“Space, The Final Frontier…” That’s All You Have To Hear To Know – It’s Star Trek!
The words that began the game-changing Sci-Fi series weren’t born in the vacuum of space.
Arguably THE most instantly recognizable words spoken on a TV screen since the beginnings of broadcast media. When you hear them, you can close your eyes and envision the entire show opening, imprinted, like a Vulcan mind-meld, onto our collective consciousness. Open on a starscape of endless space. An orchestral fanfare. The halting, unmistakable voice of William Shatner filling the void. The Starship Enterprise soaring across the screen on its way to interstellar parts unknown. With gravitas, Shatner utters the closing line, “…to boldly go where no man has gone before!” Title card: STAR TREK. Cue French horns and that ever-wailing soprano! Over the next hour, we knew we’d be transported to the very worlds promised in “Kirk’s” inspirational soliloquy. Naturally, those words weren’t improvised or tossed off casually. They were no accident. Like all the contributing elements of Star Trek, they were hard forged in the process of creating one of the most visionary and groundbreaking shows ever to launch onto the small screen.
The immortalized “mission statement” of the Enterprise crew was a collaboration between Trek creator Gene Roddenberry and producers Robert Justman, and John D. F. Black. It endured an evolution that began with Roddenberry’s original: “This is the adventure of the United Space Ship Enterprise. Assigned a five-year galaxy patrol, the bold crew of the giant starship explores the excitement of strange new worlds, uncharted civilizations, and exotic people. These are its voyages and its adventures.”
In Heritage Auctions’ incredible Feb. 22nd Star Trek Auction, we’ll be offering a hallmark in the development of these iconic words. A memo written on Desilu Productions stationery featuring John D. F. Black’s input into the ultimate opening narration, blown up to poster size! The original memo, which was sent to Roddenberry on Aug. 2, 1966, begins with the constructive but critical, “Gene…think the narration needs more drama…” and concludes with a paragraph that embodies just about all of the concepts and dialog that would result in the legendary phrase:
KIRK’S VOICE:
Space…the final frontier…endless…silent…waiting. This is the story
of the United Space Ship Enterprise…its mission…a five-year patrol
of the galaxy…to seek out and contact all alien life…to explore…to
travel the vast galaxy where no man has gone before…a STAR TREK.
The approx. 24” x 34” foam core-mounted poster has been signed and inscribed by the late Black himself, “Space the final frontier, John D. F. Black.” At a starting bid of only $500, it could occupy a place of pride on your very own bridge! Set phasers to “win” – and then “execute!”
Bid well and prosper,
Joe Moe
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