[This blog post is an addendum to the 7 1/2 week travelogue. It has nothing to do with photography. GF]
So here we were in Sandusky, Ohio near Lake Erie. After a full day of driving the motor home, we parked for the night near a shopping mall. I went inside for a walk because I needed the exercise and besides, it was air conditioned.
Malls are doing creative things to stay in business these days. This one had a summer camp inside.
Also, to my surprise, not one but TWO large spaces had something to do with Star Trek:
1) Federation Headquarters is a non-profit memorabilia store with lots of original signed items from all the series'. The guy running the store was a personal friend of Gene Roddenberry's and he granted me an interview where he shared this important mission of the entity "to help anybody who needs, it anywhere in the world".
1) Federation Headquarters is a non-profit memorabilia store with lots of original signed items from all the series'. The guy running the store was a personal friend of Gene Roddenberry's and he granted me an interview where he shared this important mission of the entity "to help anybody who needs, it anywhere in the world".
And here's the brief interview:
2) Across the hall is something I don't have photos of but I can sure tell you about it: Somewhere in Kingsland, Georgia there is (well, was) an exact replica of the original Star Trek sets, where people have been making fan films for many years. I actually talked about this at the end of my blog post from 2020. Many fan films and series have been shot there, including the series I mentioned in my blog,Star Trek Continues. Because the landlord of the old space in Georgia decided to sell the property, the sets are being moved to THE LARGE MALL SPACE ACROSS THE HALL! That's right, a dying mall was able to provide space that's air conditioned for less than the cost of an old warehouse in the South. They're re-constructing everything from Georgia using volunteers, and they're going to be filming their next fan film next year.
So what, you say?
Well, if you're like me and you grew up on the show, this is your chance to appear in a Star Trek TOS show! Sets and mall space is paid for by contributions, and volunteers build the sets, work the crew, and can be in front of the camera. So make a contribution and be part of Star Trek (fandom) history! :-) Go to https://neutralzonestudios.com for more info.
3) All this unexpected Star Trek stuff made me want to visit a place I had heard about but never had the opportunity: In the Adirondack mountains of Upstate New York, there exists another exact replica of the original set. Once a production facility for fan films, it has been converted to a tourist attraction, and they are contractually forbidden by Paramount to actually film anything there. For $24 USD you get a one-hour tour of the set, and the chance to take all of the pictures you want. You're not allowed to touch anything, but you can have your picture taken in the Captain's chair (see top of blog post).
3) All this unexpected Star Trek stuff made me want to visit a place I had heard about but never had the opportunity: In the Adirondack mountains of Upstate New York, there exists another exact replica of the original set. Once a production facility for fan films, it has been converted to a tourist attraction, and they are contractually forbidden by Paramount to actually film anything there. For $24 USD you get a one-hour tour of the set, and the chance to take all of the pictures you want. You're not allowed to touch anything, but you can have your picture taken in the Captain's chair (see top of blog post).
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| It had the sparkley fabric and everything. |
So that's it for my Star Trek geek-out. I leave you now with this walkthrough of the set in Georgia several years ago:
Yours Truly, Gary Friedman
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| I was(n't) an extra in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Between takes I was showing off the Data Egg (a Keyboard for Astronauts I developed while at JPL) to the cast and crew. They weren't impressed. |
Hi Gary--
ReplyDeleteWell, the next time you're in Upstate New York & want to visit the Star Trek bridge in Ticonderoga, let me know beforehand. I'll check with my buddy David Gerrold to see if he can be there at the same time. If you have any of his books, he'll be delighted to sign them. If you want Shatner's autograph, you'll have to pay for it--only if he's there, of course. David can arrange that if you so desire.
At one point I had a few extra shooting scripts from TOS Tribbles, the Animated Tribbles and an unfilmed one. If I'd known you were a fan I'd've sent them to you. If I get more I know where they need to go.
Oh, and BTW, the picture of you in the Captain's chair is outstanding. Your personality really comes through.
Very happy to know you love Trek. I've watched it faithfully ever since it first came out (right after I finished high school). When I was in Vietnam during 1970 (yep, the whole year), Armed Forces TV showed TOS reruns every single day, so I was able to pick up the episodes I'd missed.
Take care!
Metta,
Ivan
Thanks so much for your email. Truth be told, compared to my younger brother my enthusiasm for ST is quite muted. :-) (Don't tell Mr. Gerrold that...) But I grew up with that show and was very into it in my youth. These pictures and the two other experiences I wrote about represented closure for me.
DeleteShockingly, I'm not really interested in meeting Shatner (and I'm sure he has equally low interest in meeting me). But I would love to read the unpublished tribbles episode!! :-)
I need to make it up to Ticonderoga one of these days. The photos alone make me emotional; being there must be a trip.
ReplyDelete