Inside Star Trek (Star Trek newsletter in English)

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Zine
Title: Inside Star Trek, then Star Trektennial News, then back to Inside Star Trek
Publisher: Star Trek Interstellar, in close collaboration with Star Trek Enterprises/Lincoln Enterprises
Editor(s): Ruth Berman, then Susan Sackett, then Virginia Yaple, then Maria, then Eric Stillwell, then Christina Mavroudis
Type: newsletter
Date(s): 1968-1979, 1987-1989
Frequency:
Medium: print
Fandom: Star Trek: TOS
Language: English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Inside Star Trek is a Star Trek official company newsletter.

The first twelve issues promoted Star Trek: TOS. The next set of issues promoted the original series but also fanned interest in more Star Trek on the screen, both the big and little, as well as other projects by Roddenberry. The last six issues were solely focused on Star Trek: TNG.

It is one of the very earliest Star Trek zines published. For others, see List of Star Trek TOS Zines Published While the Show Was Still On the Air.

a 1969 catalog which advertises this zine

In late 1976, the number of subscribers was about 4000. [1]

Ruth Berman was the original editor. When the original series was canceled, her run as editor ceased as well. Berman went on to create the long-running Trek zine series T-Negative.

Several Titles, Several Editors

It ran for many issues, had three title changes under two names, and had six editors.

  • Issues #1-#12 were called "Inside Star Trek" and were edited by Ruth Berman
  • Issues #13-#24 were called "Star Trektennial News" and were edited by Susan Sackett
  • Issues #25-#30 reverted to the original title, "Inside Star Trek," and were edited by Virginia Yaple
  • Issue #31 was edited by Maria
  • Issue #32 was edited by Eric Stillwell
  • Issues #33-#36 were edited Christina Mavroudis

Promotional, Promotional, Promotional

The newsletter existed to promote Star Trek (and later, other shows and projects by Gene Roddenberry), and by extension, Lincoln Enterprises.

Three Revivals for Three Promotions

The newsletter began as a promotion for Star Trek: The Original Series in general. These first issues were dedicated solely to news about the show and interviews with the actors ("Beaming Up") and crew ("Behind The Camera") and other people associated with the show, such as set designers and art directors. Some of the articles were written by D.C. Fontana.

In 2017, the first editor,Ruth Berman, said:

I didn’t interact with Susan Sackett – she started working for [Roddenberry] about the time I returned home to Minnesota from California. I stopped editing Inside Star Trek because I wanted to go home to Minnesota after “Star Trek” went off the air, and it would have been very difficult to edit it on a long-distance basis. The relationship between Lincoln Enterprises and Inside Star Trek was that the zine belonged to the business. I had a lot of freedom in deciding the contents. Mainly, Roddenberry wanted the zine to run interviews with the show’s cast and crew (and wanted to have it run an article about the Idic). [2]

The second series of the newsletter was a tool to promote Star Trek as a movie and/or new television series. This project eventually became Star Trek: The Motion Picture. The content of the newsletter at that time was very heavy on updates and photos about these plans.

The purposed behind the next revival, the third series, was for the newsletter to be a mouthpiece to promote Star Trek: The Next Generation.

In each reiteration of the series, the folksy/emphasis on fans became less and less. The last series was purely regurgitated, "glossy" articles and photos.

Christina Mavroudis, editor of the final series, wrote in her editorial in January 1989 for Data Entries that she had moved to Los Angeles in late 1987 or early 1988 to become Majel Barrett's secretary, but ended up becoming "Inside Star Trek's" editor:

My decision to "retire" [from Data Entries] may have seemed hasty, but had been under consideration for some time. In issue #2 [of "Data Entries"], I explained my move to LA in vague terms. To be quite specific, Majel Barrett, having seen issue #1, was so impressed she asked if I would be her secretary. ... While I am not her secretary any more, I am editor of the fan club magazine Inside Star Trek. I am also a full-time word processor, mother, and manager of my apartment complex. To complicate matters, I'm working on several stage plays and TV scripts. ... Because of my involvement with Inside Star Trek, I've had the pleasure of interviewing Denise Crosby, Gates McFadden, many of the stand-ins, as well as meet most of the crew. Due in part to my sometimes close association with the show, I found myself at odds with the two newsletters: printable material, and the time involved with each. While Data Entries was a labor of love, Inside Star Trek offered the opportunity to hone my journalistic skills. The final decision was based on the fact that DE could easily be turned over to a new editor. "IST," however, had already gone through three editors [3] with no successor on the horizon if I quit. In the end, I realized where my commitment was needed.

Promoting Roddenberry's Other Projects: Spectre, Paul McCartney and More

The second series of the newsletter not only promoted future Star Trek projects, but also Gene Roddenberry's other projects.

There was heavy promotion of Spectre in many issues, so heavy, in fact, that the editor issued a sort-of apology to fans after a seven-page (the majority of issue #21) was used as a spotlight, and encouraged fans to write to the network to express their support. In issue #22 (July/August 1977), Sackett wrote:

STAR TREKTENNIAL NEWS wishes to apologize to those STAR TREK fans who were offended at our urgings last month that you write to NBC about SPECTRE. We may have been over-confident and presumptuous in assuming that you would support any project by Gene Roddenberry which you hadn't seen yet. Also, we should have stated that if you wished to write, these were the people to write to. We did not mean to sound manipulative; we were just exuberant and hoped that our enthusiasm would be contagious. However, we do not feel an apology is necessary for devoting so much space to SPECTRE.

Other projects by Roddenberry were described, such as a failed one with Paul McCartney that would involve a concept album and film about an invasion from space that would involve Paul’s group, Wings, and Paul as an outer space rock singer. [4]

From issue #20 (March/April 1977): "PAUL McCARTNEY and WINGS have made a deal with Gene to produce a new motion picture for their group. Gene is writing the story, based on an idea by Paul (a big TREKfan, incidentally); Paul is writing all the music for the film, to be produced later this year. WINGS will perform music and act in the movie."

From an interview with Roddenberry in issue #24 (November/December 1977): WHAT OTHER PROJECTS DO YOU HAVE IN DEVELOPMENT? I have delivered a first draft of a screenplay story to Paul McCartney for his Wings group. If they want to do it right away, it doesn’t appear that I’ll have a chance to go ahead with it, to work with them on it, because I’ll be very involved with STAR TREK for the next year or so."

Oddly, while it was promoted heavily in many other fan spaces such as conventions and in other fanzines, the series, Star Trek: The Animated Series, is never mentioned.

In All Reiterations: The Newsletter Was a Promotional Vehicle for Lincoln Enterprises

The relationship between "Inside Star Trek," Lincoln Enterprises, and the Star Trek franchise was very symbiotic. The newsletter promoted the Majel Barrett's company as well as the franchise; if the fans were clamoring for more information about Star Trek, as well as more Star Trek itself, then they were clamoring for more merchandise. And vice versa.

Inside Star Trek was closely aligned to the publication of Star Trek Interstellar, the "official" Star Trek fan club. When you wrote to Paramount, Roddenberry, NBC or any of the stars, you received an invitation to subscribe to IST along with various Star Trek for-profit ventures such as Lincoln Enterprises, a company begun by Bjo Trimble and John Trimble and shortly taken over by Majel Barrett.

The company sold copies of the scripts, 6x4 glossy b/w photos, calendars, film clips, and later, IDICs. Even as early as the fourth issue (October 1968), fans were alerted to opportunities to purchase things:

Note to those who have asked about the possibility of buying such props as phasers, try-corders, communicators, the three dimensional chess game, tribbles, the miniature Enterprise from "Catspaw," etc.: the originals, of course, cannot be sold. If it becomes possible to manufacture accurate copies at a reasonable price, they will be added to our catalog. Additions to the catalog will also be listed in "Inside Star Trek."

Despite this, "Inside Star Trek" was not a Paramount publication but instead straddled that odd line between official and personal:

Strictly speaking, neither fan club nor magazine was endorsed nor authorized officially, as the latter was not published under the auspices of the Paramount Publicity Department, the legal owner of the Star Trek brand, but rather by the privately-operated "Star Trek Enterprises", the short-lived, original name of Gene Roddenberry's merchandise company Lincoln Enterprises. However, the studio at the time was not in the slightest interested in their recent Star Trek purchase, and was actually looking for ways to cancel the series. As a result, no commercial or publicity activities on behalf of the series were undertaken by the department, and those that had been, such as the free mail-order distribution of publicity photographs to fans, were immediately scrapped upon the acquisition of Desilu Studios by Paramount Pictures in 1967. But, considering the closeness to the actual production of several of its contributors, the magazine, essentially an illegal publication, is for practical purposes, considered "official". [5]

Content

The issues contained articles, photos, interviews, contests (prizes were always items from Lincoln Enterprises), penpal listings, and games.

Six issues had articles about space and science by Jesco von Puttkamer, a NASA consultant and frequent con guest.

Early issues contained art by BNF fans such as George Barr, Tim Courtney and Alicia Austin. Middle issues contained a small amount of art, poems, and short fiction by subscribers. This content was collected by way of contests.

Many of the photos were behind-the-scenes on the set, from press release parties, and various official and unofficial venues. The photographers were often Susan Sackett and Gene Roddenberry.

There are personal photos, too. Some of the topics are Majel cooking, posing with poodles, Gene eating a bowl of lima beans and ham, and their toddler son in the bathtub.

  • from issue #18, Gene Roddenberry dishing up his favorite meal

  • from issue #18, recipe for lima beans and ham

Some Sample Penpal Listings

The penpal section, which began in issue #16, gave fans a way to connect with each other.

The tiny, tiny sample below shows either how young the audience of this newsletter, or that it was the young fans who wanted to write letters to each other.

Their interests were varied. Some fans requested penpals of the opposite gender, presumably looking for romance. The 19th issue included a photo of two fans who'd become penpals and became engaged to be married. The editor added the caption: "Another first for STN! We don't promise everyone who becomes a penpal that the same thing will happen, but who knows!" Many fans expressed their loneliness, and a few described alienation from mainstream life, but the vast majority appeared to be aiming for general friendship and to bond over their love of Star Trek.

All listings included fans' home addresses.

  • "I am 11 years old and I just love to talk about STAR TREK."
  • "Besides being a devoted Trekkie, I love animals... and hope to work with NASA."
  • "I have more than 40 things in my room about STAR TREK."
  • "I'm 20, very devoted to STAR TREK, would like to correspond with other ST fans to prove to my parents I'm not crazy, and I worship DeForest Kelley."
  • "I'm a Trekkie, age 61, have 24 ST books, love STAR TREK, all SF..."
  • "I am 13, enjoy reading, swimming, rock and roll, and gardening. I am desperate to correspond with other Trekkies. I'm an intense Kirk/Shatner fan."
  • "College freshman, 18, astronomy major, fascinated by Vulcan Philosophy, make my own tribbles, crazy about Shatner, Doohan, love animals, different cultures, traveling. Trekkie."
  • "I'm 35, female, government employee (GS-12), jolly and fulfilled. Admirer of STAR TREK ideals for our galaxy. Good correspondent, fair photographer, avid reader, devoted Trekker."
  • "Age 10, love STAR TREK, science, astronomy, chess, like to talk on the CB radio. I have a beer can collection."
  • "I'm 22, addicted to STAR TREK, and will correspond in detail about any aspect of it, besides contemplating this planet's more immediate future in space."
  • "I'm 22 and would like to correspond with others who have made their own STAR TREK films only, please, as I don't have time to write to everyone."
  • "Love STAR TREK, known at school as "the Trekkie." Very lonely, need other Trekkies to write to. Please show me I'm not the only one."
  • "Age 21, actress, Trekker fan day one. Wish to correspond only with other professional actors, actresses and performers who are also Trekkers. Also any interested in Peter Noone."
  • "This 30-plus secretary, ex-WAF, writer-artist, student is polishing a 400,000 going on 500,000 words of STories [6] (mostly EI [7]). Editors! Clips! Linville [8]-LN fans! Help!"
  • "Age 14, when I get rich I'm gonna have a ST home decorated in tribbles. Love Shatner/Nimoy/Kelley, Starsky & Hutch."
  • "I love BRADY BUNCH, ST, disaster movies (POSEIDON ADVENTURE, TOWERING INFERNO). I'd like anyone to write, especially girls 14-18. I'm an 18 year old male. Send a picture of yourself too."
  • "I'm a 13 boy, devoted ST fan, I like the GONG SHOW. I want to be an astronomer. Would like to hear from anyone, especially girl fans."
  • "I'm 16 and the proud owner of three tribbles. I love STAR TREK, the Beatles, long walks, animals, roses and thunderstorms."
  • "I'm 14. Been into ST since 1972. will answer all letters, would love to correspond with female Trekkies my age; I'm Scorpio, watching for ST II. I also love George Carlin's comedy albums."
  • "I am 37, graduate of Univ. of New Haven, pursuing master's degree in public admin.; interests: ST, UFO's, extraterrestrial intelligence, origins of man, space colonization, philosophy. Developed computations for stardates, and Vulcan & Andorian language forms."
  • "I'm 14, love ST and animals. My family and friends strapped me in a straitjacket and I'm writing this letter with my teeth. F.I.A.W.O.L."
  • "I'm male, 13, love STAR TREK, Scotty, girls. I make and sell type-one phasers, publish a fanzine. Like to hear from girls."
  • "I am 15, female, love STAR TREK and science fiction. Not any STAR TREK fans around here but I survive. Like to hear from male Trekkies my age."
  • "Age 19, ST, SPACE: 1999, FANTASTIC JOURNEY & SF nut book addict. Am suffering from isolated Trekkitis, about to go crazy."

Alternate Covers for Issues 1-6

Issues #1 and #3-6 also appear with an alternate cover, as shown in the gallery below. (There may have been an equivalent alternate for issue #2, but we have not seen that.) Aside from the covers, there are no internal differences to distinguish the two printings, neither one gives a printing statement or an alternate publication date, prices of advertised items are the same, and since mailed copies were sent with a bulk mailing permit, there aren't postmarks to distinguish the printings. However, it seems almost certain that the covers below are from a reprint of the originals. The original "simple" title logo is last used with issue #6; issue #7 (with no title) is the first issue to offer back copies; and beginning with issue #8 the newsletter begins to use the new "customized" title logo. So it seems clear that the sale of back issues was accompanied by a reprint of the earlier issues, and they chose to update the title logo on those issues with the "new standard" title logo.

  • cover of the reprint of issue #1

  • cover of the reprint of issue #3

  • cover of the reprint of issue #4

  • cover of the reprint of issue #5

  • cover of the reprint of issue #6

The First Run (1968-1969): Promoting the Original Series

Issue 1

Inside Star Trek 1 was published in July 1968 and contains 12 pages. Illustrations by Rae Ladore (cover), Alicia Austin (Last Gunfight), and Gilbert Draper (Vulcan Pendant).

cover of issue #1, Rae Ladore

It was edited by Ruth Berman.

  • Back to Space,a short short about the actors returning to film "The Last Gunfight," by Ruth Berman (4)
  • Remarks to Television Editors (Century Plaza Hotel - June 22, 1968)-- by Gene Roddenberry (6)
  • Beaming Up: William Shatner, a promotional piece about what the actor has been doing by Ruth Berman (10)
  • Behind the Camera: John Dwyer, by Dorothy Fontana (12)
  • Vulcan Pendent [sic], article about the IDIC by Ruth Berman ("Would you like a Vulcan pendent, designed by Gene Roddenberry, creator and executive producer of Star Trek? You may be able to get one.... If enough interest is shown, replicas of Leonard Nimoy's idic will be added to our catalog. The replicas will be made from the exact same design created by Gene Roddenberry, but less expensive materials will be used so that the price can be kept in reach of all. Write Idic, Star Trek Enterprises, 1023 North La Brea, Los Angeles, California 90038.") (15)
  • Announcement: publication of Stephen Whitfield's The Making of Star Trek, by Dorothy Fontana (16)
  • It's A Small Galaxy, article about how the actors and creators had prior connections via Hollywood before Trek, by Ruth Berman (17)
  • Terran Activities, promotional piece about what the actors other than Shatner are up to, by Ruth Berman (18)
  • Just Ask: questions and answers by Ruth Berman (19)

  • from issue #1

  • from issue #1

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

This, fans, is it--the official newsletter from Ruth Berrman [sic]; answers to questions about ST sent in by fans; news of all the ST stars; and information on that Vulcan idic. What are you waiting for? Energize! [9]

Issue 2

Inside Star Trek 2 was published in August 1968 and contains 8 pages of printed material. The pages are printed only on one side.

cover of issue #2, Greg Jein

It was edited by Ruth Berman.

  • The Klingons are Coming! by D. C. Fontana. (1) An announcement by Fontana that fans will soon be able to purchase some merchandise:
    AMT Corporation, the maker of the popular Enterprise model kit, has announced a Klingon Battle Cruiser (see cover) will soon be available. The Klingon ship was designed by Walter (Matt) Jefferies, Star Trek's Art Director, who also designed the Enterprise.... The AMT kit will be on the same scale as the Enterprise model and has control deck and crew's quarters illuminated by operating lights. The Klingon symbols and numbers are included on decals, and there is a display option of "space base" stand or "skyhook" ceiling mount. Also included will be several sheets of sketches which show this vessel in comparison to the Enterprise and containing other new information. AMT has announced the kits will be in stores and hobby shops some time in late August, and will retail for $2.50.

  • Behind the Camera: Fred Phillips (make-up artist), article by Ruth Berman (3) An excerpt:
    How did you happen to get into this kind of job?" I asked when we were both settled. "Nepotism," he said promptly. "My father was a makeup artist. And he was instrumental in starting the motion pictures makeup artists association. It was founded at our house in 1927. My brother was the first secretary, and my father was the first treasurer.") (Another excerpt: "I turned to another topic then, asking how Vulcan/Romulan ears are made. "I have to take an impression of the actor's ears. It takes between 20 and 30 hours to make a pair of ears. I would normally need two days to get ears ready, from impression to finished appliance. After you have the molds done you pour the rubber in — and the room temperature and the temperatures of all the ingredients have to be inside a range of 65 to 71 degrees. Then it takes four hours cooking in the oven and three hours cooling. Usually what I do is put the molds in the oven when I get home from work around eight, and then I can take them out atound midnight. You could take them out sooner, but the molds would crack.

  • Third Season Preview (summaries of three eps) (7)
  • lots of stuff for sale by "Inside Star Trek," including some insignias, a copy of Star Trek Format, a bumper sticker "similar in the format of 'Mr. Spock for President,... 3 for $1.00, the new bumper sticker says 'SPOCK IT TO ME.'"

About the insignias:

In addition to their large features (1 — two sets of all three Enterprise insignia; 2 — starcraft, with the Enterprise, a Klingon warship, and the shuttlecraft Galileo; 3 — gadgets, with phaser, communicator, and 3-D chess game), the decals are really a do-it-yourself theater. Artist Greg Jein has filled every spare space with small decalfigures: men and women of the Enterprise going about their duties, Klingon warriors, a Talosian (the dream-casting race of Gene Roddenberry's Hugo-winning "The Menagerie"), the ape-like humanoid from "Galileo 7," and Gorns, the lizard-like men from "Arena." Every spare space, that is, except those occupied by phaser beams and explosions. Mounted on cardboard, the large features and the small decalfigures make an instant Star Trek miniature theater.

Issue 3

Inside Star Trek 3 was published in September 1968 and contains 8 pages.

cover of issue #3

It was edited by Ruth Berman. The front cover is by N. Criss; art on pp. 4 & 8 is by Rae Ladore.

  • Terran Activities (2)
  • Review of "The Making of Star Trek" by Ruth Berman (3)
  • Beaming Up, an interview with DeForest Kelley by Ruth Berman (4)
  • Just Ask: trivia questions about the show answered by workers on the show (7)
  • Third Season Preview (8)

A con report for "Future Unbound" --

At the Future Unbounded Convention, held in Los Angeles by science fiction fans over the Fourth of July weekend, there was a Star Trek question and answer panel, featuring Walter Koenig (Chekov), Robert dustman (producer), Rick Carter (assistant to the executive producer), David ("Tribbles") Gerrold, D.C. Fontana, and Joan Pearce (a researcher -- and Star Trek enthusiast — from the Kellam de Forest Research Service, a company which checks out facts for several shows, including

Star Trek). The panel was moderated by Bjo Trimble. Topics discussed included the improbability of English-speaking aliens (dustman said that they have a private agreement that the communicators come with built-in universal translators, but that they do not want to burden the regular viewer with regular explanations of equipment and so have deliberately left the matter vague), the lack of seat-belts (throwing actors around is the simplest and least expensive way of quickly demonstrating danger to the ship), and the problem of violence in drama. The panelists also attended a Star Trek luncheon, along with George Takei and Mr. and Mrs. James Doohan. Mr. and Mrs. Koenig attended the convention's costume ball.

A con report for Worldcon:

Gene Roddenberry attended the 26th World Science Fiction Convention, held in Oakland over Labor Day weekend. Also among the attendees were Bill Theiss, Stephen Whitfield, John Dwyer, Joan Pearce, Robert Bloch (the author of "What Are Little Girls Made Of?" and "Catspaw" was just back after a rainy summer in England working on movie scripts and complained with Californian indignation of his pallor), Harlan Ellison, Norman Spinrad, David Gerrold, and Mark Lenard (who played the Romulan Commander and Spock's father, and is now a regular on a new series, Here Come the Brides, which also features Robert Brown, Lazarus in "The Alternative Factor," and David Soul, Makora in "The Apple").

The high point of the convention for Roddenberry was probably a large private party held by three Canadian fans of Star Trek (Alicia Austin, [Maureen B], and Rosemary Ullyot) for people to meet him — to give the information given him beforehand. What Roddenberry did not know was that these three, working in conjunction with several others, had decided months before that the creator of Star Trek ought to have a fan club and had started GRAS (the Gene Roddenberry Appreciation Society). With the connivance of practically everyone around him, GRAS was kept secret from Roddenberry, until the night of the party, when a scroll of membership, book of appreciative letters, and portrait of himself (by Alicia Austin) were presented to him. [10] Roddenberry was one of the speakers at the convention, giving a "current events" talk — on Star Trek's renewal, NBC's unusual choice of a new time slot, his work on a new Tarzan movie, etc.

  • from issue #3

  • from issue #3

Issue 4

cover of issue #4, "our captain in a pensive moment" -- artist is Rae Ladore

Inside Star Trek 4 was published in October 1968 and contains 8 pages. It was edited by Ruth Berman. The illos are by Rae Ladore.

Includes this statement:

Note to those who have asked about the possibility of buying such props as phasers, try-corders [sic], communicators, the three dimensional chess game, tribbles, the miniature Enterprise from "Catspaw," etc.: the originals, of course, cannot be sold. If it becomes possible to manufacture accurate copies at a reasonable price, they will be added to our catalog. Additions to the catalog will also be listed in "Inside Star Trek" catalog.

  • Behind the Camera: Walter M. Jefferies (article about the Star Trek art director) by Dorothy Fontana (1)
  • Just Ask, short answers to fan letters (samples: "Will there ever be a Star Trek movie?" -- "Possibly. Plans for such a movie are being discussed, although so far there is no definite information." And "Are you going to do a show giving us some background on "Bones"? How about larger parts for Uhura?" -- Dorothy C. Fontana is now working on a script tentatively called "Joanna," about McCoy's daughter. How about Uhura and the captain embracing in an enforced Romanesque orgy ("Plato's Stepchildren")?") (5)
  • Trials and Tribble-ations of a Master of Properties (article) by Irving Feinberg (6)
  • Third Season Preview

  • from issue #4

  • from issue #4

Issue 5

cover of issue #5

Inside Star Trek 5 was published in November 1968 and contains 8 pages. It was edited by Ruth Berman. One illo on page 3 is uncredited. The illo on page 6 and the cover is by Rae Ladore.

  • The Film Library, an article about the Star Trek film library and librarian, Ed Cotter (1)
  • Just Ask, fans ask question, TPTB answers them, this issue: "Many have asked various questions about the names of the characters. Here is a rundown. The "T" in Captain James T. Kirk is a mystery — Kirk isn't telling what it stands for. Commander Spock has another name (a family name; Spock is his given name), but what it is has not been established on the show. Lt. Commander Leonard McCoy's nickname, "Bones," is short for "Sawbones." It is a traditional nickname for doctors, especially ship's doctors, dating back to the time when the only way to prevent death by gangrene was to cut off the wounded limb if the wound became infected."
  • Beaming Up: Interview with James Doohan by Ruth Berman (3)
  • Terran Activities, very short bit about Star Trek actors in the news (5)
  • It's a Small Galaxy by Ruth Berman, an article about 'Star Trek' actors who play more than one role on the show [excerpt: "In the first pilot, 'The Cage' (later used in the two parts of 'The Menagerie'), Majel Barrett played 'Number One,' Captain Pike's second-in-command. NBC executives — liked the idea of the show but none of the characters, and told Gene Roddenberry to get rid of all of them — especially Spock, Roddenberry managed to keep Spock, but lost the rest. Miss Barrett became Nurse Christine Chapel. The departure of Number One (no doubt promoted to command of a ship of her own) [11] meant a promotion for Mr. Spock. He was already Science Officer in 'The Cage,' but, by the time of 'Where No Man Has Gone Before,' he had become second-in-command as well. Between the first and second seasons he was promoted again, from the rank of lieutenant-commander to commander."] (6)
  • Third Season Preview: short blurbs about upcoming eps (8)

  • from issue #5

  • from issue #5

Issue 6

cover of issue #6, William Theiss costume designer at start of Star Trek, artist is Rae Ladore

Inside Star Trek 6 was published in December 1968 and contains 8 pages. It was edited by Ruth Berman.

"This is the final 1968 issue of Inside Star Trek. Memberships in Star Trek Interstellar and subscriptions for 1968 have now expired. To re-new either your membership or your subscription, send $3.00 to Star Trek Enterprises, PC Box 38429, Hollywood California 90038, requesting Newsletter 1969, code #1104. Note: to bring the timing of the newsletter into phase with the broadcast season. Inside Star Treks 7-12 will appear during the nine months before the next fall season starts, rather than extending over the whole of 1969."

  • Just Ask, fans ask questions, TPTB answer them: "What is a warm Gorn?" [referring to the slogan "Happiness is a Warm Gorn" which appeared on the stickers sent to everyone who joined the fan club] -- "The Gorns were hostile, reptilian aliens in "Arena." By analogy, since they looked reptilian, they were thought of as cold-blooded. By analogy, a warm blooded animal with a love for Star Trek is a warm Gorn. In particular. Gene Roddenberry's assistant Rick Carter (the first man to introduce himself as a Gorn) is a warm Gorn." (2)[note 1]
  • Beaming Up, article and interview by Ruth Berman, the subject is Leonard Nimoy (3)
  • Behind the Camera: William Ware Theiss, article and interview, part one by D.C. Fontana (5)
  • Third Season Preview, upcoming ups (8)

  • from issue #6

  • from issue #6, artist is Diane Storm: "Has anyone looked into the possibility that the Klingon Empire is taking over the Network? "

Issue 7

cover of issue #7, A.G. Probert

Inside Star Trek 7 was published in January 1969 and contains 8 pages. It was edited by Ruth Berman.

The cover is by A.G. Probert, the two interior illos are by Rae Probert.

  • Just Ask, fans ask questions, TPTB answers them: "The Vulcan name for the Vulcan harp (or lytherette) may be unpronounceable, but couldn't it be written down?" -- "No. Since no one on the show is going to need to say the Vulcan name, no writer has had to make up a Vulcan name for it.... The lytherette is only a prop, and Leonard Nimoy, as Spock, only pretends to play it. The music the audience hears is composed by the composer who does the background music for the same episode and is recorded at the same time as the rest of the music." (2)
  • A Note on Casting by Joseph D'Agosta ("Each day I receive pictures and resumes of strange types and characters that I discard. The senders somehow feel that "weird" types are what we look for in our casting; this is not true. Star Trek combines high adventure fantasy and today/future reality. It is important to me as a casting director that no matter how bizarre a script or story may be, or how strange our characters from other planets may look, that the actors speaking the words and creating the characters be totally believable. I hire good actors — let the make-up man alter their looks.") (3)
  • Behind the Camera: William Ware Theiss, part two by D.C. Fontana (4)
  • some more goodies for sale: "NEW FILM CLIP FRAMES: Three new groups of film clip frames have been added to the Star Trek Enterprises catalog: Planet Exteriors, views of alien landscapes; Planet Interiors, indoor action scenes; and Alien Beings and Monsters, an assortment of Star Trek's aliens. Each group, consisting of eight individual frames (suitable for mounting in half-size slide-mounts), costs $1.00. Order from Star Trek Enterprises." (8)

  • from issue #7

  • from issue #7

Issue 8

Inside Star Trek 8 was published in February 1969 and contains 8 pages.

cover of issue #8, A.G. Probert

It was edited by Ruth Berman.

  • Terran Activities: fan clubs, actors' news ("An official fan club for William Shatner has been formed. For information on it, send a stamped, addressed envelope to its president. Miss Rita Ractliffe.") (1)
  • Just Ask - questions about the show ("In 'Plato's Stepchildren,' did the actors control the forced movements the characters made when they were being telepathically pushed around, or were they pushed around by "invisible" stage hands?" -- "The actors did it themselves." And "Is Dr. McCoy's daughter going to come on the Enterprise in any episode?" -- "No, at least, not this season. plans for a show about Joanna McCoy were begun, but did not work out.") (2)
  • Beaming up: George Takei, interviewed by Ruth Berman (some subjects: Takei's teaching, Takei's activism, his family history of being in a relocation camp during WW2, Kabuki theatre, Shakespeare) (3)
  • Special Bonus Offer: ad for actual shooting schedules from Star Trek episodes ("A limited number of actual shooting schedules from Star Trek episodes are now available to members of Star Trek Interstellar and newsletter subscribers. Shooting schedules give scene by scene, day by day listings of how the episode is to be shot, complete with location, required cast members, props, and special effects — a real collector's item, and an inside look at the workings of a television show. Members of STI send 50 cents and a stamped, addressed envelope for one shooting schedule (sorry, no choice of shows possible); newsletter subscribers send 75j6 and a stamped, addressed envelope. Residents of Canada send an unstamped envelope and 10)6 extra; from outside North America, send an unstamped envelope and 25 cents extra. Get them while they last.") (7)
  • Ad for film clip frames (to be mounted in slide mounts) (8)

From the Takei article:

I asked about his activities outside the show, and he said he was teaching a course at the Inner City Cultural Center. One of the Inner City's characteristics is that it tries to be a center for the full range of our society — bringing in all races, all economic levels, etc., into all its various activities both as spectators and as participants.

"What kind of course?"

"It's...um...I have to take a deep breath before I tell you, and you'll see how unqualified I am to deal with it." He took a deep breath. "A Survey of the Employment Opportunities in the Technical Areas of the Entertainment Industry."

"Something like Teaching Cameramen How to Get Jobs As Cameramen?"

"That's right," Takei said, "That's exactly what it's about — camera, props, costumes, etc. I'm not equipped to deal with this, I'm unqualified -- but I'm a good getter-of-people. I have friends in the business who will donate a few hours out of their lives to share their areas of skill and expertise. This Tuesday I have Charlie Washburn coming down to talk on assistant directing." Washburn at that time was second assistant director on Star Trek.

"You were involved in that Langston Hughes program Inner City had last spring, too, weren't you?" I said, referring to a week-long program held to raise funds for a Langston Hughes Memorial library (Hughes was one of our country's most famous negro writers).

"Yes. That's one of the areas I like to keep myself...oh, I don't want to get too philosophical. Not on this -- this is Star Trek propaganda."

"Propaganda isn't interesting."

"Well," he said slowly, "I feel that we as people who command some kind of... of interest from the public — in return for that interest — that we should do whatever we can to make this a better world. This is, well, my contribution to civilization. One of the realities of our society is that we have great, deprived minorities. What Inner City Cultural Center is trying to.... It's hard to capsulize, because it's trying to deal with things on many levels. The most publicized level, of course, is their productions of plays.

Another excerpt from the Takei article:

this great theater resulted from — it was like the English theater. The vagabond troubadours were the original performers, and by the time of the Elizabethan period they had a more organized form of theater. But still actors were not respectable citizens. If they came into town you locked up your daughters, as the traditional saying goes. In England you have the great Elizabethan theater, but you also have that attitude toward actors. And the same thing was true of Japan. Just about the same time Kabuki started to blossom, a time comparable to the Elizabethan time in England. And Kabuki also came about from...ah...questionable roots. There's a pejorative term for actors the Japanese use called kawara-kojiki, which means river-bed beggars. The actors performed in dry river beds. The audience sat on the banks. You know, the Kabuki originally had female performers. They were the ones that started the whole thing. But they were also very attractive, desirable people, and the lords and the samurais that were very powerful had access to them, and of course scandal broke out, and so Kabuki almost came to a dead standstill. But it was a very popular theater form. So, since the women were declassee, as they say — to use an old-fashioned term -- men took over. That's why Kabuki is a purdy male theater, and men perform female roles as well. It's become quite an art to portray a female in the Kabuki theater. About a hundred years ago they were the style-setters of Japan. Women went to the Kabuki theater to watch men portray women so that they knew how to wear their kimonos, what angle to wear, the drape of their collars, how to hold their hands when they walked, how to cover

their mouths when they laughed. So that's how Kabuki became a purely male theater -- to get rid of the...whores...who started the thing. So there's this basic, dormant attitude towards the theater.

More from Takei:

Well, I was kind of lucky. Many people complain about being of minority groups and so forth. But I think the very fact that I have this face opened a lot of doors for me at a time when it wouldn't have opened for other people. I sort of acted my way through college. Hoyt Bowers, the casting man at Warner Brothers at that time -- he's the casting man at Paramount now -- came to see one of our plays. One of our productions, I should say. We were doing the history of American theater -- vignettes from all the great plays...and some of the non-great plays that were important. Of course, one of the more notorious plays in American history is Uncle Tom's Cabin. And since we didn't have any black students in that class, and I was the closest ethnic minority, there I was in blackface playing that loyal, noble, black slave, saying "Yassuh, massa.' Every time I bump into Bowers in the commissary he says 'There's Uncle Tom,' I'll never live that down. But he saw me in that, and at that time he was casting Ice Palace, and so that was the first job that I got.

And from that I started to get roots at Warner Brothers, and I did a lot of Hawaiian Eyes and things like that while going to school at the same time. So I sort of straddled both the academic and the professional worlds when other kids that I was going to school with were kind of envious of my thing. But they were tall, blond, blue-eyed, and good looking, and they were a dime a dozen. My type was a rarity, so I worked, and they stayed in school....

I think we're getting into an interesting age, where not only theater-goers but movie-goers are getting pretty sophisticated. In fact, I think Star Trek is a prime example of this kind of sophistication. You know, in many ways the most over-looked minority is the Oriental American. Every time films or television depict an Oriental, it's always an Oriental of the Orient, with the heavy accent and so forth. Very rarely do you see this segment of the American community, the Oriental part, Chinese, Japanese, Koreans. And Star Trek, in the character of Sulu -- they have me speaking the way I speak. We really haven't developed that character too much, but we see him with a lot of diverse interests that don't have ethnic hang-ups

Issue 9

cover of issue #9, A.G. Probert

Inside Star Trek 9 was published in March 1969 and contains 8 pages. It was edited by Ruth Berman.

  • Just Ask, questions from fans, answers from TPTB
    • examples: "What happened to Yeoman Rand?" -- "Grace Lee Whitney left Star Trek in order to be able to accept a greater variety of roles. She has since appeared in episodes of many television shows, including Ironside, Big Valley, Mannix, Name of the Game, Death Valley Days, etc. Perhaps Yeoman Rand is still on board the Enterprise and happens not be on duty when adventures happen, or perhaps she decided there was no point to competing with the Enterprise for Kirk's affections and transferred out."
    • "Why have most Klingons been dark-skinned with forked eyebrows, but the Klingons in "The Trouble with Tribbles" had light skin and ordinary eyebrows?" -- "Because there are different races of Klingons, just as there are different races of Earthmen, Also, because, when Fred Phillips looked up information on Klingons in "Errand of Mercy" in order to make up Klingons for "Trouble with Tribbles," the photos he found were poorly lit and gave the appearance of light skin and ordinary eyebrows. Since then, he has followed the "Errand of Mercy" style of Klingon."
  • Behind the Camera: Charles Washburn, assistant director interview by ? [Washburn was one of the first black directors in television. According to Robert Justman, NBC at that time had a policy of going out of its way to hire qualified minorities.]
  • Behind the Camera: Bill Brame, a film cutter in the cutting room
  • Terran activities

From the Charles Washburn piece:

"How did you decide to go into this field?" I asked. "And did you have trouble getting into the guild because of prejudice? Washburn is Negro.

No, he said, "I'm sure there has been prejudice, but, as I understand it, it's not exactly prejudice against minorities — many of the unions have been closed to anyone who wasn't related to a member. I cannot personally point to incidents in which I have been discriminated against because of my color ~ But deciding on directing... well, it all started back in 1960 when I d been out of College a year -- business major. I had a leaning towards writing, but I didn't know how to go about

developing it. At that time I was living in the South, in Memphis, and I did meet prejudice. I remember in 1959 I wanted to take a class in advertising, and they said they would not admit me. I felt that writing ads was an exciting field, but I needed more education for it. So I went to school again, in Milwaukee, lor two years and happened to take a course in television. That's when I discovered directing.

From the Bill Brame piece:

After leaving Washburn I asked where the cutting room was and if anyone there would have time to talk to me. I was sent down to the opposite end of the lot and there met Bill Brame. He had time to talk -- not because he was free (he was putting together the sequence in "The Tholian Web" where Spock and McCoy go to listen to Kirk's last order), but because he is skillful enough to talk while whirling rolls of film through a moviola (a sort of miniature projector), cutting and splicing, without losing track. The scene, like most scenes, had been filmed several times. One roll of film was entirely in close-up of Spook, one of McCoy, and some rolls showed both men. The script called for a scene between Spock and McCoy. It was Brame's responsibility to decide whether the finished film would show a close view of the speaker, or a close view of the reactions of the listener, or a more distant shot of both (or a closeup of the object of discussion). The impact of a scene can be heightened by good editing or lost by bad. For instance, Brame pointed out at a moment when McCoy was berating Spock, normally you expect to pay attention to the man who is speaking. At that moment. Spook's grief, revealed by his reaction to McCoy, was more important. On stage, a director might have told Spock to move down towards the audience on McCoy's line so that attention would be directed to Spock. Working with film, it was the cutter's responsibility to direct attention to Spock with a closeup. The director or producer of a show may want to do his own cutting, but otherwise the choice is up to the cutters.

  • from issue #9

  • from issue #9, a call sheet for the episode "Plato's Stepchildren," one can read how long it took for everyone's makeup: Barbara Babcock took the longest, James Doohan the shortest

Issue 10

Inside Star Trek 10 was published in April 1969 contains 8 pages. The cover is by A.G. Probert. There are no interior illos.

cover of issue #10, artist is A.G. Probert

It was edited by Ruth Berman.

  • Just Ask, short questions by fans, given short answers from TPTB (samples: "Does Mr. Spock have any brothers or sisters?" -- "No.") (2)
  • Behind the Camera: Interview with Richard Laphan, music editor (3)
  • part one of an untitled article about "Stage 10," where they film Star Trek; it is uncredited by was reprinted from ST-Phile where it was titled "Where It's At, by Kay Anderson" -- (Excerpt: "The major characters have stand-ins to take their places while the camera takes light readings and measures distances and works out how the action will be followed. The stand-ins also play Enterprise crew-members, Nichelle Nichols' stand-in, Jeanne, is a trim blonde who sometimes, by standing on a box, also stands in for Majel Barrett. Leonard Nimoy's is a good-natured man named Frank who plays a member of the bridge crew or a background Vulcan or Romulan when one is needed. For William Shatner the stand-in is either Bill Blackburn, who plays the stand-by helmsman navigator, or a stuntman named Roger who plays a security guard on the ship.") (4)
  • ads for some photos and a Star Trek pendant ("WEAR IT AS A PENDANT! USE IT AS A CHARM! HANG IT ON YOUR KEY RING! 22 Karat gold plate. A BEAUTIFUL 1 3/4" replica of the ENTERPRISE; the Starship that explores the galaxy. Try it as a mobile. Be the first among your friends to have one. A MUST for every STAR TREK fan. $5.00."


Issue 11

Inside Star Trek 11 was published in May 1969 contains 8 pages.

cover of issue #11
First advertisement for the IDIC in issue #11, May 1969: "At last-the long awaited VULCAN PENDANT designed by Gene Roddenberry creator and executive Producer of STAR TREK and worn by Spock in the STAR TREK episode IS THERE IN TRUTH NO BEAUTY, re-run on June 10, 1969. IDIC. Ifinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations represents a Vulcan belief that beauty, growth, progress — all result from the union of the unlike. Concord, as much as discord, requires the presence of at least two different notes. The brotherhood of Man is an ideal based on learning to delight in our essential differences as well as learning to recognize our similarities. The IDIC is a union of circle, and triangle, uniting to produce the gemstone in the middle. The circle represent infinity, nature, woman etc; the triangle can represent the finite, art, man etc. 22 KT. gold plate circle! Florentine Silver (Rhodiun plate) triangle. White gemstone setting. $7.50."

It was edited by Ruth Berman.

  • Just Ask, fans ask questions, official answers are provided (1)
  • Where It's At, by Kay Anderson - the ST soundstage, a description, continued from the previous issue (reprinted from ST-Phile #2) (2)
  • The first IDIC pendant was offered for sale (4)
  • Crossword Puzzle (5)
  • Yes, Star Trek Has Been Cancelled (7)

"Yes, Star Trek Has Been Cancelled":

STAR TREK will return to the air Tuesday June 3, 1969 at 7:30 on NBC with Gene Roddenberry's never before seen TURNABOUT INTRULER. They will then re-run eleven third season episodes before going off the air the first week of September,1969. In a few areas STAR TREK has been picked up for re-runs by local stations starting in September, 1969.

This would not preclude the possibility of re-entering prime time network programming as a mid-season replacement in January, 1970 or even a fresh start in September 1970. Our best chance lies with ABC which usually has more openings than the other networks.

The realization of this rebirth is largely up to YOU.

The networks have been besiged by your letters, however as soon as they see a drop in the mail count, they will figure the storm is over, breathe a sigh of relief and promptly forget us!

DON'T LET THEM. This is our last chance. WRITER I WRITE ABC!! WRITE NBC!! Not one or the other but BOTH.

WHO SHOULD FANS WRITE? WHAT ARE THE EFFECTIVE WAYS?

First don't mention "STAR TREK" on the envelope. If you do the network executives will never see your message since all such letters are forwarded unopened to the show.

Send your letter's to NBC AND ABC executives, a good choice is:

Mr. Julian Goodman, President of NBC or Mr. Mort Werner, NBC Program Department 30 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, N.Y. Elton Rule, President of ABC or

Martin Starger, Programming Dept. ABC. 1130 Ave. of the Americas New York, N.Y.

Letters from schools, professional oranizations, and professional people always carry extra weight. A hundred letters carry more weight than one letter with a hundred signatures.

WILL LINCOLN ENTERPRISES STAY IN BUSINESS? YES. As long as loyal fans would like souvenirs of the show. Thank you for all your support in the past.

Issue 12

Inside Star Trek 12 was published in June 1969 and contains 8 pages.

cover of issue #12

It was edited by Ruth Berman.

  • Beaming Up: George Merhoff, article about Star Trek's gaffer (1)
  • Planets Built to Order, article on Walter "Matt" Jeffries (3)
  • International Crew of the Enterprise
  • Spock Goes to Paris, by R. Dyan (Nimoy as Paris on Mission Impossible)

"International Crew of the Enterprise":

"Star Trek", Desilu's science fiction series, has not only taken us into the future scientifically and with emotional impact but, by its very nature of dealing with the future, has demonstrated quietly and ably that one of man's fondest dreams, an international brotherhood, can exist without fanfare.

It has, in fact, gone a step further and demonstrated through the character of Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and even more exotic life forms, that a universal brotherhood can bring rich and rewarding experiences.. Although Mr. Spock is the only crewman with blood lines from another planet, the background of the rest of the crew is international in origin.

Sulu (George Takei), the ship's helmsman, is mixed oriental in ancestry, Japanese predominating. He is contemporary American in speech and manner. In fact, his attitude towards Asians is that they seem to him rather "inscrutable."

Like a smell of heather from the Highlands, Lt. Comdr. Scott (James Doohan), "Scotty", is Senior Engineering Officer, and his accent betrays his ancient roots.

From the United States of Africa, Lt. Uhura (Nichelle Nichols), an intelligent and lovely girl, is Communications Officer. Expert in all ship's systems relating to communications, she is a female female off duty.

The intricate and powerful Starship enjoys the services of a warm and gallant Southern gentleman in the person of Dr. Leonard McCoy (DeForest Kelley), Senior Ship's Surgeon. Known to have an acid wit, he is a very outspoken man, devoted to captain and crew. "Bones", however, is a term only the Captain employs.

And the Captain is James T. Kirk (William Shatner), an academy graduate and veteran of hundreds of planet landings and space emergencies. He is by nature and experience ably suited to command a Starship with hundreds of crewmen of diverging back grounds and complex personalities.

That the crew of the Enterprise, though completely multi racial, works together in a close and tight unity, is a tribute to man's emotional as well as physical growth into space and time.

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 12

From a 1970 review:

This is really the worst let down I ever had. Coming from THE people, you expect good articles on the show and some really great artwork. The art was rare and, and with talent like George Barr and Tim Courtney and Alicia Austin around, STE picked the absolute cruddiest drawings for its covers. Little or no interior work in the issues also. Most of the articles were on the non-ST background of the filming crew. On the last issue I saw [#12], they at least didn't put another of their fantastic drawings. Finally, they run a picture on the cover. Which photograph do they pick to run? The one everyone has a copy of. That picture of Chekov by some ladder on the ship. Gee, just what I always wanted -- another copy of that dratted picture. Why no one of Spock? Or at least Captain Kirk? And especially one I hadn't seen already? [12]

The Second Run (1976-1979): Promoting the Film

The series was revived, along with a new title. The timing of the resurrection of this zine series is no coincidence. Gene Roddenberry had a movie promote.

Issue 13

Star Trektennial News 13 (note title change) was published in April 1976 and has 8 pages. The front cover is by George Boudreau.

cover of issue #13

It was edited by Susan Sackett who wrote:

Come on in! We're having a celebration and you've joined us just in time. It's the STAR TREKTENNIAL!! That's right, and we've got a brand new Newsletter to help get us started. This year, 1976, STAR TREK will celebrate its 10th Anniversary since the show was first aired -- Sept. 8, 1966. What are we planning to do to honor this event? Well, in case you haven't heard, WE'RE MAKING A MOVIE!

We want this to be YOUR Newsletter. We’ve got a lot of surprises planned for you, such as exclusive interviews with all of your favourite stars (and people behind the camera as well). We’ll have contests, prizes, games, puzzles, questions and answers, photos, even special offers available to our readers only!

  • trivia contest: “What do the letters N.C.C. on the hull stand for?” ("The first 10 correct answers will win a STAR TREK Commemorative Coin (pictured on our cover), worth $5.00! Plus -- an autographed picture of Gene Roddenberry!")
  • movie update ("What is STAR TREK II? In case you've been stranded on Rigel V for the last year, that's the working title of the STAR TREK MOVIE! Each issue of STAR TREKTENNIAL NEWS will bring you an update on the movie's progress, and when the production actually gets underway, you will learn all the exciting details here -- firsthand!")
  • an "interview" with Gene Roddenberry's two-year old son, Rod (includes photos taken by his father)
  • updates on what the celebrities are up to
  • The New Film: Will It Be Just Another Star Trek?, while not credited, it is by Robin Hill and is a reprint from STAG #14 (a satirical look at what this new movie might look like if it were glitzed up Hollywood style)

  • from issue #13

  • from issue #13

  • from issue #13

  • from issue #13

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 13

I'm glad I joined your newsletter. It's clear, informative and not too small. And you're willing to listen to us (the fans) - that’s great! I thought the satirical look by STAR TREK ACTION GROUP of England was hilarious. I pray STAR TREK never comes to that! And I'm glad Gene Roddenberry is waiting to start production to get the right STAR TREK script. But I’m impatient (who isn't). I hope the movie comes out this year. [13]

What an excellent newsletter! I truly enjoyed all of it, especially the 'One to Beam Up' feature — Gene Roddenberry, Jr. is adorable!... Thank you for an excellent and informative newsletter. I am looking forward to the next one already![14]

Just finished reading STN (#1) and enjoyed vastly the British spoof...I guess we all are a bit apprehensive about this new movie...I am a bit amused at the Trekkie button and the STAR TREK LIVES pencil... honestly, we aren't ALL of us 'ten years old going on eleven!' In fact, I'm going on 69...I wonder if Lincoln Enterprises wouldn't consider say, perhaps a bottle opener and a fountain pen more appropriate than a Trekkie button and a pencil for a middle aged person of 35?[15]

I really enjoyed the 'One to Beam Up' column featuring Gene Roddenberry, Jr. The pictures were really cute. Rod looks a lot like his dad.[16]

I thought the STAR TREK satire in #13 was hilarious. [17]

Issue 14

Star Trektennial News 14 was printed in June 1976 and contains 7 pages.

The cover is by George Boudreau, interior illos by Robin Hill and Nancy Lopez.

cover of issue #14

It was edited by Susan Sackett.

  • Letters from subscribers
  • News about Star Trek II
  • Announcement of an art contest
  • untitled poem by J.M. Sorensen
  • Questions from the Readers
  • One to Beam Up: Interview with DeForest Kelley
  • Cast News

From Sackett:

We are now working with some new executives at Paramount, and they seem more familiar with STAR TREK. In fact, they might even be considered fans! They are considering several story ideas and by the time this reaches you, they will probably have made a decision on one!

Meanwhile, we are hoping that set construction will get underway soon. Certain basic sets, props and costumes will be needed regardless of story, and we are anxiously awaiting the day when the first plans are drawn up and the studio begins to rebuild the Good Ship Enterprise! When the next issue of STN goes to press (around the beginning of May), we might even have some photos of the construction to show you. Keep your fingers crossed!

From Sackett:

What an overwhelming response to our first contest in Issue #13! We had many entries, and because the newsletter was mailed late, we disregarded the postmarks and considered everyone’s entry. Sorry to say we had only ONE winner. Congratulations to: CLAIRE THOMAS.

Your prizes are on their way to you. The correct answer to trivia question "What do the letters ’N.C.C.' on the hull of the Enterprise stand for?" is found in Lincoln Enterprise's 24-page booklet, "Fifty Most Asked Questions" (item #1007, $2.50 — and answers many of the questions you've written and asked us for so long). The explanation is lengthy,but briefly the letters grew from Gene Roddenberry's and Matt Jefferies' brains — "N" was adopted by the United States around 1928 as the letter identifying that country? "C" came into use at that time also and stands for "Commercial" and the third "C" was purely for aesthetic reasons -- Matt and Gene thought two "C"s looked good. Navy Curtis Craft was not allowed, because, after all, the Enterprise is not a Navy Curtis Craft! We also didn't allow Naval Construction Contract. Our contests will not make use of either the Blueprints or Tech Manual for references. Sources will be: Gene Roddenberry, other people connected with the show, the Lincoln booklet above, and Bjo's S.T. Concordance (information on where to get this is in the Lincoln booklet! Order yours now!).

From the Kelley interview:

IN WHAT WAYS WOULD YOU SAY YOU ARE LIKE DR. McCOY, AND IN WHAT WAYS DIFFERENT?

I think I seem to have a concern for people. Certain mail I get begs to be answered. I’m sure it wouldn't bother a lot of people that are in this business. They would figure "I don’t want to get involved with people's problems. But somehow, there are certain letters that I simply have to answer. I think McCoy was a very concerned roan and I think I share that quality with him. He perhaps is really a bit more outspoken than I am and yet I am outspoken on occasion. Usually it's rare. And I don't think I'm quite as witty as McCoy is; however I seem to have a sense of humor that makes Gene Roddenberry laugh! But Gene, more or less, had the character laid out for me. He had the basic skeleton written down of what he wanted McCoy to be and I tried as much as I could to follow through with that. However, I think with every actor a bit of himself finally acmes through in a part. I can see it in all of us in certain areas.

WHICH FAN LETTERS DO YOU ANSWER?

I answer letters that appeal to me — if there's something that touches roe, something that specifically gets to me, that I feel is important, and I do get letters like that occasionally. People seem to divulge their unhappy lives and I get letters telling roe that the character I portrayed had been a source of inspiration to a young boy or someone in the family who's ill, or what have you. I get a great deal of mail from people who have had tragedy in their lives. A mother with an 18—year-old son who's paralyzed from the waist down, both became tremendous fans, he had received a lift from my portrayal and that I meant a lot to him —— would I please drop him a note — that kind of thing. I receive gifts, and oddly enough I receive a lot of love letters. Most of them are fantasy type of things. I have one girl who writes to me who calls me "Trees.” It took me a while to put that together. I guess "DeForest." She writes beautiful letters, very poetic. Others are out and out love letters from teenage girls. Then there's a girl in France who sends me socks and handkerchiefs and chocolates and ties.

DO YOU ACCEPT THESE GIFTS?

Well, if the socks fit.

  • from issue #14

  • from issue #14

Issue 15

Star Trektennial News 15 was published in July 1976. It has a front cover by George Boudreau.

cover of issue #15

It was edited by Susan Sackett.

  • Sackett answers fan questions in letters
  • update on the movie
  • a new trivia contest (answer five questions, winner gets a patch from Lincoln Enterprises)
  • One to Beam Up: Interview with Matt Jeffries (includes photos)

From Sackett's update on the movie:

Who took the "movie" out of "movie?"

We've have had numerous calls and letters at the STAR TREK office from very anxious fans who just can't understand what all the delay is about. (Please, please, don't call! Please be patient. It's hard, we know, but it'll be worth it.)

We have been assigned a soundstage, STAGE 16, THE LARGEST STAGE ON THE PARAMOUNT LOT! It's clear, empty and silent as space itself right now. It's spooky to walk into the empty building and gape at this large enclosed nothingness and try to imagine it filled with sets, cameras, actors, technicians, all busily creating order out of chaos. But that's just what will happen.

Construction has not yet begun, and we will not make the July 15 start date (see the interview with Matt Jefferies for more on this). Gene Roddenberry is now hoping that cameras will start rolling late in October. This is because to build the sets well, to properly design all the props, and to gather the best technical crew possible, it will take six to eight months.

Right now, Gene is working on a backup story with another writer, Jon Povill. It is very likely that the studio will decide to use this story and a script will be written from it. Additionally, outside writers are still being considered, and should one be chosen, Gene will work very closely with that person to maintain STAR TREK's ideas and ideals. Paramount business department is now negotiating with William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy to sign contracts. After the deals are worked out, they will begin to sign the other stars.

There has been a great surge of interest from NASA, M.I.T. and many well-known space artists. The movie will definitely not lack expert technical assistance. Kitt Peak in Tucson, Arizona — home of the world's largest combination of radio and optical telescopes, has offered assistance on the film.

Meanwhile, please try to be patient. We want a quality film and these things do take time. Chances are that the movie will be out by the summer of 1977 (post production may take two-three months). We'll report on it every step of the way here in STN!

From the interview with Matt Jeffries:

What do you think about Franz Joseph's Blueprints of the Enterprise?

The set of Blueprints that I saw two years ago...he's a marvelous draftsman. He did a hell of a job of drafting, and that's what the heck it is. He took what we had and added to it based on what we had...he merely expanded...he invented like mad. As much as I hate to admit it, I got thoroughly peeved over the whole thing, because he did take the design work that somebody else had done and built on it. We're talking about another generation of fans, and they pick this thing up and all of a sudden it says STAR TREK and it's gospel. And it isn't, because what didn't actually come out of what we did. It is a pure fabrication that's happened since then. I got narrow-minded and thoroughly peeved over the fact that there was no mention of what he used as a base to build upon.

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 15

I have my copy of STAR TREKTENNIAL NEWS #14 and really enjoyed it. The artwork by George Boudreau Jr. is beautiful — it must have taken an incredible amount of time and patience! [18]

Issue 16

Star Trektennial News 16 was published in August 1976 and contains 8 pages.

The cover is by Shane Johnson, interior illos by Davey George, Narciso Lopez, and Mike Medlock.

cover of issue #16

It was edited by Susan Sackett.

  • Questions and Letters ("I have a problem. In my town there only two trekkies, myself and another. What I would like to know is where we can join a fan club around here [in Monroe City, Missouri])." "I suggest you extend your time allowance for entries for contests. This would allow adequate postage time." -- "Does anyone know if there is -- or was -- a fan club for Terri Garr?")
  • Tribblings (comic strip featuring tribbles)
  • Penpals
  • Contest Page
    • the winners of the art contest, judged by Bjo Trimble
    • the new contest: how many words can you make using the phrase "STAR TREK LIVES"
  • One to Beam Up: Interview with Grace Lee Whitney (includes photos) (two tidbits: Whitney consumed 800 calories a day or less, the interviewer (Susan Sackett?) says Whitney is "bubbly and sexy" and gives the "impression of a woman who has never had a 'down' moment in her life.")
  • Star Treks: Actors news (Roddenberry's record "Inside Star Trek" and more)
[Excerpts from the interview with Whitney]:

Whitney: "My two boys were in "Miri," with Bill Shatner's two girls, and Gene's daugther. And the assistant director had two children in it. My boys got their social security numbers from Star Trek!"

[...]

Whitney: "Yeoman Rand was always kind of a sex symbol, didn't you think? I thought so. I guess the outtakes (bloopers) of Bill Shatner and I wrestling were really something. I've never seen them! And my fans rib me to death. What was the name of the episode it was taken from? I'd better look into the Concordance and find out!"

[...]

Q: "Would you like to be in the movie?"

A: "Oh yes. I want my own space shipt! I want a women's space ship, run by all women!"

[...]

Q: "Would you prefer to be in a different role than that of Yeoman Rand?"

A: "Oh, no. I think Yeoman Rand could still be in love with the captain but in love with her old duties as a disciplined woman."

[...]

Q: "Was it a sexist role?"

A: "I don't think so. I'll tell i you what Gene (Roddenberry) had in mind. He had in mind the sexual connotation that it took, definitely, because that’s reality. The only thing that happened was they dropped Yeoman Rand before he could develop the character. I think that Gene would have developed the character as a woman in her own right, having her own identity. But she never was given a chance because the network dropped the part. But I think Gene would not have created her as a sexist role. No."

[...]

Q: "What did you think of the costumes, the short skirts?"

A: "I thought Bill Theiss was and still is a genius. Bill Theiss did the hair for me and the costume. You know, they wanted us in pants.... The costume was pants from the back, and skirt from the front. One leg, I think, was wrapped. Bill Theiss and I did that. I said 'You're not going to hide my legs.' So women, take note, if you're going to blame the men for it, don't blame them, blame me, because I said we should all be in short uniforms. I was as adamant as anyone to get the girls in skirts, Buck Rogers-type shorts. I thought it would look great with black hose and boots. That's just how it happened."

[...]

Q: "Are you still interested in science fiction?"

A: "Yes, I am. I'm interested in the inventiveness that comes out of not knowing what is there. In other words, I like the fact that the mind expands with science fiction. I believe that religion inhibits the mind. I believe that believing in a creation through a certain prophet limits our whole spectrum rather than broadening it. I like science fiction for the fact that it opens the mind and I love the creative inventiveness that comes from it. I love the fact that we very presumably could be in a space ship going to other planets. I definitely believe in that."

[...]

Q: "We understand that you will be doing convention appearances around the country."

A: "Yes, we just did a convention in Dallas, and we've been invited to several more this year around the country. I do have a pet peeve along these lines. Some of the people who run the conventions say they want somebody who did the run of the show, not some incidental character. They've never seen the first season! When the show was originated and Gene created the show, Yeoman Rand was a lead character, somebody that they write a show about. But later they wrote the part out and she's zapped off the space ship..."

  • from issue #16, some of the fan art contest winners

Issue 17

Star Trektennial News 17 (v.2 n.17) was published in September/October 1976 and contains 8 pages.

The front cover is by Lee E. Staton (president of the fan club, Star Trekkin'. The interior illos are by WRW "curtesy [sic] of P.S.S.T. Puget Sound Trekkers."

cover of issue #17, Lee E. Staton

It was edited by Susan Sackett.

  • Questions and Letters
  • Movie Writer's Set: Popular 'Star Trek' series spawns multi-million dollar Paramount feature version: newspaper reprint from Variety, August 11, 1976
  • Penpals
  • Inside Star Trek: Gene Roddenberry recording the L.P. "Inside Star Trek" (includes photos)
  • Joanna Lives, poem about Joanna McCoy by Shelly Block
  • crossword puzzle
  • Contest Page
    • answers to the trivia content in a previous issue
    • new contest: Star Trek poetry contest
  • One to Beam Up: Interview with Bill Theiss
  • Star Treks: Actors News (William Shatner was finished filming an episode of Columbo and more)

Excerpts from the Theiss interview:

WILL THE WOMEN STILL HAVE MINI-SKIRTS [in Star Trek: The Motion Picture]? THE FANS CLAIM THE COSTUMES WERE SEXIST.

Well, I agree with them, and I think Gene does to a degree also. Certainly I agree with them far more than our attitude was in the beginning, although I always felt that the short skirts were a terrible cliche, but I didn't see any other way to go. The reason they're a cliche is because of something that people accept in that genre very quickly. We can also go to jumpsuits or pants. And I think that the men should have as much sexuality as the women.

[...]

YOU DESIGNED A LOT OF VERY SEXY, VERY REVEALING WOMEN'S COSTUMES. DID YOU EVER HAVE PROBLEMS GETTING THEM BY THE NETWORK?

No. I really never did. Very early on in the show our censor, the lady who was in charge of program practices for our show -- Jeannie Mesaerschmidt -- learned to have faith that I wasn't trying to do any numbers on her. She frequently would refuse to even bother to come see what I was doing that I thought might be a little questionable because she had such faith that it would be okay. I had actually more trouble with Bob Justman from time to time being paranoid that something wouldn't get by the censor when I knew very well that it would. That's another thing. Of course in a movie you don't have that problem because there is no one basically to censor you. In the area of costumes you can get away with certain kinds of nudity, nudity from the waist up certainly on women. It depends on how it's done. If it's done in a very sort of lascivious way it might not (get a PG rating), but chances are it would even at that. It's not likely to be a problem.

[...]

WHICH COSTUMES FROM THE SERIES WOULD YOU REMEMBER AS YOUR FAVORITES?

I have several favorites for different reasons. One of my favorites is the costume in "The Cloud Minders" worn by Diana Ewing and it was in many respects, I think, one of the prettiest I ever did. It was sort of robin's egg blue metallic pleated taffeta. It had kind of a halter top front, went around the neck, crossed at the throat, went across the breasts and attached into the side of the skirt. The skirt was very full and pleated and came to a "V" in the front under the navel. And then there was a train that started at the back of the neck and fanned out to the hem of the skirt and that train had a tuled petticoat which you couldn't see, and it made the whole train follow Diana around as she would move and turn — the costume would kind of turn behind her.

[...]

WHAT ABOUT THE MEN'S COSTUMES? WAS THERE ANYTHING UNUSUAL ABOUT THEM?

It was very hard to do things very different on the men's costumes. I think it will be easier in the movie for a couple of reasons. First of all, men are becoming more liberated in terms of not worrying about masculine and feminine cliche images. It applies to clothes to some extent too, plus the fact that Gene and I are much more aware of sexist attitudes and feel that if there are to be sexist attitudes in some of the costumes for the women there must also be for the men. I think it's very valid to do as much as we can with that in the same way that we do with the women. You do have a problem with male nudity that you don't with female nudity. The little bit that is considered censorable on a male body is going to get you an "R" rating, probably, and there's almost no way for it not to, I guess. Of course maybe by the time our movie comes out maybe that won't be true. And I'm really kind of sorry we have to get a PG but I suppose we do because so many of our fans are under 17, and it would be an unfair disappointment to so many of them. I'm not sure that it might not be a bad idea to have two versions, however. An R version and a PG version. I bet you would get people who'd go to both of them.

[...]

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE SPACE 1999 COSTUMES?

I can't say very much about them because I've only seen bits and pieces of two or three shows, and the show itself was so dull I just never could stand to watch it. And also I don't think I've ever seen the show in color, although I've heard that it's not very colorful anyway. From what I saw of the crew uniforms they seem logical and functional and okay. I do remember one show that I saw a bit of, where there was this gorgeous girl and she had this terribly delicate, beautiful gown on, very etherial — right down the middle of the back was this enormous zipper! And that sort of thing just drives me through the wall because it's stupid. We had zippers but they never showed, and there are so many other ways of putting clothes together. You don't have to use zippers. Even if you used a lovely jewel as a button, it's far more desirable than using a goddamn zipper.

Issue 18

Star Trektennial News 18 was published in November/December 1976 and contains 12 pages.

cover of issue #18, Shane Johnson

It was edited by Susan Sackett.

It has non-credited fanart by Shane Johnson and Warren.

At this point, the number of subscribers is about 4000. [19]

Things discussed in the interview are:

  • the history and function of Lincoln Enterprises
  • two and half year old Rod Roddenberry, his mother's plans for his future (not show business, maybe something athletic like golf or tennis)
  • information about Spectre, which Majel has a part in
  • her gourmet cooking, how Gene Roddenberry weighs too much, how she won't cook him meatloaf, very detailed description of Gene's very favorite dish which is lima beans, ham, celery, and onion
  • photos of Majel Barrett cooking, of Majel and her baby, of Majel, Gene and their three poodles, of Gene dishing up some lima beans and ham into a bowl, there are no photos of the "two charming Latin housekeepers"
  • things for sale, info about subscriptions (2)
  • Phil Kaufman Signed to Direct Movie, article (includes photos of Kaufman, Allan Scott, and Chris Bryant) (3)
  • Penpals (about three fourths of the listings are by people 20 years and younger) (4)
  • Tribblings, cartoon by Robin Hill (4)
  • Contest page: Winners of the Anagrams Contest (5)
  • Winners of the Star Trek poetry Contest: (6)
    • These Are The Voyages" by Kathy Knull (6)
    • "Star Song" by Charlotte Justice (7)
    • "Omnicron Ceti III Where The Dragons and Unicorns Play" by Mikal Liston (7)
  • One to Beam Up: Interview with Majel Barrett (takes place poolside at the Roddenberry home that "consists of Great Bird of the Galaxy (Gene), one Little Bird (Rod), two charming Latin housekeepers, three poodles (Fang, Climy, and Bump), one Siamese kitten (Dusty), three tanks full of show guppies, and two disappearing hamsters.") (8)
  • Letters and Questions
  • Star Treks: information about William Shatner's college lecture tour and other news of the celebrities
[Excerpts from the interview]: Lincoln began when we were back at Paramount. Paramount was handling the fan mail. I remember Gene got word once that Isaac Asimov had written a letter to Gene, and it was processed through Paramount's fan mail department as a regular letter, and as a result of this query Isaac Asimov had made directly to Gene, he got an autographed picture of Leonard Nimoy! Gene decided this was not the way to handle the fan mail. So we founded this little company who answered fan mail. A lot of these people wrote in saying "I would like a copy of the Writer's Guide; I'd like a copy of a script; I'd like this or I’d like that." For a while Paramount was sending out the Writer's Guide, but the requests just got so numerous that they said, "We can't afford to do this anymore." So Gene said okay, we'll have to charge for it, and this small group was set up just to handle stuff like that. Then we started to add a few more items and the thing just sort of grew into a business, but not the main business. It was mainly aimed at promotion and the fans — really informing fans, trying to do something with the fans, which eventually worked out. They had a great deal of respect for the way they were handled and they felt a great feeling of security within STAR TREK. These are our fan fans. This was during the show. And it just sort of grew out of that. We decided to add things, and when the letter-writing campaign came in, a lot of it was spontaneous, but not all of it. No one's ever figured out how it happened, but when we would send out flyers that said "Please write if you'd like to save STAR TREK," we'd get things started that way. The fans sort of came to our rescue. Lincoln helped that quite a bit, so we thought we'd try it with same other shows, and we picked up SEARCH, KUNG FU. The week that we sent out all the circulars on everything, the ratings of KUNG FU went from somewhere like from 36th place to 10th, and SEARCH, which was already cancelled, that went up something like ten points in the overalls, so we know that we reached that many people. We knew that it made a great deal of difference promotionally. It just seems to be a good idea and we'll certainly hope to follow it in any future ventures that we do. In the new catalog we're running a full story on SPECTRE. SPECTRE will be provided hopefully in the same way, and what we're hoping to do is have the fans again write in and say that they'd like to see SPECTRE, because that's going to make the difference. The ratings will too, but if there's any way that we can influence the network, the fans tire the ones who can do it. So hopefully Lincoln will be used primarily as promotional.

[...]

I'd like to see [Lincoln Enterprises] function in this promotional area very effectively. I'd like to see it used for shows that are not just commercial hits, but perhaps for shows that have a message. Well, eventually I'd like to make a million dollars off it, but we're not geared to that. In other words, for the future I'd like to see it fully utilized as a promotional type of vehicle.

  • from issue #18, Gene Roddenberry dishing up his favorite meal

  • from issue #18, recipe for lima beans and ham

  • from issue #18

Issue 19

Star Trektennial News 19 was published in January/February 1977 and contains 12 pages.

cover of issue #19, P.S. Nim

It was edited by Susan Sackett.

  • The Movie, article about the movie plans (focuses on the writers, includes photos of Chris Bryant and Allan Scott sitting at their typewriters, hard at work)
  • Pen Pals, listings (includes a photo of two fans who met after becoming pen pals and became engaged to be married: "Another first for STN! We don't promise everyone who becomes a penpal that the same thing will happen, but who knows!")
  • info about the filming of Spectre
  • cartoon by Robin Hill
  • Contest: a short essay about "My favorite Star Trek episode is _____ because..."
  • a full-page ad for Sackett's book, Letters to Star Trek
  • One to Beam Up: Interview with Walter Koenig
  • Fan Letters

A fan asked a question, got very sort-of encouragement but also a warning, plus a plug from Susan Sackett:

I am going to write a book titled "The Miracle of STAR TREK." I would like to hear from anyone whose life has been radically changed by STAR TREK, as per the man who was going to commit suicide, saw an episode of S.T. and found a reason to go on living. Or the 15-year-old girl that was retarded and had not spoken a word in 15 years, until she saw S.T. and then started talking. If your life has been changed by S.T. let me know and maybe I can fit it into my volume. My hope is that this volume will inspire others and help them find a meaning to life. -- Mark Hall

A very worthwhile venture, Mark. Good luck! We are not aware of the two incidents you've mentioned but there will be several letters of that nature in Susan Sackett's book "Letters to STAR TREK" published by Ballantine and due to be out in January. By the way, anyone who wants to have a book published for profit must get a license from Paramount Pictures. Write to Lou Mindling c/o Paramount

From "The Movie" update:

The present title of the STAR TREK movie, according to the latest here at Paramount, is "STAR TREK -- THE MOTION PICTURE." It still seems likely that production will begin in the early summer of 1977. No one has yet been officially signed to date, although we are very close to signing several of the original actors, and we anticipate getting all the original crew back!

With one-third of the script written to date, Chris Bryant and Allan Scott, our writers, are hoping to have the full script completed mid-January. They have been using every spare moment in between writing to "immerse" themselves fully into STAR TREK and science fiction. In addition to watching STAR TREK every night on tv, they have read many of the old scripts, the manuals, the Concordance and dozens of other books. Their reading list is as valuable to them as it is impressive: "Science Fiction Today and Tomorrow" - an anthology; "The Starmaker" by Olaf Stapledon; "Childhood's End" by A.C. Clarke; "The Third Eye" by T. Lobsang Rampa; "The Morning of the Magicians" by Louis Pauwels and Jacques Bergier; "The Virtue of Selfishness" by Ayn Rand; "The Black Cloud" by Fred Hoyle; the Edgar Rice Burroughs "Mars" series, plus others too numerous to mention. At lunchtime they can often be found reading the Encyclopedia Britannica! Motion picture research included screenings of "[2000-A Space Odyssey [sic];" "Forbidden Planet;" "Silent Running;" "The Day the Earth Stood Still;" "Solaris;" "Futureworld;" "Logan's Run;" "When Worlds Collide;" "The Man Who Fell to Earth;" "The Shape of Things to Come;" "The Time Machine," and "Village of the Damned." (Phil Kaufman, our director, has read and viewed all of the above too, and according to Chris Bryant, "His apartment is littered with sci-fi."

[...]

Both writers agree that they are trying to bring to a movie script all the things that the limitations of television prevented STAR TREK from doing. There will be more time to examine the characters and conflict with a greater sense of what is possible and probable in space and time.

Allan commented, "We are both paid-up members of the Gene Roddenberry fan club. He's terrific to work with; creative and generous. Phil Kaufman, the director, is equally supportive. He is stimulating and deeply committed to the kind of movie we think STAR TREK fans (and non-fans, if there are any) will want to see. Between the two of them we have received enough input for 79 full-length movies. So let's hope the first one works!" [20]

From the interview with Walter Koenig:

from issue #19, one of the pages from the interview

...the curious thing that I've always wanted to say on an interview and I never got to do it is, sure, when I come back to Los Angeles from a convention my life changes, the physical circumstances of my life change, there isn't that kind of attention, that recognition that I receive at a convention, and I live like everybody else. It's not that totally but I feel it's something that is magnified hyper-existence that one experiences in three days when one is at a convention. However, I cannot eliminate from my consciousness the fact that there are thousands and thousands of people now a viable present situation." out there who know me because of my experience on STAR TREK, because of my involvement and contribution, who are aware that that means I'm really living in a kind of a glass house, and I've come to the point where I feel a responsibility to those people out there, not in terms of STAR TREK but in terms of my own career. I feel somehow that I must apologize to then for the fact that it hasn't worked out, for the fact that I haven't had the kind of success that should go with all that attention that I receive at conventions, and all that interest. I feel like saying, "See, all your support has not been for naught, here I am doing other marvelous things too." Now obviously that isn't the way it should be, I shouldn't be concerned about that. I should be living for myself primarily and for my family, and that should be the end of it. But in effect, living in a glass house as I am, I feel I have a responsibility to those people. When I go to a convention and have to talk in terms of conjecture and possibility of what might happen, I find it a little bit embarrassing.

I think what I'm trying to say, Susan, is that I'd like success to be commensurate with the attention that I've received, with the approval, with the support that I have from those fans. The support is so strong for all of us, that I would like to be able to give them back something in exchange for that support. They go to those conventions and they do look at us with respect and warmth and with love, these people, and I'd like to say, "Yeah, I'm going to give you something back. Not something that is nine years old, I'm going to give you something back now." I'd like to say, "You can see me in a starring role on so and so and I did a heck of a good job." That's the kind of thing that goes on in my head.

I went to, I think, 11 or 12 [conventions] this year, and I think that's a low number with the exception of De, Bill and Leonard who ask for so much more; they don't attend many. I have four so far for next year. San Diego, Los Angeles, Philadelphia and New York, those are the four that I know about. I've metamorphosed some feelings, I started from one place in terms of conventions and I've come around to thinking quite differently. Originally there was a lot of feeling of self-consciousness and a feeling that it was very ironic, conventions were very ironic statements about myself because it had to deal with not where I was now, but where I was then, and the irony was a bitter irony that I didn't have as much to show for what I was now. The question I get very often from young people, however, is "Are you the guy who does STAR TREK?" It's always in the present.

A lot of these kids eight, nine, eleven, don't understand the show has gone off the air. I have re-evaluated conventions since the early ones; I'm being hired as a professional — I am an actor, and whether I'm saying somebody else's lines or saying my own lines, I'm the professional and that is my job while I'm there. I'm being paid for these appearances and consequently I have left a lot of the subjective personal feelings alone. Now I am a professional guest speaker and I'm there in a professional capacity. And when it comes to fulfilling the obligations of the convention, I think I have as professional an attitude as anybody, I'm always on time, I'm always there unless there's total confusion, but never consciously am I not prompt. I think I go beyond the call of duty in many cases with a lot more personal contact with the fans. It's a lot easier for me to deal with that situation if I think of it as a professional job. It becomes new a chance to meet people and enjoy meeting them, people with ‘fresh ideas and fresh points of view.

And with the eventuality of a STAR TREK movie and hopefully my involvement in the film, I feel the conventions represent not only what happened in the past, but I feel it's something is now a viable present situation.

Issue 20

Star Trektennial News 20 was published in March/April 1977 and contains 12 pages.

cover of issue #20

It was edited by Susan Sackett.

"PAUL McCARTNEY and WINGS have made a deal with Gene to produce a new motion picture for their group. Gene is writing the story, based on an idea by Paul (a big TREKfan, incidentally); ' Paul is writing all the music for the film, to be produced later this year. WINGS will perform music and act in the movie." [21]

  • Letters and Questions (2)
  • One to Beam Up: Interview with Jerry Isenberg (3)
  • Tribblings, cartoon by Robin Hill (8)
  • Contest of the Month (9)
  • Gene Roddenberry Plans New Productions (Spectre) (9)
  • Penpals (10)
  • Star Treks: Williams Shatner received a Grammy nomination for Best Spoken Word recording for Asimov's Foundation, other short blurbs about what the stars are up to

From the interview:

WHAT S0 YOU THINK OF THE CONVENTIONS AND WILL YOU BE ATTENDING ANY?

Yes, I plan to attend a few more [conventions]. I enjoyed myself -- I went to one in Washington and one in Oakland, and I enjoy myself... Paramount has nothing to do with conventions. As far as I know Paramount doesn't make anything out of the conventions except licensing the tables wherein STAR TREK material is sold, but it's a nominal fee. The actual conventions are run by private people, and the only thing that really concerns me is that if somebody's going to go there and pay good money, they're going to get their money's worth. And as long as that's taking place, I'm in favor of having conventions as much as people want them. It depends on how much they're being charged, frankly. There are some conventions I understand where a weekend ticket is $13, and I think if you're going to buy a weekend ticket, you deserve to have a weekend's full of entertainment, which means you're not seeing Sunday's program being a duplicate of Saturday's program, or every five hours the same speakers coming up saying essentially the same thing -- (this means) that the weekend is filled with activities and that whatever is promised in the ads is delivered. My own sensibility is I think conventions should charge by the day, or at least offer by the day. As long as that is handled, you know what you're buying, you know that on Saturday Bill Shatner's going to appear and on Sunday Leonard Nimoy's going to appear. You know when you bought your ticket what you're going to see. And then the fact that the convention itself is run orderly and cleanly, and it's comfortable to be there. I don't mean not uncrowded but the normal services are there for human comfort. There are an awful lot of children there, and children require facilities, and as long as that's handled, I'm a big fan of conventions and I think the people I seem to see there seem to get off on it.

[...]

WHAT CAN BE DONE ABOUT ENTREPRENEURS, PEOPLE WHO ARE IN IT TO MAKE A FAST BUCK, THROW TOGETHER A QUICK CONVENTION AND THEN CAN'T PAY THE STARS? [22]

What we intend to do -- there is no way we can police the world. If there's that much money to be made, there'll be some unscrupulous person finding a way to make it. What we can do, and this is where the fan clubs really come in -- it is impossible to run a convention unless they advertise, which means any time they're going to be advertising they'll be advertising to fan clubs, and at that point we intend to use the STAR TREK newsletter as a medium to disseminate information as to what we, i.e. we, the STAR TREK office know about these conventioneers and fundamentally to warn people off from those conventioneers we feel to be at risk. We can't stop things from happening as quickly as we want. There are an incredible number of pirated prints around, an incredible number of little towns around. The big ones are easier to get to now. Paramount's taken a laissez-faire attitude toward a lot of this and that's not going to be so anymore. Eventually as we make deals with talent, we're going to ask them to keep us abreast before they make any commitments. Then the newsletter will broadcast those conventions that we know about and warn people from those conventions that we are frightened of. We don't have financial interest in them, and we're not asking for financial interest in the conventions, and I think that's one of our obligations to the fans.

Issue 21

Star Trektennial News 21 was published in May/June 1977 and contains 16 pages.

cover of issue #21, George S. Boudreau, Jr.

It was edited by Susan Sackett.

  • Questions and Letters from Fans (2)
  • The Movie, update (3)
  • Quiz (a trivia quiz where EVERY answer appears to be "Star Trek" but is actually Space:1999; this is a petulant jab at the show's emulation of Star Trek. See images below, #4 is particularly offensive) (3)
  • Penpals (4)
  • Spectre (consists of 1) a full-page instruction sheet printed on Twentieth Century-Fox Productions letterhead, created by Susan Sackett for fans to barrage the network with their support for Spectre, 2) photo of Gig Young and promotional write-up praising Gene Roddenberry: "'He has a great imagination -- a bit like H.G. Wells, who wrote about space many years ago, almost like he could foresee it. It's almost like a supernatural gift.'", 3) list of show credits, 4) photos from the show, 5) detailed show synopsis, 6) character descriptions) (5)
  • Contest page (12)
  • One to Beam Up: Interview with Phil Kaufman (the original director of Star Trek: The Motion Picture; he preceded Robert Wise) (includes photos, one of which is Kaufman looking at a poster of Spock and doing the Vulcan Salute) (13)
  • Star Treks: William Shatner will be releasing a two-record album set of his campus lecture appearances, and more.
[A fan's letter]:

Sadly, one of the main stars of STAR TREK is undergoing a total change for the upcoming STAR TREK movie. No, it is not Shatner (Kirk) or Nimoy (Spock). But it is one of the most familiar and popular characters of the STAR TREK family. It is the starship Enterprise. According to an article in my local newspaper, producer Gene Roddenberry and executive producer Jerry Isenberg are negotiating with a special effects expert and a production designer to create a brand new 23rd century starship Enterprise. They are trying to live up to 2001: A SPACE ODYSS~Y, according to Isenberg. "We're redesigning the ship for updating and theatrical requirements," Isenberg said. "You can't go with a 1964 version of a spaceship." The original Enterprise has been heralded as the most famous and "distinctive" starship in science fiction... it has warped beloved fans through the galaxy episode after episode toward dramatic, sometimes fantastic and most often touching adventures. It has been the cherished focal point to which many devotees of S.T. pointed to the ship and said, "That's STAR TREK!, That's the Enterprise!" ...You are aboard the Enterprise. You become part of its crew. You feel a deep sense of belonging... Now the producers at Paramount want to change her. To change her would be like putting clothes on Michaelangelo's David. Superman's costume has been around since 1938. No one has considered it outdated. It took the fans to prompt lethargic Paramount into making a STAR TREK movie. Let us now band together and save the Enterprise! For without her, the movie would somehow not be totally STAR TREK, despite the original family. The Enterprise is part of that family also, isn't she? -- Larry

[Susan Sackett's response]: Let us reiterate, once again, that the Enterprise will remain essentially the same beloved starship we all will recognize on sight. What will be changed will be for the better -- there will be many new parts of the Enterprise that were never seen before. Gene Roddenberry is working very closely with the production designer. Why not trust him? He loves the Enterprise as much as Captain Kirk does! You won't be disappointed.

From the interview:

STAR TREK has to be as though seen through the eyes of the characters. I think that ultimately is the key thing with STAR TREK. I think it's the reason it drew a lot of the fans. They became involved with the characters, and I'm hopeful that we'll have all of the characters here, all of the characters who have made some impact on the audiences.

[...]

STAR TREK fans will demand a level of excellence. They may think they just want to see another tv series, and some of them would. They would love to see the thing played out on a small screen and sit at hone with their munchies and watch STAR TREK for another couple of years. This we hope will eventually happen again. But what has to happen first is that we have to make a film that STAR TREK fans will feel proud of in front of other people, because they are really the ones, through Gene and all the people who've been involved with the Phenomenon -- they've kept it alive. Some people look at STAR TREK and they say it's a little outdated, etc., and now we're going to hopefully cone back with this film with tremendous impact and with a big scope and a big, exciting movie, and people are going to say, "Those people really knew what they had there." We're hopeful it will be a very, very successful movie with all audiences.

[...]

People now are looking to outer space in many ways. In Hollywood, I think the cliché that's going around, with a lot of truth it it, is that westerns seem to be dead right now, and there's a feeling on the part of a lot of people that they don't want to be looking into the past. There just seems to be something opening up in the country again, you get the vibes, people are beginning to look to the future. And what STAR TREK provided and provides is a dream. People want to enter into the dream. I'm a great believer in that, that we all have to dream and enter into the dream. STAR TREK provides a dream of the future with future possibilities for mankind. I think the trekkies have always been onto this, but I think that the general audience can can enter into the future and know that there are characters that they can identify with.

Movie update:

Things have really begun to happen with the progress of STAR TREK--THE MOTION PICTURE!

The script's first draft was completed on March 1. Chris Bryant and Allan Scott have departed our office, having many new projects they're anxious to begin. We gave them a surprise party on their last day here, March 18, and we awarded them all sorts of gag gifts. They are such wonderful guys, and we miss not having them around. But, after six months of working on one script, they had all sorts of new projects awaiting them, and we wish them a fond cherrio!

The script will undergo a second draft now, which is quite typical for motion picture scripts. No one has been set to do the rewrite yet, but you can be assured that whoever is selected will work closely with all involved thusfar, and of course Gene Roddenberry will be there to guide this final writing process.

[...]

There is now a considerable possibility that at least part of the film will be shot at a major studio in England. Gene Roddenberry just completed filming SPECTRE over in that country, and was very pleased with the talent, the facilities, and the considerable savings of costs which are some of the benefits of filming in England. They have many fine technical people, and we would have some of the talented people who worked on 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and the soon-to-be-released STAR WARS on our team. It's not definite, but we are considering filming there.

Once again, for those of you who keep asking, no one has been signed yet. But we are very hopeful that all of the original cast will be in the movie (regardless of where we film it). However, we've many other things to consider in this pre-production stage, and casting the film will probably not take place until everything else has been handled.

  • from issue #21, part of the heavy-handed promotion of Spectre

  • from issue #21, on the set of Spectre

  • from issue #21, from the interview with Phil Kaufman, in one photo, Kaufman displays his allegiance

  • from issue #21, a trivia quiz where EVERY answer appears to be "Star Trek" but is actually Space:1999; this is a petulant jab at the show's emulation of Star Trek; #4 is particularly offensive

Issue 22

Star Trektennial News 22 was published in July/August 1977. It contains 12 pages.

cover of issue #22, Star Graphics (The artist, Ted Engelbart, is not named.) This cover was reprinted as the cover of Beyond Antares #12 three years later.

It was edited by Susan Sackett.

An editor's note:

STAR TREKTENNIAL NEWS wishes to apologize to those STAR TREK fans who were offended at our urgings last month that you write to NBC about SPECTRE. We may have been over-confident and presumptuous in assuming that you would support any project by Gene Roddenberry which you hadn't seen yet. Also, we should have stated that if you wished to write, these were the people to write to. We did not mean to sound manipulative; we were just exuberant and hoped that our enthusiasm would be contagious. However, we do not feel an apology is necessary for devoting so much space to SPECTRE.

Sackett warns fans of rip-offs and takes a more active role in editorializing:

In the past, STAR TREKTENNIAL NEWS has tried to present you with news, features, puzzles, contests and other items of interest.

Beginning with this issue and continuing in subsequent issues as we feel necessary, we will be bringing you editorial comment. We feel that it is justified when STAR TREK fans are being ripped off, taken unfair advantage of, or being "used" by unscrupulous people who see STAR TREK spelled with a capital "$". [23]

One such person is a man who calls himself "Commodore" K. Harmon, of Box 8, Palm Bay, Florida. Mr. Harmon, who is out to gain money from STAR TREK fans through fraudulent means, will sell you, for the incredible sum of $9.95, a perfectly worthless piece of paper he calls a "Starship Commission." He claims that Gene Roddenberry himself has such a "Commission" hanging on his office wall! Nothing could be further from the truth! Gene himself has written to Mr. Harmon asking him to cease and desist from selling these "Commissions" by using the copyrighted name of STAR TREK to take advantage of the fans for his own profit.

But here is the real damage this man is doing to the good name of STAR TREK: he claims that he has now founded a non-profit "church" -- the "First Church, United Federation of Planets," and that all donations you send him are tax deductible.

BEWARE! This is not supported by Gene Roddenberry in any way. In fact Gene has called this "church" ridiculous and has warned Mr. Harmon to cease solicitations at once.

The STAR TREK office in Hollywood is here to help protect fans from such things. If you receive any sort of solicitation in the mail from which you think other Trekkers should be protected (such as the above ripoff, offers of STAR TREK films or tapes for sale, which are illegal, etc.), please send us this information and we'll do our best to protect you from ripoff artists. Write to: Paramount Pictures, STAR TREK Office, 5451 Marathon St., Hollywood, CA 90038. We'd appreciate any copies of flyers you receive, and your name as a source

will not be given out to anyone.

  • Letters and Questions (2)
  • several short newspaper clippings about Spectre, the Star Trek movie, a note from Sackett (the topic is the "release" of Phil Kaufman as director of the movie, and the admission that the Star Trek movie plan may not go forward and/or it may become a television show instead. Roddenberry is quoted in one: "They don't really care about Star Trek. They want formula TV and don't understand what Star Trek really is all about. They think anybody can come in and make it. When they decide to do it properly, I'm available. In the meantime, I don't want to have it dominate my life. There are other things. ") (3)
  • Tribblings, cartoon by Robin Hill (5)
  • Editorial: Editor's Log (topic is rip-offs and fans) (5)
  • Penpals (6)
  • In Memoriam: Stanley Adams: includes a photo (8)
  • CONtemplating, con information (9)
  • Contest Info (results of the caption contest, the new contest is to create your own Star Trek comic strip) (10)
  • Star Trektennnial News, swag and back issues to buy (11)
  • short blurbs about what the actors are up to (12)

  • from issue #22, mistakenly lists Adams' cause of death

  • from issue #22

Issue 23

Star Trektennial News 23 was published in September/October 1977 and contains 8 pages.

cover of issue #23, Jan Garrett

It was edited by Susan Sackett.

  • Letters & Questions (the topic is the cancellation of the movie, and the pre-production of the current plans for it to be a television series, Sackett provides details about the men in charge, includes photos of the co-producers Robert Goodwin and Harold Livingston) (2)
  • One to Beam Up: Interview with Gene Roddenberry, part one, conducted by Susan Sackett (includes many photos of Roddenberry in his office looking busy, on the phone, alone and looking desolate at a long conference table) (3)
  • Penpals (8)
  • Contest Page (results of the last contest, an announcement that there would be no more contests due to a planned "editorial changeover" coming up) (9)
  • Editor's Log (buyer warning for the Godbar Company Ltd, who were cheating clients trying to buy Star Trek merchandise, Sackett encourages fans to contact Paramount about troubles with non-licensed companies so that Paramount can take legal action) (10)
  • full page ad for Lincoln Enterprises swag (the Photon Balls Dart Game is on sale!) (11)
  • Star Treks (news of the actors from Star Trek, all actors (except Leonard Nimoy) are preparing for their roles in the return of Star Trek as a television series. Also, an update on James Doohan's beard.) (12)

From the interview:

WHY DIDN'T THE STAR TREK MOVIE HAPPEN?

Paramount went about the movie in exactly the wrong way to accomplish anything artistic. They decided to make it a committee effort,., and have no one really in charge. They told me that I had creative control — then told Jerry Isenberg that he had it, and then without his knowing it they also told the director that he had creative control. You can't make a worthwhile movie that way. Good movies are made almost invariably by one person carrying the enthusiasm and the vision of it into completion. This is the way George Lucas made STAR WARS over three years of struggle. He fought hard because he had the vision of what he wanted. I found myself being second-guessed by people at the studio who had never even seen STAR TREK. It was just a horror tale.

BUT WHAT WAS THE DIRECT CAUSE OF THE STUDIO'S CANCELLING THE MOVIE?

STAR WARS came out and was an enormous success. Somebody at Paramount misjudged the effect of this success and said, "Wow, it's happened and no one can do it again. Therefore we don't want to risk doing STAR TREK." In actuality, I think that STAR WARS merely proved that there was a huge market there for a STAR TREK movie.

BUT THE STUDIO HASN'T GIVEN UP ON STAR TREK?

Apparently, Paramount dreamed for sane time of starting a "fourth network" and bought the Hughes Network as part of this dream. About the time that the STAR TREK motion picture was running into trouble, management had noticed that there are independent stations all over the country that would practically kill to get new STAR TREK episodes. It seems they said, "Instead of gambling on high grosses on a motion picture, why not gamble STAR TREK on something that could conceivably be ten or a hundred times more profitable than even a hit movie?" — which is the kind of money involved if they are successful in starting the fourth network. So the final thine that got the STAR TREK movie cancelled was the realization that Paramount could use STAR TREK as bait, as a leading sales item for a new television network.

[...]

NOW THAT YOU HAVE CREATIVE CONTROL AFTER BEING IGNORED BY THE STUDIO, HOW IS THIS AFFECTING YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS DOING THE SERIES?

A major concern of mine was that the two years of bad treatment by the studio would affect the enthusiasm with which I entered the television project. Knowing that the worst possible thing I could do was to try to do a television series dragging a corpse of anger, defeats, and double- crosses behind me, I went down to a place I have down the coast and spent two weeks there sort of communing with myself, analyzing everything that had happened; analyzing just how badly I wanted to do the television series; what would be the best way to do it, what would be the best attitude. And I succeeded in really putting the abortive two years of the movie behind me. I came back to the studio and announced to all of the executives that as far as I was concerned, it was "Day One", and that I was going into my office Monday morning with excitement and enthusiasm, doing the best STAR TREK television series that I could conceive of, that I would not carry into it any of the angers or disappointments and other things which would, in my opinion, have destroyed freshness and enthusiasm. This is the way I approached it, and I must say that as far as the television people here at Paramount are concerned, they all have responded beautifully so far. I have had the creative control they promised, and everyone has been helpful. I hope new that Paramount has learned a lesson during the abortive attempt to make a movie and realizes that they must go ahead with one person and give him the equipment and support he needs to make the show.

[...]

HOW CAN THE CAPTAIN HAVE THE SAME RELATIONSHIP WITH A NEW SCIENCE OFFICER AS HE HAD WITH MR. SPOCK?

Well, he wouldn't have the same relationship. Actually, it may be quite helpful to have a fresh and different kind of relationship. It may result in the captain having a new and deeper relationship with the doctor and others. I remind the fans that the Mr. Spock character really took two pilots to develop, and then six or eight episodes following the sale of the second pilot, and so they must not expect me to sit here and cane up with exciting detail, unchangeable new concepts. We'll do just what we did before. We'll go along discovering all sorts of exciting new possibilities as each day's shooting and each episode goes along. I'll furnish the show with a skeleton, as I did before. We will have fine actors. If we succeed in signing up Bill Shatner, who is the same fine actor he always was, he will find subtle levels of relationship with any new people he works with, and so will our other actors. As far as our new actors go, we'll make every attempt to sign up the same high level of acting talent we've always had.

  • from issue #23

  • from issue #23

  • from issue #23

Issue 24

Star Trektennial News 24 was published in November/December 1977 and contains 8 pages.

cover of issue #24, William Isbell

It was edited by Susan Sackett.

  • Letters & Questions (2)
  • Star Trek II (Star Trek is supposed to be returning as a two hour movie and then a TV series.) (3)
  • One to Beam Up: Interview with Gene Roddenberry, part two, conducted by Susan Sackett (includes a single photo of Roddenberry at his office desk, pondering a piece of paper) (4)
  • Penpals (7)
  • Contest Page (some winners of the recent cartoon contest) (8)
  • Editor's Log (Susan Sackett resigns as editor, says "Virginia Yable" ("Yaple" is the correct spelling) is to take over with the next issue: "I've been privileged to edit twelve issues of STN. It's been fun, hectic, at times frustrating, but thoroughly enjoyable. But now it's time to move on to other things. Along with my work for Gene Roddenberry on the new series, I'll be writing the book about the new STAR TREK for Ballantine Books -- THE REMAKING OF STAR TREK.") (10)
  • an order form for swag from Lincoln Enterprises (11)
  • Star Treks (news about what the celebrities are up to: two tidbits -- William Shatner can be seen in the movie "Kingdom of Spiders," and "Bantam Books and Mandala Productions will publish a new STAR TREK book in the form of a "fotonovel" -- STAR TREK episodes will appear in over 300 color photographs from the actual film along with the original dialogue. Watch for this book to appear in November."

About the new "television series":

The first episode is a two-hour movie for television which may be released theatrically overseas. It was originally written by Alan Dean Foster, and is entitled "In Thy Image." Although we had signed someone to write the script from Alan's story, the writer was unable to do it, and now the script is being written by Gene Roddenberry and producer Harold Livingston. They are reworking the story as well. The opening episode will introduce our new characters -- Xon (zahn) a young full-blooded Vulcan who has recently graduated from the Vulcan Science Academy with the highest honors. This is his first starship assignment, and his first encounter with humans. Ilia (Eye-lee-ah), a female from the planet Delta V, this lieutenant is breathtakingly beautiful -- and totally hairless, except for her eyebrows. She is from a society which considers sexual expression of fondness for friends something along the lines of shaking hands. Commander Will Decker is the third new character (note: sorry, he's not supposed to be related to Matt Decker. The name was purely a random choice.). He's second in command now that Mr. Spock has gone back to the Vulcan Science Academy to be its director. He's around 30 years old, and will someday have a starship under his own command.

From the interview:

WHAT DO YOU THINK OF ALL THE MERCHANDISING OF STAR TREK ITEMS?

As has been the case for the last seven years, it is my earnest hope that Paramount, who owns the rights to all these things, will control it a little better, will mike certain that the fans get full value, that it be done properly and with respect. That not only includes books and publications; it includes toys, conventions and everything else. My earnest desire is that in no way will fans ever get anything but full value for every dollar they put out.

[...]

WHAT OTHER CHANGES WILL YOU MAKE FROM THE ORIGINAL. STAR TREK THAT YOU'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO?

There are things we can do now. For example, we're not limited to NBC's rule of one-third females. We can shew mere women aboard our ship. We can now show them in command situations as much as we care to, if it seems dramatic and desirable. We certainly are going to indicated that there are "heads" (toilets) aboard the new Enterprise. And we'll have two elevators on the bridge. I think we may also get into some questions of the intimate lives of the people aboard the Enterprise. Do they dry clean their costumes, or are they somehow regenerated new? Do they take baths or showers, or is there some sort of a sonic way of cleaning yourself? How do you get a haircut? Do you still shave in that century or have there been treatments that eliminate that? I think that we should get into those things because the more you get into the intimate details of just day by day living, the more real the people and their lives become. I doubt if we'll do whole stories about those things.

WHAT OTHER PROJECTS DO YOU HAVE IN DEVELOPMENT?

I have delivered a first draft of a screenplay story to Paul McCartney for his Wings group. If they want to do it right away, it doesn’t appear that I’ll have a chance to go ahead with it, to work with them on it, because I’ll be very involved with STAR TREK for the next year or so. And I also have the rights to MIND REACH, the book about the experiments of Puthoff and Targ of Stanford Research Institute, on parapsychology, and I hope to develop a motion picture on that. I'm going to have to find some writing and producing talents to assist me on that. Again, I'm going to be pretty involved with STAR TREK. The novelization of the first movie script is half done. Bantam has said to me, "It’s more important to us that you go ahead and put full energy on the new STAR TREK television series, and we’ll be glad to wait until you have a chance to finish up the novel," so I'm holding it off until I get some free time. I have a first draft of it that I've rewritten, and I have to rewrite the other half.

THEN YOU'RE REALLY DEVOTING YOUR FULLEST ENERGIES TOWARDS THE NEW STAR TREK SERIES. WHAT DOES IT REALLY FEEL LIKE TO BE BACK DOING STAR TREK?

It's kind of fun because all of us working on the show find ourselves in the enviable position, as writers, producers, directors and so on, to take a look at the world around us and say, "Hey. what is it we want to talk about?" STAR TREK was, and is, and I think always will be, one of the most exciting formats in the world because you can literally talk about anything. Just invent a planet where it's happening. There1 s a lot of hard work, but a lot of fun, and a lot of anticipation going on.

  • from issue #24

  • from issue #24

Issue 25 (note title change)

cover of issue #25, "Mike Miner's dramatic rendition of the new Enterprise in drydock."

Inside Star Trek 25 was published in January/February 1978 and contains 32 pages.

It was edited by Virginia Yaple. Along with a new editor, this issue had a format change. It is now on newsprint-like paper and has a feel of mimeo.

  • Editor's Log (2)
  • A View from the Bridge, interview with Gene Roddenberry ("INSIDE STAR TREK is travelling straight 'to the horse's mouth' each issue to speak with GENE RODDENBERRY about the project's progress.. ('projects' meaning both movie - which at the present is utmost - and the television episodes). So now that we've got him trapped, let's get on it!") (includes many photos, some of which are of Gene and Majel, one is of Gene dishing up what is likely lima beans and ham into a bowl at the dining room table with his young son looking on - see issue #18 for the recipe) (3)
  • Movie Update, contains photos of the bridge and transporter room (7)
  • art, not credited (Mike Miner?) (8)
  • photos of Ted Sturgeon, Majel Barrett and Gene Roddenberry at a movie premiere, Rod Roddenberry in a Halloween Superman costume, and Majel and Gene in a wedding photo of Darlene Roddenberry (9)
  • Whoooooosh, photos of the set and props (10)
  • Technically Speaking: Reflections on a Crystal Ball - Thoughts on the Relevance of Science Fiction, essay by Jesco Von Puttkamer (includes a photo of the author) (11)
  • Contest Page (fans are asked to submit fanart to be used as covers for this newsletter, prizes were scripts sold by Lincoln Enterprises) (15)
  • two-page art, the engine room, not credited (Mike Miner?) (16)
  • a report about Virginia Yaple visiting the set of the movie and having a tour by Majel Barrett (18)
  • Star Treks (promotion info about what the celebrities are up to) (22)
  • Pen Pals (including a listing from a 15-year old, Eric Stillwell) (23)
  • art, not credited (Mike Miner?) (24)
  • One to Beam Up: Interview with Jon Povill, conducted by Virginia Yaple (includes photo) (25)
  • Patience Aha, poem/metaphysical vignette by Jon Povill (includes photo) (31)

FIRST-THINGS-FIRST-DEPARTMENT: I would like to thank Susan Sackett for providing me with unlimited information, smiling cooperation, head patting encouragement and good old-fashioned know-how in all things respecting my beginning the STAR TREK II Adventure - known now as 'INSIDE STAR TREK II. We know how busy she's going to be writing her new book, "The Remaking of Star Trek II," and all of us look forward to publication date. Good luck, Susan, - you're a tough act to follow!

In the past ten years new attitudes in movies and television have developed, - more minds are open to space participation. New discoveries have taken place, scientific advancements are numerous; all of this holds staggering adventure possibilities for our STAR TREK II missions. It will be my pleasure to keep you up to date and provide you with all available information as it happens through this INSIDE STAR TREK II publication.

From the interview with Roddenberry:

HOW DID THE STUDIO REACT [to the cancellation of the original movie]?

Paramount began to have doubts about how successful a ten year old television show would be as a motion picture film. They were aware that quite a few people would buy tickets to a STAR TREK movie, but were not sure whether this represented a few hundred thousand people or several million.

WHAT ABOUT THE MILLIONS OF STAR TREK FANS?

In all fairness to the Studio, the STAR TREK fan phenomenon was something no studio had ever dealt with before. My own estimate was that the STAR TREK fans alone would account for a minimum of ten million movie tickets - and possibly even more, but there were many studio executives who sincerely believed that my estimates would impossibly optimistic.

IT WOULD CERTAINLY MAKE ONE 'DOWN' ON MOVIE BUSINESS.

It wasn't a situation of "STAR TREK good guys" versus "STUDIO Bay Guys". It is a fact that the majority of studio people are hard-working individuals dedicated to doing a good job. This doesn't mean they can't be mistaken -- and subsequent developments like "Star Wars" have proven they were wrong. However, to the credit of the Paramount people involved, they have shown the courage to acknowledge that they were badly mistaken about STAR TREK and science fiction in general.

[...]

WHAT HAPPENED THEN?

With the first movie script rejected, STAR TREK's return came very near dying. But, as happened eight years before when NBC first tried to cancel the show, the fans not only knew what was happening but how to cope with it. Paramount received an unprecedented barrage of mail on the subject. Fans also sent letters to newspaper editors, entertainment columnists, gathered petitions, distributed bumper stickers and posters, made telephone calls.

WHAT INCREDIBLE LOYALTY WAS THERE MORE?

Pans arranged for STAR TREK Conventions to be properly covered in news programs Smithsonian Institut e put the eleven foot Enterprise model on permanent display; fans caused NASA's space shuttle to be named "Enterprise"; magazines commented on Trekkies and Trekkers; radio talk shows gave hundreds of hours on the subject.

The fans prevailed — Paramount became convinced they would probably sell enough movie tickets to make a STAR TREK film a reasonable gamble.

From the interview with Povill:

SINCE TIME HAS PASSED BETWEEN THE TWO FIVE YEAR MISSIONS, WILL THERE BE ANY NOTICEABLE CHANGES IN THE CHARACTERS ATTITUDES?

There will be less male chauvinism for one thing. This has been leveled against past shows with some justification, so we will endeavor to avoid that.

[...]

WHEN I THINK OF VISUAL EFFECTS, I THINK OF STAR WARS. DID YOU SEE IT?

Yes, and I loved it - it was great - a comic book, but so what? So long as no one claims it to have depth of character, I and I don't believe anyone has. Actually, it would be easier to do a comic book type science fiction series, than say, a STAR TREK, Twilight Zone, Outer Limits type of thing because it wouldn't require any great effort to make it adhere to any genuine reality. The characters are easily manipulated because there is no depth you have to be consistent with.

[...]

I NOTICE YOU KEEP THE FRANZ JOSEPH BLUEPRINTS, OF THE ENTERPRISE ON THE WALL BEHIND YOU.

Indeed I do, and I refer to them often. I know there 'are a lot of people out there with copies of that blueprint that know the ship better than I do! If someone is going to Sick Bay, I want to make sure they are going to the right level.

  • from issue #25

  • from issue #25

  • from issue #25

  • from issue #25

  • from issue #25

  • from issue #25

  • from issue #25

  • from issue #25

  • from issue #25

  • from issue #25

Issue 26

Inside Star Trek 26 (v.5 n.26) was published in March/April 1978 and has 32 pages. It was edited by Virginia Yaple.

cover of issue #26, "Our thanks to Bob Hanson of Minneapolis, Minnesota for the 2-Title headings on the cover. Note - we've removed the "II" from INSIDE STAR TREK inview of the change of title of the motion picture."

One photo caption: "'There never was a question of hold-out'," smiled Leonard Nimoy to one inquiry. 'We've had a long and complicated relationship between Paramount and myself for a couple of years, but probably the thing that took the most time was the fact that the mail service between here and Vulcan is still pretty slow...!'"

  • Editor's Note (2)
  • Movie Update: "Star Trek - The Motion Picture (new title)" (press release/annoucement, plus many candid and posed photos of the cast, network executives at a press release party) (3)
  • Public Spirited, a fan's letter to other fans encouraging them to barrage congress to support the space program, a House Resolution by Rep. Olin Teague (D-Tex) (11)
  • The Playground of the Enterprise: The Universe and Its Galaxies, article by Jesco von Puttkamer (second in a planned series) (13)
  • Contest (fans are enouraged to write 1000 word or less fanfics, prizes are scripts from Lincoln Enterprises) (16)
  • Just a Little Epic, essay by Virginia Yaple (long metaphor and commentary about Gene Roddenberry, the journey of writing for the movie, emphasis on how great Roddenberry is) (17)
  • Lincoln Enterprises order form for swag (18)
  • Star Words, excerpts from an interview William Shatner did for KABC and Chuck Ashman's show (19)
  • Penpals (27)
  • A View from the Bridge: Interview with Gene Roddenberry (April 20, 1978) (28)

From the interview with Roddenberry:

WILL YOU HAVE TIME TO DO ANY LECTURES?

At the moment, no. My full energies are now going into the film. It may be that in a month or so I'll be able to take a three day weekend and give a couple of lectures. I'd like to do that because travelling to other parts of the country and visiting with the fans lets me know what they are expecting - how their feelings have changed, what excites them in 1978 as opposed to 19lh, and things like that. These lectures are very important to me because there is a great deal of two-way communicating between the fans and me, I don't just stand at a lecturn [sic].

SINCE YOU ARE DIVERSIFIED AS A WRITER WITH A VAST KNOWLEDGE OF HISTORY AND MORALITY, DOES IT BOTHER YOU TO BE EXCLUSIVELY IDENTIFIED WITH SCIENCE FICTION? IN OTHER WORDS, ARE YOU FED UP?

No, but at times I have been fed up with Hollywood's treatment of science fiction, which until recently, has been treated as a second-class literary effort. But no, I think it's impossible to be fed up with science fiction. The parameters and breadth of it are just too great. This doesn't mean that one day I wouldn't like do something else - write a comedy and so on, but science fiction never gets tiresome to me.

  • from issue #26

  • from issue #26

  • from issue #26

  • from issue #26

  • from issue #26

Issue 27

Inside Star Trek 27 was published in 1978 (August?) and contains 32 pages. It was edited by Virginia Yaple.

cover of issue #27, "Congratulations to Gordon Schmidt, age 20... for his entry into the ART COVER CONTESTS. The more you look, the more you see. See Mr. Spock beckening [sic] and greeting the aliens as they emerge from their underground dwellings? Not the fine detail of the alien bodies and their salute of friendship."
  • Editor's Log (The editor apologizes for its lateness.) (2)
  • Movie Up-date (The character, Xon, is now not in the script as "Vulcan, as you know, is properly represented by our Mr. Spock, and the Enterprise happily receives him aboard its return flight, logically, as Leonard Nimoy.") (3)
  • Rebuilding a Legend (photos from the set and behind the scenes, including Majel Barrett - fully clothed -- in Kirk's sonic shower, photos of men working hard) (4)
  • Contest Results, judged by Bjo Trimble and John Trimble (8)
  • art by Carrie Porter (9)
  • newspaper clipping (10)
  • One to Beam Up: Interview with Nichelle Nichols and Kyle Johnson (includes photos of Nichelle, some of her son, Kyle Johnson) (11)
  • Inter-galactic Communications, letters from fans (21)
  • Pen Pals (22)
  • newsletter renewal order form (23)
  • Technically Speaking: The Playground of the Enterprise - The Life and Death of Stars, article by Jesco von Puttkamer (24)
  • Leonard Nimoy: A "Logical" Return to Spock, article and interview (27)
  • Mad About the Delay? This subscriber says it all..., humorous letter by will Schermerhorn, complaining about the three-month delay of this newsletter (31)
  • the editor states it her last issue, but she returns in issue #28 (32)

From the interview with Nichols:

...it was "Hurrah! The first black actress in a TV series..I made it!" The I began to see it was more than just a series, it was a resonsibility. There were good stories and certainly quality. I did not have the slightest inkling that it would go beyond that and that people would appreciate it and know something really intelligent was going on.

[...]

1 have such respect for the quality and integrity of Gene's work. If he wants something he can charmingly go all the way around Red Robin's Barn to get back to point A, but he's not going to compromise quantity for quality. I knownthat for many, many years.

[...]

When my agent called be back to Desilu in Los Angeles for an interview those 3 years later I had no idea Gene was involved. I was kind of anxious to continue my travels in Europe and wasn't particularly enthusiastic about the job so I'll never forget getting all dressed up in my new Parisian white suit, new hair-do, dressed literally to the nines - all of which simply was not done at these sessions. Most actors play down their dress so they're not immediately typed. Well, I breezed into an office of important looking people, suddenly spotted Gene behind the big desk and let out a huge scream nine octaves higher than my voice, and blew my image! But I was lucky enough to get the part against several top black actresses also under consideration all the same.

[...]

I knew by then that 'heavy hangs the head that wears the golden crown.' He's up there in a producer/creator position with so many responsibilities. Everyone else is involved with their own self-interests. But it was Gene who learned that one of my first loves was music and performing. He arranged to put the music side in to one of the STAR TREK episodes and helped promote that side of me.

[...]

I once had an experience [at a convention] when a child said, first looking at me and then at the picture of Uhura on the wall, "That's not Lt. Uhura." The mother panicked slightly, but I said, "You are absolutely right. • You know how it is, people on television who act parts?" The child nodded suspiciously, and I continued, "Well, that's what I did. Way back when you were a little baby I acted a part. I created, made up, this character whom I love very much and her name is Uhura. That was some time ago, and now she lives without me, and I just come along now and then - she1s like my daughter - would you like an autograph from both of us?" The child accepted the offer with delight, because kids are the most logical people in the world, but you must talk logic. 'You tell them you are back on earth, you changed your dress, your hair and mention your real name is Niche lie Nichols! They say, "That’s really okay, an long as you really love Uhura." All kinds of questions are asked and you have to answer as best you can, just as long as you remain honest.

[...]

I really feel you owe your public [and your fans]. Some things belong to your private life, but I believe that if you love and respect people and are going to be grateful and appreciative of the notice and celebrityship they have given you, you have to give back what the world gives you. When it becomes an imposition I say, "stop." But I'm known as a ’Fan Fan," I love them. They even presented me with a T-shirt saying, "I'm a Fan Fan."

There was a convention of approximately 40,000 people in Chicago. It was the first time NASA incorporated a long range space program presentation into one of the conventions and I was very curious about the project. Unfortunately I was spotted by an on-rush of enthusiastic fans and hotel security had to get physical with the people pulling and tearing at me. I finally got some of the crowd's attention and told them I would gladly stay an extra hour the next day to sign autographs, but at that moment I really was a fan, myself, and dearly wanted to watch the NASA presentation. They reacted incredibly. From being a potential mob victim I was totally protected by the fans themselves from anyone approaching me. I could hear them whispering, "Shh, Lt. Uhura is being a fan today, let her alone." I'll never forget it, because it started for violently and ended so beautifully the next day with the presentation of the T shirt!

  • from issue #27

  • from issue #27

  • from issue #27

  • from issue #27

Issue 28

Inside Star Trek 28 was published in 1978 (October?) and has 30 pages.

cover of issue #28

It was edited by Virginia Yaple, who wrote that despite her announcement of stepping down, she would continue the newsletter: "All I had to do was rearrange my life a little. I had already fallen slave to the mystic surrounding the "Star Trek" phenonoma [sic]."

From the editor:

YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED your issues run somewhat spasmodically and that we no longer have indicated the months on the back of your magazine. We have eliminated monthly reference because of the way the news reaches us for publishing from the studio. We want to bring you the best, up-to-minute information available, and of course the most interesting possible. BE ASSURED you will receive six issues per subscription and will try to keep them as bi-monthly as possible. Some weeks the production works solely on one small item, not particularly interesting for publication, so we are accumulating all the good stuff as the film is produced, along with a lot of backstage "gossip" about the making of the film.

  • Editor's Log (2)
  • Movie Up-date ("And speaking about sleek, the cast looks so good you'll swear time stood still, as evidenced by the photographs in the following pages... The sets have been redecorated by Harold Michelson to a fare-thee-well, and each and every one of you would happily move in. Captain Kirk's qioarters are now painted a rich cinnamon and beige, and the dramatic appointments in his sleeping area and bath are consistent with the new Star Date."... Costumes are impressive, and wait until you see the new belts. Quiet style and fit accentuate the trim figure; of the efficient crew as they hurry to their respective positions at the bridge, engine room and sick bay.") (3)
  • Charisma Personified (photos) (4)
  • Snip, Snip, Snip, and Still Gorgeous!, article and photo of Persis Khambatta (the article emphasized, YET AGAIN, her olive skin, her beauty, her lack of hair; some descriptions of Khambatta walking into a restaurant and everyone so stunned they drop their food "Persis sashayed by.... What do you think....is bald the coming thing?!!" [24]) (6)
  • Introducing Persis Khambatta as "Ilia" (photo) (7)
  • Stephen Collins Yum!, article and photos (8)
  • Letters to Gene (9)
  • A View from the Bridge: Interview with Gene Roddenberry (10)
  • photo of Henry Hathaway, Gene Roddenberry, Robert Wise, and Bill Shatner, publicity photo of The Big Three (17)
  • Meanwhile, Voodoo Strikes Back, Majel Barrett article about her in "Next Step Behind" (includes photos) (18)
  • Technically Speaking: The Playground of the Enterprise - "Jaws" of Outer Space: The Black Hole, article by Jesco von Puttkamer (20)
  • Penpals (23)
  • Yes, Virginia... There is a Star Trek, article by Virginia Yaple about visiting the set (25)

Issue 29

Inside Star Trek 29 was published in 1979 (January/February) and has 32 pages. It was edited by Virginia Yaple.

cover of issue #29: "An Australian floral greeting met the cast as Diane Merchant's [sic] Australian fans had the STAR TREK insignia copied in bright yellow daisies and lavender chysanthenrums [sic] and presented to the group working on stage 9, The Roddenberry's, (Majel and Gene), Walter Koenig and George Takei were on hand to admire the generous tribute, which went on display in the newly completed Enterprise engine room, for all to enjoy. THANKS AUSTRALIA."
  • Editor's Log ("Although the Big Bird is currently under the weather, all concerned with the movie got a nice surprise the day of the STAR TREK Christmas party on Stage 10. It seems that at one time or another, each person connected with the STAR TREK project has been photographed at their respective jobs. Gene had the photographs blown up to 8" by 10" glossies, wrote personal notes and autographed each, hung them all around the interior of the party set for everyone to see and then take home. Nice memories forever and ever for those lucky people associated with the project, and well deserved too! As for you. Gene, get lots of rest and get well soon, - we know you're just plumb worn out") (2)
  • Movie Up-date, info about the call for fans to be extras ("Several hundred short, tall, fat, thin, bald, hairy, dumpy, clumpy, lean, lank, young, old, teenage, smooth, crinkled, wrinkled, mustached, bearded folks turned up, out of which Robert Wise personally selected each and every individual for the scene. To emphasize the unending loyalty accompanying Treekie-itis [25], nobody objected to the cutting or shaving of his own personal locks, mustaches or beards - Anything to be a part of the Star Trek adventure.") (3)
  • And Then You Said..., letters from fans (5)
  • Pssst! Wanna Hear the Story? (partial synopsis. "Our beloved Paramount Pictures felt benevolent one day recently and let us in on THE of THE story on THE picture now being filmed. (Yes, you can take my word for it, the picture IS being filmed.") (6)
  • photos (9)
  • photos of birthday parties on the set (10)
  • fan art (16)
  • Pen Pals (17)
  • Story Contest Winners (the judge was Walter Koenig) (18)
  • On the Wings of Pegasus, story by Renee Evans (a first place contest winner) (20)
  • Contest (in 55 words or less, "What does Star Trek mean to you?") (23)
  • Technically Speaking: The Playground of the Enterprise - Black Holes: Strange Nothings - Keyes to the Universe, article by Jesco von Puttkamer (24)
  • Jesco Answers the Fans (includes photos) (28)
  • newsletter renewal form (31)

  • from issue #29

  • from issue #29

  • from issue #29

  • from issue #29

  • from issue #29

Issue 30

Inside Star Trek 30 was published in 1979 (unknown month) and has 32 pages.

cover of issue #30

It was edited by Virginia Yaple.

This issue's entire content is various boring canned press releases and publicity photos.

DEAR READERS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR PATIENCE. INSIDE STAR TREK #30 HAS BEEN A LONG TIME IN COMING BUT FINALLY HERE IT IS. IT TAKES THE FORM OF A SORT OF HANDBOOK OF PRODUCTION INFORMATION FOR ’’STAR TREK-THE MOTION PICTURE”. I HOPE IT ANSWERS A LOT OF YOUR QUESTIONS.

UNFORTUNATELY, THIS WILL BE OUR LAST ISSUE FOR A WHILE. WE WERE HOPING TO BRING YOU NEWS OF A NEW STAR TREK, BUT AT THE MOMENT THAT IS UP IN THE AIR. HOWEVER IF SOMETHING SHOULD HAPPEN AND WE REACTIVATE, THE NEWSLETTER, YOU WILL CERTAINLY BE NOTIFIED. SO KEEP US INFORMED OF ANY CHANGE OF ADDRESS

  • Credit List
  • The Universe and Beyond, article by Peter Bankers (about how the movie was made)
  • The Actors (official photos and blurbs)
  • Creative People Behind the Scenes
  • A Letter from Gene Roddenberry (Excerpt: "You probably know that the STAR TREK following is one of the largest groups of its kind in the country. As such, I have frequently been asked to endorse many worthwhile causes. What you may not know is that I have never done so, nor have I ever made available any STAR TREK mailing list for these purposes. But now I am breaking with that tradition to tell you of The Planetary Society, an organization formed by Carl Sagan and Bruce Murray to encourage and popularize our exploration of the solar system and the search for extraterrestrial life. Let me tell you why. The essence of the STAR TREK missions are to discover, to learn more about our universe and to apply that knowledge to the benefit of mankind. STAR TREK is, of course, fiction. But its idea is very real and very important. It is this idea which The Planetary Society is devoted to and I believe they can help turn into a reality... ")
  • Message from an Extra-Terrestrial ("In a recent lecture on astronomy at the University of Hawaii, Star Trek's creator Gene Roddenberry, surprised students and space scientists with the announcement that he was going to read a few paragraphs "From the writings of an authentic extra-terrestrial." As always, it was hard to know whether Roddenberry was joking or not — he has been known to "pull the leg" of audiences before.")

The Third Run (1986-1989): Promoting Star Trek: The Next Generation

This third reiteration was solely focused on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Reactions and Reviews: The Third Series

A comment from a fan in 1989:

While going through my collection, I read an article about Brent Spiner that was written about a year ago in INSIDE STAR TREK, Then I went back to my "official" fan club mag (dated January '89). [26] Some of the quotes are exactly the same. Word for word. I couldn't believe my eyes. After working for my college newspaper for three years, I understand that different reporters will ask the same questions, but this was uncanny. At first I laughed. Then when I read that Brent doesn't give interviews, I got angry. If that's the case, it would explain why the quotes in the "official" fanzine match the older story.

It's upsetting to think you're reading up-to-date stuff only to find it's rehashed. Needless to say, I have no intention of renewing my subscription when it runs out. It also made me think about the power of P.R., and wonder how stupid these writers think we fans are. [27]

Issue 31

Inside Star Trek 31 was published in 1987 (yes, eight years later) and contains 16 pages. Almost everything appears to be written by Marie, who is also listed as the editor.

front cover of issue #31
back cover of issue #31

From the editorial:

Welcome to a brand new issue of Inside Star Trek. We've been on an extended hiatus, but now we're back, bigger and better than before! With each new issue, we will endeavor to provide you with the latest "inside" news and information from the world of "Star Trek."

Our new format provides us with the unique opportunity for input from a great variety of fans. This is your publication, and we want to hear from you. We encourage you to write to us with your ideas and opinions. We know that our readers have a universal- array of backgrounds and experiences that can contribute to make this publication an exciting new venture.

In future issues of Inside Star Trek, we plan to feature a letters section with comments, reaction and analysis from our readers. We also plan a question and answer section where the editors will strive to answer your "Star Trek" related questions, as well as pose some of our own in the trivia section. And we will also offer story and art contests, in addition to our regular features and columns. The entire publication will be geared to your interests, so please let us know what you would like to see in these pages! We want to provide something for all "Star Trek" fans to enjoy.

  • Log Entry, editorial (3)
  • Star Party (a report on Gene Roddenberry and Jonathan Frakes’ Birthday Party) (4)
  • Observational “Data” on Brent Spiner by Marie (5)
  • Close-up: Meet the man who brings the aliens alive in “Star Trek: the Next Generation” – Michael Westmore by Marie (7)
  • Life on a Starship (captions by Marie) (9)
  • Story Contest (10)
  • Trek Trivia; Meet Starfleet’s Lieutenant Blaze: Lorine Mendell by Marie (11)
  • Majel Barrett guest stars in "Haven" (12)
  • New at Lincoln Enterprises (14)
  • Lorine Mendell (15)
  • other miscellanies including a full-color back cover of Majel Barrett as “Lwuxana Troi," pictures of Brent Spiner, Michael Westmore, Marina Sirtis, Patrick Stewart, Lorine Mendell, et al

  • from issue #31

  • from issue #31

Issue 32

Inside Star Trek 32 was published in 1988 and contains 20 pages.

front cover of issue #32
from issue #32

It was edited by Eric Stillwell.

Tidbit: When Stillwell was 15 years old, he had a penpal listing in issue #24.

Much of the content is by Christina Mavroudis who becomes the editor of the last few issues.

  • Log Entry ("Something funny happened on the way to Paris! Exclusive Interview.) (3)
  • Denise Crosby, interview (though this is called: "Denish [sic] Crosby, original short story" in the table of contents) (4)
  • Advocate for Eden, short fiction written and illustrated by Patricia Davis (8)
  • Star Treks ("Keeping in touch with the stars!") (10)
  • Letters to the Editor (14)
  • Pen-Pals (there is only one listing) (15)
  • Conventions (15)
  • New from Lincoln (18)

Issue 33

Inside Star Trek 33 was published in 1988 and contains 15 pages.

front cover of issue #33
from issue #33

This issue was edited by Christina Mavroudis. It contains cartoons by Melody Rondeau.

  • Log Entry (2)
  • Letters (4)
  • Hailing Frequencies (4)
  • Gates McFadden Interview conducted by Christina Mavroudis (6)
  • Convention Report by Lisa White: Patrick Stewart at Star Fest (8)
  • Star Tracks (9)
  • A Salute to the Stand-ins, article by Christina Mavroudis (10)
  • Art/Short Story Contest (11)
  • Data Banks (11)
  • Photo Gallery: Star Trek Creationcon (12)
  • Photo Gallery: Star Trek Adventure (13)
  • Bedtime Story by Nancy Kelley (14)
  • First Season Poll (15)

Issue 34

Inside Star Trek 34 was published in November 1988 and contains 14 pages.

cover of issue #34
from issue #35

This issue was edited by Christina Mavroudis.

  • Letters (1)
  • Hailing Frequencies (2)
  • Star Tracks (5)
  • Second Season Preview: The Next Generation - Mark II (photos) (6)
  • Smile & Smile & Be a Villain, article by Lisa White and Laura Osgood (about John de Lancie who portrays the character, Q) (7)
  • Some Things Never Change, fiction by Stephen M. Scott, Jr (10)
  • Review of "Ghost Ship," by Lisa White (11)
  • Data Banks (12)
  • New at Lincolon (Lincoln Enterprises swag catalog) (13)

Issue 35

cover of issue #35

Inside Star Trek 35 was published in June 1989 ("Stardate 8906.02") and contains 14 pages.

It was edited by Christina Mavroudis who asks that all correspondence for this newsletter be sent to her home address.

From the editorial:

In the past, I’ve used the editorial to wrap up loose ends, apologize for lateness, thank contributors and, well, apologize. (Humbleness is traditional). Hence forth, the major portion of this column will be devoted to topical themes - an opportunity to address current Star Trek trends and/or issues.

Initially I was going to vocalize my displeasure with the current media trend using shock value. Since this is wasted effort (the tabloids have been sensationalizing since the Civil War era), I thought I’d to comment on a statement made by Paramount's Ned Tanen. He is quoted as saying, "The company would like to continue with the (Star Trek) movies, but it’s tough; they’re getting to be very expensive and the actors are getting older. And its also becoming increasingly difficult to keep the cast together, with William Shatner in demand as he is and with Leonard Nimoy’s thriving career as a director."

"Using replacements for Shatner or Nimoy - or any other member of the original team wouldn’t work, Tanen said." "’Star Trek’ is a phenomenon. The audience is attached to the specific group of actors who’ve been part of ’Star Trek’ for more than two decades - and they don’t want to see a switch. "Odds are that the ’Star Trek’ we’re releasing in May (?) will be the last ’Star Trek’ that’s made."

Mr. Tanen's speculation that STV:TFF will be the last of the movies shows some valid reasoning. However, I take exception to his comment that the audience doesn’t "want to see a switch" because we’re "attached to a specific group of actors."

Such generalized statements were rampant during pre-production of The Next Generation. Executives declared that the new series wouldn’t work, backing their claims with a handful of negative fan letters. History has proven the error of their logic.

If Paramount were to continue the ST movies by recasting, there might be resistance, but not to the extreme they predict. The idea which best symbolizes Star Trek’s promise for the future of man is the IDIC: Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations. Simply stated, it’s this open minded outlook which seems prevalent in the majority of Trek adherents. Again, if this is to be the last movie, let it not be for reasons which underestimate the intelligence of the audience.

  • Log Entry, editorial (2)
  • Letters (3)
  • Hailing Frequencies (4)
  • Data Banks (6)
  • Michael Dorn: Klingon Contrasts, article by Lisa White (7)
  • Gates McFadden: A Convention Pictorial (9)
  • Star Tracks (candid photos of the stars) (10)
  • Stewart's Scrooge: An Acting Triumph, article (11)
  • Worf's Present, fiction by Carol Burhans (12)
  • New at Lincoln (14)

Issue 36

Inside Star Trek 36 weirdly has a publication date of April 1989 ("Stardate 89.4.1") which is a month before the previous issue. It contains 15 pages.

It was edited by Christina Mavroudis.

cover of issue #36
cover of issue #36

There are several fan letters complaining about not receiving the issues they paid for. The editor responds by saying the newsletter now has a new printer so things will get better.

Excerpts from the Roddenberry interview:

IST: How much do fan letters affect the show and do you feel any pressure from them?

GR: No, because letters from fans reflect a diversity. We stay in touch with fan attitudes, but we’re not about to let the fans bully us into doing a job because it’s our job to decide. We don’t mind advice, but it’s our job to decide who the characters are and what their beliefs and feelings are. Also, if I had listened to the fans too closely there never would have been a "Next Generation.” From the first, the fans said, ”If you don’t have Kirk and Spock, you don’t have a show.” In the end, it’s my job and writers and producers job to consider all the possibilities.

[...]

IST: What is your reaction to "Star Trek V" and did you have any input?

GR: Well, I commented to them quite a bit when the story first came out. I had strong objections to much that was in it and many of them have been resolved. I feel, however, that I should not interfere with the production of (the movies), because if I wanted to interfere with production then I should producing it. But I do feel that it’s my duty to see that they stay true to "Star Trek"s basic ideas.

IST: At this point, do you feel they are staying with that direction?

GR: If, when I see the rough cut next week and it doesn’t, then they’ll certainly hear from me. But understand, if I want to interfere then I should be producing. Either that or take my name off the screen.

[...]

IST: Do you do much lecturing?

GR: I used to do a lot of lecturing, but I do less and less now. In fact, after "Star Trek” was thrown off the air, Majel and I kept body and soul and mortgage on the house together by lecturing at colleges. People were not really anxious for me to be writing things because I was the guy who produced that great failure, ’’Star Trek”. But we kept, literally, body and soul together because the fans, God bless them, were anxious for us to come to their college. It was rough, however, flying airplanes around the country in the dead of winter, strange towns, never enough sleep...

  • Log Entry (2)
  • Letters (2)
  • Hailing Frequencies (4)
  • Interview: Gene Roddenberry (6)
  • Exclusive: ST:TNG Holiday Party (9)
  • Reader Forum (10)
  • Data Banks (12)
  • The Little People, fiction by Nancy Kelley (13)
  • Star Tracks (14)
  • New at Lincoln (15)

References

  1. ^ mentioned in I even dream of work: Interview with Susan Sackett (1976)
  2. ^ from Media Fandom Oral History Project Interview with Ruth Berman
  3. ^ Actually, the newsletter had had five editors at that point; Mavroudis was the sixth.
  4. ^ Paul McCartney hired Star Trek creator to make Wings Sci-Fi film (June 29, 2016)
  5. ^ Memory Alpha - Inside Star Trek
  6. ^ One of these stories was likely Mirror Conspiracy.
  7. ^ EI refers to the episode "The Enterprise Incident."
  8. ^ Linville was the name of the actress who portrayed The Romulan Commander.
  9. ^ from Plak-Tow #9 August 1968
  10. ^ The GRAS thing sounds more like an excuse for a private party, than an actual club. From a note in this issue of "Inside Star Trek": "Applications for membership GRAS -- which has no dues and no plans for future activities -- or for the Mark Leonard International Fan Club, which has dues and will be putting out a newsletter, can be send to PO Box 2427, Station D, Ottawa 4, Ontario, Canada."
  11. ^ No doubt.
  12. ^ from Pentathlon #1, Perhaps this reviewer doesn't realize that at the time IST was published and mailed to the very earliest fans of the show, these things were new and very interesting. To them, quality artwork or a fancy layout didn't matter nearly as much as facts about every person who worked on the show, including the film crew. These were people who had never seen that picture of Chekov before.
  13. ^ from a letter printed in "Star Trektennial News" #14
  14. ^ from a letter printed in "Star Trektennial News" #14
  15. ^ from a letter printed in "Star Trektennial News" #14
  16. ^ from a letter printed in "Star Trektennial News" #14
  17. ^ from a letter in issue #16
  18. ^ from a letter in issue #16
  19. ^ mentioned in I even dream of work: Interview with Susan Sackett (1976)
  20. ^ It didn't.
  21. ^ This story was to be about an invasion from space that would involve Paul’s group, Wings, and Paul as an outer space rock singer.
  22. ^ This may be a reference to New York Star Trek '76.
  23. ^ "STAR TREK spelled with a capital '$'" is an ironic statement, seeing how this newsletter is owned and operated by Lincoln Enterprises.
  24. ^ Just ask Jean-Luc Picard!
  25. ^ "Treekie-itis" is likely a typo and was meant to be "Trekkie-itis".
  26. ^ Is this fan referencing "[The Official Star Trek: The Next Generation Magazine"? -- this was published during the same time frame, but there is no January 1989 issue.
  27. ^ Data Entries #8 (July 1989)

Notes

  1. ^ They never mentioned the real origin for the phrase, but there's no way they wouldn't have known it. "Happiness is a Warm Gorn" is a takeoff on the Beatles' "Happiness is a Warm Gun" from the White Album, which had come out earlier that year.
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