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 Fans Bjo and John Trimble, Part 2 - Episode 52 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:22
Once Star Trek reruns began to be seen across the country in syndication, the show attracted a whole new audience of viewers. It was on everyday at the same time, and it was easy for viewers to catch episodes. This all h…
Star Trek Fans Bjo and John Trimble - Episode 51 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:23
Bjo and John Trimble tell a story about being on the Star Trek set in early 1968 and learning, unofficially, that the show was to be cancelled. During their drive home, John innocently commented, "There ought to be somet…
The NASA Space Shuttle Enterprise - Episode 50 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:49
It was the moment in the 1970s that Star Trek became a cultural phenomenon. NASA's first space shuttle was originally called Constitution. But President Gerald Ford renamed it Enterprise in 1976 to honor the show, its fa…
The Top Kirk Moments from Star Trek - Episode 49 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:30
This week on 70s Trek, co-hosts Bob Turner and Kelly Casto talk about our favorite moments centered around Captain James T. Kirk. As the captain of the Enterprise and the main character on the show, he had a lot of great…
Star Trek Actor Nichelle Nichols - Episode 48 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:01
Nichelle Nichols was born Grace Dell Nichols in 1932 in small town near Chicago, Robbins, Illinois. Young Grace was drawn to singing, dancing and acting early on, getting her first professional gig at the age of 14. She…
Star Trek Influence: Lost in Space - Episode 47 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:22
If you were a child in the 1970s and you were around a TV after school, chances are you watched Lost in Space. The show celebrated its 50th Anniversary in 2015 and it still has a lot of die-hard fans! But it has just as…
Star Trek Costume Designer William Ware Theiss - Episode 46 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:22
He worked on Spartacus, Harold and Maude, Pete's Dragon, Butch and Sundance: The Early Days, The Man With One Red Shoe and Star Trek. Costume designer William Ware Theiss is responsible for creating some of the most memo…
"The God Thing" 1975 Star Trek Movie Treatment  - Episode 45 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:33
In 1975, as Star Trek was making money in syndication, Paramount decided it was time to develop a new Trek project. Gene Roddenberry was offered a development deal and the project was to a motion picture with a $5 millio…
Notable Star Trek Guest Stars - Episode 44 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:37
What do Terri Garr, James Gregory, Clint Howard and Michael Pataki all have in common? Each guest starred on Star Trek. Co-hosts Bob Turner and Kelly Casto take a look at some of the more notable actors who appeared on T…
Star Trek Art Director Matt Jefferies - Episode 41 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:36
Like Gene Roddenberry, Walter Matt Jefferies was in the Army Air Corps during World War II and flew as a co-pilot and engineer in B-17s. Also like Roddenberry, he was a legitimate war hero. He earned the Air Medal and th…