S.T.A.R. San Diego holds its inaugural meeting, which Franz Joseph attends with daughter Karen. Many of the members are interested in making accurate replicas of the props and costumes used in the Star Trek television series.

FJ makes technical drawings of the hand phaser and communicator using film clips and Whitfield's The Making of Star Trek as references.

FJ has made about a dozen drawings at this point and writes GR regarding proprietary rights.

GR writes back, encourages FJ to proceed, and wants to arrange with FJ to have Lincoln Enterprises (his wife Majel Barrett's ST memorabilia business) market the drawings.

FJ and GR exchange several letters regarding the drawings, now dubbed by FJ as the Technical Manual. GR continues to be supportive and enthusiastic, but marketing arrangements are still up in the air.

FJ begins work on the blueprints of the Enterprise, a.k.a. the Booklet of General Ship's Plans. He feels he needs to lay out the contents of the entire ship before he can determine if he can make some of the detail drawings (of the crew cabins, bridge stations, shuttlecraft bay, and such) for the Tech Manual.

6 months have passed, and there is still no marketing arrangement between FJ and GR/Lincoln Enterprises for production of the BGP and TM. FJ makes the decision to keep working along on the drawings for the BGP and the TM in the hopes that they will get marketed somehow by someone.

FJ completes work on the BGP and makes 6 check copies.

FJ sends one of the check copies of the BGP to GR.

GR calls FJ and is highly complimentary about the BGP. Neither he nor his staff has seen work of this caliber and they still are amazed that such a drawing of the Enterprise could be produced. GR invites FJ to visit him at Warner Studios in Burbank to discuss equipment problems he's been having with Planet Earth.

FJ flies to Burbank to meet with GR, Matt Jefferies, Bob Justman, Bill Theiss, and Ralph Naveda in GR's offices at Warner Brothers. The BGP has made the rounds of Warner Brothers and everyone, including the janitor, has seen it. Everyone is very enthusiastic about the BGP. GR and FJ discuss problems with Planet Earth, and FJ agrees to develop some sketches and get back together with GR ASAP.

FJ flies to Burbank for a second time. GR and FJ decide on the equipment types for Planet Earth, and FJ agrees to make drawings for both shooting dummies (Phase I) and working models (Phase II) and get them to GR as fast as possible, as they start shooting on January 19^th.

FJ delivers Phase I Planet Earth prop drawings to GR.

FJ and Norway Productions get into an extended debate over assignment of rights to the Planet Earth prop designs.

All Phase II drawings have been delivered by FJ to GR by this date, even though assignment of rights is still up in the air.

10 months have passed, and FJ has received no response from either GR or Lincoln Enterprises regarding marketing the BGP and TM. FJ takes a different tack and writes Paramount Television asking for information as to who holds the proprietary rights to Star Trek, and how FJ might obtain a licensing agreement to sell copies of the BGP at Equicon '74 in April.

Paramount's legal department immediately responds with an offer of a one-shot-sale licensing agreement for Equicon '74.

GR writes FJ and suggests that FJ donate a copy of the BGP to the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum for their "Life in the Universe" display, which includes artifacts (including the 14-foot ship model) from the Star Trek television series. GR has already written Fred Durant at the Smithsonian describing the BGP and the contribution they would make to the display.

FJ sends an uncut copy of the BGP to the Smithsonian.

With the help of S.T.A.R. San Diego members, FJ gets 500 blueprinted copies of the BGP cut, collated, stapled, and wrapped in bundles of 50 for transportation to Equicon'74.

The BGP is a hit! 410 copies sell at the convention, and 450 additional requests are taken.

FJ pays Paramount its royalty percentages from the convention sales. Paramount agrees that the remaining 90 copies may be sold under the original Licensing Agreement.

The BGP copy arrives damaged at the Smithsonian; FJ obtains and sends another uncut copy.

FJ and family attend the studio premiere of Planet Earth as GR's guests.

Lou Mindling, Vice President of Paramount Television, calls FJ. He says Paramount holds all the proprietary rights to the Star Trek theme and that FJ will have to deal with them (not GR) in all future marketing. He says Paramount is extremely interested in marketing FJ's work through their international organization, and Paramount will offer FJ a royalty agreement after looking for a suitable publisher. He will discuss the matter with Ballantine Books and get back to FJ as soon as he has something definite.

The second uncut copy of the BGP arrives safely at the Smithsonian and is included in the "Life in the Universe" display. The National Air & Space Museum would like to sell copies of the BGP in their Gift Shop, but FJ does not yet have permission from Paramount to market them.

FJ tells GR about his interaction with Paramount, and apologizes to GR, but it is obvious that Paramount has the legal/marketing rights to Star Trek and will be handling the marketing of FJ's work instead of Lincoln Enterprises.

FJ and Norway Productions finally reach an acceptable compromise on assignment of rights to the Planet Earth prop designs.

FJ writes to Paramount asking if they have any photos or sketches from the Star Trek television series that FJ might use to create a design for a commemorative postal stamp to be issued at the opening of the new National Air and Space Museum.

Lou Mindling calls to say that Paramount no longer has any photos, materials, or artifacts, from the original Star Trek television series with the exception of the master film footage of the various episodes. LM says Paramount thinks the commemorative stamp is a great idea.

Lou Mindling calls to say he has sent copies of the BGP and sample sheets from the TM to Judy-Lynn Del Rey of Ballantine Books, and she'll call FJ within the hour. LM also says Paramount will pay FJ an honorarium if the Postal Service accepts the stamp design.

Judy-Lynn Del Rey calls. Ballantine Books is very interested in producing both the BGP and the TM. She will discuss the matter with Betty Ballantine and be back in touch in about a week.

FJ sent master artwork for the proposed commemorative stamp to the Postmaster General. [The Post Office chose not to produce a commemorative stamp using FJ's design. No commemorative stamp was produced at all.]

Lou Mindling calls, apologizes for the long delay, and says Judy-Lynn Del Rey is in his office and they are discussing marking the BGP. Both he and Judy-Lynn are very enthusiastic about marketing FJ's works.

FJ agrees to sign a contract with Ballantine Books covering the publication and sale of the BGP.

After lengthy negotiations with Paramount over royalty percentages, FJ, Lou Mindling, and Judy-Lynn Del Rey reach an agreement. Paramount gets the lion's share of the profits.

The master art for the BGP is sent to Ballantine.

FJ signs the contract for the BGP with Ballantine Books.

Tony Lenz of Ballantine Books calls to say that pre-sales of the BGP have already hit 20,000 copies.

FJ, Ballantine, and Lou Mindling go through lengthy negotiations over the proposed contract for the TM. FJ has more original work involved in the TM than in the BGP and wants a higher percentage of the profits; he also wants the book copyrighted in his name, not Paramount's.

FJ completes the masters for the Tech Manual. He is also told on this day that GR has signed the contract for the Star Trek movie.

Lou Mindling says Paramount will not contest a copyright on the TM in FJ's name.

The BGP hits bookstores and is sold out within 2 hours in every store that carries it.

50,000 copies of the BGP have sold out and Ballantine is printing 100,000 more.

The BGP is now #10 on the list of best-selling paperback books, even though it is not a book. Ballantine has now produced 210,000 copies.

FJ signs the contract for the TM and ships the master artwork to Ballantine.

FJ sends a Xeroxed copy of the completed TM to GR as a courtesy.

GR writes FJ to acknowledge he has received the TM. He is bitter about his previous arrangements with Paramount during the live TV series, and he doesn't think FJ has given him a large enough acknowledgement credit in the front of the TM.

Walden Books has placed an advance order with Ballantine for 70,000 copies of the TM. Ballantine plans on printing 250,000 copies of the first edition, which is unprecedented in the industry. [A typical first edition run for a paperback is 20,000 copies.]

The BGP is already in its 4^th printing.

The first printing of the TM is now up to 450,000 copies(!). The first copies are off the presses, and Judy-Lynn calls FJ to tell him she is sending one to him immediately.

Lou Mindling calls to congratulate FJ on the TM.

The TM is being shipped and should be in bookstores by Thanksgiving.

Publisher's Weekly notes that of the 450,000 copies of the Tech Manual in Ballantine's first edition, 400,000 are already pre-ordered. Of the 350,000 copies already printed and shipped, 320,000 have already been sold.

BGP is now in its 5^th printing.

The TM hits bookstores nationwide. It sells out as quickly as the BGP, and there are long "waiting lists" to order additional copies.

The TM is #1 on B. Dalton's bestseller list, and has been since the beginning of December. The BGP is still on the charts at #18.

A bottle of champagne arrives at FJ's residence, addressed from Ballantine Books. The Tech Manual just became #1 on the New York Times Bestseller List this week.

The Tech Manual is still #1 on the Bestseller List.

Lou Mindling calls to tell FJ that Paramount is going full-blown on the Star Trek movie, with an expected release in 1977, although they were starting from scratch. He said they would should shortly have a project for FJ and to think about "modernizing" the Enterprise. Nothing will be done to compromise GR and his ideas as creator, but Paramount wants FJ to help get this thing off the ground. FJ has no idea what they have in mind, but assumes they'll tell him when they're ready.

FJ calls Lou Mindling on an unrelated item and LM tells FJ that there is now a good working relationship between all the parties on the Star Trek movie project and that they are currently concentrating on signing up all the original actors.

Lou Mindling called to talk about the Ballantine royalties and the success of FJ's publications. He urges FJ to produce other materials in the series.

Judy-Lynn Del Rey calls. Everything is going fine. Ballantine is publishing a book of Gene Roddenberry's fan letters and his replies in January 1977. If it's successful, they want to follow up with a similar book of FJ's fan letters and replies later in the year. [This project from Ballantine never came to pass.]

FJ reads in the media that GR's latest script for the Star Trek movie is rejected. This means that after 17 months, Paramount still does not have a useable script to start shooting.

Lou Mindling calls FJ, and they have a long conversation. Lou asks if FJ would like to be involved with the Star Trek movie either as a writer, a consultant, an actor -- whatever. Anything. Please. FJ declines the offer, feeling it is not his place to be telling GR what to do with his creation.

Lou Mindling calls FJ just to chat. Gives FJ info on the forthcoming Star Trek movie, and discusses FJ's work as it relates to GR's. LM continues to encourage FJ to do more work in the Star Trek area. [I think LM really meant the Star Trek II television series pilot instead of the movie. And, unfortunately, I have NO idea what the specifics were of the discussion of "FJ's work as it relates GR's."]

Lou Mindling tells FJ the Star Trek movie will be shooting next month.

FJ enters the hospital with a 5% hemoglobin count from a large benign tumor in his bladder. [Cause of tumor was exposure to toxic chemicals in plastics FJ had worked with at General Dynamics in the '40s-'60s. Everyone working with these plastics developed tumors of the same type, and a whole class of anti-tumor drugs has been developed to address this specific problem. All of the exposure victims have spent the rest of their lives having to be re-checked every 6 months for tumor recurrence.]

FJ re-enters the hospital with symptoms that lead to a diagnosis of intestinal cancer. He has surgery May 30 and is released from the hospital June 12. [FJ's health problems this year had been draining his energy for quite some time beforehand, and were probably one of the other reasons FJ did not want to get involved with any Hollywood Star Trek projects -- he was tired all the time and having trouble just getting through day-to-day tasks. After he got through these two hurdles, his health rebounded until his final illness in 1994.]

Star Trek: The Motion Picture opens in theaters. [GR's vision of Star Trek and FJ's vision of Star Trek are now irrevocably in conflict, and continue to diverge for the next 20+ years.] Many elements of Franz Joseph's TM and BGP are featured in the movie, however, and continue to appear until at least Star Trek III: The Search For Spock (1984).