Transporter Assistant in The Cage

[AtoZ]

I love that dude - the Asian assistant to the transporter Chief. In the first glance he has on thick-rimmed eye-glasses circa 1960. Cut to Spock in front of the chamber, then back to the transporter chief and his assistant, who seems to have dumped the glasses.

Nice touch.

BTW - I have always loved the landing party jackets. They should have retained them, even if only periodically.

 

[EnsignHarper]

I love that dude - the Asian assistant to the transporter Chief. In the first glance he has on thick-rimmed eye-glasses circa 1960. Cut to Spock in front of the chamber, then back to the transporter chief and his assistant, who seems to have dumped the glasses.

Nice touch.

BTW - I have always loved the landing party jackets. They should have retained them, even if only periodically.

What is amazing is that the first transporter beam down in THE CAGE, is the VERY first Trek scene ever filmed. And I have always loved the guy who played the transporter chief. He was the embodiment of Roddenberry's philosophy of casting non pretty boys for certain roles.

 

[ChristopherPike]

He probably has the same problem Kirk has with his eyesight. Allergic to Rednox, or whatever 23rd Century treatment for poor eyesight exists.

Yep, I just retconned the original with information from the Meyer/Bennett era. Oh well... back into hiding for me, before those purists round up a lynch-mob!

 

[Green Shirt]

his assistant, who seems to have dumped the glasses.

I guess once they found "the canyon to the left", he didn't need the glasses any longer.

So he was probably responsible for losing "THE WOMEN!!", since he didn't have them on then.

 

[Christopher]

He probably has the same problem Kirk has with his eyesight. Allergic to Rednox, or whatever 23rd Century treatment for poor eyesight exists.

Retinax-5. Eye. Retina. Get it?

Although that name doesn't really make sense, since the kind of vision problems that can be corrected with glasses are problems with the lens or with the shape of the eyeball, not the retina.

Then again, look at how weird the names for medicines are today. Maybe they called it Retinax because Lensax was taken by some other product.

 

[ChristopherPike]

^ Cheers. I dread to think how many times I've seen TWOK and misheard that.

On the other hand, I've been meaning to get my ears shringed since 1982...

Sorry?

(looks at watch)

Five past six!

 

[Grant]

Many people say the glasses on the Trans asst are an error because they are 'there one second and gone the next'

But he is clearly writing something in the scene with the glasses and then when he working on the transporter he doesn't need them---like many of us old farts who only need them to read.

 

[gastrof]

...Maybe they called it Retinax because Lensax was taken by some other product.

And Lensax was probably meant to treat leaky bladders.

 

[gastrof]

Many people say the glasses on the Trans asst are an error because they are 'there one second and gone the next'

But he is clearly writing something in the scene with the glasses and then when he working on the transporter he doesn't need them---like many of us old farts who only need them to read.

There's also been the suggestion that the glasses were a display device wirelessly connected to the console, needed only for a few initial adjustments. This display device was later replaced by some changes to the console.

 

[T'Girl]

I llke the part of the scene where the big burly transporter chief works his panel, while the little guy watches attentively, then burly chief points his finger at little guy, who only then works his side of the panel.

Like the assistant was a trainee.

Did the script give these two names?

 

[Hofner]

I llke the part of the scene where the big burly transporter chief works his panel, while the little guy watches attentively, then burly chief points his finger at little guy, who only then works his side of the panel.

Like the assistant was a trainee.

Did the script give these two names?

Yeah. Their names were Burly Transporter Guy and Little Transporter Guy.



Ok, I'm kidding. Though I'm imagining casting for those parts:

Burly Actor: I'm here to audition for the Little Transporter Guy part.
Casting Director: Uh, you could try for the Burly Transporter Guy part.
Burly Actor: No, I want the Little Transporter Guy part.
Casting Director: NEXT!

Robert

 

[Therin of Andor]

I've been meaning to get my ears shringed

Syringed. Just in case you haven't visualized the process.

 

[Orcus]

I llke the part of the scene where the big burly transporter chief works his panel, while the little guy watches attentively, then burly chief points his finger at little guy, who only then works his side of the panel.

Like the assistant was a trainee.

Did the script give these two names?

Not that I know of but I like your description of them. It's a shame they didn't keep the two of them on; they'd have made a great double act.

I propose we call them Stan and Ollie:

"You forgot to press the red button - now we've only transported half of him down to the planet! That's another fine mess you've got me into!"

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

I liked that there were two technicians operating the transporter in tandem; gave the impression that the transporter was a complicated piece of machinery to handle.

 

[Green Shirt]

Did the script give these two names?

The chief's name was Pitcairn. Don't know about 4 eyes.

 

[Sir Rhosis]

Regarding Pitcairn. The November 20, 1964 Revised Draft simply lists him as "Transporter Chief." After he mentions the the "canyon to the left," etc., the script states:

"Winter [Christopher Pike was James Winter in this draft] nods, moves to join the others in the Transporter Chamber. Transporter Chief and his n. d. technicians move to adjust their controls. The CAMERA EMPHASIZES the surprise of seeing Winter and the rest of the landing party disintegrate into nothingness."

Bracketed portion is mine.

So no names for anyone even at this late date. I can't even remember where the Transporter Chief is referred to as Pitcairn in the final productiuon right off.

Sir Rhosis

 

[T'Girl]

Pitcairn island is where the H.M.S. Bounty ended up --- (mutiny on the bounty)

 

[Orcus]

So no names for anyone even at this late date.
Sir Rhosis

Right! Stan and Ollie they are, then...

 

[FormerLurker]

He probably has the same problem Kirk has with his eyesight. Allergic to Rednox, or whatever 23rd Century treatment for poor eyesight exists.

Retinax-5. Eye. Retina. Get it?

Although that name doesn't really make sense, since the kind of vision problems that can be corrected with glasses are problems with the lens or with the shape of the eyeball, not the retina.

Then again, look at how weird the names for medicines are today. Maybe they called it Retinax because Lensax was taken by some other product.

Yeah, everyone knows Rednox is Klingon acne medication.

 

[Green Shirt]

Regarding Pitcairn.
So no names for anyone even at this late date. I can't even remember where the Transporter Chief is referred to as Pitcairn in the final productiuon right off.

Sir Rhosis

Memory Alpha and IMDB call him Pitcairn. Don't know what their source is.