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, May 16, 2009

Star Trek XI & President Obama: A Trekkie In The Oval Office?

Recent news coverage has provided compelling evidence that our new President can be considered a fellow Star Trek enthusiast.

In a March 20th, 2009 interview with a New York Times reporter; Michelle Obama revealed that the President refers to an item in her wardrobe as her "Star Trek" belt (shown below) ...


The Presidential reference to Star Trek was also reported on CNN at the time.

Below is a video clip of Leonard Nimoy at a 2008 Star Trek convention discussing an encounter he had with then-Presidential Candidate Obama; who surprised the veteran actor by instantly greeting him with a Vulcan Live Long and Prosper hand salute upon recognizing Nimoy at a political luncheon.



A recent online article at www.politico.com, shown at the bottom of this post, reports that the President has asked Paramount Pictures for a special White House screening of the new Abrams Star Trek movie, and discusses some noteworthy comparisons drawn in the media between Mr. Obama's calm, analytical style and the character of Mr. Spock.

The last Star Trek film to be shown at the White House is believed to be Star Trek III: The Search for Spock; which was viewed during the weekend of June 23-24, 1984 by President Reagan with friends and family. Below is a photo of President Reagan taken during a 1991 visit to the Star Trek: The Next Generation soundstage during the filming of the episode "Redemption".


Trekkie in chief wants screening

By PATRICK GAVIN | 5/9/09 8:32 AM EDT

President Barack Obama gets hailed by supporters as a transformational, visionary leader. But can he boldly go where no man has gone before?

Possibly: POLITICO hears from several sources that the President has asked Paramount Pictures for his own screening of the new "Star Trek" film in the White House.

The White House request could just be an attempt by the president to stay on top of pop culture by watching this box office bonanza — but could there be more to it?

Consider: Comparisons between the enigmatic president and "Star Trek’s" Mr. Spock have become a media meme of late.

Salon: “Obama Is Spock: It’s Quite Logical”

Newsweek: “Spock’s cool, analytical nature feels more fascinating and topical than ever now that we’ve put a sort of Vulcan in the White House.”

There’s even an Obama “Spock” action figure.

We may never know if the commander in chief himself agrees with these assessments and views the pointy-eared science officer as a sort of intergalactic role model, but adding to the intrigue is The New York Times, which today asked the real Spock — Leonard Nimoy — for comment:

Q: “President Obama has drawn not-infrequent comparisons to the Spock character. Do you see any similarities there?”

A: “I’ve met him twice. The first time was a couple years ago, very early on when he had just announced his candidacy. He was in Los Angeles, speaking at a luncheon we were invited to. ... We were standing on the back patio, waiting for him. And he came through the house, saw me and immediately put his hand up in the Vulcan gesture.”

And make no mistake about it: Obama is a bit of a Trekkie: during a campaign stop in 2008, Obama told a Wyoming crowd: “I grew up on 'Star Trek,'” adding: “I believe in the final frontier.”

Plus, who can forget his fashion critique of the first lady, from Newsweek:

"That’s an interesting belt buckle," he said to Michelle, mischievously. She feigned offense and said, "I am interesting, next to you. Surprise, surprise, a blue suit, a white shirt and a tie." Obama grinned and bent down until he was almost at eye level with her waist. He jabbed a playful finger toward her belt buckle, and let loose his inner nerd. "The lithium crystals! Beam me up, Scotty!" Obama squeaked, laughing at his own lame joke as Michelle rolled her eyes.