DEEP SPACE NINE

In my heart there will always be a small hole that was occupied by the now defunct Star Trek The Experience. In August of 2008 I was in Vegas for my first big CON, and it so happened that that was the last month of existence for The Experience. While at the CON, I fell in love with Quark's Bar, the promenade, the great rides and the museum. I saw friends get married on the bridge of the Enterprise-D, other friends renew their vows on the same bridge, and the the best part was that our community of collectors was there in-force and wearing screen-used costumes! It was a magical time, and I would give a lot to be able to go back there and enjoy one last warp core breach with a side of Holy Rings of Betazed.

It was amazing to me that of all the series, they decided to go with DS9 as the main theme of the promenade and given my understandable prejudice in favor of that specific franchise, I was in heaven. Then, about 3 months ago, I had the opportunity to bring home a piece of The Experience. I acquired the actual neon letters that spell out Deep Space Nine that hung over the entrance to the promenade. They have since been mounted onto the wall in the DS9 room in my home and it is with great pleasure that I get to share this with you all.



















Perhaps my sorrows are eased a bit, but now I need to get Darren the bartender out here to serve me up some intergalactic beverages!

Jim

Bajoran Security Officer Pinar

From the Propworx auction earlier this Summer, I was able to add a Bajoran security uniform that was sorely lacking in the DS9 collection. What I really love about this piece is the fact that stylistically it matches Odo's duty uniforms, and it is also a named character security officer. Deputy Pinar, played by Shaun Bieniek appeared in the Deep Space Nine episode Times Orphan.

Gul Dukat as Anjohl Tennan

For years I have been wanting to get Marc Alaimo represented in the Deep Space Nine collection, so I am very proud to be able to show you now the Bajoran incarnation of this amazing character. Alaimo was one of the greatest character actors ever to grace the Trek universe and as Dukat, he is in my top 5 for all-time best villains. I particularly like that this costume gets plenty of on-screen time with Kai Winn, played by Louise Fletcher. The wonderful storyline twist of the ensuing romance between these two characters adds to my pleasure of reuniting these two costumes once again.

Karen Ferris

After selling my Red Squad stunt Captain Watters uniform, I did some dealing and ended up with the hero "Valiant" Karen Ferris costume. This is a good step up as any named hero is always worth more than a stunt uniform and will be far more desirable to collectors. Worn by Courtney Peldon as the tough and tenacious first officer, this piece is complete with appropriate Red Squad collar insignia.

Tora Ziyal #3

What DS9 collection wouldn't be complete with one or two good Ziyal costumes? Mine apparently, as I am now blogging my third Tora Ziyal. She may have been a minor character on Deep Space Nine, but her importance in the story arc of Gul Dukat is very essential.

For some reason, I find that I always enjoy her appearances on the show despite Ziyal being portrayed by three different actresses. I felt like all three brought something slightly different to the role and I didn't favor any one of them. This particular dress is the non-distressed version of the her last wardrobe appearance on the show just prior to her untimely demise. It had multiple uses on the show in such episodes as "Return to Grace" and "Sacrifice of Angels" and was worn both by Melanie Smith and Tracy Middendorf. This trilogy of dresses now in my possession along with my Garak trio really help to strengthen the Cardassian base of the collection.

The Collection gets exposure on SyFy.com!

Nearly a month ago I was contacted by a producer in New York who had seen this blog and wanted to make a webisode companion piece to be connected to the SyFy channel's Hollywood Treasure show. I agreed and the following week they shot the collection and interviewed me for nearly five hours! I think they did a great job putting the piece together and I am pleased with the outcome. If you'd like to see it, click here. As the weeks go by my webisode may not be what initially pops up, and you might have to scroll down on that page and select webisode #4, the Jim Williams Collection.

I hope you enjoy it! I know that I had fun being selected and participating in it!

Slaint'e,
Jim

Dr. Bashir Mirror Universe Stunt

Here is one of the rare DS9 mirror universe costumes offered up for auction. This is the stunt version of the Dr. Bashir costume which never surfaced, so this is the only example I am aware of for this costume. It is great because it has the shirt, leather pants, leather belt, and the wonderful tall boots. I think the boots really make the costume stand out well. This piece was worn by Jeff Cadiente, Siddig's stunt man and recurring performer on several of the series. I enjoyed the mirror universe for its creativity, willingness to sacrifice characters, and its continued interaction with the "normal" universe throughout DS9.

Quark

For me, Quark was the hub of the bicycle wheel of DS9; present on the station from the beginning, and there long after the show had run its course. His complex character generated so many laughs and joys that he is without a doubt my favorite.
I have been lucky enough to acquire two different Quark costumes, but it is his season 1 & 2 outfit with two different jackets that I display and cherish the most.

Tora Ziyal #2

Poor young Ziyal... I really enjoyed her character and also the fact that her ending was tragic and resulted in Dukat's breakdown. Short of her brief time on the station and friendships with Kira and Garak, this unfortunate girl never had a chance of finding happiness in her life. During her brief existence she graced the screen in several beautiful costumes, and I am ecstatic to be able to share this gem with you here. The dress was heavily featured by Melanie Smith in the DS9 episode "Favor the Bold."

Kira from the Circle Trilogy

I am so pleased to be able to share this costume with you! It took a bit of time and some re-hashing of IAW lots, but now this Kira costume has been reunited and is complete in its original form. From my favorite early season story arc, this is Kira as she was relieved of duty and spent time with Vedek Bareil exploring being "useless". It was while in this costume that Kira had her first orb experience. This is my personal favorite non-duty outfit of Nana's, and now it will join the other Kira costumes in the collection.

Sisko TOS TNT Uniform

Here is a Deep Space Nine costume worthy of any great collection. The extreme rarity and importance of this costume make it a cherished favorite of my collection. I was blown away to actually get this into my hands.

Trials & Tribble-ations is THE fan-favorite Deep Space Nine episode of all time. The effects people did a miraculous job interweaving the new footage of the DS9 cast into the TOS scenes with Kirk, Spock, and the gang. I still remember seeing it air originally on TV and thinking, "How in the heck did they do that?" The best part is that it stands up to scrutiny more than ten years later! Now those are great visuals.

Of all the costumes used in this episode Sisko's was top on my list. The classic command gold top with the insignia and sleeve piping are unmistakably memorable. Everyone that sees this outfit instantly thinks Trek and that is not true of the many alien costumes and other Starfleet costumes in my display. The construction is very complicated, not just a pullover and made to match the original used thirty years prior. This is as close as I'll probably ever get to owning a TOS Starfleet uniform so I am extremely grateful for its presence.

Breen Rifle

To my knowledge, this is the only one of these around. (Please let me know if others are out there!) This rifle was used by Kira in the DS9 Finale while she is dressed as a Breen rescuing Garak and Damar from a pair of Jem'Hadar. This beautiful weapon is one of the few in my collection and holds a place of honor with its own spotlight to make it pop against the Chocolate wall behind it. A modified version of this rifle was used in the fabrication of Ezri Dax's TR-116 rifle from the episode "Field of Fire."

Everyone Needs a Subspace Transmitter

Well, never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that this prop would come to the collection. This was a crazy long-shot in my estimation when I started bidding at last Summer's Profiles auction and it went cheap IHMO for a prop that is heavily featured in two great DS9 episodes. It is the third person in the room for both "Duet" and "The Ascent." To have Dukat, Sisko and the transmitter each taking their place for intimate scenes in the cave and watching the drama unfold while this transmitter sits in my gameroom blinking at me is almost mind blowing. Then, to turn it around to the back side and see the "System Off-Line" flashing as Sisko and Dukat do the same in the episode gives me chills. In "The Ascent" Quark and Odo must carry a similar metallic megalith to the top of a distant mountain peak in order for its transmissions to exit the atmosphere. The Transmitter again takes a place of honor as the third character in the episode, assuming an almost adversarial or antagonistic role.

I think this prop sums up the feelings that I have for all these costumes and props in the collection. They give me such a deep emotional experience as I watch the episodes with them in my presence that I find a new connection with them and with the show. And, after all, its all about the show.

Look Out Tosk, Here We Come!!

Freshly in from the Gamma Quadrant is the Tosk Hunter alien. Played by Garrit Graham, this Hunter alien is the only one whose face we get to see as he threatens his way throughout the station in pursuit of poor Tosk. The Hunter costume is wonderfully unique, with a vibrant red bodysuit, awesome thigh-high boots, forearm shielding, a helmet that rocks because the internals work, and lastly a harness that lights up and blinks like a Christmas tree. My geek is SO on with this one! On a dark night, its fun to turn the lights down low, put on some DS9 in the game-room and power up Thot Pran and this Hunter costume. Does it get any better than that?

To all the DS9 Romantics out there...

This is a post long in the making. I have been looking forward to putting the picture up, but it took me a couple of months to get off my keester and get Odo onto a Manequinn. I know that some folks hate the Odo/Kira romance, but for me, it was one of the most touching aspects of the series, and the start of their relationship in Vic's Lounge paired with the final moment on the changling homeworld are the best. To that end, here are Kira's red dress from the holographic "Lola Chrystal" persona and subsequent Kira dates with Odo, and Odo's Tuxedo. I currently have a bowtie correct for the final scene of their romance on the shirt rather than the western style the shows costumers used for the first few appearances of the tux. I still need to nail down the correct color for the metal around the black of the buttons, silver or gold? Kira's dress is hanging by some built-in dress hangers in the corset portion. I have to say that the dress displays beautifully and I will probably never put it away into the closet. It is truly a wonderful piece for me and I am grateful to Toni for its sale.

Ok, so here for your enjoyment are Odo and Kira!