After Hours

Photos from Star Trek 50 in Las Vegas: see Shatner, Takei, a wedding, and cosplay

By // August 8, 2016, 11:30 AM PST // bviglia

Image 1 of 29

  • Flashback to Triskelion

    I remember my first Star Trek convention. I was in middle school, and I was incredibly excited to see Brent Spiner, who was the biggest star on the schedule.

    I wish I would have had a chance to set foot at Star Trek 50 Las Vegas, which looks to be the mother of all Trek conventions. For those of us not fortunate to go, here's a gallery of some of the highlights.

    William Shatner is escorted to the stage by Shahna, one of his fellow combatants from The Gamesters of Triskelion.

    Image: CNET/Amanda Kooser

  • Boldly going to Las Vegas

    Check out this great cosplay group shot!

    Image: CNET/Amanda Kooser

  • The three Guinaneers

    It looks like Whoopi gives her approval.

    Image: CNET/Amanda Kooser

  • The engineer, the doctor, and the android

    LeVar Burton, Gates McFadden, and Brent Spiner took to the stage for a panel.

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • George Takei

    Probably one of TOS' most iconic actors, at least in recent years. What Trek festival would be complete without Uncle George?

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • Nichelle and the woman she inspired

    Nichelle Nichols and Whoopi Goldberg, who was reportedly inspired into acting by the former's role as Uhura.

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • Women in Trek

    Kate Mulgrew, along with Amy Imhoff, Dr. Kayla Iacocino, Bjo Trimble, Mary Czerwinski, and Jarrah Hodge, participated in a panel on women in Star Trek.

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • Ever wonder what a Klingon talk show would be like?

    B'Etor (Gwynyth Walsh), Martok (J.G. Hertzler), and Gowron (Robert O'Reilly) appeared in an after-hours panel that was done mostly in character.

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • Martok: best Klingon?

    Chancellor Martok might be my favorite Klingon (discounting Worf) in all of Trek.

    Just look at him: nearly 20 years since the end of Deep Space 9, and he still looks tough.

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • Third wheel?

    So, who's the odd man out in this group: Worf or Riker?

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • Walter Koenig channels his inner Russian

    He must have been trying to step back into character with that tracksuit.

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • Neal McDonough, who acted in First Contact, surprised the audience with his harmonica skills.

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • Rom takes the stage ...

    Max Grodenchik took to the stage in costume ...

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • Nog comes with him.

    ... along with Aron Eisenberg, who played his son, Nog.

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • Leeta's going out for the cheer team

    Chase Masterson, who played Leeta on Deep Space 9, leads a team of Starfleet cheerleaders.

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • Making a Borg

    Star Trek makeup artist Michael Westmore gave a talk on what it takes to create such detailed prosthetics. What better way to do it than with a Borg?

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • Assimilation in progress

    It takes hours to get into that costume, far less time than the modern assimilation--what with those drones and all.

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • A salute to Anton Yelchin

    Tributes to Anton Yelchin, who passed away recently, were all over the convention.

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • The Trimbles

    Bjo and John Trimble, who were major forces in the early years of Star Trek. They were an organizing force in the letter writing campaign that helped get TOS renewed for a third season.

    Who knows where Star Trek would be if not for these two?

    Image: CNET/Amanda Kooser

  • It's a nice day for a Trek wedding

    And who better to do it than deep space Elvis? This pair actually got married at the convention, and it's Vegas, so Elvis had to officiate (by law).

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • The bridge

    This amazing reproduction of the TOS Enterprise bridge was available for guests to step on to, and it looks incredible.

    Image: CNET/Amanda Kooser

  • Even service dogs love Star Trek

    This little guy got in on the fun by dressing up as a redshirt. Don't worry, buddy--we love you more than Kirk loved his Ensigns!

    Image: CNET/Amanda Kooser

  • Starfleet pilots?

    Neat dress uniforms, or perhaps these are the people that fly the Trek equivalent of airliners.

    Image: CNET/Amanda Kooser

  • Locutus of Bark

    This pup got geared out like a Borg, which is pretty great. Now just imagine what a dog brain would do to the collective ...

    Image: CNET/Amanda Kooser

  • Shuttle man

    He's ready to boldly go, I'm guessing.

    Image: CNET/Amanda Kooser

  • Star Trek + Disney

    This group mashed Trek and Disney together, and boy did the princess pick the right haircut: nothing can match the complication of Yeoman Rand's hair!

    Image: CNET/Amanda Kooser

  • Nothing is complete without zombies

    They get into everything.

    Image: StarTrek.com

  • Darth Vader, assimilated

    So, if he was more machine than man, what is he now?

    Image: CNET/Amanda Kooser

  • MAC: Cosmetics of the future?

    MAC Cosmetics, who is launching a Star Trek line, was present in force. With them was a cadre of actors and models dressed as iconic characters from the whole of Trek's run.

    Here we see an Orion slave girl, Uhura, and Spock.

    Also check out: The five best Star Trek episodes EVER! and The five worst Star Trek episodes of all time

    Image: StarTrek.com

Flashback to Triskelion

I remember my first Star Trek convention. I was in middle school, and I was incredibly excited to see Brent Spiner, who was the biggest star on the schedule.

I wish I would have had a chance to set foot at Star Trek 50 Las Vegas, which looks to be the mother of all Trek conventions. For those of us not fortunate to go, here's a gallery of some of the highlights.

William Shatner is escorted to the stage by Shahna, one of his fellow combatants from The Gamesters of Triskelion.

Image: CNET/Amanda Kooser

Related Topics:

After Hours Innovation Hardware Tech & Work

By Brandon Vigliarolo

Brandon writes about apps and software for TechRepublic. He's an award-winning feature writer who previously worked as an IT professional and served as an MP in the US Army.