ALL SCI-FI

[Gord Green]

Gene Roddenberry's Original Sci-Fi Show Before Star Trek

Most legends come from humble beginnings, and in some cases, their early works from before their big break resurface years later for us to read in awe. Star Trek's creator, Gene Roddenberry, is no exception to the rule, and a recent IndieWire exclusive gives us a look at one of his earliest pitches in the science-fiction genre.

Gene Roddenberry's first sci-fi pitch was with "The Transporter"

Predating Star Trek: The Original Series by over a decade, the pitch was called "The Transporter," and was intended to be an installment on the Ziv TV anthology series, Science Fiction Theatre.

This early document, which you can see below , is a brief, yet significant insight into the mind of Gene Roddenberry, who started writing for Ziv TV in 1955. Before he shifted gears to science fiction, he functioned as a liaison for the LAPD because he worked as a police officer in the early '50s
.
Gene Roddenberry's Original Sci-Fi Show Before Star Trek Revealed In Historic Document, Read It Now



© Provided by Giant Freakin Robot

During his early days working for the network, he worked with the writers for Jack Webb's Dragnet, a popular series that was centered on LAPD exploits and operations.

Working on Dragnet was how Gene Roddenberry cut his teeth as a writer early in his career. During this time, he took actual LAPD cases and distilled them into short treatments that would then be fleshed out and developed by Jack Webb's writing staff and turned into full scripts.

As his career took off, Roddenberry continued to work with the network under the pseudonym "Robert Wesley," and worked as a technical advisor for series like Mr. District Attorney and Highway Patrol, both of which he wrote and sold scripts for.

Having proven himself as a writer, Gene Roddenberry eventually wrote a treatment for "The Transporter," and for the first time ever we can read the document that not only reads like a pilot for Star Trek but also contains notations in pencil that were written by Roddenberry himself.

As the title suggests, the episode would have been what sounds like a rough sketch of the holodeck that would be further explored in Star Trek: The Animated Series, and The Next Generation decades later.

Though this initial treatment wasn't picked up when he first pitched it, Roddenberry must have known that he was onto something special because it's clear that the mind behind Star Trek was already thinking about bigger and better things.

This just goes to show you that sometimes you just have to wait for a brilliant idea to gestate, develop, and take on a life of its own. Gene Roddenberry's estate has reason to believe that "The Transporter" was his first attempt at writing science fiction.

He was just only beginning to explore this new and exciting territory, his writing still had room to grow into what would become the iconic Star Trek franchise that's just as relevant today as it was at its inception

The important takeaway from viewing this document is that every great writer has to start somewhere, and Gene Roddenberry is a prime example of somebody whose imagination and early vision would go on to have a profound impact on science fiction and pop culture that simply cannot be overstated.

So if you're pitching your own ideas and are discouraged by the seemingly never-ending process of rejections and revisions, just think about the world we'd be living in if Gene Roddenberry didn't believe in himself.
_________________
There comes a time, thief, when gold loses its lustre, and the gems cease to sparkle, and the throne room becomes a prison; and all that is left is a father's love for his child.

[orzel-w]

[scotpens]

[Bud Brewster]

______________________________________________

My full name is Bruce Morris Cook. I don't know what my parents were thinking when they saddled with that middle name, but whenever I tell it to anyone, they always say, "Oh! Like Morris the cat!"

I dislike cats. I'm a dog person.

This is AJ, my beloved canine companion through two bad marriages between 1971 and 1986.





AJ was an Eskimo Spitz, and his "bent over" ear on the left side was the result of an injury he received in a fight with a pack of five mongrel dogs one day while he was roaming around our apartment complex after I'd let him go outside alone to enjoy the freedom he enjoy on many occasions.

After the fight, AJ made his way back home, badly injured.

I took him to a vet who showed me that all the bite marks on AJ were on the front half of this body. The vet explained that this showed AJ had never turned to flee from his attackers.

A week later, while I was accompany him around the complex (still not on leash), we confronted the same pack of wild dogs. Together he and I chased those cowardly curs right out of the complex . . . forever.

We were like Batman and Robin. (I was Robin.)
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Pow]

Gene's "Transporter" concept was most imaginative. Too ambitious for a 1955 television show at that time. A big budgeted feature film ala Forbidden Planet-style could have done this intriguing premise.

We see Gene adapting this story to his later works on Star Trek: TOS. In "The Cage" Star Trek pilot, the alien race of Talosians have become formidable telepaths, and over time, have become addicted to their mental fantasies to the point that they've neglected their real lives. Their civilization has fallen into decay because they prefer their dream worlds to their actual day-to-day existence.

"Shore Leave" sees the discovery of an unknown planet by the Enterprise crew. On the surface of that world, they find that anything that they can imagine will become real.

On Star Trek: The Animated Series, the Enterprise crew returns to the "Shore Leave" planet in the episode "Once Upon a Planet."

The idea was also utilized by others. The Matrix film series deals in a similar concept with AI creating dreams for their enslaved humans.

The marvelous television series "Reverie" was about a woman who could enter the Virtual Realities of individuals who could not, or would not, leave their inner-dream life. Even at the cost of their own existence. Her challenging mission was to assist these folks out of their imaginary lives in order to save them from themselves. Sadly the show was a short-lived one even though it offered so much potential.

As often has been said about Gene, he was a visionary.

[Krel]

It became know not long after TNG started that Wesley Crusher was Gene Roddenberry's avatar on the show. It must have been soul and ego crushing for GR that WC became the most hated character on the show. GR would go to Star Trek Conventions and see large banners reading, SPACE WESLEY.

David.

[Pow]

I just remembered that the mysterious Nexus in the feature film: Star Trek: Generations also shared this concept created by Gene. In the film, the Nexus was a mysterious force where you could step inside it and create a joyful life for yourself. You could imagine anything you wanted that would give you total happiness. It wasn't real, of course, and it could become addictive.

Gene had passed away some years before ST: TNG made their film debut. So he wasn't responsible for this production, but his concept for the "Transporter" certainly can be seen with this movie.

[Bud Brewster]

[scotpens]

David Cronenberg's 1999 film eXistenZ also uses the idea of a game that creates an alternate reality in the player's mind. You literally plug it into yourself!

[Bud Brewster]

______________________________________________

Okay, here's my thoughts on this subject.

Dogs are like loyal and affection women. They love a man without question and without reservation. Dogs show their appreciation for kind words by wagging their tails.

Cats are like a selfish woman. They demand what they need, and they show no gratitude when when they get it. They invoke no response when thev get what the need . . . but physical contact invokes just one a response in the form of purring.

In other words, dogs are caring, unselfish creatures.

Cats, in other words, are the reverse;.

To prove my point, this is AJ — the loyal dog I had for fifteen years.





And his is my ex-wife, whose hostile behavior deliberately drove me away so she wouldn't be blamed for the divorce by my children.


______________


And THAT, guys, it why I dislike cats.
_________________
____________
Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[scotpens]