EXCLUSIVE TO HOLLYWOOD.COM:
The Early Days – Part 3
Days after Isaac Asimov introduced us (over the phone) to Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, Laurie and I headed out to L.A. to meet Gene — of course, to firm up his plans to join the Sci Fi Channel’s Board of Advisors.
We met Gene at his office at Paramount Studios. Laurie and I had never before set foot on a studio lot. After the usual pleasantries, he said, “How’d you like a tour of the Star Trek set?”
Naturally, we answered, “Yes!” Next we knew, we’re walking around the Star Trek set with Gene as our personal tour guide.
The absolute coolest were the cabin doors on the Enterprise, which on the TV series, create an electronic swoosh sound when opened. In reality, there was a rope pulley that a gaffer pulled as if he were opening drapes.
After sitting in the Captain’s chair, Gene stood up and said, “Let’s grab lunch.” He led us to the Paramount commissary and over a fabulous lunch, he leaned over and casually said, “I’m willing to join the Sci Fi Channel Board.”
Gene felt that a television channel devoted 24/7 to science-fiction was a dream come true, and he would love to help and offer us advice — and that if he were starting over, he would join us full-time.
He then offered up his first piece of advice.
Speaking very quietly, he said that there were “suits” all over this lot: “Whatever the suits tell you to do, just say ‘yes’ and then ignore them and do what you think is best.” Had he listened to the “suits,” he said, on how to produce Star Trek their way, it would never have achieved the success that it did. He told us that he pitched Star Trek to TV executives (aka the “suits”) as “Wagon Train to the stars.” Wagon Train was, of course, the successful TV Western that ran from 1957 to 1965.
I’ll never forget Gene’s first piece of advice.
When it came time to pay the check, Gene grabbed it and with a twinkle in his eye, said, “Check out this credit card” — it had an image of the Enterprise on it plus the Star Trek logo.
“Pretty cool,” I responded. He said, “Yeah, I thought you’d like it.”
What was pretty cool was getting a tour of the Star Trek set personally by the Gene Roddenberry. Then having lunch with the guy at the Paramount commissary. Then having him pick up the check using a Star Trek credit card.
While Laurie and I are not Trekkies, we were nevertheless in heaven. And our journey to launch the Sci Fi Channel was only just beginning.
In Part 4, I’ll detail meeting Gene’s wife, the late Majel Barrett Roddenberry (aka Nurse Chapel on the original series), and a tour of the Roddenberry Bel Air home.
Mitch Rubenstein
Co-Founder of the Sci Fi Channel
LAST EDITION: The Early Days — Part 2
