1983 Lincoln Enterprises Catalog

In 1974 I sent off for my first Lincoln Enterprises catalog (see some of the other posts about them here), and in 1983 I was still getting them in the mail. By then, they were getting bigger and fancier, with color photos of much of the material within. Whereas the original ones from the 70's were in a newspaper format (which was fun to read then, but hard to scan now), the newer ones were in magazine format, though still on newsprint paper. This issue from 1983 included material from both ST:TMP and The Wrath of Khan. However, it still contained older material from their earliest catalogs, like Kung Fu, Search, and Gene's several made-for-tv pilots. This post contains the first half of the catalog, the second half will be posted soon.

(To view full-size, click on each image. It will open in a new window. You may have to click on it once more to magnify.)

The painting prints offered below were unusual considering how they mingled characters from the films with figures like Ronald Reagan, Richard Nixon and even The Great Gonzo Muppet!

Bonus: Below, the cover of the soft-cover "Make-Your-Own Costume Book" for ST:TMP. Published for kids, it surely wasn't made for accuracy. However, I think it would be a fun retro-cosplay for some fan to recreate one of these now!

"Wrath Of Khan" Cable TV Premiere

This local Telecable cable guide comes from the WV/PA area, and came out in April of 1983 when "The Wrath Of Khan" (notwithstanding the TMP photo used on the cover) was premiering on pay TV for the first time. The nice interview with Shatner is the highlight of the issue, but there were a number of other items scattered throughout the digest-sized magazine that I also included.

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"Spock..." "Yes, Jim?" "You're... standing in my way."

Don't forget to visit my new blog devoted to the other Star Trek shows that came after TOS: www.MyStarTrekScrapbook2.blogspot.com!

"The Search For Spock" Press Kit Pics

Where ever I lived at the time, I made it a point to get in good with the person at the local newspaper who handled the entertainment section and received the movie press kits. I was fortunate to be able to get quite a few press kits for various genre movies when they were finished with them, as most were thrown out later. Here are a few from the "Search For Spock" press kit package, I'll post more from this and others as time goes by. Beneath each one is the card stuck to the back that described the photos.

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On a personal note, I apologise for the lack of recent posts; but it's getting into the holiday season and my mail order business is getting very busy and taking up more time than usual (no, it's not Trek-related.) I'll try to post more soon, though, as often as I can!

Look For Spock Behind Camera

Welcome, fellow Trekkers, to the blog where you can fondly recall items and articles that you had or still have, or catch some you might have missed. I am having a great time opening the collection cabinets and going through stuff that, before doing the blog, I hardly ever took out to look at. I'm finding stuff I forgot I had, or hadn't seen in years! The newspaper clipping featured this time is from an unspecified date in the summer of 1983, when production was starting on "The Search For Spock." This movie was highly anticipated by us fans at the time. Would Spock return? We shouldn't have worried.

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Below, a one-page bio of Nimoy from the pages of the teen magazine "16," notable for being published during the show's first season, when it was on NBC Thursdays at 8:30 PM. Note the personal address given! This was before the groundswell of popularity, when he replied to mail himself and sent out autographed photos in response to requests. Imagine that! UPDATE: In a comment posted by reader "JohnG7," we find out more about that; "16 Magazine was supposed to give Nimoy's public mail drop, but they printed his actual home address on Comstock Drive. Sacks of mail showed up every day that the family had to spend hours answering, and fans came to the house looking for Leonard. The next issue of 16 ran a correction but the damage was done. The Nimoys moved out within a year. -- JohnG7" Thanks for that, John! I do remember reading that somewhere, probably in one of his books, but I forgot about it.

"Bonus;" Below, a photo highlighting the problem with the jumpsuit versions of the uniforms used in "ST:TMP." Every time a male character appears in the movie in a scene that shows below the waist, it is obvious that they are going "commando." You can practically tell their religion, as the saying goes, and it distracts from the drama going on, generating uncomfortable snickers. This publicity shot is particularly disturbing, as Nimoy is showing a wet spot! E-e-e-e-e-e-w!

"Spock, I am not looking at you until you do something about that."

Maybe it had to do with the fact that a wardrobe person had to assist the actor in and out of the uniform to go the bathroom, but really, Len... shake it next time! I can't believe the photographer and all the publicity people let that one get by them, but they did, and now it's there for all to see, and wish they hadn't. If these had been used again in a sequel, the movie might have been called "Star Trek: The Search For Underwear." Stephen Collins as Decker fared especially bad in the movie wearing these, and I'm sure he hoped that Persis' bald head called attention away from his embarrassing bulges. No such luck.

Bonus: Below, some of the buttons I collected in the mid 70's. I picked these up at the store "Starship Enterprises." Yes, I admit, I occasionally did wear them to work as a teen. Little wonder I didn't date much.

1983 Videogaming Illustrated article

I bring out of the collection cabinets this time, a June 1983 issue of Videogaming Illustrated with a couple of nice Trek-related articles. Enjoy!

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A nice cover painting above, reversed image notwithstanding.

Below, an introductory editorial page written by special guest Walter Koenig, aka "Screamin' Chekov."

Below we have the first article on the (then) state of the art Trek videogames.

The second page of this article is a pleasant surprise, featuring some rare behind-the-scenes photos of ST:TMP's special effect creations.

Next, another article from the same issue, this time looking at the various fictional computers found on the show and movies.

Bonus: Below, a cartoon scanned from an issue of "Enterprise Incidents." Turns out Spock wasn't that different from a human kid, after all.

ST:TMP Comes To TV

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These pages were clipped from the February 20th, 1983 edition of TV Guide. The "Close Up" mini-review below was actually very kind considering the savaging it took from a lot of theatrical critics. But on returning to its TV roots, Star Trek found its reception somewhat warmer.

Below, from 1996, a TV Guide ad for "A Captain's Log" special about the series. I have that on VHS tape somewhere.

TV's actual first interracial kiss somehow snuck past the censors.

Spock had the distinct impression that something was going on behind his back, but he couldn't quite place his finger on it.

And yet, there seemed to be a strange scent wafting in the air around him.
Uhura, feeling all tingly, couldn't understand how the Vulcan could turn that sweet thing down.

Happily, Pike discovered that he didn't have to make a choice between the two of them after all.

Shatner's Star on Walk Of Fame

Bill gets his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Clipped from "The Star" tabloid in 1983.

Here's a page full of facts about everyone's favorite Captain. You might learn something you didn't know, even if you're a big fan.

A small clipping from 'The Enquirer" of unknown date, probably the early to mid 70's. I clipped and saved any reference to the show, no matter how small or trivial, and certainly anything with a photo, even a picture I had already. Below is a good example; a "Tomorrow" show listing in a newspaper TV guide that had Trek cast and crew as guests. This was probably also in the mid 70's.

Was I obsessive, or what?