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From: ags@pucc-i (Seaman)
Newsgroups: net.startrek
Subject: Re: Salt Shakers
Message-ID: <268@pucc-i>
Date: Tue, 8-May-84 10:48:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: pucc-i.268
Posted: Tue May  8 10:48:57 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 9-May-84 23:45:25 EDT
References: <568@aecom.UUCP>
Organization: Purdue University Computing Center
Lines: 32

>	    >   8.  What common twentieth-century kitchen
>	    >       utensils were used on the show as
>	    >       super-sophisticated medical instruments?
>
>	 >>    8.  Salt shakers were used as super-
>	 >>        sophisticated medical instruments.
>
>	Actually, this is what happened: The producers were trying
>     to design a salt shaker that would look very high-tech to put
>     on the tables in the dining rooms (rec halls?) of the Enter-
>     prise. When they finally finished them and had them constucted
>     they realized that a person watching the show on T.V. would
>     have no idea what the salt shakers were! Therefore they decided
>     to use them as Dr. McCoy's equipment.

The need for salt shakers was more plot-specific than that.  In the first
broadcast episode, "The Man Trap,"  an important scene had the Salt Vampire
(in human form) meet Yeoman Janice Rand in a corridor of the Enterprise.
Yeoman Rand was holding a tray on which there was a salt shaker.  The Salt
Vampire very nearly gave himself away when he saw the salt.

The first idea was to use a futuristic salt shaker in the scene.  This was
rejected because it was important that the audience recognize the salt shaker
for what it was (preferably without having someone in the story say "Look!
There's a salt shaker!").
-- 

Dave Seaman
..!pur-ee!pucc-i:ags

"Against people who give vent to their loquacity 
by extraneous bombastic circumlocution."