The original Star Trek television program only aired for three seasons, from 1966 to 1969, and the first Star Trek convention was held about three years after it went off the air. That first convention was a far cry from what they later became, but those who attended were every inch the Trekkies of the next generation, and the one after that.
That first Star Trek convention was held in New York from January 21 to January 23, 1972 at the Statler-Hilton hotel. At first only a few hundred people were present, but by the end of the convention that had ballooned to several thousand attendees. There were a number of guest speakers who were connected to Star Trek in one way or another, but star billing went to series creator Gene Roddenberry. Also present was his wife, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, who played various roles on the show during the course of its three year run, and D.C. Fontana, a writer and script editor who worked on the series. Also in attendance was science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, who was a friend of Gene Roddenberry's and a scientific advisor to Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
It must have been quite a weekend for those in attendance. The convention featured the screening of Star Trek episodes on 16mm film, including the original pilot, entitled "The Cage," and a blooper reel. There was also an art show. And it wouldn't have been a true Star Trek event without a costume contest.
The success of that first convention spawned a series of annual events that came to include appearances by original cast members, including William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, and Leonard Nimoy.
Theresa Beatty is a science fiction fan who has attended several Star Trek conventions.
That first Star Trek convention was held in New York from January 21 to January 23, 1972 at the Statler-Hilton hotel. At first only a few hundred people were present, but by the end of the convention that had ballooned to several thousand attendees. There were a number of guest speakers who were connected to Star Trek in one way or another, but star billing went to series creator Gene Roddenberry. Also present was his wife, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry, who played various roles on the show during the course of its three year run, and D.C. Fontana, a writer and script editor who worked on the series. Also in attendance was science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, who was a friend of Gene Roddenberry's and a scientific advisor to Star Trek: The Motion Picture.
It must have been quite a weekend for those in attendance. The convention featured the screening of Star Trek episodes on 16mm film, including the original pilot, entitled "The Cage," and a blooper reel. There was also an art show. And it wouldn't have been a true Star Trek event without a costume contest.
The success of that first convention spawned a series of annual events that came to include appearances by original cast members, including William Shatner, DeForest Kelley, Nichelle Nichols, George Takei, and Leonard Nimoy.
Theresa Beatty is a science fiction fan who has attended several Star Trek conventions.