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, April 23, 2012

Star Trek 30: One Weekend On Earth - Sept. 7-8, 1996

On Saturday, September 7th and Sunday, September 8th, 1996, a very historic Star Trek convention took place in Hunstville, Alabama in celebration of the 30th anniversary of the franchise. Named "Star Trek 30: One Weekend On Earth", this was the only Star Trek convention ever to have been directly sponsored and produced by Paramount Pictures; and featured both cast and production crew members from all four Star Trek television series in attendance. (The fifth series, Star Trek: Enterprise, had yet to be created; as it would not make its debut for another 5 years - in 2001.) Star Trek 30 was unique in that the U.S. Space and Rocket Center partnered with Paramount to host the event; and a total of six former Apollo astronauts - including five moonwalkers: Buzz Aldrin, Alan Bean, Alan Shepard, Edgar Mitchell, Charlie Duke; and Apollo 13 Lunar Module Pilot Fred Haise - shared the stage with the Star Trek actors. A special two hour 30th Anniversary Tribute show was held on Saturday evening at the Von Braun Civic Center Arena, and this was the last time that the entire Original Series cast appeared together onstage. (Deforest Kelley, who portrayed the beloved Dr. McCoy in TOS; would pass away less than three years later in June of 1999.) In honor of Star Trek, the Mayor of Huntsville Steve Hettinger issued a special proclamation to temporarily change the name of the city to STAR TREK, Alabama.

Presented below are some images of promotional material, mementos and a Schedule of Events for the convention, as well as a rare 12 page Final Draft stage director's script for the Saturday evening 30th Anniversary Tribute show, and many rare photos of the astronaut and actor guests as they appeared on stage.

Special thanks to long time Star Trek fan Dana Holland for her very gracious permission to display numerous photos that she shot while attending different Star Trek 30 events as well as the Tribute show. Those rare pictures form an integral part of this presentation.

The final image in this post is a very rare shot of the entire TOS cast onstage together at the conclusion of the Tribute show - their historic last joint appearance at a Star Trek convention - and is presented with many thanks to noted Star Trek expert Larry Nemecek, author of the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion and story writer of the Star Trek: Voyager episode "Prophecy", for his kindness in allowing this photo to be displayed.

Immediately below is the cover of the souvenir program created for Star Trek 30 ...

and a promotional brochure for the event ...

A laminated Galaxy Class admission pass for the convention ...

A limited edition commemorative table medal that was distributed to all Galaxy Class attendees ...

The Schedule of Events for Star Trek 30: One Weekend On Earth ...

A view of the Von Braun Civic Center, the main venue for the convention ...

Robert Picardo, Alan Shepard, Alan Bean, Buzz Aldrin and Robert Duncan McNeill onstage ...

Edgar Mitchell, William Shatner and Charlie Duke ...

Charlie Duke, Fred Haise and Leonard Nimoy ...

John de Lancie and Kate Mulgrew ...

Ethan Phillips, Rene Auberjonois, Armin Shimmerman and Star Trek Makeup Artist Michael Westmore ...

Deforest Kelley ...

A rare final draft script for the Saturday evening 30th Anniversary Tribute show ...

Some rare photos from the Tribute show ...

Majel Barrett-Roddenberry at the podium with Apollo Astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Fred Haise and Alan Shepard visible behind her ...

NASA Administrator Dan Goldin presenting award to Majel Barrett-Roddenberry ...

The last time that the entire Original Series crew appeared together onstage - September 7, 1996 ...