My First Star Trek Convention

[MGC]

I have only been to two.These were in 1992 in Nashville TN at the convention center.I met Nichelle Nichols and Walter Koenig.Both of these were "Creation" conventions.The big news at the time was the pre-production of DS9.

I wasn't as excited as some might of been.It was something to do on my day off.I bought nothing except 2 movie pictures from Star Trek VI and i waited in line to have those autographed by Nichols and Koenig (for free).Walter was really cool.Before the convention he was mingling with the crowd on the dealer floor taking pictures with the fans.

 

[indranee]

Creation Con in NYC in 1982, just pre-release TWOK, I think.

unbelievable excitement in the room. 1000s of people fit into the hall to see Leonard Nimoy. he was fantastic. genial and funny (as always). I was in my teens and was there with my brother and a school buddy. we didn't have much money but we bought a shared copy of "I am not Spock". I remember shaking a bit. my hands were cold and throat dry. and I was indescribably happy.

 

[WillsBabe]

^ That sounds like a great experience. You tell it so evocatively, I can see it in my mind's eye.

 

[indranee]

thank you it feels just like yesterday!

 

[Captain Randy Hall]

What is your first memory of attending a Star Trek Convention?

I know I've gone on a bit long, but I couldn't help myself. I would love to read any one else's memories of earlier Trek gatherings.

I might have the first memories of a Trek convention. I was going to college in Maryland back in 1975 or so when some friends and I heard of a fan gathering in northern Virgina. There were no guests other than Susan Sackett. We never imagined any of the actors would really come to our event.

They had a full corridor of hotel rooms showing Trek episodes. One side started up at the hour and the other started on the half hour.

The "dealer's room" was woefully barren, but I had nothing to judge it by. I bought a gold shirt and the material for the captain's badge and frill for the end of the sleeves. My mom (who just passed away at age 92) cheerfully sewed them on, and I was in Trek heaven.

A blooper reel made me laugh so hard that I had to find a copy I could buy. I remember some "studio execs" at the con being impressed that the bloopers got such a grand reaction from the fans.

I didn't go to another con until DeForest Kelley came to Scranton, Pennsylvania, in conjunction to the release of Star Trek IV. The change was incredible. No more showing episodes when you could buy the tapes and watch them at home. I came away calling the con "a love fest for Dr. McCoy."

After that, I began attending local fan-run conventions in Maryland, like Farpoint and Shore Leave. I went to Fantasticon in LA several times. I also made it to the 30th anniversary bash in the South and drove over to NYC to catch William Shatner as a guest for the 40th anniversary.

One more item about that trip. I drove between Maryland and NYC all in the same day. That was held on September 9. Yeah, I was in NYC within a couple of days before 9/11!

 

[nx1701g]

I'm sorry to say I have never been to a convention.