Over misty mountains and through coniferously wooded dales, I made the three plus hour trek back through the picturesque Adirondacks, returning to the beautiful town of Ticonderoga, New York. Nestled between striking Lake Champlain, Lake George and the Vermont border, the third annual Trekonderoga, the aptly named convention, provides fans of the original Star Trek series with a multitude of opportunities and activities.
Starting on Friday, the 25th of August and running through the weekend, attendees were able to tour the meticulously constructed set of the original USS Enterprise, see the Batmobile, browse through a plethora of vendors, listen to a wide array of panels, and meet their favourite celebrities – a rich, nuanced and vivid experience for all those looking to collect, learn, and make long lasting memories.
Walter Koenig (Chekov) shows off his autograph for me
Featuring an impressive list of celebrities, the three day event was graced with two of the original cast members of Star Trek (which ran from 1966 to 1969), Nichelle Nichols (Lt. Uhura – featured in the uppermost image along with my often invisible cameraman and father Sean) and Walter Koenig (Ensign Chekov), a treat for Trekkies, film fans and historians alike. . . and for an extra fee, you were able to pose on the Enterprise with the pair in their original positions – a mind-boggling and utterly cool opportunity.
The wonderful Lee Meriwether was another special guest. Catwoman in the original Batman movie and star of iconic television series Barnaby Jones alongside the great Buddy Ebsen, the actress has had a long and illustrious career in the business. She also made a guest appearance on Star Trek, in the third season episode “That Which Survives”, transforming into a deadly femme fatale with a surprising twist.
Lee Meriwether with Filmizon.com’s Nikolai Adams
Filmizon.com’s Nikolai Adams with Michael Dante and his wife Mary Jane, who was a trailer editor for Disney in the 1990s
Actor Michael Dante also graced the grounds of Ticonderoga. An award winning actor, he has worked with iconic directors such as Robert Wise (Somebody Up There Likes Me), Samuel Fuller (The Naked Kiss) and Henry Hathaway (Seven Thieves), as well as being known for starring in a wide array of westerns, think 1959’s Westbound or 1975’s Winterhawk (in which he plays the title character) – and has just written a novel continuing the character’s tale. As for Star Trek, he appeared in the 1967 episode “Friday’s Child”.
Star Trek legend Eddie Paskey was also in attendance. Best known as Lt. Leslie, Paskey did it all, playing gold, blue and dreaded red uniformed members of the Enterprise, as well as being a stand-in for William Shatner in many instances as well.
Eddie Paskey with Filmizon.com’s Nikolai Adams
Filmizon.com’s Nikolai Adams with BarBara Luna
I was also able to catch up with BarBara Luna, who was back again at Trekonderoga. It was the third time that I met the amazing actress, who made waves in her appearance “Mirror Mirror” on the original series, and I must say that it is a pleasure to chat with her each and every time we meet. I’ve attached a link to her Star Pick interview, just in case you want to visit, or revisit it: http://filmizon.com/movie_reviews/this-film-rains-supreme/
Last, but most definitely not least, Mary Linda Rapelye and Charlie Brill (also a comedian) joined the rest of their actor friends. In “The Way of Eden” and “The Trouble With Tribbles” respectively, the engaging actors had quite a few in-depth stories to tell about their time on Star Trek, as well as the rest of their careers.
Filmizon.com’s Nikolai Adams with Mary Linda Rapelye
Filmizon.com’s Nikolai Adams with Charlie Brill
Though I beamed out after only one short day, making a side stop in historic Lake Placid on the road back (despite setting my phaser to ‘stun appetite’, hunger still hit the film critic hard), like last year, Trekonderoga was an absolute treat. Fascinating, well organized and beautifully located (though it is a little off the beaten track), it is well worth the journey through one of North America’s most stunning natural gems. Make sure to keep your eyes open for upcoming Star Picks with everyone listed above – each will feature in-depth bios, interviews and reviews of their respective favourite films. Also, I would be remiss if I did not thank the organizers and volunteers who helped make everything run so smoothly. They are friendly, chatty and well informed, always able to point you in the right direction in order to make the experience all the more enjoyable. Here is looking to another excellent year to come. . . and be sure that I will be back to continue my five year mission to explore strange new worlds. . .
An image of some nice rolling hills, greenery and pleasant skies on the way into Ticonderoga
I stayed at the fort when in Ticonderoga twenty years ago. I was in the company of the Glengarry Gaelic Choir and we all went to mass in the magnificent cathedral there. I was struck by the visceral presence of a young fellow in the pew who was a replica of Elvis the King in every respect. He seemed so respectful and devout that I had the urge to greet him and have a chat. Only later did I realize that he had a real size replica of the original Star Trek studio on his premises. Thus I came to Ticonderoga for a staging of a Highland Tattoo in the French and Indian Wars and left with an apparition of Elvis in my mind.
Your well-tuned visit triggered that memory just now. Go figger!
Interesting. Sounds like you had quite the time in Ticonderoga. I would say you’ve met the orchestrator of Trekonderoga – a die hard Star Trek fan and expert Elvis impersonator.