The tabloids were a good source of clippings about Trek and it's various stars in the early 70's. This one is from the July 8, 1974 edition of "Midnight," another one my Grandma bought sometimes, and that I was able to scan for material when she was done.
(Click on all images to view full size.)
Below, a picture of the type of viewer that came in the packaging:
Warning: Disappointment inside!
As an bonus gift just for visiting, enjoy the unusual photo below of our hero brandishing his phaser with questions he might ask later. You never saw a certain bald captain (who shall remain un-named) in such macho poses! On a technical note, that phaser does not look like the usual ones... with a nozzle tip where the light would shine. The whole end looks flat and brightly lit. Wonder what the deal was there? Was the nozzle removed just for the picture?
"Go ahead... make my stardate."
I have always loved that shot of Shatner. Very illustrative of the fun and melodrama of the original series that was so often absent from the latter day shows.
ReplyDeleteI've often thought it would be great to have a coffee table book of rare promotional photos from the original series. There are some terrific ones floating around out there, but sadly there doesn't seem to be a repository for them.
I know we don't know each other, In fact I just stumbled on your blog today! I love it! I have been a Star Trek fan since the original when I was a kid. I can't wait to poke through your archives! Anyway, someone presented me with a Spreader of Love blog award, and I am supposed to pass it on. I thought since your blog put a big smile on my face, I would pass it on to you. If you go to my blog you can read all about it. But I totally understand if you don't pass it on, just wanted you to know it was there! Be well, live long and of course prosper! Tj.
ReplyDeleteI bought and was duped by the same filmstrip and viewer. It didn't cost much at the local K-Mart - less than a couple of bucks at the time - but I had to save some allowance money over a couple of weeks to afford it. During all that time I kept trying to figure out what episode might be in there and for some reason kept hoping for "The Doomsday Machine." It was a great lesson in "buyer beware."
ReplyDeleteRob,
ReplyDeleteGood to know (misery loves company) that I wasn't the only one let down by it!
One item I bought around 1978 or so that did not disappoint was the "Pocket Flix" battery operated movie viewer. These featured one-minute 8mm film loops from various TV shows and cartoons, and the ST one featured the scene from "By Any Other Name" where they cross the barrier at the end of the galaxy, plus a scene where the two redshirts are dehydrated. This was my first actual bit of film from the show that I would watch when I wanted, and it was great!
Thanks for the warning. I was really tempted to buy this movie viewer on ebay. But I wouldn't pay $30-40 for a b/w comic strip!
ReplyDeletePS: I love the TOS view master reels. :)
Notice the ST type on the filmstrip viewer packaging--it was lifted from the View-Master packet/booklet. Unlike any other property of the 60s/70s, Star Trek's licensed products used images or art that was created by other companies (ex. the Gold Key type appearing on the Remco ST utility belt, or Mego using AMT's Enterprise box art as part of its Phaser targeting game).
ReplyDeleteThough unintentional, the mixed up, cross company use of art almost made the merchandising of Trek appear unified--decades before CBS instituted all merchandise bear the same "Remastered" Enterprise, and stroked logo.
GF,
ReplyDeleteWow, I never noticed that before, you are right! You are sharp-eyed. Thanks for pointing it out to us!