In Pike Position
In an exclusive interview for These are the Voyages: TOS, Season One, former Associate Producer and Story Consultant John D.F. Black tells how he was asked to “sit in” for Jeffrey Hunter. Black had left the series a short time earlier, after writing his first draft script for The Menagerie, then to be rewritten by Gene Roddenberry. He and his wife, Mary, who served as Black’s secretary during his time at Star Trek®, shared the tale with writer Marc Cushman.
Mary Black said, “Dorothy [Fontana] called and said that they had this really fun idea. Because John’s eyes matched the eyes of Jeffrey Hunter -- and they couldn't find another actor who had the right eyes, and they were sure John did -- they wanted him to come in and sit in the wheelchair and be Captain Pike, with lots of makeup on.”
John Black, who had originally aspired to be an actor, added, “Both of us immediately had the attitude that that wouldn't be very much fun. I didn't hesitate at all in turning it down.”
Another set of blue eyes had to be found quickly. Sean Kenney won the role, but he didn't always feel like a winner. With facial prosthetics and layers of makeup that did not allow him to change expression for several hours at a time, Kenney even had to eat his lunch through a straw … and not laugh, or even smile, as William Shatner -- known for telling jokes while on the set – had the rest of the cast and crew in stitches.
Journey back in time and visit the set for the filming of The Menagerie, and all the episodes of Star Trek®, in These are the Voyages: TOS, Season One, coming in July from Jacobs/Brown Press.
Mary Black said, “Dorothy [Fontana] called and said that they had this really fun idea. Because John’s eyes matched the eyes of Jeffrey Hunter -- and they couldn't find another actor who had the right eyes, and they were sure John did -- they wanted him to come in and sit in the wheelchair and be Captain Pike, with lots of makeup on.”
John Black, who had originally aspired to be an actor, added, “Both of us immediately had the attitude that that wouldn't be very much fun. I didn't hesitate at all in turning it down.”
Another set of blue eyes had to be found quickly. Sean Kenney won the role, but he didn't always feel like a winner. With facial prosthetics and layers of makeup that did not allow him to change expression for several hours at a time, Kenney even had to eat his lunch through a straw … and not laugh, or even smile, as William Shatner -- known for telling jokes while on the set – had the rest of the cast and crew in stitches.
Journey back in time and visit the set for the filming of The Menagerie, and all the episodes of Star Trek®, in These are the Voyages: TOS, Season One, coming in July from Jacobs/Brown Press.
Watch for These are the Voyages — TOS, Seasons Two and Three, set for publication by Jacobs/Brown Press later in 2013.
