Star Trek Original Series Set Tour

[JonnyQuest037]

I went back in 2016 and had an amazing time. Here's the write-up of my trip, along with photos.

(Keep in mind that they've made some changes/improvements since I was there. The bridge viewscreen wasn't a flatscreen TV and they didn't have the mesh screen in front of the pipes in engineering yet. They were also still in the process of building the decompression chamber in sickbay.)

I plan to make a return trip someday once I have enough disposable income.

 

[Phaser Two]

I went back in 2016 and had an amazing time. Here's the write-up of my trip, along with photos.

(Keep in mind that they've made some changes/improvements since I was there. The bridge viewscreen wasn't a flatscreen TV and they didn't have the mesh screen in front of the pipes in engineering yet. They were also still in the process of building the decompression chamber in sickbay.)

I plan to make a return trip someday once I have enough disposable income.

Yeah, that's a simply outstanding blog post. You write well - how did I know that?

Okay, now, as a relentless bridge aficionado . . . does the tour have the starboard side of the bridge completely cut out - as it was for most shots on the origjnal series? Do they have those three stations and their shape of the pie wedge sitting off to the side, ready to wheel in? On STNV they must have used some creative shots to show the rarely-seen side of the bridge, and it seems unlikely that they tore those segments down once the sets turned from production location to tour.

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Yeah, that's a simply outstanding blog post. You write well - how did I know that?

Thank you so much, Phaser Two! After a rough couple of weeks, I really needed to hear something nice like that. That honestly made my night.

Okay, now, as a relentless bridge aficionado . . . does the tour have the starboard side of the bridge completely cut out - as it was for most shots on the origjnal series? Do they have those three stations and their shape of the pie wedge sitting off to the side, ready to wheel in?

When I visited, there was a gap in the bridge. The starboard side ended right after Spock's station and the opening extended pretty much to right side of the viewscreen. I don't recall seeing any other bridge stations set off to the side, but I've read that they now have the bridge completely enclosed. That must make it seem even more immersive. Honestly, one of the few things I disliked on the tour was the cardboard standee of William Shatner as Kirk they had set up by the turbolift doors. It seemed rather cheesy and it reminded me too much that I wasn't actually on the Enterprise. I much preferred to imagine that the real Captain Kirk was just around the next corner, and I'd bump into him any second.

But really, if you ever find yourself on the east coast, you should make a point of visiting the sets. They're really something else.

 

[Vger23]

I went back in 2016 and had an amazing time. Here's the write-up of my trip, along with photos.

(Keep in mind that they've made some changes/improvements since I was there. The bridge viewscreen wasn't a flatscreen TV and they didn't have the mesh screen in front of the pipes in engineering yet. They were also still in the process of building the decompression chamber in sickbay.)

I plan to make a return trip someday once I have enough disposable income.

That was an excellent blog about your experience. I went in 2016 as well my first time, and thus the sets were in just about the same shape for me as you documented here.

It took me right back to that reading your account here. Very nice!

 

[Phaser Two]

Thank you so much, Phaser Two! After a rough couple of weeks, I really needed to hear something nice like that. That honestly made my night.

When I visited, there was a gap in the bridge. The starboard side ended right after Spock's station and the opening extended pretty much to right side of the viewscreen. I don't recall seeing any other bridge stations set off to the side, but I've read that they now have the bridge completely enclosed. That must make it seem even more immersive. Honestly, one of the few things I disliked on the tour was the cardboard standee of William Shatner as Kirk they had set up by the turbolift doors. It seemed rather cheesy and it reminded me too much that I wasn't actually on the Enterprise. I much preferred to imagine that the real Captain Kirk was just around the next corner, and I'd bump into him any second.

But really, if you ever find yourself on the east coast, you should make a point of visiting the sets. They're really something else.

You're very welcome, JQ! Ah, I'm very sorry to hear about your rough patch. Hope it's behind you and glad I could help in a small way.

I fully agree about the Kirk cutout. Looks like they removed it now and if so, I'm glad.

I'm thrilled beyond belief to hear that they likely enclosed the bridge!!! I always loved it when one of the directors went out of the way to show the starboard-side stations - Kirk's walkaround on that side in The Doomsday Machine comes to mind but there are many other examples. Those three stations' panels had some cool-looking displays, too.

Yes, thank you! I had flexibly scheduled business in New York in June/July and had marked Bill Shatner's June visit in my head calendar, but unfortunately it didn't work out. I'm really hoping he heads back soon - his schedule is amazing - and if so I will likely clear all moorings and blast out of Spacedock at one-quarter impulse power to make it. And of course I can go some other time, luckily. Thanks to you and the other posters who've been for providing such terrific visual incentives to go!

 

[JonnyQuest037]

Yes, thank you! I had flexibly scheduled business in New York in June/July and had marked Bill Shatner's June visit in my head calendar, but unfortunately it didn't work out. I'm really hoping he heads back soon - his schedule is amazing - and if so I will likely clear all moorings and blast out of Spacedock at one-quarter impulse power to make it.

According to James Cawley on Facebook, Shatner has really been enjoying his visits to the Ticonderoga sets and has been making it a point to do return visits, so I think you have a good chance of that.

I'd love to go sometime when he's there, too. I've never met Mr. Shatner, and it would be very cool to meet and talk with him in something more intimate than a convention setting. But I think there's also something to be said about going when folks like Doug Drexler or Mike Okuda are there, too -- Those folks have such extensive knowledge of the behind the scenes working of Trek that it's a pleasure to hear them talk about TOS.

 

[ZapBrannigan]

According to James Cawley on Facebook, Shatner has really been enjoying his visits to the Ticonderoga sets and has been making it a point to do return visits, so I think you have a good chance of that.

I'd love to go sometime when he's there, too. I've never met Mr. Shatner, and it would be very cool to meet and talk with him in something more intimate than a convention setting. But I think there's also something to be said about going when folks like Doug Drexler or Mike Okuda are there, too -- Those folks have such extensive knowledge of the behind the scenes working of Trek that it's a pleasure to hear them talk about TOS.

And he's 88! I wish I knew his secret. Think about it: Ian Wolfe was only 72 when he played Mr. Atoz, and he would later praise the care and expertise that Shatner put into their physical fight, so as not to hurt an older person. Wolfe appreciated that, because he really was an old man at the time. I'm referring to his interview in Starlog magazine. But Shatner of today looks like he could still mop the floor with Mr. Atoz and not break a sweat.

 

[mb22]

In the 1935 movie Mad Love, Wolfe (age 41) played the father of Colin Clive (age 35). Wolfe was playing older men for most of his career (he died in 1992 at 95).

 

[Henoch]

Bald men look older than they are. They need to wear a toupee to avoid being typecast in old man roles. Patrick Steward look 50+ to me when TNG started. Steward was only 47. By contrast, William Shatner was 47 in TMP during principal photography.

 

[daedalus5]

The bridge is a full 360 degrees. I’ll post more pictures of my June visit when I get the chance. The lighting was just beautiful. One of my life’s highlights. . Loved it. Just wish they’d have left me sitting in the command chair for a few hours and let me live in that space for the day. Bliss.

 

[Methuselah Flint]

I haven't had the fortune to go on the tour, but since others have posted pics in uniform, here's me!

 

[Ronald Held]

I am there for Trekonderoga.