By Dianne R. Davis
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Photo credit: Dianne or Burt Davis
Space – the final frontier. Forty-eight years ago, the Starship Enterprise boldly went where no one had gone before. In August, Trekkies visited the Rio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas to share their enthusiasm for all things Star Trek.
As a reporter who believes in experiencing what I write about when possible, I beamed down to the Rio to check out the Trekkies, the earthlings, and the creatures from other galaxies.
Phil Kenton
Refugees from another movie
I found fans, cast members, retailers, organization representatives, and most of all a positive and enjoyable vibe like that you would find at the carnival with its side shows and hoop de la.
Some came to sell or buy related items, others to meet and mingle with fans in and out of costume, and still others to meet many of the more than 100 performers from Captain Kirk himself to Felix Silla who played a Talosian in the Star Trek: The original series pilot called “The Cage.”
Dianne R. Davis with Feliz Silla
Fans stood in line for autographs and photo ops, filled the ballroom to listen to talks and panels, enjoyed the camaraderie of people with shared interests, and posed for photos themselves.
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Richard Kiel
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Catherin Hicks
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Sally Kellerman
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
LaVar Burton
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Michael Dorn
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
LaVar Burton and Michael Dorn
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Marina Sirtis
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Danial Davis
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Brent Spiner
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Don Stark
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Herbert Jefferson Jr.
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
BarBara Luna
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Grace Lee Whitney
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Celeste Yarnall
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Harlan Ellison
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Sean Kenney
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Carel Struycken
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Tony Todd
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Richard Hatch
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
William Shatner
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
William Shatner
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Walter Koenig
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
At the end of the convention, the talk was of new memories and expectations for next year’s 49th and then the anticipated spectacular 50th.
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
William Shatner
Photo credit: Ira Kuzma
