Rahda

About Lt. Rahda, the helmsman called to the Enterprise Bridge to replace Lt. Sulu in "That Which Survives":

Was actress Naomi Pollack wearing a wig during that episode, or is that her real hair? I understand that, typically, female characters in TOS wore wigs to produce the exaggerated 1960s hairstyles seen in TOS.

Thanks in advance.

 

Looks like real hair to me.

 

So, is this the entire topic? Her hair?

 

If she was meant to be Hindu or south Asian, her wig should have been black so most likely real hair and she was meant to be mixed race. She did seem to be wearing make-up to darken her skin.

 

With travel as it is now, and possibly even more in future years, I'd expect almost everyone on Earth to be of "mixed race" by the 23rd century. She reminds me, a little, of Indira Ghandi. If she wasn't meant to be Indian I'd be surprised, and it's too bad too because for being the two most populated countries there aren't many Chinese or Indian characters in any Star Trek.

 

There are a few, mostly in small roles, but African characters massively outgun tthem as Trek progresses in terms of screen time.

 

When I rewatched this, in my top 5 least-liked, I assumed she was going to have some connection to Losira.

It is odd, though good, that she comes out of left field, but is named and has lines. Unlike ol' Hadley.

 

Sometimes Bill Blackburn gets to sit in the front row.

 

She also played a part in "The Paradise Syndrome."

 

Was she one of the Indian women on the planet?
JB

 

Yes she was and she is uncredited as Lt.Rahda in Requiem For Methuselah as well on the IMDB, which is strange as I don't remember seeing her or anyone else on the ship in that episode outside of Scotty and Uhura?
JB

 

I don't think that's Naomi Pollack at the helm in "Requiem":
http://tos.trekcore.com/hd/albums/3x19hd/requiemformethuselahhd1156.jpg

But I'll bet the unidentified actress is wearing the same exact costume. The collar looks identical, and there weren't many women in Command chartreuese, so they probably had very few of the costume.

 

Agreed but never the less she is credited on the IMDB!
JB

 

A valuable website, but it has mistakes galore.

 

Yes it appears so!
JB

 

I lik e how chatreuse they are in the screencap. I think I will start referring to "command chartreuse!" I 've been referring people to that hue for years in green\gold threads. Thanks.

 

After viewing "That Which Survives," Gene Roddenberry sent a memo to Fred Freiberger that included the following:

"If the woman at the helm is supposed to be Indian, which is not a bad idea, someone goofed badly in makeup and hair style in getting this point out."

Roddenberry's memos were often acerbic and actually had a lot more wit than the third-season scripts. Pity he was so far removed from the day-to-day production by then.

 

I dunno, if GR has room to talk. He cast Montalban as a Sikh.

 

Wigs and makeup make everything all right in Old Hollywood.

 

Yeah! John Wayne as Ghengis Khan!