Star Trek - Behind the Scenes

For film buffs and sci-fi fans alike, presented here are some rare photos and facts from one of televisions most popular shows.

In the late summer of 1966 NBC television beganshowing promos for its fall season of new shows. Among them was Star Trek. Shown below is a scene from one of the promos.

Star Trek premiered September 8th, 1966, and had an original run of 3 seasons totaling 79 episodes.

In syndication Star Trek's popularity mushroomed through the 1970's. This culminated in 1979 with the making of Star Trek the motion picture. Several motion pictures followed as well as television spin-offs, making the Star Trek franchise one of the biggest money makers for Paramount.

Print advertising was used extensively. Several television stations had the above artwork printed on T-shirts as promotional giveaways. The artwork was also used on the first Star Trek paperback.

Artistic license to further the dramatic impact of the promotion was taken by adding plumes of flame and contrails to the orbiting space ship.

Clapper Gallery

The clapper board, or slate as it is also called, is filmed at the beginning of each take and is used as a visual aid to the editor to sync picture and sound. It also provides information as to what scene and take is being shot. Here are a several examples of it being used.

Main Engineering with a
rare shot of the ceiling.

One of many alien planet sets.

No, this is not meatballs and cheese, but an alien creature called a Horta.

Watch the nose, bud!