Original Response to TOS

[Sindatur]

^ Heh, I saw Romanian Schools, but, my brain read Romulan Schools

I wasn't born until 1964, so, I don't recall first run TOS, but, I believe I remember seeing it as early as 10 years old, so, it must've been running in Syndication by 1974. I watched it over and over and over again, didn't care if they were reruns I'd already seen, though, when I caught an episode that I didn't recall, that was soemthing really special.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Ohmigod, I haven't thought of space sticks in years. I loved those.

Space Food Sticks came up on an action figure collecting listserv in the early 2000s - and I found them, still available (in chocolate and caramel), in supermarkets Down Under at the time. Not quite the consistency of Space Food Sticks of the 60s, but close.

My dream Christmas present was to find all of the Captain Action costumes under the tree. Sadly, my parents did not share that dream.

Only reason my little brother got as many Mego super hero action figures in the 80s was because the rest of us pressured our Mum to get them for him! Hehehehehehe. Sneaky.

 

[Noname Given]

I concur with GREG COX, that not only was STAR TREK not the first Sci-Fi show which demonstrated these 'futuristic technological achievements', but moreover - save for the 'Transporter' - the movie, 'Forbidden Planet' demonstrated or implied the pre-existence of nearly all of the same so-called 'Star Trek' technology;... and even some of the characters!

And, as I joked, I was already familar with the concept of the transporter from the original Vincent Price version of THE FLY. ("help me, help me!")

I do remembering preferring TREK to LOST IN SPACE, which, even as kid, I never got into . . .

The above pretty much sums it up for me too as I was about 6 when I first saw Star Trek - but as a kid into the Apollo program (even at that age) I looked for anything sci-fi fantasy related and recall watching all the other genere shows (along with 'Space Ghost' and 'The Herculoids' on Saturdays); like 'The Time Tunnel', 'Lost In Space' and my dad liked 'Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea' - even though I didn't at that age (or 'Mission Impossible' either).

Overall, as a kid, I didn't feel Star trek was any more or less special then the other shows I watched; and honestly, I remember liking 'The Time Tunnel' more than either 'Star Trek' or 'Lost In Space' at the age.

When I started catching the series regularly in syndication (at around the age of 12); and could understand more about the actual stories and characters; that's when I really started getting into, and liking Star Trek.

 

[Nerys Myk]

That's similar to my experience. I rediscovered Trek in 7th grade and that's when I really went hardcore. Read making of Star Trek and the Blish books and that was around the time TAS started. Been Trekking ever since.

 

[Forbin]

I think my original respone to TOS was, "COOOOL!!!!!"

 

[JustKate]

I was 8 when TOS debuted, and so like a lot of other posters, I am pretty sure I was a lot more into the neato ships and monsters and stuff than the social commentary. It was, nonetheless, something quite special, right from the very beginning (waaaaay more special than Lost in Space). If I said I knew why, I'd be fibbing, but I do think the...the grandeur of the plots had something to do with it.

My mom was also a really big fan, BTW - who knew moms had such an effect on the show's popularity? She'd actually let me stay up a little past my bedtime to watch it. I remember my 3rd grade teacher, Mr. Mitchell, was also a huge fan. He used to (jokingly) assign it as homework.

Alas, I don't remember space sticks - I remember Tang quite fondly, though. In particular, I liked it made with hot water. Try it sometime, particularly when you have a nasty cold.

 

[jayrath]

Tang . . . and its free give-away plastic moon buggy!

Several years ago, I started a thread remembering all these early Star Trek/Apollo years, about paper-plate starships. Two paper plates for the primary hull (or the round cardboard disk from a frozen pizza will do). Add two tubes from rolls of paper towels for the nacelles, a toilet paper tube for the secondary hull, staples, paste, and voila! Your own homemade starship!

Then there's the communicator I made from an empty Marlboro packet. And the time my best friend placed the hollows of two plastic spoons against his closed eyes and announced, "We . . . are . . . the Metrons!" I snorted milk from my nose.

Do kids make toys anymore?

 

[bobarino]

For me trek makes me ask, "What's out there?" every time I look at the stars

 

[Galileo7]

At 9 years old, in 1973, I immediately was hooked by watching both STAR TREK TOS in rerun syndication( weekdays Monday through Friday ) and the new STAR TREK TAS every Saturday morning.

 

[Brolan]

I was too young to "get" the show when it first came out. Plus my father loved his Westerns and if it was on against any of them it was "game over".

After it went into re-runs in the afternoons (when I was a little older) I was able to see it and get hooked.

 

[Forbin]

After my very annoying grandfather (Mom's dad) moved in with us, and Trek was on channel 11 every night at 6, I insisted on eating on a snack table in the living room every night to watch it. Pissed Dad off (he hated the old fart too), but it got me away from the tension at the table.