TMC
01-07-2019, 08:36 PM
https://lebeauleblog.com/2019/01/07/january-7-happy-birthday-gene-l-coon/
Gene L. Coon (1924-1973) was born in Nebraska. He served in the Marines during World War 2, and after the war worked in radio and managed a pharmacy for a time. In the mid-1950s, Coon began writing for television. In the next decade, Coon put together a long list of writing credits, including multiple episodes of Mr. Lucky, Bonanza, and particularly, Wagon Train.
That made it very fitting that, in 1966, Coon was hired as producer and showrunner for a series that had been pitched to networks as “Wagon Train to the Stars.” (https://www.newsweek.com/wagon-train-stars-410030) Coon also wrote a baker’s dozen episodes for Star Trek. Among them were “Errand of Mercy,” which featured the first appearance of the Klingons, “Devil in the Dark,” with the silicon alien the Horta, and “Space Seed,” which introduced the most memorable villain in the Star Trek universe.
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Coon was the showrunner on Star Trek for a little over one season; he was hired about one-third of the way into Season 1, and left about halfway through season 2. You can find multiple accounts of why he left.
Many Star Trek insiders have attested to how important Coon was to the success of the original series. William Shatner labeled Coon the “unsung hero” of Star Trek in his book Star Trek Memories, while writer David Gerrold labeled him “the heart and soul of Star Trek.”
Gene L. Coon (1924-1973) was born in Nebraska. He served in the Marines during World War 2, and after the war worked in radio and managed a pharmacy for a time. In the mid-1950s, Coon began writing for television. In the next decade, Coon put together a long list of writing credits, including multiple episodes of Mr. Lucky, Bonanza, and particularly, Wagon Train.
That made it very fitting that, in 1966, Coon was hired as producer and showrunner for a series that had been pitched to networks as “Wagon Train to the Stars.” (https://www.newsweek.com/wagon-train-stars-410030) Coon also wrote a baker’s dozen episodes for Star Trek. Among them were “Errand of Mercy,” which featured the first appearance of the Klingons, “Devil in the Dark,” with the silicon alien the Horta, and “Space Seed,” which introduced the most memorable villain in the Star Trek universe.
BoVv1a354Bo
Coon was the showrunner on Star Trek for a little over one season; he was hired about one-third of the way into Season 1, and left about halfway through season 2. You can find multiple accounts of why he left.
Many Star Trek insiders have attested to how important Coon was to the success of the original series. William Shatner labeled Coon the “unsung hero” of Star Trek in his book Star Trek Memories, while writer David Gerrold labeled him “the heart and soul of Star Trek.”