De-Lightful goings on at the 2009 Vegas Star Trek Convention

The "DeForest Kelley Theatre" Creation Convention Las Vegas 2009

Hello my friends! I've just returned from the latest Star Trek convention and thought I'd update with a little convention report.

Attendance was high (approximately 1500 attended). Supposedly this was 300 less than last year, due to the removal of Star Trek the Experience, but my goodness it still felt crowded.

First of all I was delighted to discover that the two ballrooms that the activities occured in, one was dedicated to Gene and Majel Barrett Roddenberry and the other one to DeForest Kelley. Both entrances to the ballrooms were decorated with banner's with the honoree's name. Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry was on hand and did a lovely tribute to his mother.


One thing that happened that was cute/ funny/ moving. I'd forgotten to turn my cellphone off and it was set on it's loudest setting. The day before I'd set the ringer to Dr. McCoy ranting about: "It's a song you green blooded Vulcan! The words aren't important, what's important is that you have a good time singing it!" to show my friend Melinda. While a guest was up on the stage, someone had called me and of course De's voice, loud and clear, came up out of nowhere! Anyone in the general vicinity heard it (it was pretty loud). It freaked them out to hear his voice and of course there was laughter.


Another thing that was very moving was the appearance of Mr. Lawrence Luckinbill (Sybok on Star Trek V). What a very gracious and humble man! When they'd first introduced him, a man came out on stage that was dressed like Sybok and looked exactly like Sybok in the film. We thought that was Mr. Luckinbill and we all gasped! Actually it was a fan dressed up like Sybok with an uncanny resemblance to him. Mr. Luckinbill came out on stage, laughing and delighted that the fan looked so much like him.

During the question and answer period with Mr. Luckinbill I was able to ask a question. I asked what he could share with us about his memories of working on the very intense patricide/euthanasia scene with De on Star Trek V. He hesitated for a few moments and got very emotional (we both were) and replied: "De was one of the most wonderful gentlemen actors that I had ever had the pleasure of knowing/working with." He went on to say that De was very ill around the time of the shooting of that scene and he looked at Mr. Luckinbill and asked him: "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Mr. Luckinbill replied: "I sure am." De said: "Let's just do this."

I had to really hold it together not to burst into tears while at the mic. There were quite a few tears in the audience when he answered my question about De.
Lisa

DeForest Kelley in the Long Beach Independent. January 1941

(click on image to enlarge)

There is a mention of DeForest Kelley in the January 28th 1941 edition of the Long Beach "Independent". De starred in the Long Beach Depot Playhouse production of "Our Town" as George.

DeForest Kelley January 20, 1920-June 11, 1999

We miss you, DeForest.

Star Polishing Day

Thursday, June 11, 2009 the 10 year aniversary of DeForest Kelley's Death, fellow De fan Alison Winter and I met up to polish his star. It was delightful, as we chatted about De, got to know each other and made the star extra shiny.

Alison Winter with Mr. Kelley's Star



Lisa Hamner and Alison Winter



Lisa Hamner

Kris Smith's Interview on BlogTalkRadio.com

Kristine M. Smith, author of DeForest Kelley: A Harvest of Memories (2001), celebrates the late actor’s enduring legacy in a new e-book In the first edition of a newly-released 61-page e-book, The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend, DeForest Kelley’s former personal assistant: Kristine M Smith has compiled the memories and reminiscences of nearly two dozen fans and friends whose lives were blessed and changed forever by the career or kindness of the late actor who portrayed Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the original Star Trek television series and motion pictures.

In case you missed the interview, you can access it here. It's two hours long, so sit back and relax! (Get a tissue first, though! Some of it is mighty poignant...)http://www.blogtalkradio.com/NoriegaDOTBiz/2009/06/04/Kristin-M-Smith-beams-in-for-a-visit

Star Polishing

Last Sunday, it was my absolute honor to polish Mr. DeForest Kelley's star on Hollywood Boulevard.

De and Carolyn at the ceremony.

Me with the star in May.

Was it ever tarnished! Here is a before picture I took some weeks ago:

and here is the after pic:

As many of you know the original honor of star polishing belonged to Kris Smith who kept it looking shiny for many years. She moved out of the Hollywood area, a few years ago.

DeForest Kelley e-book is #1!!!

Newest DeForest Kelley Title Debuts as #1 Nonfiction E-Book at Payloadz.com as newest Star Trek Adventure Warps Across the Silver Screen.

Kristine M. Smith, author of DeForest Kelley: A Harvest of Memories (2001), claims top spot for her newest Kelley book, ENDURING LEGACY, at Payloadz.com.

Seattle WA, (PRWEB) May 21, 2009 A newly-released e-book, The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend, written by Kelley's former personal assistant Kristine M. Smith, skyrocketed immediately to first place in the non-fiction category at Payloadz.com upon its May 1st release, where it has resolutely remained for three weeks.

In the new 61 page electronic book, Smith compiled the memories and reminisces of nearly two-dozen fans and friends whose lives were blessed and changed forever by the career and kindness of the late actor who portrayed Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy in the original STAR TREK television series and motion pictures.

"I'm delighted the new book is receiving top honors at Payloadz," Smith says. "it was a real labor of love for so many of its contributors and for me. And the unanimous, positive reviews of the book have also been gratifying."

The e-book reveals that many of Kelley's devoted fans have gone on to become doctors, nurses, medical technicians, social workers, and other helping professionals, while still other fans continue to impact the world as writers, actors and teachers.

The success of the new book has also bolstered sales of Smith's earlier memoir about the actor who became her mentor. DeFOREST KELLEY: A HARVEST OF MEMORIES suffered from an untimely release date, coming as it did just weeks after the attacks on the World Trade Center and Washington D.C. on September 11, 2001, relegating the memoir to easy dismissal by and silence from mainstream media. Now that both books are receiving attention during the recent release of the newest STAR TREK movie, prospects for both books have increased significantly. Smith has been contacted to do radio and podcast interviews from science fiction and golden oldies radio producers.

Smith says, "This June 11th will be the tenth anniversary of De's passing. I can't imagine a greater tribute, at this time-to the man and to the actor-than the timely attention being paid to these two books, along with taking in the wonderful resurrection of the McCoy character as portrayed by Karl Urban. He was able to capture so much of what De's spirit and sensibilities brought to the role. I hope my two books will show that DeForest Kelley, the man, was every bit as worthy of respect and emulation as was his alter ego."

Author Kristine M. Smith's blog is located at http://almostfamousbydesfault.blogspot.com

Her copy-writing service business URL is http://kristinemsmith.elance.com
She can be reached at KRISTINEMSMITH@MSN.COM

North Shore Animal League

Anabelle

De and Carolyn's favorite charity was the North Shore Animal League. Please make it your's too. North Shore helps many thousands of abused and homeless animals. It will astound you the amount of abuse some of these animals have suffered.

The North Shore Animal League is the largest no-kill shelter in the world. Not just the country or the East Coast, but the world.

See Anabelle's story. Donate what ever you can and let's help these animals heal. Thank you.
http://www.nsalamerica.org/help-me-heal/hmh_animals/annabelle.html

Blog event with Kristine M. Smith

Author Kristine M. Smith appearing on wordpress.

Event: DeForest Kelley: My Life and Times with a Remarkable Gentleman Actor"

This is an online blog event and blogs are forever, so stop by anytime

From May 12 at 9:45am till Friday, May 15 at 12:45pm
Where: online -- this is a blog event and blogs are forever, so stop by when you can. To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=189705860314&mid=7381ccG514441ccG6e9b11\G7

Stop by, ask a question!

BOOK REVIEW: The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend

De with Kris Smith's beloved late Serval, 'Deaken'.

THE ENDURING LEGACY OF DeFOREST KELLEY: ACTOR, HEALER, FRIEND.

Kristine M. Smith, author of the book: "DeForest Kelley, A Harvest of Memories: My life and times with a gentleman actor", is back with a delightful new book about our beloved gentleman, "The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend".

"The Enduring Legacy..." is available right now on e-book, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of his death on June 11, 1999.

The book opens with a forward by Smith. She describes how a fan had once asked Kelley how he would like to be remembered. De replied that he'd hoped people would remember, because to him there was nothing deader than a dead actor. Thanks to Smith and the contributors to her new book, it is obvious that DeForest will always be remembered.

The bulk of the book consists of a collection of essays by Kelley's fans and friends. In fact I should say that a fan and a friend are one and the same. A fan of De Kelley, IS a friend of De Kelley. Each essay describes how much Deforest Kelley meant to them personally in all different ways. One contributor describes how she got to hug him simply because she asked him if she could. Try doing that with Shatner! Other contributors knew him well, others never had the opportunity to meet him but corresponded with him, others simply admired him from afar. In all cases De had a dramatic influence on them. The outpouring of love that emanates from these pages will make you giggle, make you smile, make you cry, make you wish that Kris Smith would just keep coming out with more books about him for us to devour.

"DeForest Kelley is not really dead as as long as we love him." (Andrea Gumberger from Germany)

I highly recommend owning "The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend" as a companion to her first book about him, "DeForest Kelley, A Harvest of Memories." This is a deeply touching personal memoir about her long time friendship with the Kelleys and her time as DeForest's personal assistant and caregiver in the last months of his life.

When you read this book, you will really get to know this gentleman as a person. Kris Smith has a knack for showing us the real DeForest Kelley at home during her various interactions with him, his later life in the hospital culminating with his death, without making us feel like we are intruding. I was moved at how honest it was. You see how much of a down to earth, homebody couple the Kelleys really were, you see the depth of DeForest's love for Carolyn and how much everyone simply loved the Kelleys. It is a must read for caregivers; for anyone who has experienced a loss of a family member-- for Kris was very much like a daughter to them.

I believe that I have read and re-read "DeForest Kelley: A Harvest of Memories" about 4 times; it really is a very special book to me. I urge you to buy it now if you haven't already, HERE or at Amazon. It is also available as an e-book where all the photographs are in color!

Lisa

Star Trek at Arclight Cinemas Hollywood, CA

Billboard at Sunset/La Brea. Hollywood, CA

The crowd at the Arclight, Friday night.

A De--Lightful moment today

I went to the photo developing place to print out some pictures I'd taken recently of De's Hollywood Walk of Fame Star. When I picked up the photos the lady working there gushed about De and how much she just loved him, and mentioned a couple westerns: Apache Uprising and when he was in Bonanza. She didn't mention Star Trek, but the westerns.

Later on, I went to the post office today to send off a DVD to a friend which included the photo of the star tucked in there. The postal worker spotted it, as I hadn't sealed the envelope yet. And they said: "I absolutely love that man." and I asked "who?" not sure exactly who they were referring to. And they pointed to the star. "That one. DeForest Kelley."

A De-light-ful moment.

STAR TREK-the film review

Karl Urban as Dr. Leonard McCoy.



WARNING: SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

I was terribly nervous as I sat down to watch this film. J.J. Abrams really had to fulfill a myriad of MY expectations along with everyone else’s. As, I am a devoted fan of the original series-- mainly because of DeForest Kelley as Bones-- I wondered what was the point of coming out with a new film besides making Paramount a boatload of money. I figured that nobody could fill any of the original actor's shoes. I wasn't expecting much.I was pleasantly surprised. I was astounded actually.

Yes. Yes. There have been a multitude of spoilers online and in the printed press complaining about this plot detail or that, but I really urge you to take no notice of those complaints and just enjoy this film on it‘s own merits. In fact don't even read this review till you've seen it and and decide whether or not you agree with me. BTW: to the newspapers (especially the Los Angeles Times): thanks for NOT warning people about your spoilers. Not everyone has seen the film at this point, many reviews are excitedly blabbing all and ruining it for people. I went into the film absolutely blind to all the details and it was all the better that way.

Watching this film made me feel as if I was watching a TV episode, I mean that in a good way. I really do. It took me all of 5 minutes to get used to the new kids playing the parts. The outstanding kids of the bunch are:

John Cho as Mr. Sulu. Mr. Sulu really gets some nice fight moves and has a lot to do in this. I was glad to see him really shine.

Karl Urban as Bones McCoy is probably the most eerie of the bunch. Not only does he resemble the original Bones, but he SOUNDS almost exactly like DeForest Kelley. He's got the bitterness of a newly divorced young man with the fear of technology that we know and love, the caring of the physician we're used to, plus an affinity for the booze. (according to J.J. Abrams, Bones has a drinking problem). Dr. McCoy, as is required by law (somewhere it's written) of course, gets the funniest lines in the thing. And yes, what would a ST movie be without all the Dr. McCoy catch phrases?

Zachary Quinto is a also good immature Mr. Spock--Slightly haughty and very inexperienced. While Quinto needs some time to settle into the role as Spock, in this first film I was happy to see him injecting his own into this part. Spock has some funny lines in this, interacts well or rather clashes with Kirk and also has a funny scene with Dr. McCoy.

Of course the best performance of the film comes from Leonard Nimoy. He is back in all his glory as the older Spock and seeing him on the screen made me...shall I say, emotional. He's got that Spock twinkle in his eyes. Mr. Nimoy's performance is simply magical. And he looks absolutely adorable, too.

The Wrath of Kahn is referenced quite a lot in this film in various places and we get to witness something Kirk was infamous for.

Nero the villain is probably the best of the Star Trek heavies in the franchise save for Khan in Star Trek II. Eric Bana brings some new things to the art of villainy and I really enjoyed it.

Although I rave about the film, it did bother me in some areas. Firstly the relationship between Uhura and Spock irritated me. Also, two characters kissing in the transporter room. Come on. Officers, even young officers, on a starship would simply not do that.

Some canon details were simply ignored. As this film is considered an AU it is a convenient excuse to explain all that away. I did NOT like the bridge set. it seems a little too 'white' to me, like it was designed by Apple. In fact in an early scene, young Kirk uses something that seems basically a glorified Iphone.

Scotty is enjoyable although there are some attempted comedic moments involved in his scenes that were cringeworthy. Too Star-Warsy for my liking, but what do you expect from Abrams the StarWars nerd.

I also am in a disagreement with alot of people as I wasn't that enamored with Chris Pine's performance as Kirk. He simply does not have the magnetism as William Shatner did. I feel that any young actor could have portrayed this and done just as adequate as a job as Pine. But he is passable.

And…where the hell was Nurse Chapel??? Or Yeoman Rand? Have we forgotten about them already?

I think my favorite part of the film was the ending. It was done very well. There is a terribly tragedy that occurs in this film and I was overjoyed to see that not everything was all tidily wrapped up. In a way this also references STII:TWOK.

Plus our favorite TV theme song is featured. Of course the door was left open for the sequel, and of course I am looking forward to the next one.

De on Star Trek 5

Here's a lovely pic I dug up. De in the campfire scene in Star Trek 5. Beautiful.

NEW DeForest Kelley Book by Kristine M. Smith available online

The new ebook: The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend is now available!

From Press Release: New DeForest Kelley Book Debuts During Tenth Anniversary of Star Trek Actor’s Passing

Kristine M Smith, author of DeForest Kelley: A Harvest of Memories (2001), celebrates the late actor’s enduring legacy in a new e-book

In the first edition of a newly-released 61-page e-book, The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend, DeForest Kelley’s former personal assistant Kristine M Smith has compiled the memories and reminiscences of nearly two dozen fans and friends whose lives were blessed and changed forever by the career or kindness of the late actor who portrayed Dr. Leonard “Bones” McCoy in the original Star Trek television series and motion pictures.

On the back cover of the new e-book, available via Payloadz.com, Smith writes, “I was going to write a book about all the things I had to leave out of my first book about De (in order for readers to be able to lift the blasted thing!), but then got to thinking that enough of my own story has already been told. I don’t want anyone getting the impression that I was the only fan that DeForest and Carolyn Kelley took under their wings, because that simply is not true. The Kelleys were emotionally invested in their fans. They loved them, appreciated them, respected them – and it always showed.”

The e-book reveals that many of Kelley’s fans went on to become doctors, nurses, medical technicians, social workers, and other helping professionals. One even went so far as to become a space nurse for NASA. Still others continue to impact the world as writers, actors and teachers.

All have realized the impact that the iconic “Dr. McCoy” has had on their lives. Smith says, “The legacy of the reel McCoy has blessed the world with some very real McCoys who continue to boldly go where few have gone before, making a difference every step of the way.”

Smith adds, “One goal of the book is to encourage other Kelley and Star Trek fans to ‘go thou and do likewise.’ De was always most proud of fans who took their inspiration from the series and elected to use it to help others. Another goal is to present the e-book as a keepsake to new DeForest Kelley fans who are too young to remember when he was among us. I don’t want anybody to miss out on his unique and continuing influence.”


Author Kristine M Smith’s blog is located at http://almostfamousbydesfault.blogspot.com/. Her copywriting service business URL is http://kristinemsmith.elance/com. She can be reached at KRISTINEMSMITH@MSN.COM.

DeForest Kelley's Home

The lovely, Kris Smith. Author of the new book...The Enduring Legacy of DeForest Kelley: Actor, Healer, Friend and of DeForest Kelley: A Harvest of Memories.... has kindly shared this link with me:

She states: Although the Kelley home was sold and torn down following Carolyn's passing in 2004, the realtors who sold it have kindly left the listing in existence. So if you ever wondered what kind of home the Kelleys had, you'll be surprised to discover how small it was and how un-Hollywood-like.
http://tours.tourfactory.com/tours/tour.asp?t=205550&home=www.JerryKeller.com&slink=-1&sReferer=&r=http://www.google.com/search?sourceid%3Dnavclient%26ie%3DUTF-8%26rls%3DGGLR,GGLR:2005-52,GGLR:en%26q%3D15463%2BGreenleaf%2BStreet%252c%2BSherman%2BOaks%252c%2BCalifornia

Thank you to Kris Smith for the link and thank you to realtor Jerry Keller for keeping the listing up.

Star Trek Premiere Photos April 30, 2009. Grauman's Chinese Theatre,Hollywood, CA

Leonard Nimoy


John Cho

The Nimoy family. Far right: Julie, (Leonard's daughter) Far left, Susan Bay Nimoy.

Zachary Quinto

Anton Yelchin


George Takei and husband with international press

George Takei doing his Vulcan hand sign.

Leonard Nimoy and wife Susan.


Close up of Leonard and Susan Nimoy after leaving Limo.


Adam Nimoy far right underneath Star Trek sign.

Susan Bay Nimoy amidst her family, waiting for Leonard to finish with the press.

Susan Bay Nimoy being interviewed.

Karl Urban. My digital camera did something wierd and took it in B/W.

Karl Urban

Eric Bana


Chris Pine being interviewed by Tori Spelling. Who's that looking very jealous in the background?


Chris Pine signing autographs for some lucky fans. Right after he got out of his limo. Karl Urban did the same thing.


Chris Pine


Reporter on the black carpet with Spock ears.


Before the premiere started.

De and Carolyn circa 1968

Check out this rare publicity photograph that my good friend Melinda won on Ebay. Just wonderful! (photographer unknown at this point)

DeForest Kelley as Ike Clanton 1955

Oh boy this is a find. A 35 year old DeForest Kelley as 'Ike Clanton' in "You are there: Gunfight at the OK Corral." De's having a great time in this one, being a bad ass--With a tough swagger, handlebar moustache, mouth full of tobacco, and sinister voice. I wouldn't want to cross this guy! According to the DeForest Kelley Filmography this was his first 'real mean heavy' role. I wonder if he'd have been even more sinister had the ep been in color. The b/w's just didn't do justice to those ice-blue eyes. A big thank you to Meggy1977 for posting this clip on YouTube.

Long Beach late 30's early 40's

This beautiful photograph is of Ocean Boulevard as you look towards Alamitos Ave, in approx the late 30's early 40's, around the time De lived here. The tall building is Villa Rivera, a condominium/apartment complex still standing today. Some of the apartments on the left of the photo are still standing--but most are gone. You can't park at a slant like that anymore (visible on the left of the photo). Ocean Blvd. is a much busier street these days. (Photo from Long Beach public library).

Happy Birthday DeForest!

Today would have been De's 89th birthday. We miss you, De! Photo is of De's birthplace: Conyers, Georgia. Beautiful. (photo by Jon Gos)

De would have been thrilled to have witnessed President Obama's inauguration on his birthday. Kris Smith had this post on her blog which I found very poignant. Read it HERE.

Alternate De, Cheers and Myrtle photo

Here's an alternate pose of DeForest posing with Cheers the Schnoodle, and Myrtle the turtle. Just adorable!

I found this photo in the August 24th 1968 edition of TV guide, accompanying an article entitled: "Where is the Welcome Mat?" (author not named)

The article begins with how the trade papers still, after two seasons of Star Trek, will list only Nimoy and Shatner as the stars. Kelley has had to fight for everything; a parking spot, an unshared dressing room, a line of dialogue after standing without a word for 12 pages.

The article goes on to describe Kelley as posessing a yankeeized soft Georgia accent, and "sounding remarkably like a testy David Brinkley. He is immensely popular with his fellow actors and crew and remembers the birthdays of the technicians children." A script girl's mother took ill and De was the first to send flowers. Kelley laughs at the thought of being a "teenage sex symbol" and his hobby is the tending of 59 rose bushes at his comfortable Sherman Oaks home. Continuing a Southern tradition, he cooks black-eyed peas with red-eyed gravy on New Year's Day for luck in the ensuing year. He cherishes the day when his name ran for the first time in a TV Guide crossword puzzle. His wife, Carolyn, clipped the page and framed it to hang on the wall. "It's not an Oscar or Emmy," says De Kelley, "but to an actor, it's something."

De filming 'The Tholian Web' 1968

Hello again, my friends. I apologize for the hiatus of a couple weeks. (I had been taking care of a seriously ill dog who passed away last week.)

To end the long break, I bring you a beloved photo of DeForest, during filming of "The Tholian Web", in 1968. This photo comes from my collection. Photographer unknown.