Tag: The 50s

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The 50s

February 16, 1967: premiere date of Star Trek episode ‘Space Seed’

One week before I was born, an episode of Star Trek premiered that would one day be the catalyst that rejuvenated the franchise.

The Enterprise discovers an ancient sleeper ship, the SS Botany Bay, which escaped from Earth’s Eugenics Wars in the late 20th century. The genetically engineered passengers, led by war criminal Khan Noonien Singh, seize control of the Enterprise and attempt to destroy the ship. (This episode serves as the backstory to the second Star Trek film)

Admittedly, this was never one of my favorite episodes.  Indeed, when the first news of the second Star Trek film came out, and that the producers were going to base it on this episode, I had serious doubts about how that was going to work.

Ricardo Montalban was known by me for his Chrysler Cordoba commercial, with the ‘rich Corinthian leather’ seats, and as Mr. Roarke on Fantasy Island.  I was totally unaware of any of his other work in TV and film.

The movie itself was a huge success, and still remains as my favorite of all the Star Trek films.

It was also the first film that made me cry like a baby at the theatre.  It still makes me tear up when I watch it.

Doubts aside, if it wasn’t for this particular episode, and the foresight of Harve Bennett and Nicholas Meyer, Star Trek may have never reached the popularity it achieved to this day.

And while I say that Star Wars rules my life, I was first, and foremost, a Trekkie.

LLAP

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The 50s

January 19th, 1967: premiere date of Star Trek episode ‘Arena’

This is arguably my favorite Star Trek episode, ever.  The opening shot right before and after the title sequence in one of the best moments of the series.

“Cestus III has been destroyed.”

A red shirt gets killed, Spock’s tricorder is destroyed, and the Gorn is introduced.

I love everything about this episode, from the Metrons to the bamboo cannon Kirk uses to defeat the Gorn captain, who I met a few years back.

This episode is so popular that it’s been referenced throughout Star Trek’s history, and on other shows like The Big Bang Theory.

More information here: The Gorn Identity @ startrek.com

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The 50s

Second grade seemed to be a time when I had met a lot of people who became life long friends.  Another of those friends turns 50.

Now-defunct Chevy’s restaurant, circa 2009.

Jeff Segal and I met under the same circumstances as with most of my friends from Mrs. Sinton’s 2nd grade class: forgotten circumstances.  All I know is that Jeff and I seemed to be joined at the hip from 2nd grade through 8th grade.  You usually didn’t see one of us without the other around.

I remember the first time he came over the house for dinner, my Mom greeted him and hugged him, and would hug him at any opportunity.  Jeff noted later, when we reconnected on Facebook, that he remembered Mom doing that.

We went our separate ways in high school, he going to McAteer while I went to Lowell.  We stayed in touch over the years, he came over for a house party that I threw during sophomore year, and later invited me to his wedding in the north bay.

Last time we saw each other was for the above picture, when he and Nelson and I met up for lunch.  Jeff was on Facebook for a while, but recently has deactivated his account.

Wherever you are, Jeff, Happy Birthday!  Thanks for being a great friend over the years.  Hope you’re doing alright.

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Repost: The 50s

One of my oldest friends turned 50 today.

December 17, 2015: The Force Awakens premiere, Metreon SF

Nelson Wong and I first met under forgotten circumstances when we were 7 years old, in Mrs. Sinton’s 2nd grade class at Longfellow Elementary School. In 3rd grade we were placed in separate mixed grade (2nd and 3rd) classes, and while we were supposed to attend the same school in 4th and 5th grades, the campus was under renovation for both of those school years.

We were reunited in 6th grade at Luther Burbank Middle (Jr High) School. We then both went to Lowell High School, and then college, he at CCSF, me at SFSU. Eventually Nelson transferred to SFSU as well.

Our post-college careers took us along different paths, though we did keep in touch, until I started working for the Judicial Branch of California, where Nelson had already been working for a couple of years. He was the one who actually recruited me for this job. And we’ve been working at the same place ever since.

Over the years we’ve made a habit of watching Star Wars films together, specifically premieres or at least our first viewings of each film. This started in 1980 with The Empire Strikes Back, though we just planned to be there with school friends and family. This has continued through last month, when Rogue One premiered. We attended our first sci-fi conventions together back in high school, and made a few geek road trips to San Diego Comic-Con and Star Wars Celebration.

Our interest in games are similar, as we played the same tabletop RPGs in high school, and as we later played the same online RPGs over the past few years. We still get together with friends for monthly Games Days, and occasionally play a board/card game at work with coworkers, during lunch.

I sometimes joke that he’s one of the few people that probably knows me better than I know myself. As I get older myself, this may or may not be more true. Memory is the first to go, y’know.

Happy Birthday, Nelson. Thanks for being there for me over the years, and for being such a great friend. The Force is with you, and you are one with the Force.