Two Minutes with the Great Bird

​The year was 1977, I had just moved to Los Angeles in search of fame and fortune as an actor. I was living in a $150 one-bedroom apartment on the corner of Glen Oaks and Olive. For the record, the apartment, unlike the memories is no longer there. My telecommunication options, much like my prospects were extremely limited. There was a payphone down the street for day-to-day calls and, for career or emergencies, there was the phone of MHCC alumnae Rand Deahl who lived just up a few blocks away. Rand had actual furniture which made visiting to use the phone even more pleasant. 
 
“Faced with a mortgage and a $2,000-per-month alimony obligation as a result of his 1969 divorce, he retained a booking agent and began to support himself largely by giving college lectures and appearances at science fiction conventions. These presentations included screenings of "The Cage" and blooper reels from the production of Star Trek.” Wikipedia
 
 
Gene Roddenberry’s touring road show, The World of Star Trek” played for a single night at the Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. As stated, the show consisted of the Great Bird addressing the hundreds, showing the Star Trek pilot, The Menagerie, and a blooper reel. I was a fan of Star Trek, seen the television show episodes several times each and read the series of books by author James Blish. It was not the Who in concert or even Cat Stevens, both of which I had seen the previous year, but the Great Bird was fun waste of two hours and ten bucks.
 
Cut to Burbank California, the late fall of 1977. Whether it was a dare, or the fact that I believed I would get a job, I hiked over to Rand Deahls’ place, called the main Paramount switchboard and asked for Gene’s office. They patched me through, the Gatekeeper taking a message and I was promptly dismissed.  
 
Less than one hour later, Rand’s phone rang. “Will you hold for Mr. Roddenberry.” A moment later, the Great Bird picked up the phone. I introduced myself, lying and said that we had talked back in Portland a year or so ago and that he told me to look him up when I got to town. Whether he bought it or not, I couldn’t tell. But it was time to make a move. I took a deep breath, steadied my resolve and…
 
    “So, I was wondering if you had any job openings.”  Sure, it was bad. In truth, it may have even been worse.  I truly can’t remember what it was that I said exactly but you get the gist. I can’t remember the rest of his reply, but he managed to dodge it nicely. The rest of the conversation lasted a total of three minutes, Mr. Roddenberry informing me that he was busy working on Star Trek: Phase Two and had a pressing meeting with the set designers. 
 
So, there’s my story. Aren’t you glad you asked?