The print., October 20, 1977, Page 7, Image 7

Star Trek's 'Mr. Scott'
materializes in Gym
James Doohan, perhaps better known as
Chief Engineer Scott of the USS Enterprise,
is delighted with the opportunities he's had
the last few years to bring Star Trek to fans
at colleges and universities throughout the
country.
"I won't do game shows or TV commer­
cials because I don't need the money," said
Doohan. I told my manager to get me some­
thing where I can get out and meet people.
I'm delighted with all the people I meet at
colleges and I'm delighted because I have a
ball doing this sort of thing."
He also enjoyed his role on Star Trek as
the intrepid Scotsman who kept his cool in
the face of danger and held on until the cap­
tain could return to handle the situation.
His love for the Starship Enterprise and
especially her engines and internal mecha­
nisms is legendary as are his warnings that,
"She'll noo hold warp 10 foor loong, Capn."
"The dilithium crystals will n'er stand the
strain."
"When the show was only about six weeks
old I sat down and wrote out how everything
on the Enterprise worked, the transporter
system,
the engines,
everything," said
Doohan. "Later I showed my ideas to a
bunch of scientists who worked with things
like jet propulsion and they all accepted my
ideas 'it could very well work like that,' they
said."
wd saw him as Mr. Scott from
Unlike
Leonard Nimoy, who played
I was lucky enough to meet him
Science Officer Spock on the TV series,
Boohan, the actor who played Mr.
Doohan feels that he has not been harmed by
the stereotyping that goes along with being
»¡swarm, friendly and immediately
a major figure on a popular show.
»ease. My respectful "Mr. Doohan"
"It bothers me in some ways," he said,
changed to Jimmy.
"but face it, if it wasn't for Star Trek I
fatly answered my questions of wouldn't be so well-known. I've had several
ill the movie of Star Trek come jobs that I got because of Star Trek even
1Ï the Enterprise be updated on
though I didn't play a Scotsman."
i?," and "When will the series be
He also explained the presence of several
Later he answered the same ques- dialects and ethnic characteristics on a show
h Scotty
icporters.
torts, Director of Student Activi-
waSt. Mary, Publicity Director of
wernment; and I took Doohan to
rie Edgewater Inn. Dinner con­
cluded horses, dogs and children.
Ms were performed for us-gay
k a Russian, and of course, the
accent from Star Trek.
pis no accent 1 can't do as long as I
Ilit, But I have to like the accent be-
j.doit," Doohan said.
that supposedly takes place hundreds of years
into the future, far removed from the days
of national boundaries.
"My theory is that in 300 years everyone
will talk the same," said Doohan," and
they'll be so bored with listening to each
other that they'll go back and learn how to
talk like their ancestors did."
Doohan himself is a master of dialects and
did most of the voices for the animated
version of Star Trek that appeared a couple
of years ago.
"I've been interested m dialects since l
was a small boy," he said. "In fact I remem­
ber once when I was about 10 and my father
turned to my mother and wanted to know
where an Irish-Canadian learned to talk
with a Cockney accent. I guess l picked it up
from some television show."
Doohan will be back on Star Trek this fall
when the series returns to television. Shoot­
ing is scheduled to begin Nov. 15, with
completely revamped sets and many of the
familiar characters returning.
"William Shatner (who played Captain
Kirk) has already signed his contract, as have
I. Lieutenant Sulu will return as Chief of
Security. It is still rather up in the air as to
whether Leonard (Nimoy) will return,"
Doohan said.
"We had no idea it (Star Trek) would
evolve into what it has evolved into but
there's no doubt that when we were working
on it we kne w it was a fantastic show," he
said. "After six shows people would have
the next script and the next one after that
and we would look at them and say, "Wow,
another good script."
"Only about one per cent of our work is
satisfying and Star Trek certainly was. Even
if you were playing a character that wasn't
satisfying, it was good to be working with
quality material."
One final note: "Scotty" does like his
Scotch.
hears experience in the business
intbefore the performance. Waiting
Harald Daniels room, I nervously
¡about
standing
to intro-
Unsaid he
enjoyed on the stage
audience,
and
1». fed He
calmly
sitting in and
a chair
away was with
the question
an-
|iod because of the response of the
[the show a group of CCC people
Jan went to Magellan's, a nightclub
me.
P had his favorite drink, Scotch and
[nd bought everyone two rounds of
mis Bank Americard. Showing a
Me, he got a picture of his newest
[of his wallet, 13-month old Eric.
M until 1:30 a.m., Doohan enjoyed
[Pie at Magellan’s. He said he would
Rd some time tourning the North-
RVogue motorhome.
feDoohan won't remember Saturday,
I® anything more than another per-
R but it will be remembered as a
wfor many.
^Community College
Page 7