Deep Dive into The City on the Edge of Forever by Jerry Bourget
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Category Archives: 037. 2004 Edge of Forever
037. “The City on the Edge of Forever”
No. 037
Released: October 2, 2004
Ornament: “The City on the Edge of Forever”
Series: Star Trek: The Original SerieS
Product code: QXI4094
Artist: Anita Marra Rogers
Original retail: $28.00
Dimensions: 3.75” H x 4” W x 2.75“ D
Branding: Keepsake
Material: Styrene
Packaging: Tan front with red top
Magic: Light & Sound
Power source: pigtail
Front box text:
Hallmark
KEEPSAKE ORNAMENT
STAR TREK
VOICE MAGIC AND LIGHT
Christmas 20 2004
“THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER”
For indoor use only. Pour usage intérieur seulement.
décoration des fêtes
Back box text:
“THE CITY ON THE EDGE OF FOREVER”
When Dr. McCoy accidentally discovers a time portal called the Guardian of Forever, Kirk and Spock must go back in time and try to repair the damage to the flow of history.
This ornament features three excerpts from the episode. Press the pedestal next to the characters to hear the excerpts in random order. Light flickers when the Guardian speaks.
The words spoken by the two crew members and the Guardian are printed inside this box.
Anita Marra Rogers Hallmark Keepsake Artist
HOLIDAY MEMORY CARD ENCLOSED
Use only with standard UL, CUL, or CSA listed or certified miniature light strings using push-in type bulbs, having multiples of 35 bulbs or 50 bulbs in series.
Typical electrical rating 6 volts, 1.2 watts.
Not for use with blinking lights.
Complete display instructions enclosed.
Limited Warranty through 2007 enclosed.
For decorative use only. Not for children under 8. Conque à des fins décoratives seulement. Ne convient pas aux enfants de moins de 8 ans.
UL LISTED ELECTRIC ORNAMENT
Handcrafted – Dated 2004
Bottom box text:
Paramount
TM & © 2004 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.
http://www.startrek.com
Mfd. for Hallmark Cards, Inc., Kansas City, MO 64141
Made in China
QX14094
Circuitry U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,079
Additional information: The first scene based ornament.
Pros: The Guardian of Forever is beautifully recreated in this ornament, with an impressive sculpt and sound clips straight from one of Star Trek’s most iconic episodes. The activation button is cleverly concealed within the stone pillar, adding to the immersive design without compromising aesthetics.
Cons: This ornament is unfortunately known for a common malfunction—a faulty capacitor that tends to overheat and cause the sound feature to fail. The good news? All is not lost. Resourceful fans can find YouTube repair tutorials and even eBay-based restoration services to bring their Guardian back to life.
City on the Edge of Forever Repair Video
Artist Inspirations: Scene Ornaments (2004-2019)
The action shot of Spock and Kirk jumping through the portal is a sculpt inspired by their jump from the past (middle), not to the past (left).
“Star Trek: First Contact”, Borg Queen and Locutus.
Unfortunately, Kirk’s eyes closely resemble Mr. Magoo’s in this otherwise accurate sculpt.
Kirk and Spock are at slightly different angles to Pike compared to their position in the episode. The ornament has Kirk turned toward Pike 45 degrees while Spock is more squared up and perpendicular to him.
Any slight difference in the positioning of the Vulcan lirpas is quickly drowned out by the fantastic battle music that accompanies the ornament. Unfortunately, the sculpt depicts Kirk moments before his shirt is sliced open. We could use a torn-shirt Kirk ornament in a bad way.
In the episode, McCoy is pressed against the computer bank. In the sculpt, there is distance between him and the wall and his head in leaning back.
If you are wondering why the artist has the Spocks standing in front
of a wall adorned with the Federation’s delta insignia…
“Put aside logic, do what feels right”.
(A,B) The Gorn approaches a trapped Kirk and (C) raises his dagger, (D) the episode breaks for commercial, (E) the Gorn reaches out toward the rock, (F) grabs the rock and (G) pulls it away allowing Kirk to escape
This ornament is a view we never see on screen. It is the moment that occurs in image (F) but from the camera angle we are familiar with from image C. No explanation why the ornament does not include the vine netting around Kirk’s leg.
Spock’s elbows are bent and his forearms placed more vertically on the close shots (bottom left) while in the long shots his arms are more outstretched with his forearms horizontal (top). Spock’s boot and legs are exact copies from the long shots. The ornament is a blend of the different shots.
While most (WARNING: 39 year old spoilers ahead!) of Spock’s death scene in The Wrath of Khan is shot from Kirk’s side of the glass, from the moment Kirk puts his hand on the glass until Spock’s actual demise, the scene is all shot from Spock’s side of the glass. While the ornament can be viewed from both sides it is impossible to reproduce the movie camera’s perspective from the back of the ornament. In the end, we get an ornament of a classic scene from Kirk’s perspective.
Kirk and the Salt Vampire.
(A) Sulu enters the bridge, (B) Sulu’s guard arm is raised in the scorpion position, (C) Kirk ducks Sulu’s lunge, (D) Kirk jumps over the bridge railing to the lower level, (E) Sulu resumes the scorpion position, (F) Sulu holding Uhura faces Kirk, (G) Uhura’s struggles draws Sulu’s attention, (H) Uhura breaks away
Sulu’s likeness is captured from image B or E. Kirk’s stance is closest to that of F or G. Kirk’s position to the sword is never closer than that in image C. The Naked Time ornament marries two different moments in the scene to capture an iconic but nonexistent moment in time.
Burnham gives Georgiou’s telescope to Saru in the first season episode “Choose Your Pain”. In the episode, the pair simply stand in front of the telescope case which sits on a table and the ornament depicts them in a similar standing position but with Saru holding the case, a moment we never see appear on screen.
2021 Top 10 Hallmark Star Trek Ornaments: #7
#7: 2004 “The City on the Edge of Forever”
Retail: $28.00
2021 Secondary Market: $59.95
Size: 3 5/8” H x 4 1/8” W x 2 3/4” D
Code: QXI4094
The City on the Edge of Forever is probably the best hour in all of of Star Trek television. We witness the tragic love story of Kirk and Edith Keeler in this time traveling episode. The Enterprise crew comes across the Guardian of Forever, a doorway to any time and place, where we see Kirk and Spock take that fateful leap into Earth’s past.
The ornament portal flickers to the booming voice of the Guardian which sets this apart from most other Hallmark ornaments with show dialogue.
Captain Kirk: What are you?
The Guardian: I am the Guardian of Forever.
Captain Kirk: Are you a machine or being?
The Guardian: I am both and neither. I am my own beginning, my own end.
Spock: A time portal, Captain. A gateway to other times and dimensions, if I am correct.
The Guardian: Behold! A gateway to your own past, if you wish.
The Guardian: Time has resumed its shape. All is as it was before. Many such journeys are possible. Let me be your gateway.
Unfortunately, this ornament is notorious for failing. There is a capacitor that overheats and causes the sound to quit working. Not all is lost, you can find YouTube repair videos and eBay restoration services online to get your ornament back in working condition. This is an awesome ornament when it is working as intended and deservedly sits at #7 in the Top 10.
The action pose of Spock and Kirk jumping through the portal is precise although the sculpt is inspired by their jump from the past, not to the past. The placement of the activation button is cleverly hidden in the front pillar and the light and sound is powered by a pigtail cord which plugs into an approved light strand. Hallmark would discontinue the pigtail design two years later.
Right: Hallmark’s The City on the Edge of Forever ornament.
2004’s The City on the Edge of Forever ornament was Hallmark’s first scene-centric diorama ornament. Ornaments capturing a famous scene in the Star Trek universe would go on to become an annual offering alongside the Star Trek ships and characters.
Check back next time as we WARP SPEED to #6 in our Top 10 Hallmark Star Trek ornaments of all time.
$30 City on the Edge of Forever Repairs Available on eBay
You can now have your 2004 Hallmark City on the Edge of Forever ornament through an eBay repair service. The repair which touts to be 80% effective will cost $29.95 about $15.00 under the cost of the same ornament in working condition on eBay. You can also do your own repair I’d you’re feeling brave enough.
THIS IS A SERVICE, I AM NOT SELLING THIS ORNAMENT
YOU WILL NOT RECEIVE ANY ORNAMENT FROM ME, YOU NEED TO SHIP ME THE DEFECTIVE ONE!!
2004 Hallmark Keepsake Ornament Star Trek
The City on the Edge of Forever REPAIR Service
Has the SOUND stopped or only partially plays?
I can repair it. Will look exactly like you send it to me.
1 year warranty
I ONLY REPAIR UNITS THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN REPAIRED BEFORE OR ATTEMPTED TO BE REPAIRED!
PLEASE DO NOT SEND THESE TO ME, I CAN TELL!
THEY WILL BE SHIPPED BACK WITHOUT REPAIR ATTEMPTED AND REFUNDED MINUS THE RETURN SHIPPING COST!!
NOTE* – repair works about 80% of the time. At times, the component bad is not fixable.
IF I CAN NOT GET THE SOUND WORKING AT ALL, YOU GET A FULL REFUND MINUS $3 FOR THE RETURN SHIPPING!!
So far every repair I have done, it fully works on an older mini light set but not everyone of them worked properly on the Hallmark Legacy power cord, so I can not guarantee yours will work on the Legacy Cord. Do not know why, but my guess is not enough power.
So if your going to power yours using the hallmark legacy power cord only, do not use this repair service.
Price includes return shipping, First Class mail USA only..
For faster return shipping you pay for priority mail USA
international buyers, pay for return shipping costs
Ship me only the ornament, no box or paperwork.
Average turn around time, 2-3 business days
DURING HOLIDAY SEASON PLEASE BE AWARE THERE MAYBE DELAYS IN RECEIVING ITEM DUE TO THE INCREASE IN THE AMOUNT OF ITEMS BEING SHIPPED THROUGH THE USPS AND OTHER CARRIERS. THANKS.
Star Trek “City on the Edge of Forever” Hallmark Ornament Repair
Helpful repair tutorial for Hallmark’s City on the Edge of Forever ornament.
37) 2004 “The City on the Edge of Forever”
When Dr. McCoy accidentally discovers a time portal called the Guardian of Forever, Kirk and Spock must go back in time and try to repair the damage to the flow of history.
The ornament features three excerpts from the epsiode. Press the pedastal next to the characters to hear the excerpts in random order. Light flickers when the Guardian speaks.
The words spokenn by the two crew members and the Guardian are printed inside the box.
$28.00
QXI4094
Plug in.
Anita Marra Rogers2004
Captain Kirk: What are you?
The Guardian: I am the Guardian of Forever.
Captain Kirk: Are you a machine or being?
The Guardian: I am both and neither. I am my own beginning, my own end.
Spock: A time portal, Captain. A gateway to other times and dimensions, if I am correct.
The Guardian: Behold! A gateway to your own past, if you wish.
The Guardian: Time has resumed its shape. All is as it was before. Many such journeys are possible. Let me be your gateway.
Hallmark Star Trek Ornaments 