Cushman "These Are The Voyages" Season 3 - Who is "M.D.R."?

[Harvey]

No record I'm sure, but this thread has an exceedingly low percentage of posts having anything to do with the OP. On the other hand, perhaps all of the commentary on the books and their progenitor, is simply an oblique way of consigning the validity of the topic to the dustbin, along with the rest of the texts.

A little thread-drift is expected. Outside of another visit to the archives at UCLA, there's really no other way to answer the OP's question.

As for the validity of These Are The Voyages and Marc Cushman/Susan Osborn, you're certainly free to make the argument that they're not getting a fair shake. I wouldn't make that argument, but I think that surprises just about no one!

 

[Drone]

No, that wasn't my intent at all. I haven't even sampled any of them. The virulence with which they are viewed here definitely doesn't seem to be unwarranted disgruntlement, but very cogently backed up by some scrupulous research by a number of people, you I believe being one of the most prominent. I merely meant that the continued focus on that animus in this thread, seems, while unstated, to satisfy any perceived need to take the question of the OP any more seriously than any other single item in these "masterpieces". My apologies if it appeared I was suggesting something otherwise. It's all good and thank you for the response.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

I wish I wasn't so convinced, but of all the potential assailants (Gene Roddenberry, John D.F. Black, Gene Coon, Steven Carabatsos, Bob Justman, Herb Solow, and Stan Robertson), I'm afraid Whitney's memoir points pretty strongly to one man.

Of course, there's the question of Whitney's credibility, but given the other things she talks very frankly about in her memoir, and the fact that she went out of her way to avoid naming "The Executive," I see no reason to doubt her story.

Man, can you imagine if she DID name names? Lawsuits, enraged Trekkies, a split fanbase... the whole bit.

I wonder what went through her head about this stuff over the years. There must be a whole WORLD of stuff that she chose not to tell us if "The Executive" is who we think it was.

No record I'm sure, but this thread has an exceedingly low percentage of posts having anything to do with the OP. On the other hand, perhaps all of the commentary on the books and their progenitor, is simply an oblique way of consigning the validity of the topic to the dustbin, along with the rest of the texts.

Normally, I'd recommend spinning this question off into its own thread, but in this case I don't see a "Hey, was this person really a rapist?" thread EVER going over well. Best to just let it lie and let people come to their own conclusions.

 

[BeatleJWOL]

Normally, I'd recommend spinning this question off into its own thread, but in this case I don't see a "Hey, was this person really a rapist?" thread EVER going over well.

Just make sure you use the phrase "Gene's vision" as much as possible. Wonder how fast THAT would get locked.

 

[johnnybear]

I thought Grace had said that Gene Roddenberry was definitely not the culprit?
JB

 

[BillJ]

...is simply an oblique way of consigning the validity of the topic to the dustbin, along with the rest of the texts.

The dustbin is exactly where the Cushman books belong.

 

[Mudd]

I believe Whitney.

 

[BillJ]

I believe Whitney.

It wasn't like Gene was a paragon of virtue to begin with.

 

[Mudd]

You know, though, all of that "feet of clay" stuff pales next to this.

 

[feek61]

I thought Grace had said that Gene Roddenberry was definitely not the culprit?
JB

Who knows, it could be part of an unknown settlement with Whitney that she would never revel that it was Roddenberry. Just speculation of course

 

[johnnybear]

Could be but I don't see Roddenberry as that kind of guy! He liked women that we know but enough to commit a despicable act like that?
JB

 

[BillJ]

Could be but I don't see Roddenberry as that kind of guy! He liked women that we know but enough to commit a despicable act like that?
JB

As much as Star Trek means to me, Roddenberry was a pretty poor human being.

He did drugs, was a drinker, stole credit from co-workers, was an adulterer. I hope he didn't do it, but I can easily see him doing it.

 

[Mudd]

I thought Grace had said that Gene Roddenberry was definitely not the culprit?
JB

Where? When?

The passage of her memoir that covers this incident is online at Amazon.com, among other places. It's pretty damned specific, without naming a name.


In my opinion, who she's not naming is pretty clear. The open question is whether or not one believes her.

 

[Maab]

The passage of her memoir that covers this incident is online at Amazon.com, among other places. It's pretty damned specific, without naming a name.

I wonder if the other surviving cast members know the truth about this. Probably Whitney talked about what happened to her with colleagues and friends at the time. Walter Koenig and William Shatner are both coming to Star Trek conventions here in Italy in the next few months... maybe I could ask.

 

[Green Shirt]

^ I see that not going over very well during "Q and A" time.

 

[CorporalCaptain]

maybe I could ask.

I would not recommend it, especially in a public setting like that. As there have been no allegations that any other parties were directly involved, any answer other than a no-comment or don't-know would be either hearsay or speculation, anyway. Why risk the strong possibility of creating an unpleasant situation for all parties present? There's no upside.

 

[johnnybear]

Agreed! Whoever was responsible might have gotten away with it here on earth but not in the great hereafter!
JB

 

[Maab]

^ I see that not going over very well during "Q and A" time.

No, of course not, I didn't mean to ask them in public. I'm sorry, I have not been clear: I'm among the organizers, so I usually have several opportunities to talk to our guests in private. I was just wandering if they might know or not. Probably, even if someone does, he/she still won't confirm anything, so I suppose the truth will remain buried.

 

[Green Shirt]

^OK

 

[Indysolo]

I wonder if the other surviving cast members know the truth about this. Probably Whitney talked about what happened to her with colleagues and friends at the time. Walter Koenig and William Shatner are both coming to Star Trek conventions here in Italy in the next few months... maybe I could ask.

Bad, bad, bad idea. They're there to entertain, not discuss an unpleasant chapter in history, one neither may know about.

Neil