Welcome to the Shrine to Actors

The Star Trek original series episode “The Naked Time” was so full of great character shots and craziness that I had to do more screencaps. You’ve got shirtless fencing, tears of a Vulcan, forbidden love, and bizarre 60s hairdos. Alas, I forgot to capture the contamination suits made out of shower curtains. The original series of Star Trek was all about the low budget–half the fun of watching it is playing “spot the styrofoam rock” that’s been used in nearly every episode for every planet the crew visited. It says a lot about the strength of the program that it overcame it’s sometimes silly props and costumes and won a huge fan base that is even stronger today.

Here we have Sulu (George Takei) at the helm, before the crazy virus sets in…
(*Click* pictures for larger versions.)

A concerned Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner), wondering about the deaths of the scientists on the about-to-explode planet below.

Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), updating his Captain on the planet’s status.

Sure the outfit was ridiculous, but I just wanted to show how hot Uhura’s (Nichelle Nichols) legs are. For all that Star Trek tried to be progressive, it’s startling to see some of the belittling ways women are treated in the series. Sexiness is fine, and hey, Kirk had his shirt off nearly every episode too. But most of the women crew are portrayed in the early episodes carrying trays around, serving the men their meals and getting ogled at the same time. The women most often use their wiles to get what they want or get out of danger, and are frequently portrayed as eyelash-fluttering objects of romance. To be honest, centered firmly in the Geek realm, the newer Star Trek series have lingering sexism–just look at the outcry over the female Captain Janeway of Voyager and the addition of the femme-bot Borg Seven of Nine to her crew. We’ve come a long way, baby, but we still have a ways to go.

The dynamic duo, Kirk and Spock.

The actors on Star Trek spent a lot of time staring into glowing devices. In one instance Kirk was sitting in front of a computer monitor that illuminated him with the strength of a shop light. It’s a wonder they didn’t all go blind.

Kirk demanding answers about the mysterious illness from Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley).

Lt. Riley (Bruce Hyde) joyously mouthing off to Spock. Uhura actually got to take the helm for a few minutes to cover for him.

That’s Riley’s hand in the photo below, as he tries to woo Nurse Chapel (Majel Barrett). I will never understand that hair color, let alone the crazy hairstyle.

A slim and wiry shirtless Sulu, challenging two crewmen to a duel. Sulu does crazy with some sexy style.

I’ve got some more of these coming up, with more shirtless Sulu, crazed Kirk, and crying Spock. Go here for Part III of “Naked Time”.

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Star Trek, “The Naked Time” screencaps, c1966 Desilu Productions, NBC, Paramount. 

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