Long-lost first USS Enterprise model is
returned to ‘Star Trek’ creator Gene
Roddenberry’s son
Cleveland Plain Dealer,
by
Associated Press
Original Article
Posted By: OhioNick,
4/18/2024 5:29:57 PM
The first model of the USS Enterprise — used in the opening credits of the original “Star Trek” television series — has boldly gone back home, returning to creator Gene Roddenberry’s son decades after it went missing.
The model’s disappearance sometime in the 1970s had become the subject of lore, so it caused a stir when it popped up on eBay last fall. The sellers quickly took it down, and then contacted Dallas-based Heritage Auctions to authenticate it. Last weekend, the auction house facilitated the model’s return.
Eugene “Rod” Roddenberry, CEO of Roddenberry Entertainment, said he’s thrilled to have the model that had graced the desk of his father.
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Reply 1 - Posted by:
DVC 4/18/2024 6:20:23 PM (No. 1701865)
Hmmmm. In the late 1990s or early 2000s, I was visiting a pilot friend in California, and we visited his hangar at the Santa Paula airport, a small, rural airport in the LA basin general area, on the north side.
As we were leaving, he said, "Hey, want to see the original Starship Enterprise?". I was game, and we entered the hangar of another pilot, with a very cool old mint, antique aircraft, and a small display of Starship Enterprise stuff, including a very cool model about 36" long. It had cool little clear windows and my friend said that they had tiny light bulbs inside for the original opening credits scene.
It turns out that the hangar and aircraft were owned by the guy who was the "art director" (?) for the original TV series, and that he had created the models used for all the stuff, phasers, spacecraft, etc.
I forget his name, but I was told that he was pretty old at that point and didn't get out to the hangar a lot or fly much any more.
I wonder if what I saw was "THE" model, as I was told or "ONE OF THE" models, since often movies make multiples of all critical items in case one is damaged somehow.
My bet is that since it was found in a storage unit and brought to Beverly Hills, is that the old owner had died and his hangar had been cleaned out and put into storage by family or executors.
So....I'll bet I saw this thing way back when it was "lost". Apparently saved from the trash by the original maker, as the story was told to me.
14 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
volksford 4/18/2024 7:15:45 PM (No. 1701889)
I guess the Starship Enterprise that I saw in the Smithsonian in 1989 was a phony.
3 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
DVC 4/18/2024 7:17:43 PM (No. 1701890)
Re #2, according to the article, a larger model was made for some of the other shots, but this smaller model was used for the original opening credits shots. So both models are "real"....just used at different times.
7 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
DVC 4/18/2024 7:22:15 PM (No. 1701894)
Here you go.
Walt Jefferies. Died in 2003, had a Waco YOC antique aircraft at the Santa Paula airport.
Bingo.
6 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
DVC 4/18/2024 7:23:15 PM (No. 1701895)
Oops here's the link on Jefferies. I had forgotten his name but this guy died a few years after I saw the model
at his hangar.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matt_Jefferies
5 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
chumley 4/18/2024 7:27:35 PM (No. 1701901)
That was a beautiful creation. The original was far better looking than any of the subsequent incarnations. Maybe not the best shape for a space ship, but sure looked good.
5 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
Kate318 4/18/2024 9:05:00 PM (No. 1701940)
The original Star Trek series is on my TV, as I type this. Always my favorite. They don’t make ‘em like James T. Kirk, anymore.
5 people like this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
caljeepgirl 4/19/2024 12:15:46 AM (No. 1702030)
Me too! And my sons were raised on Star Trek!! Every Saturday night with popcorn....just the best! TOS, TNG, DS9 (my personal favorite), and Voyager (had its moments)....
2 people like this.
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