Props Re-used

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Shatner on several occasions demonstrated an inclination toward using pronunciations which differed from those used by the rest of the cast in the same episode, but he wasn't alone in this case. There are other examples in Trek and elsewhere of such deviations from the pronunciation given in the script, probably agreed-upon during shooting, but without a revision made to the script.

As for "Sean": when pronounced according to the conventions of Irish and Scottish Gaelic, it sounds like what we might spell "Shawn"; to pronounce it "seen" would be incorrect, quite simply.

"I don't say sabotage. You say sabotage. I say sabatagge."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlOTRxt-dIw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQjll3Fvepw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69cIEiutWTY&feature=related

 

[WendellM]

Shatner on several occasions demonstrated an inclination toward using pronunciations which differed from those used by the rest of the cast in the same episode

"I don't say sabotage. You say sabotage. I say sabatagge."

Heh, great example clips. Also, TAS's "How Sharper Than a Serpent's Tooth":

Everyone else: "Kukulkan"

Shatner: "Kuklakan"

Apologies to William Shatner, but these had to be said (dammit, Jim! ). And apologies for moving further away from the very interesting prop discoveries the thread's been providing.

 

[GSchnitzer]

I think the group-think of a Wiki like Memory Alpha isn't always right.
<snip>

So whoever made that Memory Alpha entry appears to be incorrect.

So it would seem, though I'm not sure I'd be too quick to attribute it to group-think. That sort of error is a common enough problem in any kind of lexicography, not just in Trek reference. Ideally, everything would be checked, but sometimes inaccurate or erroneous information may simply be copied from another source, with the assumption that the source was accurate, and some errors have been found to have persisted literally unchanged through several editions and to have crossed to other references entirely.

I understand what you are saying here, Greg, and I'm sure you are right, but then why does everyone call the character "OX-mix"?

Maybe it's all Shatner's fault as he doesn't follow the phonetic pronunciation guide. He consistently calls Vic Tayback's character "CRACK-o".

I've seen people with the name spelled S-E-A-N, but they pronounce it as "Shawn." Why don't they pronounce it as "seen?"

Shatner on several occasions demonstrated an inclination toward using pronunciations which differed from those used by the rest of the cast in the same episode, but he wasn't alone in this case. There are other examples in Trek and elsewhere of such deviations from the pronunciation given in the script, probably agreed-upon during shooting, but without a revision made to the script.

As for "Sean": when pronounced according to the conventions of Irish and Scottish Gaelic, it sounds like what we might spell "Shawn"; to pronounce it "seen" would be incorrect, quite simply.

1. I think that Wikis are founded on the principle that errors should be easy to correct, rather than being founded on the principle that errors should be difficult to make in the first place. So, I would suspect that there are plenty of errors at Memory Alpha that need to be corrected. As you said, ideally everything would be checked but sometimes stuff gets copied from some other place --information the copier thought was already vetted. Unoftunately, there is no mechanism or process in a Wiki to check everything. If there were, it wouldn't really be a Wiki anymore. It would be a knoweldge base, maintained my an expert rather than maintained by a group. Nevertheless, I might have been a bit unclear: from a root cause analysis "group think" probably isn't the source of any inaccurate information. Group think is only responsible for maintaining and perpetuating the misinformation.

2. Yes Shatner and his flat "A's"--and other Canadian pronounciations are well known--although Canadian Jimmy Doohan doesn't seem to have the same reputation. But since all the actors and actresses use the same pronounciations for these "....Action" characters, it doesn't appear to be some odd Shatner variant. Indeed, it seems to be some unscripted decision on set, probably by the director himself.

3. I raise the "Sean/Shawn/Sean" comment because someone asked why the Iotians whould have pronounced "Okmyx" as "Oxmyx." So, my point is we might just say (as you did): "As for 'Okmyx': when pronounced according to the conventions of the Iotian language we saw, it sounds like what we might spell 'Oxmyx'; to pronounce it 'Okmyx' would be incorrect, quite simply.

But we probably need to get back to props.

 

[erastus25]

I understand what you are saying here, Greg, and I'm sure you are right, but then why does everyone call the character "OX-mix"?

Maybe it's all Shatner's fault as he doesn't follow the phonetic pronunciation guide. He consistently calls Vic Tayback's character "CRACK-o".

I've seen people with the name spelled S-E-A-N, but they pronounce it as "Shawn." Why don't they pronounce it as "seen?"

(Also, Spock calls Krako "Krack-o," too.)

Hell, even Krako pronounced it "Krack-o".

They're not alone. There are lots of inconsistent pronunciations in Star Trek. My favorite is the TNG episode (Suspicions?) where Yridian becomes "Ear-i-dian".

 

[GSchnitzer]

Periodically, we see a small portable device about the size of a telephone answering machine that is seen sitting on a tabletop or is sometimes being carried around by crewmembers. Some Star Trek prop aficionados have been calling these things Task Monitors--which seems like an innocuous enough term. Actually, however, although folks have been calling these things "Task Monitors," the device did get mentioned in the script for "Mudd's Women." In this contraption's first apperance in "Mudd's Women," the script has the following comment:

INT. CONFERENCE ROOM - ANGLE ON RECORDER

The recorder light on, a hand adjusting it as we hear:

KIRK'S VOICE

...on star date thirteen twenty-
nine point two... on board the
U.S.S. Enterprise in compliance
with Article Nine, the Uniform
Code of Interplanetary Justice.
Mister Spock--

So this device, at least in "Mudd's Women" was a "Recorder" meant to record the official procedings against Harcourt Fenton Mudd (alias Leo Walsh).

The first time we see one of these Recorders/Task Monitors is in "Mudd's Women." It's on the table in front of Mr. Scott during a meeting with Harry Mudd and his "cargo" of women. Since it sits there relatively inertly, perhaps it is monitoring or recording the meeting somehow--which is, I suppose, how the nickname for this prop developed. Here's a shot from "Mudd's Women:"

The next time we see the Recorder/Task Monitor is in "The Man Trap." It sits in front of Captain Kirk during a meeting with his senior staff and Professor Crater. It seems to be performing the same function as in "Mudd's Women:" monitoring or recording the meeting--but who knows for sure, of course.

At any rate, here's my Recorder/Task Monitor prop replica:

It's not much to look at, really: just a black box, red edging, silver wheel controls, yellowish buttons, and a light. This is elegant 23rd Century technology at its finest.

Actually, in order to try to add to the Star Trek universe a bit, I'm speculating that maybe these things come in different colors (although we never actually saw anything other than the red-edged Recorder/Task Monitor). So I had a Recorder/Task Monitor made that might be used by folks in the green-gold Command Division:

I also had a Recorder/Task Monitor made that might be used by folks in the blue Sciences Division:

The Recorder/Task Monitor prop was actually revised a little bit towards the end of the First Season: a small sheet of stainless steel was added to the top of the device. This would permit the user to carry around the small magnetic "jumper" blocks that we've talked about. You can see this revised Recorder/Task Monitor in "Taste of Armageddon:"

...and in "This Side of Paradise:"

...and in "Errand of Mercy:"

It was revised again at the beginning of the Second Season. I'll get more into the revised version (maybe we should call the newer ones the "Mark II Recorder/Task Monitor) in another post to the forum at a later date. In the meantime, here are all three of my "Mark I Task Monitors" together:

Like always, you can see a little slide show that rotates through these images at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/10901121@N06/sets/72157602963183842/show/

Also, here's a late addition: the source device for this prop has been a mystery for some time, but now it has been found. It is a vintage-era Westinghouse reading lamp/AM radio combination. (The lamp part was cleverly built into the telescoping antenna but was removed for the prop and replaced with an orange "icecube" "gumdrop" button-light thing.) Here are some shots of one of these original vintage Westinghouse reading lamp/AM radio combinations I picked up from a recent ebay auction:

Although I don't have the lighting right to match the screen shot, a three-quarter's view shows a truer comparison:

 

[Captain Robert April]

Wowsers.

 

[Praetor]

To that, I'll add a 'Jinkies.'

 

[Redfern]

How 'bout a "Zoiks!"

Sincerely,

Bill

 

[Outpost4]

So what you're saying, Greg, is that Art Bell is still broadcasting in the 23rd century, and that he's so revered that people record him?

 

[Captain Robert April]

Why do you think Art's so paranoid about alien invaders?

Because he IS one!

 

[Gary7]

This really makes you appreciate how resourceful the prop team was on TOS. Cannibalizing anything that might have a 23rd century look. Greg, you did a great job on this and I really like your foresight on devising color schemes to match divisions. Do you expect that all of these may get some direct prop usage, or serve more as background props?

 

[gaghyogi49]

This is a great thread! It's great to know that I'm not the only one going through all episodes of a Star Trek series to look for appearances of just one or two background props only to do it again a few weeks later to look for another prop, again... :-)

One prop/piece of decoration that has always fascinated me are the paintings that appear in various rooms aboard the Enterprise in the third season. They depict various alien landscapes and each features a small black sign with white words at the bottom. I wish we could read the image inscriptions to find out, which planets are shown in those paintings.

http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/PlanetenbilderIsthereintruthnobe-1.jpg
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/PlanetenbilderIsthereintruthnobe-2.jpg
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/PlanetenbilderIsthereintruthnobe-3.jpg
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/PlanetenbilderIsthereintruthnobeaut.jpg

Another cool painting appears in sickbay, showing a strange alien.

http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/Alien-BildThatwhichsurvives.jpg

Does anybody know more about these paintings?

Jörg

 

[Michael]

This is a great thread! It's great to know that I'm not the only one going through all episodes of a Star Trek series to look for appearances of just one or two background props only to do it again a few weeks later to look for another prop, again... :-)

One prop/piece of decoration that has always fascinated me are the paintings that appear in various rooms aboard the Enterprise in the third season. They depict various alien landscapes and each features a small black sign with white words at the bottom. I wish we could read the image inscriptions to find out, which planets are shown in those paintings.

http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/PlanetenbilderIsthereintruthnobe-1.jpg
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/PlanetenbilderIsthereintruthnobe-2.jpg
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/PlanetenbilderIsthereintruthnobe-3.jpg
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/PlanetenbilderIsthereintruthnobeaut.jpg

Another cool painting appears in sickbay, showing a strange alien.

http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/Alien-BildThatwhichsurvives.jpg

Does anybody know more about these paintings?

Jörg

Wow, I never noticed these before. They look like the background paintings of TAS or even the matte paintings of the live action series.

 

[Gary7]

I think it's the artist name, painting title, and the sale price. They had proposed having an art auction to help boost ratings, but somehow they could never work it into the plots.

 

[GSchnitzer]

This is a great thread! It's great to know that I'm not the only one going through all episodes of a Star Trek series to look for appearances of just one or two background props only to do it again a few weeks later to look for another prop, again... :-)

One prop/piece of decoration that has always fascinated me are the paintings that appear in various rooms aboard the Enterprise in the third season. They depict various alien landscapes and each features a small black sign with white words at the bottom. I wish we could read the image inscriptions to find out, which planets are shown in those paintings.

http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April%202009/PlanetenbilderIsthereintruthnobe-1.jpg
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/PlanetenbilderIsthereintruthnobe-2.jpg
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/PlanetenbilderIsthereintruthnobe-3.jpg
http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/PlanetenbilderIsthereintruthnobeaut.jpg

Another cool painting appears in sickbay, showing a strange alien.

http://s95.photobucket.com/albums/l142/gaghyogi49/April 2009/Alien-BildThatwhichsurvives.jpg

Does anybody know more about these paintings?

Jörg

I've researched these pretty thoroughly and I know all about them. Unfortunately, I haven't put all my research together yet and I haven't written these up like I have other props and set decorations.

There's a total of eighteen small acrylic astronomical art paintings (in the style of Chesley Bonnestell). There are three on either side of the table/credenza in "Is There In Truth No Beauty?" (for a total of six on the back wall). The column of three paintings on the right are also reused on the wall of the bedroom section of Kirk's quarters.

There's a column of three paintings behind Mr. Scott and a column of two behind Lawrence Marvick (again, in "...Truth..."). (So this is five more.) The column of three behind Mr. Scott can also be seen in the Klingons' Detention Quarters in "Day of the Dove."

Miranda Jones has two in her guest quarters.

Captain Kirk has two more on the wall of the office portion of his quarters.

The last three are all in Dr. McCoy's office. (There are actually three weird abstract alien paintings, not just the one visible in "That Which Survives." (The other two flank the display cabinet with the skulls on either side of the cabinet.)

When I get a chance, I'll post more about these wonderful fantasy/astronomical paintings including some screengrabs, information about the artist who did all the paintings, and the truth about what those little title cards on the bottom of each each painting say.

 

[Praetor]

Wow, I'd never noticed those paintings either.

 

[GSchnitzer]

This really makes you appreciate how resourceful the prop team was on TOS. Cannibalizing anything that might have a 23rd century look. Greg, you did a great job on this and I really like your foresight on devising color schemes to match divisions. Do you expect that all of these may get some direct prop usage, or serve more as background props?

There aren't any scripts coming down the Phase II pike where there is some specific requirement that we show these recorder/task monitor boxes for some important plot point. But we do have some of extras walking aroudn the corridors and on the bridge carrying these things (mostly just the red-edged one). I did use the blue-edged one, sitting on the shelf in Dr. McCoy's cabin in our upcoming "Enemy: Starfleet." You can see it in the background behind Kirk's shoulder in this snippet from the episode:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdAUh8GdFj4

 

[gaghyogi49]

Wow, great! Can't wait for that update!
I've also found the paintings in "The Tholian web", "Wink of an eye", "The mark of Gideon", "The weay to Eden", "Requiem for Methuselah" and "Turnabout intruder", but they appear first and are most clearly seen in "Is there in truth no beauty?".

Really looking forward to what you found out about those!

Jörg

 

[GSchnitzer]

Wow, great! Can't wait for that update!
I've also found the paintings in "The Tholian web", "Wink of an eye", "The mark of Gideon", "The weay to Eden", "Requiem for Methuselah" and "Turnabout intruder", but they appear first and are most clearly seen in "Is there in truth no beauty?".

Really looking forward to what you found out about those!

Jörg

Well, yes--you see the column of two paintings on Kirk's office wall:

...and the column of three paintings on Kirk's bedroom wall:

...each time we see Kirk's quarters in the Third Season.

 

[gaghyogi49]

Thanks for the shots! I'm looking forward to the episodes on Blu-ray, will be cool to get a closer, albeit still blurry, look at them.