David Lillard

Ran the 1st STAR-Con, in Detroit, in 1973. Been a small-press Editor, Writer & Publisher of Comic Books and Science Fiction. Had a stroke, and bleeding problems, that... more

Ran the 1st STAR-Con, in Detroit, in 1973. Been a small-press Editor, Writer & Publisher of Comic Books and Science Fiction. Had a stroke, and bleeding problems, that robbed me of much of my memory - discovered it was affecting my mental abiliies for YEARS. The past year, or so, SOME of my memory has returned - mostly the BAD stuff. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - I Should own STAR TREK…well, a good portion of it, anyways. Back in the early 1970s, before the BIG syndication money started pouring in to Paramount, the studio didn’t really like us fans. Rumor was that it could be bought, relatively cheap. Bjo Trimble knew someone who was doing some “awesome” special FX with the Pillsbury Doughboy. A ‘major’ studio was interested in working on a new pilot, or a movie of Trek (long before STAR WARS). I decided to set up a corporation, that would use stock sales to raise the money needed. Started talking to lawyers & doing research on how it could be done. Decided, I believe, to set up a Limited Liability Corporation, with me as General Partner (this meant I could keep a piece of ST for my efforts). Well-known SF writers were available to write stories. At least some of the original actors were willing to work on it. Word got to Gene Roddenberry about my efforts (and, apparently, someone else was on a similar journey). His lawyer sent me a Cease & Desist letter. If I didn’t stop, I might be held civilly (because it was hampering Gene’s ability to sell any new series to the networks) & criminally (because of my position with S.T.A.R.) liable. Being VERY naïve, I stopped - but, all the Great Bird of the Galaxy had to do was just ask me, and I would have done so - no need to bring in the lawyer. Hollywood Over-Kill! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -