Pair of trek fans reflect on franchise's lasting appeal

Thursday, May 23, 2013
Banner Graphic/CAINE GARDNER
Bill Cain (left) and Randy Dowd proudly stand with a portion of their Star Trek collection. The duo greeted fans attending the premiere of the latest Star Trek film "Star Trek: Into Darkness" Thursday at Ashley Square Cinema.

With the most recent Star Trek flick "Into Darkness" rocketing its way to the top of the box office this past weekend, two local Trekkies broke out a small portion of their Trek collection for fans to enjoy.

Bill Cain of Greencastle and Randy Dowd of Rockville met up with fans on opening night and the following night at Ashley Square Cinema. Dressed in their official Star Trek uniforms, they greeted fans both young and old.

Their display featured phasers, books, replica toys such as Bones' medical kit and tri-corder.

According to Cain, the crowd's reaction was all positive.

"We had some of the older people coming over and saying 'Oh, I remember this stuff,'" he said. "And the younger kids I've been really happy to see because a lot of them were very interested. Especially the old series. The phaser has been the big item because they go right to it.

"I'm glad to see the younger generation showing some interest in something else besides texting and video games."

"I was kind of surprised because most of them would come up and where did they pick it up at -- from mom and dad. Still influencing the young," Dowd said with a smile.

The duo have been sharing their love of the franchise for more than two decades and their friendship is still going strong.

They encountered each other in the late '80s when both stumbled upon the same Star Trek club in Terre Haute. They shared an obvious love of the franchise, but they also found more common threads in their lives.

"We found out we had other interests in common besides Star Trek. We were big into board gaming, we played D&D (Dungeons and Dragons) too -- the common geek stuff," Cain said.

"A lot of common interests and we just started hanging out. Now he's like an adopted brother."

While some are getting their first taste of Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock with the new films, Cain and Dowd have been immersed in the series since its inception more than four decades ago.

Cain's first experience with the series was as a three- or four-year-old when his father would wake him late at night to sit and watch Kirk, Spock and Bones boldly go where no man had gone before.

Actually, his mother watched the series while pregnant, so when Cain says he's been a fan all his life, he's not exaggerating one bit.

Dowd's introduction to the series also came as a child. As a youngster, Dowd's late-night sneak watching TV session resulted in him finding Star Trek on the tube, kicking off a life-long love of everything science fiction.

When asked to narrow down why they love the series so much, Cain said it was the quality of the shows, but Dowd went even more specific.

"I would say Gene Roddenberry," he said. "Star Trek was great. Andromeda was great. Everything he's done has been great."

Cain chimed in about his thoughts on why the show has been able to keep hold of fans since its debut in 1966.

"I think just the fact that it shows we will have a future and a better one too if we just knuckle down and work with it. That sounds kind of corny now, but it represents some hope for the future," he said.

Asked to single out an episode of the original series, neither fan hesitated before responding.

"I would have to say the one with Khan -- 'Space Seed,'" Dowd said.

Cain agreed that was a great episode, but for him it is an episode most consider the best of the original run that sits atop his list.

"I always like 'City on the Edge of Forever.' That's one of my favorites. I could watch that over and over and find little things," he said.

With their love of the original series on full display, literally, talk turned to the new films. Both fans, while slightly skeptical at first, admitted they're on board with the new vision of the films.

"It just adds a twist," Dowd said. "Big twists and little twists, and it makes you wonder how far they're going to take this."

"It captures the spirit of the original series really well," Cain added.

Star Trek has brought Cain and Dowd a lot of happiness over the years, but even fandom isn't immune to the ills of a sick economy. Both men have suffered the sting of unemployment, which has taken its toll.

"(When we were) working we tried to hit everything we could. When you're not working -- it's kind of hard," Dowd said

That being said, Cain and Dowd still have their friendship that began in 1987. They've experienced ups and downs and their love of Star Trek has been a common thread that has been with them every step of the way.

As Cain explained, being among like-minded people who share a common love, isn't just a group of fans -- it's a family. Fandom breeds brotherhood and it's that support system that will help them get through anything the galaxies can toss their way.

So as they go off on their next five-year missions, wherever that may lead them, I raise my hand and do my best Vulcan salute.

Live long and prosper, gentlemen. Live long and prosper.

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