ALL SCI-FI

[Robert (Butch) Day]

The Star Trek movie franchise was notorius for re-using both sets and props. The original Klingon vessel Amar helm and navigation console from STAR TREK The Motion Picture (1979):



Reused as the Regula One Space Station transporter in STAR TREK II The Wrath Of Khan (1982):





Sometimes props are used in other movies. The mysterious "spining red 'thingee' " In STAR TREK II The Wrath Of Khan (1982):



Airplane II: The Sequel (1982):



V (1983):



The Last Starfighter (1984):



As well as others in the Star Trek franchise. STAR TREK The Next Generation (1987 - 1994):



STAR TREK Voyager (1995 - 2001):



Sometimes the source of the prop can be interesting. The ghost 'PKE' detector from Ghostbusters (1984):



It's function:



It's origin, a portable electric shoe polisher!


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Common Sense ISN'T Common

[Pow]

It was understandable that the studio re-used sets & props from ST:TMP on The Wrath Of Khan.

ST: TMP cost an astounding, for the time, 40,000,000 dollars. And while it hardly bombed, it wasn't the smash hit Paramount was looking for with the film.

So as an economic move they did this sequel but with a more reasonable budget. That mandated re-use of items from the first Trek film.

They took the fine looking model of the orbital space station from ST:TMP, flipped it over and did some modifications, and presto changeo we have the Space Station Regula from ST: TWOK.

Clever.

I recall those "red thingie props" from all the way back to ST:TOS on the episode "I, Mudd."

[Bud Brewster]

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And let's not forget the legendary and mysterious prop we call The Gizmo — which we still don't know the origin of, even though it appeared in a 1930s serial, followed by numerous movie and TV appearances, and even a cameo iin Forbidden Planet!



















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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)

[Krel]

The Enterprise torpedo room was originally the Klingon cruiser control room in TMP.

The device with the spinning red rods was made for "The Incredible Hulk" TV series, and became one of Modern Props most rented props. The gray components that the rods are attached to are pool skimmer intakes.

I wonder what happened to it, now that Modern Props has closed up shop.

David.

[Bud Brewster]

[Krel]

Modern Props was a prop rental business that opened in the mid 70s. They started renting contemporary props but quickly started specializing in futuristic props. They made and rented hand props, set pieces, control panels, furniture, pretty much everything. They employed prop makers, like Richard Coyle and the late Bill Pearson to create props and devices for them. They would make props for the studios for their movies or TV shows, either to keep or to rent. Since the late 70s, if there was a movie or TV show using futuristic props or set pieces, some of Modern Props items was in the production.

All the props in Butch's 2015 post were made by Modern Props.

The owner announced early this year that he was retiring after forty-something years. Rather than try and sell the business, he was going to auction off many of the props, and donate some items to museums.

I don't know if his plans have change, as I have seen no recent articles about any auctions.

Any way you look at it, it's a big loss to productions needing futuristic props.

David.

[Bud Brewster]

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Wow . . .

Modern Props was exactly what I envisioned when described an organization that employed talented artists and craftsmen who made props and sets which movies and TV studios could rent or buy.

I'm sadden by the fact that such a place did exist for decades . . but might not continue to operate.

The appeal of my idea for such a place was that they would not only create great things which could be used in movies and TV shows, they would also preserve them after they had been used — unlike the bone-headed studio execs who allow these unique works of art to be neglected (causing them to deteriorate), or to have them simply discarded.

Anyway, David, I thank you for enlightening me on this fascinating subject.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)