Update 11.16.07: See addition to story below.

The history-making screening of the Original Series episode "The Menagerie" was a huge hit on Tuesday night, with sold-out shows all around the country. STARTREK.COM was at two of the locations in Southern California — Burbank and Century City — and you can check out our exclusive photo galleries from these venues on the left.

Some fans in Burbank braved the warm evening air and arrived two hours before the event, forming an orderly line outside the theatre. As the anticipation and crowds grew, some of the special guests arrived including Bjo and John Trimble, the couple who helped save Star Trek in the '60s. Others in attendance included numerous CBS Digital employees who work on the Remastered series, author Larry Nemecek, and Original Series and TNG assistant director Charles Washburn.

The Burbank audience was also treated to a special live introduction with the Star Trek Remastered producers Dave Rossi, Mike Okuda, Denise Okuda, along with special effects supervisor Niel Wray. Following a brief spoken tribute to Roddenberry's Star Trek by Mike Okuda, Wray brought up several members from his team to take a bow.

At 7:30 sharp, the big screen lit up with the face of Eugene "Rod" Roddenberry, son of Gene, and the show was off and running. After a short "making-of" documentary, the episode kicked off with the opening remastered shot of Starbase 11 that, if you look closely enough, features some of the CBS Digital people in the background!

Rod Roddenberry and several other VIPs attended the Century City screening. The episode's two guests stars (not counting "The Cage" footage), Malachi Throne ("Commodore Mendez") and Sean Kenney (the disfigured "Christopher Pike") were at that venue, along with Billy Blackburn, the frequent Star Trek extra/guest star whose home movie footage from the set appears on the First-Season Remastered HD-DVD that comes out next Tuesday.

Also at Century City were representatives of CBS Paramount TV who have been working on the Remastered effort in conjunction with CBS Digital: Ryan Adams, David Grant and Phil Murphy. Trevor Roth of Roddenberry Productions was also there, along with several other friends and VIPs, including a local fan in a Vulcan costume.

At this theatre, the plan was for Roddenberry to address the audience and thank them for their support before the show started. But while he was still at the concession stand, the footage began to roll and there was no turning back. We learned the digital projection was automatically programmed to start at 7:30 sharp, and there was no manual override. The incident was rather ... poetic (given the plot of the episode). And then when the final credits rolled and the show was over, the lights failed to come up and the audience had to file out in the dark. Technology, gotta love it!

UPDATE 11.16.07: We have learned that even though Rod Roddenberry did not introduce the screening as planned at the Century City cinema, he did manage to speak to an audience on the East Coast! Marc B. Lee, a popular Star Trek convention emcee (FedCon, PlanetXpo, etc.), was attending the "Menagerie" screening Tuesday in Altamonte Springs, Florida, when he got the impromptu idea to call Roddenberry on the cellphone (it was about 4:30 for Rod). Lee stood up, got the attention of the nearly full theater, and asked the crowd to yell "hello" to Rod. He put Rod on speakerphone and let him talk to the fans. "You guys are gonna have a fantastic time," he told the Floridians. And they did, Lee reports!

Another interesting note: Lee tells us that, technically speaking, his screening was perfect and the sound was excellent. But when it was over, the lights didn't come up and the audience had to exit in complete darkness! It's epidemic!!

As mentioned above, "The Menagerie" and all other Season 1 Remastered TOS episodes will be available on HD-DVD/DVD (one side HD DVD, one side standard DVD) starting next Tuesday, November 20. This set will include eight episodes that have not yet aired in syndication, such as "The Enemy Within" and "Operation: Annihilate!" You can pre-order it now at the Star Trek Store!

Due to popular demand, an encore presentation of "The Menagerie" will be held in the same theatres on Thursday, November 15.

Did you attend a screening? Send us your story or photo for this article! Drop a note to editor @ startrek.com.