Bob Johnson's Star Trek Marathons

Bob Johnson's Star Trek Marathons (known in Melbourne as the Star Trek Marathons) were in part, the creation of an Australian fan named, yeah, Bob Johnson. Historical hindsight indicates that Johnson was a scandalous figure, and his Star Trek Marathons - although providing what the Star Trek Welcommittee once described as being the first screenings anywhere in the world of Star Trek on the big screen - were consistent with his recalcitrant persona.
His film marathons were presented beginning in 1976. "Another result of the events organised by Diane Marchant at Aussiecon were the Star Trek marathons. These began in 1976 at a cinema in North Melbourne and later extended to events at Sydney's Anzac House. They were put on by a film collector, Bob Johnson, who owned a number of episodes in 35mm. They provided a venue for fans to meet, read fanzines and other memorabilia as well as to see episodes at a time when the series was not shown on television." -- . 
The marathons were originated by Diane Marchant "Another result of the events organised by Diane Marchant at Aussiecon were the Star Trek marathons. These began in 1976 at a cinema in North Melbourne and later moved to Sydney's Anzac House. They were put on by a film collector, Bob Johnson, who owned a number of episodes in 35mm. They provided a venue for fans to meet, read fanzines and other memorabilia as well as to see episodes at a time when the series was not shown on television." -- Effect of Commercialisation and Direct Intervention by the Owners of Intellectual Copyright : A Case Study: The Australian Star Trek Fan Community In 1991, she recalled how a late, casual and unofficial addition of Star Trek material to an alternate programming stream at a Worldcon led to the formation of these Marathons: 
From an ad in Spock in November 1976: 
They eventually became a monthly event through to probably the mid-1990s in Melbourne, and until 2000 in Sydney. The marathons were an important part of keeping up Australian fan interest in Star Trek: The Original Series during dry spells between the end of the original series and the commencement of the official movies.
Melbourne venues included the Ritz Cinema (Errol Street, North Melbourne) and the National Mutual Theatrette (Collins & William Streets, Melbourne). In Sydney, the monthly Marathons were at a theatrette within ANZAC House (College Street, opp. Hyde Park). The Tom Mann Theatre (Chalmers Street, Surry Hills) became the screenings' temporary home when ANZAC House was demolished in the late 80s. Until 2000, the Sydney Marathons were then hosted at the Encore Cinema (Devonshire St, Surry Hills), ending with Johnson's passing.
Initially commencing as a Dusk until Dawn Marathon (in Melbourne at least), six episodes were shown, with repeats happening later at night, enabling audience members to arrive late and still see the full selection. The repeat screenings were punctuated by intermissions that allowed the local fans to hold parties or other celebratory events or even to organise other fan activities. Audience members became well known for shouting 'whoosh' aloud every time the Enterprise flew across the screen, particularly during the episode opening titles. Due to the costs of hiring the projectionist, the "Dusk to Dawn" aspect was quickly dropped, the episodes were shown only once each night and the event concluded at an earlier time. The Melbourne Marathons ultimately settled down to showing six episodes on one night per month, although they remained a meeting place for local fans to gather and sit chatting in the foyer after a club meeting elsewhere. In Sydney, the monthly event also featured six episodes, later changing to five episodes (and a bonus Star Trek: The Animated Series episode), the day including two intermissions. Johnson always had his own huckster tables, where fans could buy badges, t-shirts, photos, Lincoln Enterprises' merchandise and other collectibles. Members of the former AussieTrek conventions, and committee members of Astrex fan club, provided drinks, sandwiches and jaffles at the Sydney events. Buying and selling could be brisk during the intermissions, as was the fannish networking. At some screenings each year, a "Market Day" enabled other fan groups and clubs to set up dealers' tables as well. These happenings resembled a typical minicon. 
 
Bob Johnson also ran Time-Warped, a for-profit convention in 1986. As a fundraiser for the convention, he also organised and promoted a "Great Stream Train Adventure", with science fiction media fans in cosplay, travelling from Central Station, Sydney to the Thirlmere Train Museum.Have Phaser, Will Travel: The Perils of Batgirl by Ian McLean & Karen Irving, Data #73, July 1986.
On non-Trek weekends, Johnson's Sydney venue would host theme days for screenings of "The Twilight Zone", "The Outer Limits", serials (such as Leonard Nimoy in "Zombies of the Stratosphere") or cult films (such as "Reefer Madness"), making use of the extensive catalogue from his firm, Educational Film Services.
==About==
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==Further Reading==
* The Age, newspaper from Melbourne, Victoria, Issue Date: Friday, January 6, 1989, page 26
==References==
Category:Star Trek TOS Conventions
Category:1970s Conventions
Category:1980s Conventions
Category:Conventions in Australia