70s Trek: Star Trek in the 1970s

70s Trek: Star Trek in the 1970s

Author: Bob Turner & Kelly Casto Language: English Episodes: 131
Dive into the fascinating decade when Star Trek lived on without a single new episode airing on television. Hosts Bob Turner and Kelly Casto guide 70s Trek: Star Trek in the 1970s through a detailed exploration of how a cancelled series refused to fade away. This podcast digs into the people who kept the flame burning-the original cast finding new voices in animation and convention halls, the writers and artists expanding the universe in novels and comics, and the passionate fans who created a blueprint for modern fandom. Each discussion connects the dots between the show's internal creative shifts and the wider cultural currents of the seventies that it both reflected and influenced. You'll hear about the specific efforts, from fan-led letter campaigns to Paramount's strategic decisions, that slowly built the momentum leading to a theatrical rebirth. It's a story of resilience and reinvention, examining not just what happened but how it felt to be part of that enduring phenomenon during those years. For anyone curious about the hidden history between the original series and "The Motion Picture," this podcast offers a rich, conversational deep dive into the community and commerce that made a comeback inevitable. Join Turner and Casto as they unpack the legacy of a show that was technically off the air, yet somehow more alive than ever.
Episodes
Star Trek Influence: The Enemy Below - Episode 64 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:47
The Enemy Below is the story of a battle between an American Destroyer captain and a German U-Boat commander during World War II. It stars Robert Mitchum as Captain Murell and Curt Jurgens as the German commander. As you…
Roddenberry's 1976 Star Trek Movie Treatments - Episode 63 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:10
In 1976, Gene Roddenberry's first attempt to bring Star Trek back was rejected by Paramount. That story, known as The God Thing (see 70s Trek Episode 45), explored the nature of God. It explained that the all powerful wa…
Star Trek's DeForest Kelley - Episode 61 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:13
While many believe he played the first Star Trek doctor, DeForest Kelley actually played the third. He followed John Hoyt's Dr. Phillip Boyse from the first Star Trek pilot, The Cage and Paul Fix's Dr. Mark Piper from Wh…
Star Trek Discovery - Episode 60 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:33
Star Trek Discovery debuted on September 24. The highly anticipated first episode aired on the CBS network. Subsequent episodes will appear on the streaming service, CBS All Access. CBS had a bumpy road getting Discovery…
Starlog Magazine - Episode 58 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:08
Starlog Magazine began as a one-shot to honor Star Trek. But it quickly became a mainstay in the science fiction and horror genre and published through 2008. On this episdoe, Bob Turner and Kelly Casto discuss this publi…
Top 5 Spock Moments from Star Trek - Episode 57 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:02
To get into the unemotional character of Mr. Spock, Leonard Nimoy immersed himself completely into the character for Star Trek's shooting week, which was six days. While it was difficult to come back to a place of emotio…
Star Trek Influence: The Six Million Dollar Man - Episode 56 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:53
The concept of The Six Million Dollar Man originated in a 1972 book entitled Cyborg by Martin Caidin. The story is very similar to what the TV show's open tells us: Astronaut Steve Austin has suffered a terrible accident…
Janice Rand, Kevin Riley and Dr. M'Benga, Part 2 - Episode 55 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:22
Grace Lee Whitney was an experienced actress before she came to Star Trek. She had roles in several movies including Some Like It Hot with Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe. She also guest starred on many TV sh…
Janice Rand, Kevin Riley and Dr. M'Benga, Part 1 - Episode 54 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:37
Star Trek had a large regular cast for its time with seven regular roles. It also had a group of characters that made more than one appearance and in some cases, then just disappeared. Some of the faces you see again and…
Star Trek Executive Producer Fred Frieberger - Episode 53 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:50
For many, Fred Frieberger is known as "The Serial Killer." He worked on the last seasons of several beloved TV shows right before they were cancelled. As a result, fans blame him for their ultimate demise. Star Trek is i…