What happened 45 years ago today?

Yes, on June 22, 1966, filming began on the very first Star Trek episode that most folks ever saw—the broadcast variety, shown over their (hopefully) new color TV sets on Sept. 8, 1966.

Now, purists will know that post-pilot, regular filming on Star Trek actually began on the series on May 24, 1966, for "The Corbomite Manuever," which didn't air until Nov. 10, the tenth slot in the series, due to its extensive and time-consuming visual effects shots.

But for those who like to peg it to the first Star Trek viewers were able to see, the date stands as a touchstone.

Director Marc Daniels, the series' most prolific along with Joe Pevney at 14 episodes each, is at left, coralling the Shat and guest star Jeannie Ball for the climactic confrontation with her eventual "salt vampire" guise. This clip, which appeared in my "Lost & Found" column in the current Star Trek magazine title from Titan Magazines of the U.K. in early 2009, was not actually from June 22—but it's too purdy not to use.