Star Trek marks 60th anniversary; Canada aired The Man Trap on Sept 6, 1966

tvSep 6, 2026251,122

Star Trek: The Original Series marks its 60th anniversary; CTV in Canada broadcast episode one, "The Man Trap," on September 6, 1966, two days before NBC’s U.S. premiere on September 8, 1966. Philip "Pip" Wedge, then at CTV and now executive director of the Canadian Communications Foundation, says Murray Chercover likely acquired the series for CTV during a buying trip to Los Angeles. CTV scheduled the show at 7:30 p.m. Eastern, earlier than NBC, which Wedge credits for capturing a younger audience and stronger Canadian ratings. Wedge notes Star Trek performed better in Canada despite low U.S. rankings and barely reaching a third season in the United States. At the time CTV held pre-release rights to some U.S. shows to avoid scheduling conflicts, and simultaneous substitution rules did not exist until 1972, which helped Canada air American series earlier. The Sept. 6 Canadian broadcast is now cited when marking the program's true first airing date.

TrekMovie.com

@trekmovie.bsky.social

While Star Trek Day (Sept. 8) celebrates the premiere of The Original Series, Star Trek's world premiere was actually September 6—when "The Man Trap" aired on CTV in Canada.

44233d ago

Saul Goodman, Esq.4

Everyone was disappointed Kirk didn’t continue to call McCoy “Plum” for the rest of the series after this debut.

Dwayne Day1

So when the United States invades and annexes Canada, then will we be able to say that Star Trek Day in the United States was really September 6?

𝘈𝘭𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘯𝘥𝘦𝘳 𝘔𝘤𝘒𝘪𝘯𝘭𝘦𝘺 🍁1

The good old days before 'simul-casting' when CDN networks would frequently air American programs before they aired in the US.

waiting74patiently1

Did you know that the salt-vampire creature found on planet M-113 was played by Sandra Lee Gimpel? www.imdb.com/name/nm03198...

Quoting this

Daimon6

Yes, we did it first!

Robert Picardo

@robertpicardo.bsky.social

A wonderful tribute to #StarTrek on @CBSMornings today by #DavidMalkoff ( @Malkoffnews ) . Next Saturday, there will be another feature on our 60th #CBSSaturdayMorning (and a possible appearance by a certain hologram!)

16234d ago

NutMeg 2

They managed to recompile Moriarty for the occasion? 😁

🎸Tomorrow Never Knows🛸1

The video is "unavailable" to those of us in Canada. 🥺 That's not very Star Trek-y.

The Orion

@gettheorion.bsky.social

60 years ago today Star Trek premiered on Canadian television. Canadian actor James Doohan played the incomparable James Montgomery Scott. A.K.A. "Scotty." 🖖🏻🤟🏻

star trek the original series fan art inspired illustration of Scotty. he's holding a glass of whisky. To the right, the text says "I drink whisky neat because FUCK ICE."

8633d ago

Susan 🇨🇦17

James Doohan - Canadian war hero. 🖖🏻

King of side quests11

Today is a good day to celebrate Star Trek and one of its resident "miracle workers."

JETwagen1

Nevermind, I deleted my previous post, they both do reflect his missing finger. Just realized the BSL is mostly showing the left hand, not the right hand. Amazing work as always. 🖖

Bree, Captain of The Unreliable 🌌1

It always trips me out how BSL's alphabet is SO different from ASL's. I know it is, yet it still shocks me every time I see it. Haha.

Punk on Bus Lives!🚍📻

@punkonbuslives.bsky.social

Happy Actual Star Trek Day! Star Trek premiered on the Canadian CTV network 60 years ago today!🇨🇦🖖🏿 #StarTrek #Canada

7134d ago

Fluffgar 💗💜💙6

If anyone missed this 60th anniversary they've still time to prepare for the Scottish one. #StarTrek #Scotland #60th

Punk on Bus Lives!🚍📻5

Alt-text: A television listing from September 6, 1966 for 7:30 PM promoting the airing of the Star Trek The Original Series episode "The Man Trap."

Computer, end program.1

Happy ACTUAL Star Trek Day to you, my brother in Trek. May you Live Long and Prosper. 🖖

Jake Black

@jakeboyslim.bsky.social

I’m watching so much Star Trek between now and Tuesday. #StarTrek60

7734d ago

Nicole1

Huh-huh. Huh-huh. Make it so!

Calpain

@calpain.bsky.social

Comic lore from @theillustriousq.bsky.social! "Star Trek was an attempt to say humanity will reach maturity and wisdom on the day that it begins not just to tolerate but take a special delight in differences in ideas and differences in lifeforms."—Gene Roddenberry #StarTrek60 #mlp

5333d ago

Canadian History Ehx

@cdnhistoryehx.bsky.social

On this day in 2007, Percy Rodriguez died. Born in Montreal in 1918, he had a steady career in theatre, TV and film. His roles included Dr. Harry Miles on Peyton Place and Commodore Stone on Star Trek. From the 1970s to his death, he narrated many movie trailers. 📸 ABC

Percy Rodriguez with short salt-and-pepper hair and a slight smile, wearing a formal high-collar shirt and dark jacket with a brown cravat, set against a red curtain and blue doorway.

5033d ago

David Mack

@davidmack.pro

Happy STAR TREK DAY (Canada) and Star Trek 60th Anniversary to all Star Trek fans in the Great White North! The "official" Star Trek Day in the U.S. is Tuesday, September 8, but we all know Canada was there first. LLAP, Canada! 😉 🇨🇦 🖖

4133d ago

Teleport Me Off This Rock🍀☮🤘💖🐈‍⬛🐈8647

@kimberleelynn.bsky.social

On this date 60 years ago, September 6, 1966, Star Trek premiered on Canadian TV. SIXTY YEARS AGO. Miraculous.

2734d ago

Jodie Troutman

@longtalljodie.com

Coming next week is the Star Trek 60 special, and I love that I split lettering duties with Jeff and Clayton pretty evenly. We're like the Power Rangers of lettering Star Trek comics.

1934d ago

Steve Senski's Watching

@stevensenski.bsky.social

We still love you, Canada, even though you got the first episode of STAR TREK 60 years ago today, two days before American viewers did.

1033d ago

trekkiehumour.bsky.social

@trekkiehumour.bsky.social

Star Trek, The Original Series, S1 E1 The very first Star Trek thing was broadcast 60 years ago from today in Canada. Featuring Leonard Nimoy an American, and William Shatner a Canadian, who probably couldn't have predicted a trade war between their countries today.

Spock gets Kirk's attention by pointing at something.

1234d ago

NeonSSArts 🔞❤️💙🖤🩶🤍

@neonsuperstararts.bsky.social

60 year anniversary of star trek @pembrokewkorgi.bsky.social I can’t believe it’s that long! But still good ⭐️🪐🛸👽🚀🛰️

934d ago

Marc Hertel 🇩🇪🖖🇪🇺 Pro-🇺🇦📝🐉

@sharkster1701.bsky.social

At least the repeat was on #StarTrek proper, okay? (To my understanding, there were several other interracial kisses on US TV prior to Plato's Stepchildren, including Sammy Davis jr.)

Low-quality screenshot from #StarTrek #StarTrekTOS "Elaan of Troyius"
Cpt. Kirk (Shatner) is kissing Elaan (Nuyen).

833d ago

Inglorious Treksperts

@inglorioustrek.bsky.social

Celebrate the 60th with the Treksperts and your favorite #StarTrek guest stars and creators. Only on @inglorioustrek. #ST60 #StarTrek60 Podcast: open.spotify.com/episode/6QKs... You Tube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=_92F... treksperts.com

534d ago

3 sources

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Star Trek marks 60th anniversary; Canada aired The Man Trap on Sept 6, 1966

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