Leonard Nimoy Quits Star Trek

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And not a moment too soon.

Leonard had the right idea when he declined to be involved in "Generations," the first TNG movie made. If only Shatner had felt the same! Clipped from the National Enquirer early in 1994.

The time frame for this is much more recent than most items, but since I have so many articles from various years encompassing the entire span of Trek history, I thought I'd begin mixing them more. This will avoid the problem of using up all the old first and only posting the more recent as time goes by; I'd like to be able to post old and new and inbetween as long as the blog goes on. So, in coming posts, look for more entries of later items mixed in with the earlier.

Bonus from the Scrapbook: Below, a bit of history... an actual teletype machine printout from the wire service United Press International about the con known as Star Trek Chicago '75.

Held at the Conrad Hilton in Chicago, IL, August 24 - August 25 1975, and billed as the first "professional" Star Trek Convention, this two day event was packed with stars from both the crew of the Enterprise, and the science fiction literary world as well. In addition to every regular member of the crew and several other actors, Harlan Ellison, Robert Bloch, Hal Clement, David Gerrold and Phil Farmer were all featured guests. An earlier post featured a newspaper clipping that used some of the above UPI copy in an article on this event.

Her considerable charms wasted, Uhura was reminded of her grandma's old expression "water off a duck's back."

70's "Vulcanized" Cheer Commercial

Again, taking the easy route today due to lack of time, but I've been wanting to post this awhile anyway since I saw it on a DVD set of vintage commercials that I bought a couple of years ago.

Oh, man, is this pure goofy 70's; but fun. I like how the gaudy "transporter" effect takes so long to complete but she doesn't react to the psychedelic light show until it's over, then takes the appearance of an alien offering detergent advice in complete stride.

The dude looks more like a Romulan than Vulcan, but we won't quibble. And his parting line is creepy; "I'll be watching." But possibly she is a little turned on by the knowledge that her every private action is being observed by a tall, mysterious pointy-eared alien... whom she, and she alone, could get to open up and reveal the passionate but hidden feelings deep inside. All the while wearing the cleanest clothes in the galaxy.

KFC's Star Trek ad

I am just crazy over this ad by KFC! It feels more like real "Trek" than any of the fan-made efforts, as good as some of them are. They just nail it here! I get such a big smile and good feeling when I watch it.


(Sorry for the slow posting lately, but the family health situation is still going on and making it tough to devote the time I used to on my blogs. Hope to get back to it soon.)

1986 article: Keep On Trekking

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Above, a pull-out centerfold article from The Star, May 6, 1986. Not that long ago, I know, but any article about the original cast, show or movies is liable to be posted here; old, new or inbetween.

(Sorry for the gap in posts, but a family emergency took me away for about a week and I'm just now getting back to scanning stuff for the blog. Sometimes real life interferes with our fun.)

Bonus: Below, no date on this clipping from the Enquirer but it was around July 1995.

Bonus #2: Cover to "Letters to Star Trek" paperback published in 1977. Nice painting!

Enterprise Crew Stands By For Lift-off Into Movie History

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Saved from "The Star" tabloid, November 13, 1979.

Bonus: Nice publicity shot of Kirk and Spock scanned in from another of my photo scrapbooks.

Bonus #2: A 1976 Random House Star Trek Greeting card!

To say Kirk looks insufferably pleased with himself would be an understatement. Mugging for the camera was a true talent of Bill's, and this shot from "I, Mudd" puts it to great use. There were about a dozen or so different cards for various occasions in this first set of Trek-themed cards ever put out. I was fortunate enough to get most of them, and I'll share them with you here every so often. This one opened up into an award, and was really my favorite card.

I bought all of these cards at my favorite comic book/memorablilia store ever, the afore-mentioned "Starship Enterprises" in Ft. Lauderdale. I took this 1979 photo of the display in the store where I got the cards. Neat, huh? Kind of funny to see Artoo and Threepio hawking merchandise for the competition.

1978 "TREK" Article: Shatner Acting Critique

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Cover of Issue #10, from April 1978

"Trek: The Magazine for Star Trek Fans" was a great fan-produced effort published in the mid 70's to early 80's, that most Trekkers only know from the book compilations put out later. If that's all you know of it, believe me, you missed the best part; collecting the actual magazine issue by issue as it was put out back then in the original run. I happened upon my first issue, #4, in high school in 1976, and it was a goldmine. Printed on durable card stock paper, with color covers, awesome articles, rare photos, original artwork and more, it was the best fan publication out there, and remained that until "Enterprise Incidents" came along in the same format... and then we had two great mags to enjoy of similar quality. I picked up both mags at my source for Trek material, the comic book store "Starship Enterprises" in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. These zines account for many of my good Trek memories of those times as a youth.

Below is an article on the Great One and his acting style, which though imitated for comic effect and parodied ad nauseum, it is the reason Bill was so riveting to watch and dominated the screen. Enjoy!

"...and let us forget not the warning, 'I am not mocked,' saith the Shat."

"Not the face!"

If I were a girl I suppose I'd get all mushy and tingley looking at photos of Bill in his prime, but being a manly male, I merely recognize that he's a good-looking dude and dynamic onscreen. We guys can have our heroes, you know, without being less macho... okay? Besides, I have it too much for Uhura.

Bonus: The image used for the cover without the text.

ST:TMP Premiere A Religious Event

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The article posted above is from the Atlanta Journal, published Dec. 12, 1979, just days after the film opened. I suspect after coming out of the film's showing, some of the faithful few were a bit let down after the buildup of anticipation. But, later films would help lessen the feeling and restore their faith.

The soundtrack review below, clipped from a magazine about the same time, was really more about the author airing their lukewarm opinion of the movie, while the actual soundtrack review is reduced to one sentence. One. People just hoped and expected for more. But with the next movie, they got it.

Bonus: Below is another of the hilariously (and head-scratchingly) mis-captioned Leaf bubblegum cards from 1967. "Teeny-bopper"? I suppose that's what Leonard was considered to be back then. Feel free to add your own caption to the comments box! Also identify the episode if you can.

"Settle down, Leonard... Bill was probably just kidding when he called you his sidekick."