#john trimble

I'm sorry to hear of the passing of John Trimble. Before the Trimbles were involved in the SCA, and before Star Trek was even dreamed of, there was Bjo's project to create art shows at science fiction conventions. Here's the late John Trimble sitting at the table of the Chicon III art show in 1962. The fellow standing in the white shirt near the center of the photo is my father Stephen Schultheis, also attending Chicon III. Photo courtesy of the Jay Kay Klein collection at UC Riverside.

Panel Description: John Trimble was an active science fiction fan for over 60 years, having worked on several science fiction convention committees, co-chairing with his wife Bjo their own media and Star Trek convention, MC’ing many awards ceremonies such as the Hugo Awards, and co-founding the SDCC art show. John passed away in April. Please join John’s family and friends in remembering and celebrating his life. Moderated by Bjo Trimble with their children: Lora Boehm, Jason Boehm , Kathryn Trimble, and Jenn Jumper.

In 1966 they found a group of people interested in mediaeval combat and arts. They joined the Society of Creative Anachronism (SCA) . John served 2 terms as a member of it’s board of directors, was a landed Baron of the first Barony. His arms were the very first to be registered with the college of Heralds and both John and Bjo have been members ever since. Later that year he said to his wife, “Gee it’s a shame a good science fiction show like Star Trek is going to be canceled. We should do something about that!” And the same Star Trek campaign was born. For over 58 years John and Bjo Trimble have been ambassadors for science fiction, the space program and the SCA. Meeting and hosting people from all walks of life, all over the world. John has touched thousands of lives in a way that positive and full of joy. He will be greatly missed.

Another day spent swimming at the lake. We do deep water solo climbs around the corner from the final view, both because it doesn’t require any equipment and we can find easier routes than most of the roped ones. Mostly we swim back and forth between the two coves take breaks to jump off the waterfall and lay in the sun.  We always leave our phones here with our backpacks, so I have no pictures of most of what we do all day.

Who Bjo and Roddenberry riding a tidal wave of mail-order adrenaline, they decided that it was time to employ some guerrilla tactics. With that in mind, Gene had several thousand bumper stickers made up, each bearing one of two message, "I GROK SPOCK" or "STARTREK LIVES." He had most of them handed out to fans at conventions or at Paramount, but even as these stickers were just beginning to show up on highways all over the United States, Gene had already come to the conclusion that the best way to utilize these strategic weapons in the war to save Star Trek would be to smuggle them behind enemy lines. Gene ordered a hit on NBC headquarters. Gene, Majel, Bjo and John then met over drinks, and Gene pitched his idea about actually getting these bumper stickers inside NBC's corporate headquarters. The basic idea would be to dig up a handful of local supporters who'd lead the assault on NBC's Burbank offices, and to also find one exceptionally gusty fan who'd fly to New York and infiltrate the network's Rockefeller Center digs. Once inside, their mission would be to roam the network halls, spreading the word about Star Trek's anwarranted, unwanted demise, then offering bumper stickers and a printed call to action to any employees who seemed the least bit supportive. Bjo smiled, then got on the telephone and immediately called a group of especially enthusiastic fans over at Cal Tech who'd already offered to storm the halls of NBC. She explained the mission, then had them synchronize their watches and report for duty. Within minutes of the call, a half-dozen Cal Techers were tooling down a freeway toward the evil empire's Burbank offices. At the same time, a raw but gung-ho recruit named Wanda Kendall was meeting with Roddenberry in preparation for her airlift to New York. She was briefed on how to effectively maneuver behind enemy lines, armed with a handful of bumper stickers, herded over to the airport and shuttled onto an eastbound jet. Once she'd landed in Manhattan, Wanda made her way inside the lobby of NBC's Rockefeller Center headquarters. However, while she was free to room the public areas of the building, large, frowning, thoroughly unimpressed security men kept her from getting anywhere near the actual network offices. Dejected, Wanda left, feeling thoroughly defeated. Then, even before hail a cab back to the airport, Wanda was struck by an idea that was brilliant, daring and just a little bit illegal. Having watched several stretch limousines pulling in and out of NBC's highly exclusive "Executive Parking Facilities," and realizing that she was still in possession of several hundred "STAR TREK LIVES" and "I GROK SPOCK" stickers, Wanda theorized that these stickers could best serve the cause by becoming permanently affixed to the automobile bumpers belonging to the very NBC executives who would soon decide the fate of Star Trek. Now she formulated a plan. Staking out the parking area, Wanda noticed that limousines were routinely making pickups inside the gated facility, and that quite often the cars' drivers would stop just prior to entry for a cigarette break. They'd generally exit their cars, leaving the engine running, and wander over toward the guard house, where they'd chat with the security guys while sucking down large quantities of tar and nicotine. With bumper stickers now squeezed tightly in both fists and a grim look of determination upon her face, Wanda realized that it was time for action. Lying in wait by the side of the facility, Wanda watches for the next limo to approach. Sure enough, the driver pulls up to the gate, exchanges some friendly greetings with the guards and gets out of the car for a quick Camel unfiltered. Immediately Wanda swoops down from her surveillance spot and sneaks into the cavernous back seat of the limousine. The driver has no idea she is there, and within minutes he's unknowingly escorted her into the middle of the lot. The limo driver then enters the building, using the house phone to signal his fare that he's arrived. Wanda takes this opportunity to sneak out car's back door. The now takes a moment to paste the back bumper of this particular limo with a green and yellow "I GROK SPOCK," then turns her attention to the sea of Cadillac, BMW's, Mercedes and Jags that lie in front of the her, several rows deep. Silently and with blazing speed, Wanda plasters row after row of gleaming, overpriced executive wheels until the entire parking lot looks like an ad for Star Trek. In fact, it's been said that Mort Werner, Grant Tinker and even Johnny Garson went home that night bearing back-bumper praise of our show. Once Wanda had made it inside the executive parking lot, she had absolutely no problem getting into the building. Whereas the guards in the lobby had barked at her, demanding I.D., the guards at this entry, thinking Wanda had parked in this lot and was therefore some sort of VIP, simply wished her good morning. She passed their station coursing with adrenaline, thrilled that her break-in was going so smoothly. Once on the executive floors of NBC, Wanda was able to move about with unrestricted access. With that in mind, she spent the better part of the day papering the place with flyers and handing out bumper stickers to any Trek fan she could find. Before she departed, she'd even managed to recruit several NBC employees who agreed to continue her work, spreading the word about Star Trek throughout the halls of 30 Rock whenever their bosses weren't looking. In the days that followed, Roddenberry smirked through several angry phone calls from NBC executive as they completed about a gluey residue that refused to come clean from their bumpers. Suppressing his laughter, Gene pleaded innocence and ignorance of the Star Trek fans' actions. "These people are really devoted to the show," he offered, trying to help his situation. "People LOVE Star Trek, who knows HOW far they'll go in trying to save it?" By now, the "Save Star Trek" letters that were raining down on NBC's mail room, and Mort Werner's desk, had passed the one million mark. The network was simply Drowning in mail, without the manpower or the postal budget to even come close to answering it all. Finally, on a late-winter Friday night, in the middle of Star Trek's and credits, the powers-that-were at NBC officially threw in the towel and made the now-famous on-air announcement that Star Trek would indeed be renewed for a third season. It went like this: *** And now an announcement of interest to all viewers of Star Trek. We are pleased to tell you that Star Trek will continue to be seen on NBC television. We know you will be looking forward to seeing the weekly adventure in space on Star Trek. *** BjoTrimble's idea had spawned the most massive outpouring of viewer support in the history of television. As a result, Star Trek had dodged yet another bullet and would survive to see the 1968-69 fall schedule. NBC even as they were still shoveling out the mail room, couldn't help but notice that the show really did have a loyal and incredibly devoted following. With that in mind, they spoke publicly about "renewing their dedication to the show's success." They then penciled us into a very desirable Monday night seven-thirty P.M. time slot and urged Gene Roddenberry to once again take over the producing duties. Gene agreed, and Star Trek seemed poised to achieve its greatest success ever, both creatively and in terms of ratings. Sadly, however, this was not to be. ブジョーとロッデンベリーは通信のアドレナリンの波に乗り彼らはゲリラ戦法をとる時期であると決断した。 そうしてジーンは"I GROK SPOCK" "STAR TREK LIVES" という二種類のメッセージのバンパーステッカーを数千作成した。 彼はその多くをパラマウントやコンベンションでファン達に手渡した、そのステッカーを貼った車が米国中のハイウェイに姿を見せ始めたんだ、ジーンはスタートレックを救う為の戦いの結びとして敵の背後に戦略兵器を送り込むという最高の方法を用意していたんだ。 ジーンはNBC 本部への攻撃を命じた。 ジーンとメイジェル、ブジョーとジョンは飲みの席で顔を合わせた、そこでジーンはNBC 本部内にバンパーステッカーをばらまくアイデアを披露した。 基本のアイデアとしては地元のサポーターをひと握り集めNBCのバーバンクオフィスへ先陣を切らせそして並み外れて熱心なファンを探し出しニューヨークに飛んでもらいネットワークのロックフェラーセンターへ潜入をさせる。 侵入した彼らのミッションはネットワークのホールを歩き回りスタートレック正当性やの死は望んでいないことなどをふれまわり、従業員などに僅かでもサポートしてもらえるようビラを配り呼びかけるというものだった。 ブジョーは微笑みすぐさまNBC へ突撃の申し出があったカリフォルニア工科大学の熱心なファングループへと電話をかけた。 ミッションを説明した彼女は彼らに腕時計の時間を合わせさせ出動させた。 数分で鳴った電話で6名のカリフォルニア工科大生が高速道路で悪の帝国のバーバンクオフィスへ向かっているときた。 同時にその熱心さでスカウトしたワンダ.ケンダルとロッデンベリーが彼女がニューヨークへ飛ぶための準備としての会談を行った。 彼女は敵の背後をうつべく説明を受け腕にバンパーステッカーを抱え東へ向かうジェット機に乗った。 マンハッタンに降り立った彼女はロックフェラーセンター本部のロビーへと潜入した。 しかしながら、彼女が建物内を歩き回る間、大きく威圧的なガードマンが彼女がネットワークのオフィスへ近づく事を許さなかった。 完全にくじかれ彼女はしょげて帰るしかなかった。 彼女が空港へ戻るためにタクシーへ乗る直前、ワンダの頭に素晴らしく大胆でほんの少し違法なアイデアが閃いた。 彼女は数台の長いリムジンがNBCの"重役専用駐車場"へ出入りしているこのを見ていたんだ、そして彼女は理解した"STAR TREK LIVES" や"I GROK SPOCK" のステッカーはスタートレックの運命を決めるNBC役員の車のバンパーにしっかりと張り付けることでステッカーとして最高の役目を果たすのだと理論づけたのだと。 彼女は計画を練った。 パーキングエリアの外でワンダは気がついた、ゲートの中に入っていくリムジンが通常、本当にしばしば運転手が入場の前にタバコ休憩を取る事に。 彼らは大概エンジンをかけたまま車から降り大量のタールとニコチンを摂取する間ガードマンと話すをするためにぶらぶらと警備舎まで行くのだと。 バンパーステッカーを両手に握り締めた彼女の顔に厳しい決意が浮かんでいた、行動の時だと理解したからだ。 設備のそばで待ち伏せたワンダは次のリムジンが近づいてくるのを観察していた。 果たして、ゲートに近寄ったドライバーが警備員親しげに挨拶を交わしフィルター無しのキャメルを素早く取り出し車を降りた。 直ぐに監視場所から出たワンダはリムジンの洞窟の様な後部座席に潜り込んだ。 そこに彼女が居るとは思ってもいないドライバーは気づかぬままに施設の中へと彼女をエスコートした。 リムジンのドライバーが到着を知らせるために建物の電話をとった。 その隙に彼女は車の後部ドアから滑りでた。 このリムジンの後部バンパーには緑と黄色の"I GROK SPOCK" のステッカーを特に念入りに貼り付けてから彼女はキャデラックやBMW、メルセデスやジャガーの海へと注意を移し潜っていった。 静かに手早く列から列へと貼り付けて行き、重役に相応しい高値のホイールがスタートレックのための広告として並んでいる迄になった。 事実Mort WernerやGrant Tinker やJohnny Garson はその夜僕たちのショーをバックバンパーで称賛しながら家へ帰ったんだ。 重役駐車場へ入ったワンダは建物内へも問題なく入ることが出来た。 ロビーでは彼女にIDを求めて吼えたガードマンもここから入ったならワンダもVIPであると考えたようで彼女に朝の挨拶を告げただけだった。 彼らの詰所をスムーズに通り抜けたことに彼女はゾクゾクとアドレナリンを巡らせた。 NBC の役員フロアに立ったワンダは制限無く何処へでも行くことが出来た。 そうして彼女は誰が見てもTrekファンだと気づくであろうフライヤーや折り畳まれていたバンパーチケットを貼り付けていくことにその日の大半を費やした。 彼女が出立する頃には彼女の仕事を引き継いでくれるNBC職員をスカウトすることすら出来ていて、彼らはボスに見られること無く30区画の至る所へスタートレックについての言葉を貼り付けていったんだ。 次の日ロッデンベリーはNBC 役員から幾つかの怒りの電話を受け取りニヤリと笑った、バンパーから接着剤を取れと言われたんだ。 ジーンは笑いを堪えながらスタートレックのファンの行動には知らぬぞんぜぬを押し通した、"人々はショーを本当に愛してくれているんだろう"彼は状況を脱する為そう言った。 "スタートレックを愛する人はそれを救うためにどうするかを知っているんじゃ無いじゃないか?" あの時"Save StarTrek"の手紙はNBCの郵便室やMort Wernerのデスクに雨のように降り注ぎ100万通に達しようとしていた。 ネットワークには人的資源も郵便予算も無くただ手紙に溺れるしかなかったんだ。 遂に晩冬の金曜の夜、スタートレックのエンドクレジットの最中にNBCという大国が公式に降参し第3シーズン確約という今も有名なアナウンスが流れた。 それはこんな風だったんだ: *** スタートレックの視聴者全ての関心ごと関する発表があります。 私たちはNBC テレビでスタートレックが続くということをお話できて嬉しく思っております。 スタートレックの宇宙の冒険を毎週楽しみに見ている事を私たちは知っているからです。 *** ブジョー.トリンブルのアイデアはテレビ史上最も大きな視聴者のサポートを生み出した。 結果スタートレックは弾丸を避け1968-69を生き抜いたんだ。 NBC は郵便室でシャベルを使いながらショーには本当に熱心で忠実なファンがついているのだと気付かざるを得なかったんだろう。 そういった事が彼らに公式に "彼らの献身がショーの成功であり継続へと至った"と言わせたんだ。 彼らは月曜の夜7:30というとても好ましい枠を書きしるしジーン.ロッデンベリーが再びプロデュースの仕事につくことを主張してきた。 同意したジーンにはスタートレックが創造性においても視聴率においても更なる成功を成し遂げる用意があったんだ。 けれど、悲しい事に、これは無かった事になった。

The Trimbles left our set that afternoon feeling as if favorite show was about to die, and believe it or not, this was a good thing. That's because during the couple's long drive home, they simply sat in the car and stewed with anger, frustrated that the network would cancel Star Trek, and disgusted with their own inability to correct this obvious programing mistake. At this point, somewhere in a traffic jam just north of L.A., John Trimble looked at his wife and said, "Gee, I hate to see this happen. There must be something that we can do." A right bulb went on over Bjo's head. She smiled, and within hours she'd set into motion the series of events that ultimately saved the show from a premature death and branded her before as "the fan who saved Star Trek." *** As we were still driving home, I decided that the best thing we could do would be to contact as many Star Trek fans as possible, asking them to write NBC and tell them that you're really annoyed about this. However, I didn't want to open this whole can of worms without Gene's permission, so I phoned him, told about my idea and he said, "I think that's terrific! Let's do it!" At it turned out, Gene had also been looking for some way to make some noise about saving the show, so he went of his way to be helpful. I went right back to Los Angeles, met with Gene in his office and we mapped out a preliminary plan. *** Bjoand Gene decided that the logical first step would be to dig up the addresses of as many bona fide Star Trek fans as possible and then have Bjo contact them with a printed call to action, urging them to write to NBC expressing their extreme disappointment and dissatisfaction over the network's decision to cancel their favorite show and demanding that Star Trek be renewed. Toward that end, Bjo immediately contacted her friends at the World Science Fiction Convention, asking for their mailing lists, which ultimately supplied them with the names of about four thousand probable fans. Shortly thereafter, an influential bookseller friend who specialized in science fiction supplied Bjo with about a thousand more leads. Last, Gene Roddenberry himself made a raid on the Paramount mailroom and came away lugging several sacks of Star Trek fan mail behind him. These provided Bjo with about two thousand additional targets, and marked the one and only time Gene would allow himself to publicity get involved in Bjo's plan. Fearing studio politics and the perception that the resultant letter writing campaign might just be dismissed as some "Hollywood producer stunt," Gene soon "officially" backed away from the Trimbles offensive. In fact, throughout the ensuing weeks of of the "Save Star Trek" campaign, Gene steadfastly insisted that he knew nothing about any sort of organized coalition of Star Trek fans, and took on the bemused posturings of an innocent bystander who was nonetheless overwhelmed by this "completely unsolicited outpouring of affection." At any rate, once Bjo had her solid base of about seven thousand names, all of them likely Trek fans, she got down to business and drafted the letter. Once she'd finished, she and John churned out thousands upon thousands of smelly purple dittoed copies, all of which served to urge a good portion of Star Trek's most loyal, supportive and enthusiastic fans into action on behalf of the precariously situated program. Excerpts of the letter follow: *** 1December, 1967 Oakland, California To: STAR TREK fans, fanzine editors, and other interested parties RE: keeping STAR TREK on the air. Hi! Please relay this info in whatever manner you can... Action Now is of the essence. I just got a call from Gene Roddenberry... [who] says that so far, there has been no word on renewing the show for next season, and in fact, it is highly likely that STAR TREK will die if something isn't done... we don't have much time in which to work. ...Marton Werner, head of programing for NBC-TV, Rockefeller center, New York, is one of the main people who will decide whatever or not STAR TREK lives. Letters should be personally addressed to him... We want to combat the good of traditional American attitude of "well, my one vote won't count much..." because your one tiny letter just may be THE letter that topples the scales in the right direction. Of thousands of fans just sit around moaning about the death of STAR TREK, they will get exactly what they deserve: GOMER PYLE! (Yetch!) But if thousands of fans get off their big fat types and W*R*I*T*E letters, and do it soon (like, Now), it could happen that the man in charge of this sort of thing will be more impressed with our letters, than with the damned Neilsen ratings. We have to show that there are more people who wont STAR TREK than who don't really care, one way or another. So pass the word, and write some letters, people; it's up to us fans to keep STAR TREK on TV. Our own inaction will assure that it never sees a third season! Bjo Trimble. *** Bjo's urgent missive was met with overwhelming support among its recipients. All over the country, fan clubs and fanzines pleaded with supporters to write Mort Werner and express their devotion to the show. At the same time, science fiction conventions strongly urged their attendees to do the same Bjo was overwhelmed with offers of assistance, donations of stamps and envelopes and volunteers willing to donate their time to such a worthwhile cause. Each of the STAR TREK fans contacted by mail urged to in turn contact at least ten follow Trekkers on behalf of the cause. Bjo even went so far at to supply each recipient of her missive with the names and addresses of their local fellow Ttek enthusiasts. This created a steadily mushrooming core of letter-writers, and NBC's mail count subsequently exploded. Mailbags began stacking up at the network, ultimately to mountainous proportions, and with recruiting ten more letter-writers,  NBC's influx of mail began increasing exponentially. Work those factors through, and you'll realize that Bjo's call to action represents perhaps the most successful chain-letter/pyramid scheme ever. トリンブルは誰が何と言おうが素晴らしい彼等の大好きなショーが死ぬかも知れないと言う別れの感覚を持ってセットを後にした。 家までの長い道のりで彼らは車の中でスタートレックがネットワークにキャンセルされるという明らかな誤りを彼ら自身で訂正することができないという無力感にムカつき怒りにあぶられただ座っていた。 ロサンゼルスの北のどこか、渋滞に巻き込まれた時、ジョン.トリンブルが妻を見て言った、"なぁ、僕はこんな事見たくないよ。 何か僕達に出来る事をすべきだよ" ブジョーの頭に光の球が降りてきた。 微笑んだ彼女は一時間で後に"スタートレックを救ったファン"として永遠に刻まれるショーを早逝から救う事になる一連の出来事へと身を投じた。 *** 私たちが家へと帰るために運転している時に私は私たちに出来る最善のことをしようと決めたの、多くのスタートレックファンと接触して彼らにNBCへ手紙を書いて貰ってこれが起きると本当に困ってしまうのだと告げて貰おうと。 けれど私はジーンの承認を受けず大っぴらにしたくはなかった、だから私は彼に電話をして私のアイデアを言ったの、そうしたら彼はこう言ってくれたわ、"それは素晴らしい! よし、しようじゃないか!" ジーンもショーを救うために何か出来る事は無いかと探していたのね、だから彼も彼なりに手助けをしてくれたのよ。 ロサンゼルスに戻った私はジーンのオフィスで計画を練ったの。 *** ブジョーとジーンは論理的第一歩としてまず多くのスタートレックのファン達の住所を集めブジョーが彼らとコンタクトを取り彼らにNBCがスタートレックを終わらせる事への多大な失望や大好きなショーの期間延長を求める事を書くように要請すると決めた。 そうしてブジョーは直ぐWorld Science Fiction Convention での 友人に連絡を取り彼らのメイリングリストにあるおよそ4000人分のファンの名前を提供してもらうよう依頼した。 程なく、影響力のある本屋の友人がSFの専門家としてブジョーに1000以上を提供してくれた。 最後にジーン．ロッデンベリー自身がスタートレックのファンレターの入った袋数個を引きずってパラマウントの郵便室を奇襲する事になった。 ブジョーは2000あまりを手に入れそしてジーンはそんなブジョーのプランを一つ一つ公的に承認したと記していった。 この手紙運動が"ハリウッドのプロデューサーによる妨害"でありスタジオによる政治的な物と知覚され解散させられる事を恐れたジーンは直ぐに"公式に"トリンブル達の攻撃から離脱した。 事実、週を通して続いた"Save StarTrek" 運動をジーンはスタートレックのファンによるどんな連合についても知らないと断固として主張し、これは"全く求めていない愛情の流出"であり困惑している潔白な傍観者で混乱している姿勢をとっていた。 そうしてブジョーは着々と全てTrekファン7000人分を集めて行き彼女は手紙の下書きに取り掛かった。 彼女が書き終えたそれをジョンと二人で何千も臭い紫のインクでコピーを繰り返した、スタートレックに最も忠実なひとりとして不安定な状態にあるプログラムを支える熱心なファンとして駆り立てるためのものを。 以下手紙を抜粋した。 *** 1December, 1967 Oakland, California To: STAR TREK fans, fanzine editors, and other interested parties RE: keeping STAR TREK on the air こんにちは! お願い、あらゆる方法を使ってこの話しを伝えて... 今、重要なのは行動することなの。 ジーン.ロッデンベリーから電話を貰ったのだけれどショーが次のシーズンに延長されるという言葉が無いというのよ、事実何もしなければスタートレックが死んでしまう事もありえるわ... 私たちにはあまり時間が無いのよ。 ... ニューヨークのロックフェラーセンターに居るNBC テレビの会長Morton Werner がスタートレックの生死を決める中心人物よ。 彼個人に手紙を送りましょう... 私たちはアメリカ人の伝統的な態度である"ああ、自分のちっぽけな一票は取るに足らないものなんだ..."という態度と戦いたいの、だってちっぽけな手紙だとしてもそれはメモリを正しい方向へ倒す手紙なんですもの。 数千のファンがただ座ってスタートレックの終了に不満をもらすだけならばその報いを受けてしまうでしょう。 GOMER PYLE!(マイペース二等兵!) (Yetch!)(Yes!) でももし数千のファン達が大きなタイプライターを動かして手紙を書いたならすぐ行動したなら (今よ、今) 酷いニールセン視聴率よりも私たちの手紙の方に感動して気を変えさせる事が出来るはずよ。 私たちはあれやこれやよりもスタートレックが見たい人が居るんだと知らしめたいの。 皆、手紙を書いて、言葉で伝えて。 スタートレックをテレビで見続けたいファン達が居るんだと。 私たちの怠惰が第3シーズン見られないことを確かにしてしまうのよ! BjoTrimble. *** ブジョーの緊急の書状は受け取り人達に圧倒的な支持で応じられた。 国中のファンクラブやファンジンがショーへの愛を表明しMort Wernerヘ嘆願を書いた。 同時にScience Fiction Conventions の 出席者達がブジョーを圧倒するほどの援助を申し出てきた、切手や封筒の寄付や価値ある時間を使ってほしいとの志願者などがあった。 手紙を受け取ったスタートレックのファン達がそれぞれ少なくとも10名ずつ運動への参加を呼びかけていった。 ブジョーは手紙の受け取り人たちにその地元のTrekファン達の住所氏名を伝えることもしていたんだ。これは手紙の作者たちを急増させその後NBCの郵便室が爆発した。 メイルバッグが積み重なり山のようになり、それぞれが新たなスタートレックへの手紙の作者を補充していったからNBCへの手紙はますます増える事になった。 それが実行されたという事でブジョーの呼びかけによる行動がチェインレター/ネズミ講の最大の成功例だったと君は理解しただろう。

As our second season's shooting was nearing its midpoint, it seemed almost certain that Star Trek would be cancelled. Our ratings, which always been rather soft, were now approaching a downright mushy consistency, and NBC had been carefully non-committal in terms of making future plans for the show. Rumors of our apparently impending demise had begun wafting about the set as early as mid-season, and in fact clearly recall that throughout the period of time that I was being so heavily made up for an episode we did called "The Deadly Years," the series' demise seemed imminent. The particular episode centered around a story line wherein Kirk, Scotty and McCoy all begin aging at an incredibly rapid pace, each of then horrified by the ravages of their own physical and mental deterioration. Obviously, in shooting this particular tale extensive makeup jobs would be needed, and that forced Jimmy Doohan, De Kelley and me to spend a great deal of time in Freddie Fhilips' makeup area while he buzzed about working his magic and yelling at his assistants. Basically, I spent the better part of the week held captive in a reclining chair while big slobs of wrinkly latex were glued to my face. I couldn't go anywhere, couldn't do anything, all I could do was sit perfectly still so as not to ruin my makeup job. At the same time, as makeup artists ran about the room and fellow crewmen and cast mates came to visit, I became keenly aware that the prevailing rumors of the day had us canceled within a week. "The Deadly Years," according to this gossip, could very well be our last episode. It was apparently a done well, and we would be yanked from the schedule as soon as our first -run episodes had finished airing. Obviously, the hearsay ultimately proved to be untrue, but for a two-day period we all became convinced that Star Trek was a terminal case. Strangely enough, these erroneous rumors may have actually sparked the series of events that ultimately saved Star Trek from cancellation at the close of our second season. You see, Bjo Trimble,  who'd become a close friend of Roddenberry's over the years, and her husband, John, were paying one of their frequent visits to our set as we shot "The Deadly Years." In observing the day's events, they couldn't help but fall prey to this round of cancellation rumors. Bjo recalls: *** The whole cast seemed pretty sure that Star Trek was going to get canceled, and that made their performances an amazing thing to watch. I mean everybody looks at actors and thinks, "Oh, I could do that," but the experience proves that theory completely false. I watched the whole cast discussing the rumors, and of course they were extremely unhappy and upset. Then they'd drag their long faces in front of the camera, and in a matter of seconds they'd transform themselves into bright, cheerful, noble Enterprise crew members. I can distinctly remember that Nichelle Nichols was so upset that at one point she was just sitting her makeup mirror in tears. One of the A.D.s then called her to the set, and she just took a Kleenex, did little dab each eye, collected her thoughts for a moment and walked onto the bridge set as Uhura. It was just fascinating to watch this kind of creative working so hard in the face of such terrible odds. *** 僕達の第2シーズンの撮影の中頃、スタートレックのキャンセルが殆ど確かな事となった。 視聴率が一貫してふるわず、NBC はそんなショーの先行きに慎重となりはっきりとうち出すことをしなかったからだ。 シーズン半ばに達して間もなくどうも死は切迫しているらしいとの噂がセットに漂い出していた、あれは"The Deadly Years" を作り終えようとしている時だった。 このエピソードはカークやスコッティ、マッコイ達が凄まじいスピードで老い始めそれぞれが肉体的、精神的に荒廃していくという物だった。 そういうわけでこの撮影では広範囲なメイクが必要でジミー.ドゥーアンやディ.ケリー、そして僕は多くの時間を彼がアシスタント達に叫び、魔法を使うメイクアップエリアで過ごす事を余儀なくされた。 基本僕は週の大半をだらしない皺を顔に密着させるためにリクライニングチェアに縛られた。 僕は何処かへ行く事も出来ず何をすることも出来ず、ただただ大人しくメイクをダメにしてしまわないように座っていたんだ。 同じ時、メイクアップアーティストが駆け回る部屋には仲間のクルーや出演仲間の訪問があり僕は一週間以内にはキャンセルが決まってしまうとの噂に気がついた。 "The Deadly Years" は僕達の最後のエピソードとしては最高だった。 その放送があって直ぐ僕たちの予定が突然動き出すほどには良い出来だったんだ。 そうして噂は最終的にデマだったと証明されたのだけれど、僕達は2日間それは本当だと確信していたんだ。 奇妙な事ではあるけれど噂が広まった事でスタートレックが第2シーズンで終わってしまうという事から救われる一連の出来事へと繋がっていった。 ブジョー.トリンブル、知っての通りロッデンベリーの長年に渡る親友だ、そして彼女の夫であるジョン、彼らは僕たちが撮影していた"The Deadly Years" の訪問者のだった。 キャンセルの噂が広まる中での一連の出来事を彼らはどうする事も出来ず見ていた。 ブジョーの思い出はこうだ。 *** キャスト達の間ではスタートレックがキャンセルされるという事は確かな事の様子で、そんな彼らのパフォーマンスは見ていて素晴らしいものだった。 俳優を見た人は誰でもこう考えるでしょうね、"おや、自分にも出来るさ"って、けれどその論理は完全な誤りであると証明されたのよ。 私はキャストたちが噂について話しているのを見ていた、勿論彼らは本当に浮かない顔で心配していたわ。 でも彼らはその浮かない顔をカメラの前では一瞬にして明るく快活な誇り高いエンタープライズのクルーに変えていたの。 私がはっきりと覚えているのはニコール.ニッシェルが化粧鏡の前であまりの心配に涙していた事よ。 A.D. のひとりが彼女をセットへ呼んだ時、彼女は眼の下を軽くティッシュで押さえてほんの少しの時間で自分を整えウフーラとしてブリッジのセットへと行ったの。 恐ろしい確率に直面した創造者の仕事を見るというのはとても興味深いものだったわ。 ***

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