by Karen Key Speck
Special to the Sounder
In 1966, Gene Roddenberry didn’t know the success and longevity his creation “Star Trek” would achieve.
Nearing its golden anniversary, “Star Trek” is more popular today than when it aired in technicolor on NBC. No other radio, TV, or comic series has achieved the popularity of this show.
The Guinness World Book of Records lists “Star Trek” has having the largest number of spin-off TV series (four) and movies (twelve). “Star Trek” is ranked number one in TV Guide’s list of the “30 Top Cult Shows Ever!” (June 29, 2007 issue).
From June 21 to 27, Orcas Island’s own SeaView Theater will host showings of the latest incarnation, “Star Trek Into Darkness” at 8 p.m. each night (doors open at 7:30 p.m.).
Starring Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, the latest movie will take movie goers back to the early days of the Starship Enterprise shortly after her young crew, fresh out of the Academy, is assigned to their “five-year mission to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and civilizations and to boldly go where no man has gone before.”
Orcas residents Ken and Karen Speck, Star Trek fans for over 40 years, will welcome movie-goers each night (except 6/26).
They will be displaying some of their Trek memorabilia in the SeaView lobby during the run of the Trek movie. Items on display consist of movie posters, books, props, dinnerware, action figures, Trek telephones, standees, clothing and more.
Why do people enjoy “Star Trek”? It is likely because “Star Trek” speaks to the human condition. Trek is not a space opera, nor is it about monsters and aliens. It’s about a future where mankind has mostly surpassed color and creed and hate and crime. It’s about hope. Hope for humanity. “Star Trek” is not dark nor is it apocalyptic and depressing. There is triumph and humor. It is about friendships and honor.
What’s great about the new movie? Though we no longer have our beloved William Shatner portraying Captain Kirk, we do have a reboot of the basic tenets of “Star Trek” and, with today’s technology, the movie is action-packed start to finish.
The best thing of all is that one doesn’t have to be familiar with Trek to enjoy the movie and have a good time. However, there are plenty of “insider gems” to keep the most ardent Trekkie happy.
