Czech Trekkies celebrate 50th anniversary of Star Trek

Even though Star Trek was not seen on TV screens in Czechoslovakia in 1966, local fans are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the series, which has continued after its initial three-year run in the form of an animated series, novels, movies and spinoffs. The most recent film was Star Trek Beyond, which is currently in theaters.

The first Czech fan club, called CZ Kontinuum Star Trek, started in 1995, and others have formed since then to celebrate the voyages of the Starship Enterprise and its crew, led by Captain James T Kirk.

Celebrations will take place Sept. 10 in Ostrava, north Moravia, where a club called Subspace is showing the 1994 film tar Trek Generations at the Cineport cinema. That film brought together the casts of the original 1960s series and Star Trek: The Next Generation, which ran from 1987 to '94. The screening will be preceded by a documentary.

Special effects expert Darryl Anka, who worked on several Star Trek projects, will be in Prague on Oct. 14 at Lucerna's Velký sál ballroom with the European premiere of his new documentary on extraterrestrial life called First Contact. Note that this is not the Star Trek film with a similar name. Anka claims to be in contact with an alien spirit called Bashar. While his claims have many supporters, they also looked at quite skeptically by others. Information on the event is currently a bit vague, but it has been reported on several Czech news servers.

More in line with Star Trek fandom is a meeting with actress Terry Farrell, who played Jadzia Dax in the spinoff series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She will be at Svornost Hotel in Prague 9 for a Q&A, autograph session and photo op on Oct. 15 from noon to 5 pm.

A trip to see the set of the fan fiction series Star Trek: Diplomacy takes place Oct. 16. The set is outside of Prague in the town of Běrunice, and the trip leaves from Černý Most at 10 am and returns at 4 pm. The show is one of several unofficial Star Trek videos made by fans using replica sets and costumes.

In Prague there is a special gala concert on Nov. 2 at the Rudolfinum, with music from the TV shows and films. The concert is part of the ongoing Film Music Prague series. Chuhei Iwasaki will conduct the Filmová filharmonie in works by Jerry Goldsmith, James Horner and others. Soprano Christina Johnston will sing, along with a choir.

A costume ball called Všefandomová maškaráda take place Nov. 11 at KD Barikádníků in Prague 10, and proceeds will benefit Alzheimer’s patients. All costumes are welcome, but Star Trek is the main theme. The event is organized by the Terry Pratchett Club and CZ Kontinuum Star Trek fan club.

In Czechoslovakia, the TV series could be originally only seen on foreign stations via cable or satellite in the original English version. Books became available in Czech translation starting in 1991 and new movies played in theaters started with Star Trek Generations, which hit local screens April 20, 1995, some five months after its US premiere.

For more on the 50th anniversary visit www.trekkies.cz
Star Trek: Generations in Ostrava: www.facebook.com
Terry Farrell in Prague: www.facebook.com
Star Trek: Diplomacy open doors day: www.startrekdiplomacy.com
Costume ball: www.discworld.cz/bal