Bjo Trimble
| Fan | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Bjo Trimble |
| Alias(es): | Betty JoAnne Trimble, née Conway |
| Type: | fan, fan writer, zine publisher |
| Fandoms: | Star Trek: TOS |
| Communities: | |
| Other: | |
| URL: |  a thank-you on the table of contents page from the zine, Warped Space #14, the reference to "April" is to Equicon, the artist is Jane Clinkenbeard |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Bjo Trimble was the original Star Trek: TOS Big Name Fan and supporter of the show. Trimble coined the term Dippie to describe a foolish and shrill Star Trek fan.
Trimble asserted she started Star Trek fandom. In 1975 she wrote: "I did start ST fandom, remember; there's not much new I can be told about the show."[1] In 2016 she was quoted: "'We're pretty sure that the Trek community you see today would not have existed but for us,' Bjo Trimble says. 'Not bragging.'"[2]
She and her husband, John Trimble, were active in science fiction fandom since the 1950s. They assisted Gene Roddenberry in setting up Lincoln Enterprises in 1967 and were put in charge of answering the deluge of fan mail. The Trimbles and the Roddenberrys had a falling out when the company changed hands.
Bjo Trimble edited newsletters, wrote articles in many zines, and together with John started the 1968 letter-writing campaign called Save Star Trek to bring the show back after it had been threatened with cancellation. Trimble also created The Star Trek Concordance with Dorothy Jones Heydt.
She talks about her experiences in the book On the Good Ship Enterprise: My 15 Years With Star Trek (1982).
The character of Lady Helena Trimble in Roddenberry's proposed show Questor Tapes (1974) was named for Trimble.
Trimble, never shy about her role in Star Trek history, used it to promote interest in her later publications. From flyers for Space-Time Continuum: "Edited by the original 'SAVE STAR TREK' lady, Bjo Trimble" and "from Bjo Trimble, the fan who saved Star Trek."
Between April 1980 and April 1983, Trimble was a regular columnist in Starlog for a series called "Fan Scene." Some examples Fan Scene: Introducing Bjo #33 (April 1980), How to Win in a Walk... Across the Masquerade Stage #50 (September 1981) and Bjo-Con 1 #68 (March 1983).
In June 2024, Bjo attended the 84th Peabody Awards which honoured the Star Trek franchise for its contribution to American television. She was recognised in the audience and credited by Alex Kurtzman for her own role in the franchise's success[3].
Interviews
- Trekplace Interview with Bjo Trimble (1999)
- History Is Written By The Victors: Bjo Trimble talks about saving Star Trek (2003)
- Bjo Trimble: The Woman Who Saved Star Trek (2011)
- Hungry Tiger Talk: Bjo Trimble in Oz!, Archived version (2014 interview, posted 2015)
- Women in Trek Fandom: Bjo Trimble – Women at Warp, Archived version; archive link (2016)
Some Art
Bjo's portrait by Marianne Plumridge for 1987 charity calendar
Bjo's cartoon self-portrait in the 1978 Phantasmicon program book
Some Photos
Bjo Trimble, William Shatner, and David Gerrold on the set.
Bjo Trimble with Karen and Poul Anderson in 1968 at Fun Con
John and Bjo Trimble at Fun Con
Maltz (Ian McLean) introduces Bjo Trimble, Eccentricon 1987
1993: A Fan Wishes Her a Happy Birthday
The 15th August 1993 sees the 60th birthday of a pretty special person in fandom, Bjo Trimble. Bjo has been a friend and mentor to me for a long time, and I grew up knowing she was a special person whose energy and talents have touched more people than some meet in a whole lifetime. Yet, new fans barely recognise the name. Now, I can live without Australian neofans not knowing who Sue Clarke is, but not knowing who Bjo Trimble is is like saying you don't know who the Father of Federation is, or who the first man was who walked on the Moon.Without Bjo's efforts, there would not have been a third season of Star Trek, or the first of the Trek movies which lead to the rest, and the new series. Did you realise that she manned the orders that went out to you through the Federation Trading Post, or answered your enquiries sent to Gene Roddenbery [sic] in those earlier years; or that she is the penultimate Trek expert in the world? That she was in the first of the Trek movies, or that Gene Rodenbery [sic] and Harvey Bennet [sic] introduce her as one of the most important people to know? That she was one of the founding members of the Society of Creative Anachronism which has branches all over the world; or that worked as a clown-helper in those first Special Olympics?
If you can get a copy of her book ON THE GOOD SHIP ENTERPRISE, you'll see what I mean and get an appreciation of the energy, generosity and creativity of this powerhouse of a woman. [4]
Meta, Open Letters, Fan Campaigns
Open Letters by Bjo
- The Loyal Opposition, zine in support of Walter Breen, who was a convicted, serial child molester (1964)
- Open Letter by Bjo Trimble to Doctor Who Fans (1995)
Meta by Bjo
- The main problem is, however, that we suddenly found ourselves, at SF conventions, up to our collective necks in screaming Trekkies. (1975)
- Dear Artist: Under-Draw! (1985)
Fan Campaigns BY Bjo
- History of Star Trek Fan Campaigns
- Write Now, letter campaign for "saving the space program from budget cuts which will kill it forever!" (1981)
Fan Campaigns FOR Bjo
From the Jan/Feb 1986 issue of Communications Console:
Allies member Sandra Fouts is asking fellow ST fans to write to Pocket Books to help Bjo Trimble in getting a ST novel published. Sandra writes, "In my conversations with Bjo Trimble, she has informed me that she is having problems getting her novel published. In my opinion, Bjo is a neat person and a very good writer. She has done a lot for Star Trek and the fans. Therefore, Kathleen Fisher and I have been asking people to write Pocket Books a nice letter and tell them that we would very much like to see a ST novel by her."
Convention Appearances
(beside many others)
- Fleet Academy North (1996) – Guest of Honor
References
- ^ from her 1975 LoC known for "The main problem is, however, that we suddenly found ourselves, at SF conventions, up to our collective necks in screaming Trekkies."
- ^ This Is How Star Trek Invented Fandom (GQ September 21, 2016)
- ^ Star Trek Honored at 84th Annual Peabody Awards, StarTrek.Com, June 10/24 (via Wayback Sep 4/24)
- ^ Susan Clarke in Beyond Antares #33