The Monster Times #2 Interview With Shatner

The second issue of The Monster Times newspaper was super-special to young Trekkers like myself, being pretty much the first magazine to devote an entire issue to the subject. Below is the entire interview with Bill Shatner, conducted just after the series had ended, in 1969.

(To view full-size, click on the images. Once open, you may have to click on it one more time to enlarge.)

If you loved TMT and have fond memories of it, you will enjoy the group I have created devoted to it on Facebook! Join today and get in on all the fun, as we have several contributors and editors of the magazine as members, including the interviewer in the article Steve Vertlieb, and writer Gary Gerani! https://www.facebook.com/groups/280642125800013/

Bonus: Below, a publicity photo of Chekov (Walter Koenig) and Yeoman Martha Landon (Celeste Yarnall).

The Monster Times Star Trek Special #2: Part One

In 1974, while perusing the latest issue of The Monster Times I had just picked up, I saw an advertisement for both the Sci-Fi Special (in magazine format) and the newspaper format Star Trek Special #2. Since my grandmother's house was a haven where I could be myself and read what I wanted, and where I stored my collection of magazines and comics to keep them safe from my stepdad, I ordered both and had them delivered to her house. A few weeks later when I visited again, they had arrived and were waiting for me! It was an exciting afternoon and evening, I can tell you that, as I soaked in all the great stuff contained therein.

Below you will find scans of the issue's first half, with the second half coming soon.

(Click on each image to enlarge. Once open, you may have to click again to view full size.)

Bonus: If you fondly remember TMT, join a new Facebook group I have created dedicated solely to this fantastic publication! https://www.facebook.com/groups/280642125800013/

"Leonard Nimoy Answers 40 Questions" 1967 Article

From a 1967 movie magazine comes this article with 40 intimate things you always wanted to know about Leonard Nimoy!

(Click on the images to view full-size. Once open, you may have to click again to enlarge.)

Bonus #1: A rare publicity photo of Shatner and guest star Celeste Yarnell from "The Apple." I have no clue what odd kind of alien plant he's using to impress her with his knowledge of...

"Why waste time with Chekov over there? Let's show the natives how it's really done."

Bonus #2: Rare publicity photo of Joan Collins as Edith Keeler.

"Oh, Mr. Kirk... would you help me with the dreadfully heavy doily?"

Bill Shatner: A Restless Man

From a movie/TV magazine in around 1967 comes this article about Shatner that still seems to be relevant to the way he lives his life!

(Click on images to enlarge. Once open, you may have to click again to view full-size.)

Bonus #1: A 1967 article about the emotion-filled Leonard Nimoy. Note the half-shaved eyebrows that he had to endure for the whole series!

Bonus #3: Below, a rare publicity picture of Nimoy and Jill Ireland.

Bonus #4: Rare image of Jeff Hunter with a laser pistol prop! Note the industrial-strength tinfoil that was used for the cave walls and the rock formations on Talos IV. Very effective at creating rock-like surfaces! But I think a coat of matte-textured spray paint would have been more effective at making the reflective tinfoil surface look less metallic.

"Paint 'er greener!" The Famous Orion Makeup Test!

William McCullar's IDIC Page, sadly defunct now, made available this very rare image of Majel Barrett (M. Leigh Hudec at the time) when she was screen-testing the makeup for the Green Orion Slave Girl.

The “green girl” was the creation of Fred Phillips who also made Spock’s Vulcan look for the original Star Trek television series. Stephen E. Whitfield and Gene Roddenberry recalled in The Making of Star Trek (1968) how Phillips grew increasingly frustrated as three consecutive makeup screen tests, in which Roddenberry’s future wife Majel Barrett had been painted green, came back negative. "Now, Fred Phillips is an exceptionally fine makeup artist and recognized as a top pro in the business. He did a thorough job with the makeup and was quite satisfied with the results. Imagine everyone’s surprise, upon viewing the developed film the next day, to find the actress’ face just as normally pink skinned as ever! There was no trace of green." Gene’s orders to Fred Phillips: “Paint her greener!” The following day the test film again showed her as pink skinned as ever. Even Fred was dumbfounded. Recalling the incident, he says, “We did this three days in a row. We had her so green you couldn’t believe it and she kept coming back pink! Finally we figured out what was happening. The technician over at the film lab would receive the film every day and run it through the development solution. As the image formed on the film, he kept saying to himself, ‘My God, this woman is green!’ And so he kept correcting the film developing process in order to turn her back to normal skin color again!”

Bonus: Below, a rare photo of Shatner and Whitney, made after the second pilot, but before the first filmed episode. The uniform worn by Shatner was only ever seen in these promo photos and never in an episode. 

"See, you adjust this satellite dish and you can get hundreds of channels for only dollars a day!"

Bonus: A cartoon from the fanzine "Enterprise Incidents" that echoes the MAD Magazine depiction on a similar occurrence, referenced below it.

Some Rare Photos To Enjoy!

Here are a few rare photos that have turned up online, that you may enjoy!

(Click on images to enlarge. Once open, you may have to click again to view full-size.)

De and Leslie Parrish behind the scenes between takes while filming "Who Mourns For Adonis?"

An unusual promotional photo of Walter in front of a wall thingie that looks like it was made with an oven rack!

Nichelle shows her lovely kittycat some attention and love!

Between scenes in "The Final Frontier," the Big Three do their version of the monkeys who refuse to speak, hear or see bad things.

FM #64 Issue "Stark Trek" 1970 Article

From April 1970 Issue 64 of the venerable Famous Monsters magazine comes this early story on the show, and the bonus is some rare photos that have never really been seen since, like the one of the small copper-skinned ambassadors from "Journey To Babel" posing by the Jeffries Tube, and the closeup of the makeup of the doomed and diseased Only from "Miri."

(Click on images to enlarge. Once open, you may have to click on again to see full-size.)

FM artist Basil Gogos passed away this past week at 88. What a talent!

Bonus: Below, a clipping from a TV movie magazine from the first run of the show.