Welcome! As part of its ongoing mission to document the Art and Production History of Star Trek, this site will present technical articles on Star Trek prop and costume authentication - focusing on The Original Series - with detailed photos and episode screenshots to complement the information presented; as well as feature pictorials to showcase Star Trek memorabilia in private & public collections, present rare Behind The Scenes TOS imagery & discuss other topics.
Gerald Gurian is a 40+ year collector of screen used Star Trek memorabilia and a passionate fan of TOS
     
- Star Trek TOS At Auction Part I - Gurian Collection Highlights - Greg Jein TOS Hero Type II Phaser
-Authenticating a TOS Communicator -6 Myths About Star Trek Prop Design -Star Trek 3rd Season Command Tunic
- Design Features of TOS Tricorders -Star Trek Props At National Air & Space - TOS Leatherette Tricorder
- TOS Federation Sciences Dress -Desilu Studio TOS Prop Fabrication - Unreleased Allen/Gurian Prop Photos
- The Beautiful Women of TOS Part I -TOS U.S.S. Enterprise 11' Filming Model - Captain Kirk's Chair from TOS
- Spock Ears -TOS Control Panels & Displays - Mr. Spock's Science Station
- TOS Soundstage at Desilu -TOS Shatner Romulan Pants - The Beautiful Women of TOS Pt. II
- TOS Galileo Shuttlecraft -Greg Jein TOS Cage Laser Pistol - TOS 3rd Season Midgrade Type II Phaser
- Dr. McCoy's Sickbay on TOS -TOS Balok Puppet Head - Captain Kirk "Mirror, Mirror" Tunic
- Greg Jein TOS Hero Tricorder -1992 Smithsonian TOS Cast Video - TOS 1st Season Command Tunic
- TOS "Where No Man" Silver Contact Lenses -TOS Special Effects: The Transporter - The Art of Matt Jefferies
- TOS "Space Seed" Gold Mesh Jumpsuit -Gorn Costume from "Arena" - Rare TOS Behind-the-Scenes Videos
- TOS Stunt Type II Phaser -1993 Bill Theiss Estate Auction - TOS Shatner Command Dress Tunic
- TOS Elasian Royal Guard Tunic -TOS Finnegan Silver "Shore Leave" Tunic - TOS Science Officer Tunic "The Cage"
- TOS Shatner Early 1st Season Command Tunic -William Shatner TOS Tunics At Auction - TOS Shatner Late 1st Season Command Tunic

Saturday, February 28, 2009

Star Trek: The Exhibition In Detroit - Bridge Display Panels

This third in a series of posts on Star Trek: The Exhibition; now open at the Detroit Science Center (http://www.detroitsciencecenter.org/) until Sept. 7, 2009; focuses on the Display Panels of the full size Original Series USS Enterprise Bridge replica. This TOS Bridge is just one of several simulated Star Trek environments on display that provides fans with an unequalled opportunity to immerse themselves and interact with the world of Star Trek. Startrekpropauthority.blogspot.com was allowed to photograph the exhibition on Feb. 14th, 2009 and Feb. 21st, 2009 and is presenting posts on some of the exciting TOS-related components of this comprehensive collection - which features screen used costumes, props, starship filming models and set recreations that span all 5 Star Trek television series and 10 feature films. Many thanks to the staff of the Detroit Science Center for their kind assistance; with special recognition to Kelly Fulford, Kerri Budde, Amanda Jackson, and Todd Slisher for their outstanding support.

The introductory post on Star Trek: The Exhibition which provides a general overview of the event can be seen at: http://startrekpropauthority.blogspot.com/2009/02/star-trek-exhibition-beams-into-detroit.html

The photo immediately below shows an authentic Bridge display panel from the 1960's Desilu TOS Bridge set. This Engineering station panel was backlit with ceramic 25-watt light sockets and wiring that could randomly flash the bulbs to generate the on-screen appearance of a dynamic, functioning starship display. While the graphics panels on the Detroit Bridge replica were static and always steadily lit; visitors to the simulated TOS Bridge on opening day were told that many of the backlit panels were authentic screens that were present during filming of the series from 1966-69.



Below are some views of the different sets of display panels as they are arranged at the various workstations on the TOS Bridge replica. Mr. Spock's Library Computer Station ...

Lt. Uhura's Communications Station ...

The Engineering Station, used by Mr. Scott while on duty on the Bridge ...

The Environmental Systems Station ...

The Engineering Sub-systems Checkout Station ...

Below are selected screenshots from some first season TOS episodes that illustrate well many of the display panels which were seen around the Bridge perimeter. Indeed, many appear to be identical matches to those on display at the Detroit exhibit...





Some close-ups of the Original Series display panels in the simulated TOS Bridge environment at Star Trek: The Exhibition ...


























Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Star Trek: The Exhibition In Detroit - The Original Series Bridge

This second in a series of posts on Star Trek: The Exhibition; now open at the Detroit Science Center (http://www.detroitsciencecenter.org/) until Sept. 7, 2009; focuses on the full size replica of the Original Series Enterprise Bridge. This TOS Bridge is just one of several simulated Star Trek environments on display that provides fans with an unequalled opportunity to immerse themselves and interact with the world of Star Trek. Startrekpropauthority.blogspot.com was allowed to photograph the exhibition on Feb. 14th, 2009 and Feb. 21st, 2009 and will be presenting posts on some of the exciting TOS-related components of this comprehensive collection - which features screen used costumes, props, starship filming models and set recreations that span all 5 Star Trek television series and 10 feature films. Many thanks to the staff of the Detroit Science Center for their kind assistance; with special recognition to Kelly Fulford, Kerri Budde, Amanda Jackson, and Todd Slisher for their outstanding support.

Stepping onto this simulated TOS Bridge was personally an exhilirating experience; and should be one of the great highlights of a trip to the Science Center for those fans who grew up watching the adventures of Kirk and crew! In some respects, this environment surpasses that which would have been observed by guests to the Desilu soundstage in the '60s during TOS production. The actual TOS Bridge set was divided into many pie-shaped sections and was rarely fully assembled as seen in Detroit. Often, chunks were removed so that lighting equipment and cameras could be set up close to the actors to film just the portion of the set required for the scene at-hand. Also, Bridge sections out of camera-range would typically remain unpowered - with all backlit displays completely dark.

Below are several photos of this incredibly detailed Star Trek TOS environment. The introductory post on Star Trek: The Exhibition which provides a general overview of the event can be seen at:
http://startrekpropauthority.blogspot.com/2009/02/star-trek-exhibition-beams-into-detroit.html


















































Sunday, February 22, 2009

Star Trek: The Exhibition Beams into the Detroit Science Center

The corner of John R Street and Warren Ave in Detroit, Michigan has just become the center of the Star Trek universe; as the world's most comprehensive collection of screen-used props, costumes, authentic starship filming models and full-size set re-creations that span all 5 Star Trek television series and the 10 major motion pictures - Star Trek: The Exhibition - made it's midwest debut at the Detroit Science Center on Saturday, February 14th, 2009.

This spectacular exhibit is scheduled to run for approximately 7 months until September 7th, 2009; having just concluded a highly successful engagement at the San Diego Air and Space Museum in California - where it made it's national premiere. Encompassing approximately 12,000 square feet on two levels, this historic assembly of Star Trek artifacts drew a large opening day crowd - with some fans traveling from as far away as New York City to attend. Michael Okuda, who was a graphic designer on Star Trek: TNG, Voyager, Enterprise and several of the motion pictures; worked with Premier Exhibitions, Inc., - the organizer of Star Trek: The Exhibition - to help design the various displays; and was also in town for the Detroit opening.

The exhibition provides an unparalleled opportunity for fans to fully immerse themselves in several different simulated Star Trek environments ... by stepping onto a full-size recreation of the Original Series Enterprise NCC-1701 Bridge; or walking through a curving corridor of the Enterprise-D with Captain Picard's quarters and a full-size TNG Transporter Room in view; or standing before an awe-inspiring recreation of the Guardian of Forever portal from the highly acclaimed TOS episode "The City On The Edge Of Forever".

At a price of $18.95 for adults and $14.95 for children; Star Trek: The Exhibition is well worth the cost of admission. (For an extra charge, visitors can also experience a Star Trek themed adventure ride in a full-motion flight simulator; and fans may also elect to purchase photos of themselves on the Original Series Bridge, in the Transporter and at the Guardian.) This is truly an extraordinary experience that will be remembered for a lifetime! Additional information is available at the Science Center's website: http://www.detroitsciencecenter.org/

Startrekpropauthority.blogspot.com was given permission to take photographs inside the exhibit on February 14th and also February 21st as part of the courtesy extended to the media; and will be presenting additional articles on some of the exciting artifacts on display - primarily those related to The Original Series. Many thanks to the staff of the Detroit Science Center for their kind assistance; with special recognition to Kelly Fulford, Kerri Budde, Amanda Jackson, and Todd Slisher for their insights and support.

Below are some photos of the diverse offerings of this historic exhibit...