Star Trek Premiered on NBC 60 Years Ago Today

September the 8th, 1966, is a date known to many Trekkers.

I'm just old enough to have remembered Star Trek first airing but I must have missed it. Maybe my parents saw the trailer on CTV for the opening episode, "The Man Trap", and its great and scary monster, and made the decision to make sure I missed it. (It was Canada's CTV network that actually opened the series — on Tuesday, September 6th, 1966.)

The charade had to last but a few weeks: In October we left for West Germany, and I did not see the series on ZDF, ARD, or the two French channels. (However, I did watch the telefantasy series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, The Invaders, and The Prisoner on French and/or German television.) ZDF began running Trek in 1972, which I found out about three years ago.

I first saw Star Trek in June of 1970. My British cousins were watching it on BBC2 ― in colour ― and I joined them in silence while visiting.

Back here in Canada, CTV's flagship station, CFTO, began its long run of "stripping" Trek. In September of 1970 a regular Monday to Friday at 5 p.m. screening schedule started the magic for many of us. "What is this exciting, striking, beautiful, and colourful show?", I must have pondered at the beginning as I got lost in its vortex. This was a communal experience for many viewers, for in the syndication market it was a true "water cooler" (and "water fountain"!) television series.

My own private joke regarding my own fandom: It was eight years ago that I bought the complete series on Blu-ray. Before that I had just odds and ends on VHS and DVD. As for the Blu-ray format, I've watched just one episode.

But I am a fan.

How many dramatic television programs are, or will be, remembered sixty years after they hit the video airwaves? This week I'll be taking a look back at the one and only Star Trek.

Five O O O O O O

Late yesterday afternoon this website's hit counter hit 5,000,000. It was a flurry of recent traffic from the USA, of course, and Brazil that put me there. And, at this very hour, it's "Brazil" that's continuing to spearhead the visits.

Perhaps I should write pieces on Brasil, and, visit that country....

Picturing: TTC Spadina Station, Thinking, Planning

A rare early Sunday morning trip, waiting for that first northbound train....

For the Love of Star Trek on TVO

This TVO Supporter received an essential reminder that a new TVO (TV Ontario) documentary premieres today at 8:00pm (EST) on that network. 

For the Love of Star Trek, indeed!

The program can be streamed from TVO.org if you're not from this quadrant.

I should probably make a point to tune in. That would make sense as yesterday I posted a piece on Star Trek's world premiere.

Brilliant series!

Picturing: How I'm Feeling These Days

Just kidding!

There are those days, however....

I wonder if that fence was electrified. If it was, there's a joke in there somewhere.

Star Trek Premiered on CTV 60 Years Ago Today

Star Trek had its world premiere, not on September 8, 1966, on its home network of NBC, but two days earlier on Canada's CTV network. Canadians, and Americans living in 'border States', would witness the first steps of, what would prove to be, a television legend — one of the greatest of all hour-long dramatic series, and one not needing the umbrella of "greatest science fiction television programs" to promote its ultimate historical ranking.

"The Man Trap" was the first episode aired in the show's original run (1966 - 1969), though not the first one produced. It was a fine introduction.

Tune to this channel on Tuesday the 8th.

Tuesday, September 6, 1966: What civilians first saw of STAR TREK....

Quote: Gloria Steinem on Potential Paper Power

"It is more rewarding to watch money change the world than watch it accumulate."

(Gloria Steinem, 1934 - 2026)

Athot for the Day: A Perfect Symbiosis

What does it matter?

It matters not.

Picturing: The Toronto Sky Would Soon Open

Today we had a tornado warning here in southern Ontario. While I was relaxing reading, I realized the sky had suddenly turned dark. I grabbed my trusty Canon and fired away. By the way, that is not a bird in the sky, but a plastic bag. There was an updraft pulling aloft pieces of plastic. Then the rain hammered down; the wind carried it almost horizontally. It was that kind of fifteen minutes!

Picturing: State Street Financial Centre (Toronto)

This afternoon I met a colleague for lunch in downtown Toronto. While waiting I decided to take a snap of a building that towered before me. In many ways, this city is so 'chill'. The atmosphere, even with the usual city vehicle traffic, was pretty relaxing today.

But.

But, that humidity! It's off the scale!

Picturing: RCAF Canadair Sabre at CWHM

That's one beautiful former Royal Canadian Air Force machine at the inviting and impressive Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum in Hamilton, Ontario. During his earliest days serving with the RCAF, my dad worked as an armourer on these great fighting machines.

Liberal Party of Canada Mailing of Note

The Liberals are BUILDING ON THIS MOMENTUM ....

After yesterday's three byelections, three convincing wins, there is incontrovertible proof that indeed we are building on that momentum.

Awesome!