If it’s one thing Star Trek fans do without fail, it’s to attend conventions that celebrate all things Trek. Fans from all over the world attend meetups, large and small, and now, with special events like cruises featuring the stars of the show, fans can mingle with actors and other Trekkies alike. These events have roots that can all be traced back to a singular event—the first Star Trek convention. Let’s take a look back at this amazing affair and discover how it gave rise to the fandom gatherings of today.
Star Trek’s syndication motivated the convention
When rumors of Star Trek’s cancellation began after season 2, superfans Bjo and John Trimble organized a massive letter-writing campaign to save the series. While this was successful, Star Trek only lasted one more season before its ultimate cancellation. However, as the 1970s began, the show moved into syndication and gained new fans of all ages. As reruns aired on weekends and multiple syndicated channels, the fandom began to grow rapidly, and the concept of a Star Trek fan celebration began to take shape.
Gene Roddenberry was the first celebrity guest
The first convention, titled “Star Trek Lives!” took place on January 21st, 1972, and ran for 3 days at the Statler Hilton in New York City. Approximately 3,000 people attended to mingle with Gene Roddenberry, actress Majel Barrett (Roddenberry’s wife), writer D.C. Fontana, and even Isaac Asimov! While celebrity guest lists would grow over the years, this gathering thrilled fans and let them understand they were not alone in their love of Star Trek.
"Star Trek Lives!" shaped future conventions
"Star Trek Lives!" featured more than just meet-and-greet opportunities, and some of the events formed the conventions of today with costume parades, episode and blooper reel viewings, and fan-made art displays. While many conventions and fandom meetups followed, Star Trek Lives! was the match that lit the franchise’s fandom fuse.