"Star Trek" was created by a former Los Angeles police sergeant named Gene Roddenberry in 1964. A life-long fan of the science fiction genre, Roddenberry proposed his idea to studios, calling it a cross between Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon.
Roddenberry's vision was of multi-cultural crew, serving aboard a futuristic spaceship, the USS Enterprise. While organized along military lines, and incorporating naval ranks, they explored distant galaxies, for scientific and peaceful purposes.
The series was eventually picked up, and a pilot episode was commissioned for $500,000. Titled "The Cage", it debuted at a science fiction convention in 1966, and starred Jeffrey Hunter as Christopher Pike, the original Enterprise captain.
The Birth of the Television Series
The audience at the convention loved it, and NBC ordered a second pilot, but with changes. William Shatner assumed the role of the Enterprise's captain, James Kirk. Mr. Spock, who was the ship's science officer in the pilot, was promoted to First Officer.
Other crew members also became fan favourites, such as Scottish engineer Montgomery Scott, and the ship's surgeon, Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy.
Star Trek ran for three seasons, from 1966 to 1969, although it failed to place any higher than 52nd in the ratings. By the end of its third season, the show had been cancelled. In an attempt to recover some of the losses incurred by its high costs, Star Trek was released into syndication.
Star Trek Fans
A whole new legion of fans discovered the show in re-runs, and began asking for new episodes. Paramount, however, refused.
In 1972, the first Star Trek convention was held at a New York hotel. Thousands of fans showed up, many in costumes, both human and alien. Since then, the conventions have become an annual event in most cities around the world.
The popularity of Star Trek was overwhelming. In the mid-1970's, the adventures of the Enterprise crew continued in animated form. Twenty two episodes of a Star Trek cartoon were produced, and most of the original cast provided the voices of their characters.
Star Trek Merchandising
Merchandising also brought in big money in the 1970's. The Star Trek logo, and character images, could be found everywhere. They appeared on posters, t-shirts, lunch boxes.... and even a line of action figures produced by the toy manufacturer Mego. Fans were buying anything and everything.
Between 1967 to 1979, Golden Key even produced a series of Star Trek comic books. If the show wasn't on TV, then fans could follow the adventures of the Enterprise crew on paper.
Star Trek Movies and New Series
The cast was re-united again, in 1979, when Paramount released a Star Trek movie. It was a cinematic success, and a total of six movies were produced between 1979 and 1991, starring the original crew members.
In 1987, Star Trek again returned to the small screen. In a series set approximately seventy years after Captain Kirk's adventures, a new Enterprise was launched. This time, the ship was under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard, portrayed by British actor Patrick Stewart.
Another hit, this series ran until 1994. The crew of Picard's Enterprise also starred in several motion pictures. Three more television series' followed, including "Star Trek, Voyager", in which the first female captain took command of an Enterprise.
There can be no doubt Star Trek's popularity. The first space shuttle launched by NASA was named Enterprise. Washington's Smithsonian Institute has the model from the original series displayed, and a Las Vegas attraction called "Star Trek, the Experience" draws thousands of visitors every year.
Star Trek Movie, 2009
An all new Star Trek movie is set to be released on May 8, 2009. Although the studio's have kept the plot a closely guarded secret, it is known that the film will be a prequel to the original series. Younger actors will be playing the roles of Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock, engineer Scotty and Dr. McCoy, set in their Starfleet Academy days.
Leonard Nimoy, the original Spock, will also be appearing in the new film.
The film appears to be one of the most eagerly anticipated movies of 2009.
Jason Gray - I was born and raised in the Toronto area, and am proud to be a Canadian. I have always had a strong interest in history, especially the ...
