1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 Last week, The Trek Files followed Gene Roddenberry to the 1966 World Science Fiction Convention in Cleveland, where he hoped to convince a skeptical audience of serious science-fiction fans that his new television series was worthy of their attention. This week, Glen E. Swanson, author of Inspired Enterprise, returns to examine what happened next. Our document is a December 1966 letter from science-fiction fan Mike Deckinger, who tells Desilu that he was among more than 1,000 people who watched Roddenberry preview Star Trek at Tricon and witnessed the audience give him a standing ovation. By then, Star Trek had been on the air for three months, and Deckinger was already urging the studio to protect a series he believed was offering television something different: mature stories, intelligent ideas, and contributions from established science-fiction writers. His brief letter gives us a valuable eyewitness account of a moment that Roddenberry himself would recount for years to come. Glen and Larry then trace the ripples from that weekend through Roddenberry's excited telegrams back to Hollywood, a special award from the convention that Gene kept on his office wall for decades, and the award's later appearance in a full-page trade advertisement promoting&amp;nbsp;Star Trek for Emmy consideration. What began as an attempt to win over one of science fiction's toughest audiences became something more lasting: an early stamp of approval from the community Star Trek most wanted to take it seriously. Documents and additional resources Mike Deckinger letter to Desilu Studios, December 7, 1966 Star Trek “For Your Consideration” trade advertisement featuring the Tricon award and endorsements from science and science-fiction figures, 1967. Glen E. Swanson, Inspired Enterprise: How NASA, the Smithsonian and the Aerospace Community Helped Launch Star Trek — Inspired Enterprise Glen E. Swanson — official website Glen E. Swanson, “Mission Impossible: How Star Trek Used the Aerospace Community to Try and Win an Emmy,” The Space Review, September 8, 2026 - The Space Review The Trek Files: A Roddenberry Star Trek Podcast http://thetrekfiles.com <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/42816935/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/206054105