which was not a super hit in its broadcast days would live on as it has, and spawn multiple TV series and movies to boot?

My success in the TV/Film business is somewhat related to my contacts that spun out of the The original VFX crew at the Howard Anderson company.

I partnered for years with the younger nephews Anderson digital group, and my son works for one of their original engineers at Universal today.

Darrell Anderson has the original opening story boards that were presented to Paramount by Desilu productions - they contain an error. Referring to Mr. Spock as Dr. Spock. One of the neatest and most desirable pieces of memorabilia that exists today.

Darrell used to trace the beaming crews feet on rice paper so they would stand in the correct position at the new location.

 

[M56959]

Replying to a 5 year old topic isn't helpful.

Please start a topic about your experiences, that would be interesting.