1976 TV Sci-Fi Monthly article: Kirk's Story

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The British publication "TV Sci-Fi Monthly" was a newspaper-format magazine printed on glossy, heavy-weight paper that added a real element of class, as well as durability. This article was scanned from my copy of issue #7, from 1976. (Of course, these are the life and times of the original Kirk, not the alternate universe one in the new movie. And notice I didn't say "alternate timeline." I loved the movie, but I don't believe for a second they came out in their own past.)

Page two is below, and it consists of a picture I'd never seen before, nor since, and that's been over 30 years. This magazine very often used photos not seen in American publications.

"I think this is my best side, don't you?"

Bonus: Below, another of the rare 1967 Leaf trading cards, this time featuring one of the most unusual poses and also the most baffling caption. Whoever made up the captions just wasn't trying very hard, and randomly made up stuff with no connection to the actual circumstances depicted. But "raspberries"? Someone had hit the weed too heavily on lunch break... this was the 60's, after all. However, in their defense, I'd have been as confused over what was happening in the picture also.

"Oh, Janice... this came out of my nose. Would you be a good yeoman and get rid of it for me?"

I chose this post to add the card above as a bonus mostly because of the similarity of Shatner's atypical "lifted-chin" poses. There are many more funny captions I could come up with for this picture, but that would take away your fun! So go for it, in the comments section!

Sulu and Chekov...BFF!

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I clipped the above article from the Ft. Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel on August 4th, 1978, as the new movie was in pre-production and media interest was starting to increase again. Even the show's secondary stars were getting some press, and the Koenig/Takei combo mini-article echoed their positions on the bridge and the show's publicity material, when they were often featured together. The friendship was highlighted several times in the movies, most notably in "The Final Frontier" as they got lost together on a hiking trip. It would be nice to see them becoming buddies in the next Trek movie.
This post continues the tradition of pairing the pals with some photos of the characters as they were during the TV show's production. Below, a classic shot of the two on the bridge!

Next, an article about the two of them from the British magazine Sci_fi Monthly.

Below, a glossy publicity still from the press kit sent to stations to promote the show for syndication.

"Deed you know that the ladder was inwented in Russia? Da, by a leetle old man in Leningrad."

"Shatner, beware! You either leave this war bloodied, or with my blood on your sword."

 

Chekov wasn't Sulu's only friend... he was a well-liked crewman, outgoing and friendly.

Nichelle Opens Hailing Frequences

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Anyone visiting this blog for any length of time has picked up in my border-line-obsessive Uhura fixation, and today's post further reinforces that. From the July 1980 issue #36 of Starlog, here is a good article on my favorite leggy communications officer.

Below, some beautiful, and little seen, publicity shots featuring Nichelle.

"Lt., take a memo. All female uniforms will be shortened... by two more inches, to allow for... greater freedom of movement."

One of my favorites here...wotta woman! Isn't she loverly?

"Oh, Hikaru, it's lovely! But... what is it?"

"Beat this, Zoe!"

Below you will find the Kelly Freas painting of Uhura, part of a set of the show's characters done by the artist and made available through Lincoln Enterprises back in the 70's. I'll post more in the set as time goes by, but this is my favorite one. Freas, talented as he may have been in style, seems to have a little trouble nailing down the faces of the characters in several instances; and Nichelle's waist was never as small as portrayed below; but they are still great renderings and worthy to be framed.

If you remember from an earlier post, the Movie Life magazine published a Star Trek pinup page each month for about a year in 1973-74. This was my first collected photo of Uhura, and for that reason it's always been kind of iconic to me. The day I found the issue that had the photo below was the highlight of that entire week! The endorphines that were released when I found such a Trek item gave me a rush that picked me up for days. I suppose in those terms I was addicted to Trek!

You don't have to be a puppy to want to lick that face for hours.

Just how short were those skirts?

Later, Uhura modeled the new skirt that captain had ordered. All the men on the bridge crew approved.

Why couldn't we have had that infamous fan dance back during the series?

Below, another of the 1967 Leaf bubblegum cards, with a candid shot of Nichelle between takes. It looks to have been taken during the filming of "The Corbomite Manuever," the first regular episode committed to celluloid.

You think I've exhausted my supply of Uhura pictures and articles? Then, you don't know me very well yet, as you are seriously underestimating my fixation! There will be more to come in future posts, you can bet your earpiece on that!

Kingdom Of The Spiders poster

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The miracle of nuclear radiation caused Bill's body to grow as large as his ego, till he towered over the town, straddling it with his awesome awesomeness.

The poster for the 1977 "Kingdom of the Spiders" captures the essence of Bill's dramatic portrayal of horror, doesn't it? This was a fun film from the 70's, made all the better by our man Bill.

Bonus: Below, a high-rez image of a great Kirk and Spock publicity pose. And don't anyone dare say they make a cute couple! They're just close friends, okay?

If Kirk and Spock were to get any closer, they'd both be wearing the same shirt.

Spock's pokerface came in extremely handy in such touchy situations.
"Spock, what do you think... am I looking a bit fat in this tunic? Come on, be honest."

Below, the Flight Deck certificate that I ordered from Lincoln Enterprises in April of 1975. I remember getting the package when I went to stay the weekend with my Grandma, where I had any packages delivered that I wanted to keep secret (and protected) from my stepdad. I had ordered a number of other items, which I'll post as time goes by on this blog. The yellowing on the right side comes from the sticky-backed photo album I foolishly put things in back then.

Below you will see something only three people in the world have; an original piece of shell art by me, depicting the Enterprise made entirely of seashells. I made the one in the photos about 15 years ago when living in Florida, where shell shops were abundant. One day I was browsing around in one and marveling at all the kitschy knick-knacks made from shells, and it occurred to me that the Enterprise would lend itself very nicely to being recreated using shells. It does have an organic flow to it, so I picked out some individual shells from the baskets, took them home and hot-glued together my original idea. It worked! There was no mistaking it for anything else.

I made another one for a friend, who still has his on his computer desk, and another for someone at work who wanted it as a gift for a Trekker friend. Whether that one still exists is unknown. If it were ever located, it could be worth some real money... a couple of dollars, even.

It's funny, but it actually resembles the ship design used in the new Star Trek movie; considering the warp nacelles that are so matronly huge at the front.

I propped it up a little so you can see the sand dollar used for the bottom half of the main saucer section.

And the view from straight on. Hope you enjoyed seeing my little artistic creation! I've thought about making and selling these, but who has the time?

1986 "Newsweek" Star Trek cover story

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Star Trek's first voyage onto the cover of "Newsweek" was a big event for Trekkies in 1986, as we were riding high on the excitement and success of the latest movie, "The Voyage Home." Here is the entire scanned article from my copy for your enjoyment, if you missed it or just haven't read it for awhile.

With the current resurgence of Trek popularity, and another Newsweek cover, it seemed like a good time to look back at the last time it happened. It truly is the show that refuses to die!

For a look at the Newsweek cover story on Superman: The Movie from 1979, go to my new blog, "Fantastic Flashbacks!"

1994 People article "Great Scotty!"

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Clipped from the Dec. 19, 1994 issue of People magazine. It wasn't very often that James Doohan got press, so this was nice to find.

Bonus: Below, a publicity shot of Doohan from "Where No Man Has Gone Before."

"If Shatner slights me one more time, I swear I'm shovin' this rright up his Jeffries Tube."

Below, the Scotty postcard from the Lincoln Enterprises set sold in the early 70's.

Below, the lead cast of the show if they had their way. It was a pity, though, that we didn't see more character development for each of them. With the power struggle between Shatner and Nimoy, it was a miracle anyone else got screen time, so I suppose we should be thankful for what little time in the spotlight they did get here and there.

"Pavel, if you keep insisting that the kilt was "inwented" in Russia, Mr. Scott here is most certainly going to deck you!"

An autograph from Mr. Doohan that I'm proud to own.

Nimoy's Now A Sci-fi Expert

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I'm unsure of the origin newspaper and date of the article above, but it came out sometime around 1975, I believe. I didn't always make a note of such things back then, sadly.

Bonus: The picture below was one of the very first I ever clipped out a magazine about Star Trek, and the first one ever saved of Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock. It's from about 1971. The lines evident in it are from the photo album I had it in, which was of the sticky-back type that made it nearly impossible to remove a photo from once it was in it a few years.

"Fascinating... This 'Gritty Kitty' is not only absorbent, but delicious!"

Bonus: The colorful (but over-saturated) photo below was one of the earlier color pictures I got, probably only about the second or so. It was from the inside back cover of Famous Monsters, and I was so excited to find it that I almost walked on air for the trip back home from the convenience store where I found it in Ft. Lauderdale, in 1975. It's really hard to explain or express the excitement something like this would bring to my teenage self, but it truly was the highlight of my week! Looking at it now brings back good recollections of the thrill that I felt on finding it, and I treasure those times when such a simple thing could make me so incredibly happy.

Privately, Spock was amused at the crew's efforts to get him to admit to emotion.

Below, a shot from one of the very unusual pictures used on the 1967 Leaf bubblegum cards. Apparently, most of them were candid photos taken on the set by the card company, because they are unlike any others seen anywhere else. And the captions are not only unrelated to the images in most cases, but often are completely inexplicable and seemingly weed-inspired. I'll be posting more of these hilarious images in the future!

"Why, yes, Jim... it is new eye shadow. Do you like it?"

Below, Fred Phillips applies Leonard's makeup before shooting.
Mr. Spock actually enjoyed the gossip provided by the barber when he went for his haircuts.

Special Announcement: I'm starting (another) New Blog: "Fantastic Flashbacks!"

My scrapbooks were not only packed with Star Trek stuff; no, I also collected items on many science fiction movies, TV shows, comics, books and more. So, I'm starting a new blog to share them with you, at http://www.fantasticflashbacks.blogspot.com/. Hope you enjoy these trips back in time to when the future was fun!