DAGE Co.
| Name: | DAGE Co. out of Hollywood, CA |
| Date(s): | 1972 |
| Profit/Nonprofit: | profit |
| Country based in: | USA |
| Focus: | Star Trek |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
DAGE Co. was a Star Trek merchandise company. It sold photos, tribbles (including pregnant ones), scripts, audio cds, buttons, and more.
It began with the name "David Gerrold's Co." [1]
This company was owned and operated by David Gerrold. It was through this company that Gerrold sent out at least one open letter, see Bring Back Star Trek...?.
The Film-Con Rap Session (printed in 1973) was "Dage Press Pub. Number 101."
Trademarks, copyrights, and such must have been much looser as Gerrold was able to make a profit using things that straddled lines between fanworks and official "goods." In 1972, he stated: "Tribbles are the exclusive creation of David Gerrold, all rights reserved." In 1974, he said that it was "all licensed by Paramount, by the way." [2]
In the 21st Century, a mail order firm Tribble Toys has the Gerrold approval to sell tribbles and, from Star Trek: The Animated Series, glommers and pink tribbles. Gerrold's books are also available from the site.
Some Comments by Gerrold: 1974
From 2-5YM Interview with David Gerrold (June 1974):
Q: What is Dage Co., and why did you start it?
A: Okay, Dage Co., is a fan-oriented company that I own, I do not run it. Presently, it is being run by Ms. Linda Wright, who also doubles as my secretary and Head Troll.
Dage Co. was started when I began receiving fan mail at the rate of 100 or more letters per week from STAR TREK fans who wanted information about conventions, fan clubs, fanzines, tribbles, phasers, communicators, and so on. (Enclosed are copies of our information fliers. I wrote the one "Bring Back STAR TREK....?" and you may reprint it, if you wish.)
I have always felt that anyone who took the time to write a fan letter should get some kind of reply, even if it's a form letter that says, "I don't have time to do any more personal than this, but I did read and appreciate your letter." I do read all of my own mail — except when they are obviously STAR TREK story submissions. For legal reasons, those have to be returned unread.
Dage Co. is set up to handle all of my mail as quickly and efficiently as possible. Most letters are answered within a week. Some of the ones that require more personal answers take a little longer, (There was a time when I tried to answer them all personally, but there are far too many for me to take that time any more -- my first responsibility is to my writing, otherwise there wouldn't be any books or TV shows for anyone to be a fan of.)
Dage Co. pays for itself by selling tribbles, books, bumper stickers, buttons and photos. (This is all licensed by Paramount, by the way.) This may seem a little mercenary, but last year, I spent more than $1200 on postage alone, answering the letters of more than 7000 STAR TREK fans from all over the USA, Canada and parts of the rest of the world, who have read my books and written to me for more information. Were it not for the sales aspect of Dage Co., I would not be able to answer any of this mail. If you'll look at the fliers I have enclosed you will see that they are as much information for fans, as they are advertising. As far as I know, Dage Co.is one of the few fan - oriented companies that cares this much. (Bjo Trimble's Mathom House Enterprises, which sells STAR TREK Concordances, is the only other one I can think of off hand. Unless you count S.T.A.R. -- but I think of them as a fan club.)
Fan Comments
In 1974, Cara Sherman (the editor of Romulan Wine):
DAVID GERROLD ALL OVER THE PLACE, or The Man Who Solded Himself [4] ***David Gerrold is DAGE CO. (Obviously an acronym of DAvid GErrold), and is vending all kinds of books and other things. [snipped: list of books for sale] He is also still selling those... tribbles. Short haired, small (about the size of a hairy ping pong ball), large (about the size of a hairy tennis ball) and immense (about the size of a hairy soccer ball), 2, 4 and 8 dollars a piece; long-haired (same sizes but shaggier), 3 dollars each, 2 far 5, large 5 dollars each, 2 for 9, and immense 10 dollars each or 2 for 16.
I'd tell you what I think, but greed speaks for itself. [5]
In 1975, a fan plugs this company, and hints at trouble:
DAGE CO, is David Gerrold's company. It sends out a flier with a lot,of good info on it. It sells tribbles, books, etc., plus the Ellison version of "City on the Edge of Forever." It is a good company. It is in trouble. Paramount, greedier now that the movie is on the way, may not renew its license to sell trek stuff. So patronize while you can. [6]
Some DAGE Co. Merch
a 1973 flyer for tribbles, printed in Star-Borne #6/7
a 1974 flyer
a 1974 flyer printed in Beta Lyrae
Gerrold sold his outline for the episode "The Cloud Minders" through his own company
Similar Companies
See List of Fan Run Star Trek Merchandising Companies.
References
- ^ as per an ad in Star-Borne #4
- ^ from 2-5YM Interview with David Gerrold
- ^ various ads in Starlog in 1981, 1983
- ^ a pun on Gerrold's story, "The Man Who Folded Himself."
- ^ see Romulan Wine #4, also in that zine issue were D.C. Fontana's comments regarding fan merchandizing, legalities, and ethics
- ^ from 2-5YM (June 1975)