October 25, 1968
"Spectre of the Gun", Season Three
It was 47 years ago today – which was a Friday in 1968 – when NBC first aired the surreal Star Trek – TOS [The Original Series] episode “Spectre of the Gun.”
If you love this episode, you’re not alone. Producer Fred Freiberger said: “I thought the show came out well, and that was satisfying considering that was my first episode of Star Trek.” Co-producer Bob Justman said, “I felt very strongly for that episode and I thought it was one of the best of the third season. Maybe the best one.” James Doohan said, “This was kind of interesting, I thought. Kind of fun and well done, too.” Cinematographer Jerry Finnerman said, “I thought it was beautifully photographed. And well played.” Walter Koenig said, “I thought the show stood out, because… of that stylized approach they used.” Ron Soble, who played Wyatt Earp, said of director Vincent McEveety, and his stylized approach, “He was right, because the show, in a very strange way, turned out to be one of the classic Star Treks.” However, if you didn’t like “Spectre of the Gun” that much, you not completely alone. Director Vincent McEveety, despite all the praise from his colleagues and the series’ fans, told author Marc Cushman, “It’s interesting that what little fan mail I get in my life usually pertains to that [episode]. People love it, which I can’t believe, because I don’t.” Well, sorry, Vince, but we love it, and we might just watch it again tonight on the 47th anniversary of when we were first blown away by it.
If you love this episode, you’re not alone. Producer Fred Freiberger said: “I thought the show came out well, and that was satisfying considering that was my first episode of Star Trek.” Co-producer Bob Justman said, “I felt very strongly for that episode and I thought it was one of the best of the third season. Maybe the best one.” James Doohan said, “This was kind of interesting, I thought. Kind of fun and well done, too.” Cinematographer Jerry Finnerman said, “I thought it was beautifully photographed. And well played.” Walter Koenig said, “I thought the show stood out, because… of that stylized approach they used.” Ron Soble, who played Wyatt Earp, said of director Vincent McEveety, and his stylized approach, “He was right, because the show, in a very strange way, turned out to be one of the classic Star Treks.” However, if you didn’t like “Spectre of the Gun” that much, you not completely alone. Director Vincent McEveety, despite all the praise from his colleagues and the series’ fans, told author Marc Cushman, “It’s interesting that what little fan mail I get in my life usually pertains to that [episode]. People love it, which I can’t believe, because I don’t.” Well, sorry, Vince, but we love it, and we might just watch it again tonight on the 47th anniversary of when we were first blown away by it.
Read about the making of all of the Season Three episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series in the brand new book release, These Are the Voyages: TOS, Season Three.
