This week 49 years ago NBC aired “Arena” on July 7, 1967,
for its encore broadcast.
This was producer Gene Coon’s first original script for Star Trek.
NBC Broadcast Standards (the censors) had the usual concerns. Jean Messerschmidt to Gene Coon wrote:
NBC Broadcast Standards (the censors) had the usual concerns. Jean Messerschmidt to Gene Coon wrote:
Page 1: Please keep to a minimum the number of bodies seen in the destroyed area. |
The body count was reduced; the radiation burns on Lt. Harold toned-down; and Kirk’s attempt to penetrate the Gorn’s hide with a spear was struck from the script.
“Arena” was the first episode to refer to the Earth space alliance as the “Federation,” a contribution from Gene Coon. The script for the upcoming “A Taste of Armageddon,” having been around for a while and going through various revisions by Coon, would be more specific, identifying the alliance as The United Federation of Planets. “Arena” was also the episode which introduced the photon torpedoes, another Gene Coon invention. |
Watch “Arena” again this week. And then travel back in time and read about its writing and filming and initial reception in the Saturn Award winning book series These Are the Voyages, TOS.