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

Monday, August 8, 2011

Star Trek TOS Elasian Royal Guard Tunic & Armor from "Elaan of Troyius"

Presented below are some detailed photos of a rare Elasian Royal Guard Tunic worn by actor Chuck Beck in the memorable 3rd Season TOS episode "Elaan of Troyius" (first airdate: Dec. 20, 1968). This tunic is missing its chest and shoulder armor, but still retains two large armor pieces affixed to its back. Constructed from a shiny gold colored fabric and accented by the orange plates; this costume is one of TOS Costume Designer Bill Theiss's highly attractive creations for the series.

Always budget conscious, the Desilu wardrobe department obtained the orange material for the armor by utilizing off-the-shelf kitchen table plastic placemats.











Interestingly, little folded fabric swatches were used on the interior of the costume to help affix the plastic armor pieces to the tunic. As clearly seen in the following images, these small fabric inserts were created from 3rd season olive-green TOS command fabric. The characteristic double knit diamond weave pattern is very evident on these pieces...



Another interesting design characteristic of this costume is that it is equipped with the UNIQUE brand metal zipper that is traditionally found on screen used TOS Starfleet uniforms but is quite uncommon for alien wardrobe pieces...





Below are some photos of this costume as seen in the TOS episode "Elaan of Troyius"...