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BEAM ME UP, SCOTTY—THIS CITY SUCKS!

Theo DouglasWed. May 28
 

How ‘Star Trek The Tour’ got stuck in Long Beach over a $200,000 bill

Remember “Star Trek the Tour,” that fantastical Queen Mary exhibit of all things Trekkie–uniforms and phasers and a real live fake Starship Enterprise? The rumor mill had it opening in San Diego last Thursday–but it’s still here, locked up in space jail, which is what Vulcans call the old Spruce Goose dome.

Confused? This is a complicated story–mainly because almost no one connected with this space oddity of a traveling sideshow wants to say much about it. It’s as if the captains of this tour were sucked into a black hole, which is either not far from the truth or light years away from it.

“Star Trek the Tour” set its coordinates for Long Beach in January, the month after crews finished filming that new Star Trek movie in Lincoln Park. Coincidence, my young Paduan apprentice? Wrong sci-fi franchise. Idiot! The show was originally scheduled to close in mid-February, but for some reason it was held it over another two weeks.

Then, it closed in March–and stayed another two months. Lawyers for Save the Queen (STQ), which runs the Queen Mary and its surroundings, figured the folks at SEE Touring Productions in Los Angeles–which owned the Tour–owed them an extra $200,000 for security and food and lodging aboard the Queen Mary. So they just kept the “Tour.” Set your phasers to “stun.”

“There is still a lot of equipment over there, because [if] we let them take the equipment then we don’t have anything to hold over them,” a source close to the exhibit confirmed for me earlier this week. “It is not a pleasant situation as I understand it.” (The source declined to be identified, for fear of jeopardizing their livelihood.)

That’s why the exhibit has been hanging around. Also, according to Paul Konapelsky, general counsel for Save the Queen, SEE Touring decided to beam itself up while all this was going on, and it no longer owns Star Trek the Tour.

Representatives of SEE Touring did not respond to repeated telephone messages requesting comment. But somehow–and this is where people really stopped taking my calls–ownership of the Tour has passed to an outfit in Greenwich, Connecticut called Plainfield Asset Management.

Plainfield Asset Management–the name just screams “science fiction,” doesn’t it? “The firm manages investment capital for institutions and high net worth individuals based in the United States and abroad,” according to its website, and that’s all I want to say about that.

I reached Plainfield’s Michael Lehman late in the afternoon Friday, most likely because he thought I was someone else, and he agreed to talk on Monday. That’s when the radio went dead. Neither Lehman nor another Plainfield man named Joe Benzivenga would say another word, probably because they were talking settlement.

“Let me see if I can reach him and get him a message,” Lehman’s secretary said at one point. “What was your name again–Koto?” Almost. Then, yesterday, it happened–and by it, I mean nothing. Konapelsky called the next day.

“Plainfield put up the money for the promoter and they got into a dispute, the exact extent of which I’m not familiar with–nor do I care to be,” Konapelsky said with a chuckle.

“They have been going back and forth for probably the past two months. They actually, finally reached an agreement this past Sunday which in turn resulted in Plainfield acquiring everything, rather than just having a security interest in [the exhibit]. It’s my understanding that they have a new promoter who is going to pick up and run the show.” And also?

“We reached an agreement with Plainfield,” Konapelsky added. “They paid us yesterday, and they are going to have the dome loaded out by June 6.” June 6–isn’t that the first day of the Ink-N-Iron tattoo festival? Konapelsky said Plainfield probably won’t wait that long. Most of the Star Trek memorabilia will probably be picked up just as soon as it can get a ride.

And that’s it. “Qapla,” as the Klingons say–“success!” To some.

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COMMENTS

  1. 1

    Awesome! Theo, I know you had a blast writing this one.

    Well done

    [report]

    Posted By Dooley on May 22nd, 2008 at 8:51 am

     

  2. 2

    Dooley,
    Thanks, and thanks for reading it.
    I did enjoy writing it. I learned a lot about Klingons and Vulcans–and myself.

    [report]

    Posted By Theo Douglas on May 22nd, 2008 at 10:21 am

     

  3. 3

    Wow that just proves the Queen Mary truly is cursed!!!!. Deep six her and put a stadium there ASAP.
    Or load her and the sub with C4 and run them into the Breakwater and bring back the waves and have a nice diving wreck…..or not.

    [report]

    Posted By Queen Scary on May 22nd, 2008 at 8:49 pm

     

  4. 4

    Theo, sorry to say, but you got this one all wrong. The dispute between SEE and the new Queen Mary entity (after the old one filed for bankruptcy late last year after the first exhibit components were already delivered) was over damages that SEE had due to the fact that the Dome should have never been put on the rental market. There were over 40 (!) leaks in the roof that kept damaging the exhibit throughout the run. One Saturday the entire front entrance was flooded so SEE had to put up pallet “bridges” to accomodate the 2,000+ visitors outside to be able to access the Dome. Also, there were some other issues with the QM such as the outragous increased parking fees that the patrons were charged. SEE decided not to pay for the $200,000 “extras” because it had substantial claims against the QM. The initial rent was paid in full and in advance.
    SEE has created and built this amazing and highly acclaimed exhibit which will now open in San Diego on June 21 and will continue touring the US for the next 5 years. The promoter that SEE had hired to handle the tour was asked to leave the project after the Long Beach run. The change of ownership has nothing to do with the QM situation (which was eventually settled) or the change of the promoter. This has been an internal arrangement between SEE and its financiers and irrelevant to the continuation of the tour. A new promoter has been hired.

    [report]

    Posted By Martin on June 4th, 2008 at 1:37 am

     

  5. 5

    Ok the parking was insane but leaking come on. Pallets cost 5 bucks each and what if you have other problems during the five years are you gonna bug out without paying. Sh*t happens and yes it rained when you were here but then you stiffed your promotions people too. Why were they asked to leave ? Was the opening to big for you that you had to put up to many velvet ropes. All those many flash bulbs ? See should stop blaming the QM and take the responsibility by the horns.
    Look out just a warning San Diego has this thing called the sun, don’t hold out because of not enough shade or sun-screen.

    Live Long and Hope You Prosper Martin

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    Posted By SeeTours Sucks on June 4th, 2008 at 11:17 am

     

  6. 6

    As a Trek fan, I am really glad it all got straightened out. The exhibition is, as others have said, opening in San Diego (at the San Diego Air & Space Museum, already home to some unique REAL space ships) on the 21st, and will be even better than it was before - and more affordable and accessible, too. Free parking, anyone? Hoorah!

    [report]

    Posted By Trek Fan on June 12th, 2008 at 9:14 pm

     

  7. 7

    Trek fan, nobody says Hoorah anymore. Not even me.

    It’s at the Air & Space museum, all right. I’ve seen the trucks & hoisting & banging–lots of work in progress.

    [report]

    Posted By RealMcCoy81 on June 13th, 2008 at 9:13 am

     

  8. 8

    The San Diego Air and Space Museum just updated their website to make it official.

    Star Trek: The Exhibitions

    http://www.aerospacemuseum.org/

    I watched the video commercial and it looks to be really cool! I really like the fact that parking is free. Hate paying for open space. In any case I’ve also heard that SEE is no longer running things and that a new company has taken over. So the Exhibit is new and improved!

    [report]

    Posted By Trek Junky on June 13th, 2008 at 4:01 pm

     

  9. 9

    I love Star trek and had the opportunity to work on this exhibit starting last November and now for the Long Beach load-out (there it was called Star Trek the tour) and the San Diego load-in. Our company built several sets. For the upcoming tour the promoter dumped a lot of good stuff that will not continue on the tour. San Diego doesn’t come close to what the show was in Long Beach. Not even half the size.Too bad. I overheard the supervisor talking about a lot of water damage to most of the costumes and the bridge. They had to replace a lot so be aware of San Diego not being the real stuff. It should still be OK but there is certainly nothing new and improved. A lot lost.

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    Posted By Jimmy on June 14th, 2008 at 4:09 am

     

  10. 10

    Moooommm! I can’t find my tricorder and Vulcan ears!….Can you drive me to San Diego in the station wagon? I’ll promise I’ll move out of the basement if you drive me there. Pleeeeeeeease Moooooooommm!

    [report]

    Posted By Andy on June 14th, 2008 at 8:06 am

     

  11. 11

    Hilarious, Andy. Of course, the fact that exhibitions like this allow you to step into an awe-inspiring science fiction world that is extremely entertaining, while looking at future technologies that might make all of our lives better, and a positive and hopeful vision of the future, doesn’t appeal to anyone other than the stereotype you make fun of. Of course, those people DO exist, but exhibitions like that have mass, wide-ranging appeal.

    Jimmy, I don’t believe you are who you claim to be. I’ve heard a lot of insider stuff about this exhibition, and it is going to be the best ever… all the best stuff will be in San Diego. Personally, I can’t wait.

    [report]

    Posted By Doctor Future on June 14th, 2008 at 9:57 am

     

  12. 12

    “Jimmy” sounds suspiciously like a disgruntled SEE employee who lost the job after messing up in Long Beach. Sad to see them trying to drag down the whole show with their bitterness.
    From what I am hearing from Trek fans who are GENUINELY in the know, this new version of the exhibition is going to be much, much better. A whole reboot of the concept, with the best stuff on display.

    Instead of spreading false internet rumors, I’m going to go and enjoy myself in San Diego.

    [report]

    Posted By Next Generation on June 14th, 2008 at 11:55 am

     

  13. 13

    San Diego will be smaller, and not all pieces will be traveling there (whether these are the “cooler” pieces or not is debateable). There was some damage to set pieces (mostly water stains on carpets), but all the props and costumes were fine.

    Sadly, most of the folks at SEE Touring were doing a kick ass job andhad nothing to do with the money SNAFU.

    Hope the tour goes well for the fans sake.

    [report]

    Posted By straight shooter on June 18th, 2008 at 7:28 pm

     

  14. 14

    The only thing that I know of that was really cool in Long Beach and is not in San Diego was the fullsize TNG bridge. Instead, they have a smaller TNG bridge photo-op, still with Picard’s chair that you can sit in. But everything else looks to be there. The Guardian of Forever is even better, more like a fullsize shooting set then isolated like it was before. They’ve added a Klingon commander chair and backdrop that you can sit in, and other cool stuff.

    I got to see both, and I like this one better. It’s more refined, elegant, more… Star Trek.

    I agree, many of the SEE folks were excellent, a shame it all went wrong. The new company are awesome.

    [report]

    Posted By UnionMonkey on June 18th, 2008 at 8:32 pm

     

  15. 15

    Why doesn’t everybody stop writing this garbage (who are you kidding and who reads this anyway? And who cares?). Do you really think that the Star Trek fans are that stupid. We know that all of these “comments” are written by each opposing marketing fractions and not by real fans. Fact is - whatever was built for Long Beach is part of the exhibit in San Diego. So what’s the big deal? How can it be “new and improved” - IT’S THE SAME GREAT STUFF! Unfortunately the attendance in Long Beach was poor. The reasons? Certainly not the quality of the highly acclaimed exhibit that SEE built. The venue and marketing sucked so the old promoter got fired right after Long beach. So now there is a new one, great. So what? SEE still deserves credit for creating the most popular Star Trek exhibit ever. That’s what they do. So just stop all of this BS and enjoy the exhibit in San Diego and leave the politics out. The Museum in San Diego is great and the exhibit is great so live long and prosper!

    [report]

    Posted By BSnomore on June 18th, 2008 at 11:49 pm

     

  16. 16

    Hi there. I am one of those employees that “lost his job” on the Star Trek Tour. In fact I was the Creative Director of the entire thing. I am relieved and happy to see BSnomore’s comments. He is absolutely right. It is still wonderful and a great opportunity for all of us fans to experience the cream of the trek crop in a beautiful atmosphere. I was happy to have been a part of this project, as I was also proud of the London “Adventure”. There is no doubt that you will find this to be an enjoyable day out and I want all the fans to know that there are no serious reductions of either quality or authentic pieces as far as I can discover. Again - as one of the creators I can only say that this is worth your time, we didn’t work for years building this thing for it to be hokey, and apart from one set - it’s al there. Finally, all the people down at the San Diego Air and Space museum are consummate professionals - unlike the last hosts- and that will add a needed element of sanity to the event. I am planning to go to the opening (if invited). See you there.

    [report]

    Posted By J. David Riva on June 19th, 2008 at 11:45 am

     

  17. 17

    I just saw it at the Air and Space Museum in San Diego. It is freakin’ awesome!!

    [report]

    Posted By Zardoz on July 3rd, 2008 at 11:35 am

     

  18. 18

    I thought we were done with the marketing BS. Can someone who has actually been there write something REAL? I hear the attendance is not good at all, so is it the “new and improved” exhibit or perhaps the actual Star Trek franchise?

    [report]

    Posted By BSnomore on July 3rd, 2008 at 11:44 pm

     

  19. 19

    BSnomore - who made you judge and jury?

    I went to it this week. It was packed out. It had the good stuff that the Long Beach one had. It also had other stuff that I hadn’t seen there. And I got to meet and talk to some people who had worked on the TV series.

    If every time someone enjoys this exhibit says so here and you shoot them down, who is the BS artist, in truth, “BSnomore” ??? It’s just silly.

    Mr. Riva, thank you for your insighful and interesting comments, which told us a lot.

    [report]

    Posted By Steve Davis on July 4th, 2008 at 3:22 pm

     

  20. 20

    Attendance not good? BSnomore, you are the Bs-er. I was there in the middle of the week. There was a line out the door when I arrived. A line out the door when we took a lunch break. A line when we left in the late afternoon. It looked pretty popular to me. I’m told it is that popular every day. It’s a great community feel being there, like being at a concert with fans.

    The cool thing is, you wind around some real Apollo flown spacecraft and spacesuits while you wait to get in, so that was fun. The wait was short and it was well regulated and spacious inside so it never felt crowded.

    I am planning to go back when Comic-Con is on.

    [report]

    Posted By Mulgrewpie on July 12th, 2008 at 11:45 am

     

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