When I met Scotty...

[fanncc1701]

The day I made Scotty mad...

I was 17 and it was the Fall of 1979. James Doohan was going to do an appearance at Union County College in Cranford, New Jersey in their auditorium. Me, Richard Kutney, and my friend, Frank Guimont, were driven by Frank's mother to the event. This event took place before the release of Star Trek: The Motion Picture in December 1979. I was so excited! When James Doohan walked in the room, I was amazed! A real live Star Trek actor! Wow! Everyone was cheering! He was wearing a kilt. He spoke for awhile and showed a film on a projector of a Star Trek blooper reel. When he opened the floor for questions, I said something to him that I regret. I said to James Doohan "In one episode, why were you wearing a dress?" Mr. Doohan replied, "That was a kilt." Being a 17-year-old wiseass, I replied with a laugh "It looked like a dress to ME!" A lot of noise suddenly erupted from the audience. Mrs. Guimont did a face palm. James Doohan was looking right at me and his expression changed from friendly to one of anger like in the scene where the Klingon says the Enterprise should be hauled away as garbage - http://youtu.be/GHu9PCpvSN8 - The audience fell silent. I felt very embarrassed and a bit scared. Mr. Doohan went into a long, impassioned speech about the history of the kilt and the culture of Scotland. Boy, did I feel stupid! After the show, I waited on line to see Mr. Doohan who was sitting at a table set up outside in the hallway. I got to speak to him alone. I apologized to him and shook his hand. (I saw his missing finger.) He told me that he wasn't mad at me. We spoke for a few minutes and then I left. I am grateful that I got to meet James Doohan!

 

[Melakon]

Ah, those sweet days of youth. Aren't you glad they're behind you?

 

[nightwind1]

I also met Jimmy Doohan in about '79 or '80. I was in college at Iowa State University.

I had him autograph my 1st Edition FJ Technical Manual (the one with the vinyl slipcover.

He signed it "James Doohan" inside the back cover.

But he signed it "Montgomery Scott" inside the front cover.

So I have a tech manual signed by Scotty himself.

 

[MikeH92467]

Good on you for seeking him out to apologize (not easy to do at any age!) and on him for letting you down easy!

 

[Push The Button]

He was the featured guest at my first and probably only Trek convention that I will ever attend. I'm glad that I got to see him in person, even if only for a few minutes.

 

[bbailey861]

That's a great story - and yes, kudos to you for taking the time to meet him and apologize personally, afterwards. That shows great character!

 

[Mario de Monti]

Indeed it does, especially at the age of 17.

Great story fanncc1701, thanks for sharing it with us

 

[Doug Otte]

Great story.

When I went to cons in the 80s, I usually shook hands with the stars after getting their autograph. I shook Doohan's hand at a con outside Baltimore. At the time, I didn't know about his missing finger, and didn't feel anything odd during that brief handshake.

Later on, when I learned about his missing finger, I remembered the handshake and wondered if Doohan thought I shook his hand just for that reason.

Sorry, not as poignant a story as yours...

 

[ToddPence]

I saw him in the summer of 1994 in Charleston, WV. Generations had yet to be release and he was dropping hints about what the new movie would feature. I remember him taking several jibes at Shatner during his talk.

 

[Joel_Kirk]

I saw him in the summer of 1994 in Charleston, WV. Generations had yet to be release and he was dropping hints about what the new movie would feature. I remember him taking several jibes at Shatner during his talk.

I'm curious about what those jibes were...

In regards to the OP, it's ironic - at 17 - that he felt that he should take a more 'mature' approach in the matter described. Doohan met his wife (around the time of The Motion Picture) when she was 17 years of age.

Different people enter the 'adult' world at different points in their life.