Doctor McCoy/DeForest Kelley short Story

I wrote a story a year ago dedicated to the memory of DeForest and Carolyn Kelley called: "Keeping Up Appearances".

Summary: Capt. Kirk, Mr. Spock, and Doctor McCoy get trapped back in time to the late 1960's (Old earth calendar). The find themselves in the old Desilu studio working on a TV show called Star Trek- taking the place of the actors who play them. They wrap filming for the weekend, and Kirk decides each of them will stay at their respective actor's homes.

This story is told from McCoy's perspective as he goes to DeForest's home.

You can read it HERE.

Lisa

REMEMBERING MAJEL BARRETT

Today's blog is about a beautiful lady that worked very closely with De in the Original series: Majel Barrett Roddenberry.

I had the wonderful honor of meeting Majel back in the early eighties at a convention when I was very young. DeForest Kelley was also at this con. While he was up on the stage talking-- I actually got up and left the hall for a few minutes--to go to the restroom. (can you believe that??? How rude of me!--but I was only very young and apparently didn't know any better)

Anyways, as I was on my way to the restroom, wearing my T'Pring costume (there was a costume contest immediately following or maybe it happened before De was on stage) and Majel was sitting outside the hall at a table in the dealers area. She spotted me and called me over. I was painfully shy in those days so very meekly went to see what she wanted. She gushed over my costume--she just loved it. She was very sweet to me, I wasn't expecting that from somebody I watched on the TV and I just about died. So I meekly asked her for an autograph, they were free in those days. And she very happily signed an art print for me. I still have it. Or actually my parents have it in a box in their garage. Maybe I'll go over there one of these days and look for it.

I remember her on stage at that convention, too. My favorite was when she'd said she really wanted the part of Nurse Chapel but the network or other higher ups were reluctant. She dyed her hair blond and walked casually past Gene. He nodded at her, then stopped and gasped out "MAJEL?!"

That was perfect casting in TOS-she just looked fantastic as Nurse Chapel. She played a romantic character with such grace. Later on, I loved seeing her wonderfully eccentric performance as Lwaxana Troi in TNG.

My thoughts and prayers go out to her son Rod.

Funny Video "Hairy Bones"

This was created by 'Spockboy' and Dr. McCoy fan, Jessica Menn--great work!:

NAPLES BOAT PARADE--LONG BEACH

Long after they'd moved to Sherman Oaks, Ca, De and Carolyn stayed in contact with their friends in Long Beach. They used to come down and watch the Naples Boat Parade nearly every year. Photo from the 2008 Naples Boat Parade. (photo by L.Hamner)

THANKS!

Hello All! Thank you to all who are following this blog. If anybody has any tidbits about DeForest Kelley; any photos, videos, etc. you would like me to feature, please contact me at my email address located in my profile.

Hey, Did you know Kristine M. Smith, the author of "DeForest Kelley: A Harvest of Memories.." is writing another book about DeForest Kelley? If you 've got anything to contribute to her, any favorite De moments--meetings, convention stories, photos or anything De related, she'd be happy to hear from you! You can purchase her book "DeForest Kelley: A Harvest of Memories: My Life and Times With a Remarkable Gentleman Actor" from Amazon. I recommend it highly.

CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER was one of De's favorite Star Trek episodes (the other I believe, was "The Empath"). Look at this tribute to that episode:

The Long Beach Main Post Office

This is the main post office on 3rd and Long Beach Blvd. (address: 300 Long Beach Boulevard, Long Beach) Designed by Louis K. Simon, it was built in 1934 in a starved-classicism architectural style. (photo by L.Hamner 2008)

De and Carolyn would have visited this location many times as it was (and still is) the closest post office to every location they ever lived at in Long Beach. The buildings surrounding the Post Office have certainly come and gone but this building has stayed mostly the same. Carolyn sent De many letters during the war. De sent dance tickets and newspaper clipping home to his mother, Clora Kelley: "Ma, Scrapbook!" (source-From Sawdust to Stardust by Terry Lee Rioux)

De at a Convention 1985

This is DeForest at a convention in Dallas, Texas in 1985. A big thank you to my good friend Melinda for her permission to post this fantastic pic of De.

Working on STAR TREK-The Animated Series 1972

Here is a pic of Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley and William Shatner working on the animated STAR TREK series in this 1972 LA Times Photograph. (Photographer unknown as of yet.)

Thank You to Melinda for the heads up.

The Long Beach Playhouse

The lobby of the Long Beach Playhouse. Anaheim Street, Long Beach, California. DeForest Kelley's photograph hangs proudly next to the mirror. He became a member of the Long Beach Theatre Group/The Community Playhouse--at the original location on 1st Street/Alamitos Ave in 1939.

Long Beach --A Sunset in December

This is the view off of Alamitos Bay in Long Beach, December 10, 2008 at Ocean Blvd and Cherry Avenue. Visible in the background: The Queen Mary, permanently moored here and the Port of Long Beach.

DeForest Kelley lived here in Long Beach from Feb 1939 to 1945.

Cooper Arms Building

This is the Cooper Arms Building in Long Beach, California. Photo taken by me. The Cooper sits on the corner of Ocean Blvd and Linden Avenue. DeForest lived in the basement of this building and worked here as an elevator operator circa 1939/1940.

Long Beach is a nice city, but right now it's damp. It's been foggy for about the last few weeks. But it has beautiful sunsets. De used to go swiming in the ocean, but nowadays I wouldn't recomend it.

Mint Julip

Ever have a reallll cold Georgia style mint Julip, huh?

(Dr. McCoy in 'This Side of Paradise', STAR TREK-TOS)

Here's how to make one (thanks to 'The Mint Julip Inn'):

Mint Julep

Ingredients:

4 fresh sprigs of Mint
2 1/2 oz Bourbon
1 tsp Powdered sugar
2 tsp Water
Mixing instructions:
Muddle mint leaves, powdered sugar, and water in a Collins glass. Fill glass with shaved or crushed ice and add bourbon. Top with more ice and garnish with a mint sprig. Serve with a straw.

Here's To You, De

Hi Welcome to my new blog: "DeForest Kelley Forever".

This blog is intended to be an honor to the late DeForest Kelley and his late wife: Carolyn Dowling Kelley.

I live/have lived in some of the same areas of Califoria that De And Carolyn once did, so I thought perhaps I'd share photos of the areas, some essays I've written, a story or two and just thoughts or reviews of westerns, thoughts regarding his role on STAR TREK, Dr. Leonard McCoy. And maybe post up an old interview or two.

I don't claim to be an expert on Mr. Kelley, I just wanted to express my love and admiration of a wonderful gentleman. Here's to you, De.