Visible Zippers

[Spockula]

I've just started watching the remastered dvds, and I can't help noticing that the uniform shirts have a very visible zipper in the front that goes along the left shoulder seam. The funny thing is, I've been watching these episodes thirty years, and I never noticed those zippers before.

So my question is, were these things less visible in the non-remastered editions, or have I just suddenly noticed something everyone else was aware of for years? Did you ever notice the shoulder zippers in standard definition?

 

[Mr Silver]

I'm not too sure... I do know that Leonard Nimoy had a special zipper like the one you are describing so he could take his shirt off without spoiling his makeup, however i'm not sure if any of the other cast members had this zipper

 

[Spockula]

It looks like Shatner has one too, at least in the early episodes. Like I said, I never noticed it before, but it sticks out like a sore thumb on the remastered dvds.

 

[Mister_Atoz]

I suspect all of the "hero" uniforms have this, as it would be practical on set to be able to quickly remove them without effecting anyone's make up and hair.

 

[Esteban]

Check out "Miri" and you'll see that they experimented with the unzipped look...

But I think the idea was that they were supposed to be pullovers. Check out the scene in "Corbomite Manuever" when Kirk, in his quarters, puts on his shirt. There's a cut be fore he adjusts his collar.

This procedure was in deference to the Shatner rug.

 

[scotpens]

This procedure was in deference to the Shatner rug.

Ah, the mighty Shatner toupee! As legendary as the man himself.

This thread covers some of the same ground. Numerous details like zippers and “stunt boots” and such weren't nearly as noticeable on TV screens 40+ years ago as they are on today's hi-def DVDs, mastered from the original 35mm negatives.

 

[Nerys Myk]

You see a lot of zippers on the backs of various TNG/DS9/VOY costumes. Wesley's being the most obvious.

 

[Kelso]

They were visible on VHS.

 

[Nerys Myk]

And probably on VHF.

 

[jefferiestubes8]

I've been watching these episodes thirty years, and I never noticed those zippers before.

So my question is, were these things less visible in the non-remastered editions

Barely noticeable in the 2004 edition DVD season TOS sets were from:

the digital, high-definition transfers were done using the original film interpositives from the studio's vaults (for broadcast on the Sci-Fi Channel). The D1 master tapes were then "cleaned" using special digital filters to reduce the amount of dust and dirt visible.

SOURCE
That transfer was done from interpositives that were optically 2 generations down from the camera negative thus losing detail and with added grain.

as scotpens said:

Numerous details like zippers and “stunt boots” and such weren't nearly as noticeable on TV screens 40+ years ago as they are on today's hi-def DVDs, mastered from the original 35mm negatives.

which gets to the point of this thread. TOS was designed for 1960s color televisions with their below 480line resolution via NTSC broadcast over the air reception. That goes down the line from camera, lenses, filters, makeup, production design, painting, set dressing, props.

Also this 1-year-old thread: HIDEF..too good? discusses the details and the resolution to the point of removing you from enjoying the story itself (regarding the TOS feature films).

 

[Spockula]

Thanks, very informative!

 

[sbk1234]

I suspect all of the "hero" uniforms have this, as it would be practical on set to be able to quickly remove them without effecting anyone's make up and hair.

I would think that Shatner would just rip his off.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I'm not too sure... I do know that Leonard Nimoy had a special zipper

Certainly in "Where No Man Has Gone Before", he had the only shirt with Velcro (or similar) on both sides of the collar, again so as not to disturb the ears and eyebrows.

The side zips were no secret, though. Early "Making of..." books and magazines of the day discussed the various experiments in making 23rd century clothing from 20th century materials.

 

[Admiral Buzzkill]

There is an "invisible zipper" sewn into the front of the raglan shoulder seam in all the production episodes. These were closed at the top by a couple of hook-and-eye fastenings on the inside of the black collar. The collars were not made of stretchable ribbing material, but a knit of some kind that more knowledgable folks in the fan film forum - like the costumers for "Phase II" - can probably identify by name.

Rather than supposedly pullovers, the uniforms were intended to be somewhat mysterious - hence the scene in "The Paradise Syndrome" in which Miramanee remarks that she can not figure out how to open Kirk's tunic, and a moment later we see that he's undone it - without showing the trick on camera, of course.

 

[Nerys Myk]

Well if Miramanee was in my tipi, my shirt would be off so fast you wouldn't notice either.