Star Date: none (filmed in 1965)

Airdate: As a special presentation during a promotional
2 hour piece hosted by Capt. Picard for the Star Trek
Movie #5 and Star Trek: TNG. Program featured interviews
with the cast, Gene, the Cage, 'never before seen" in its
  entirety. This of course was incorporated into the two
parter "The Menagerie" That was aired during the first season.

Writer: Gene Roddenberry

Director: Robert Butler

Guest Stars: Susan Oliver as Veena

Story: On the first voyage of the Starship Enterprise (see footnote 1), Kirk's predecessor, Captain Christopher Pike, tries to rescue an Earth crew that disappeared eighteen years earlier. But it's a trap! Pike is imprisoned in a zoo-like cage and studied by a mysterious higher life form.

Other ships mentioned: SS Columbia, disappeared 18 years ago
 near Talos 4 with a single survivor, Veena, an adult crew member.

Alien civilizations:

Talos star group-11 planets

Talos 4, class M (oxygen atmosphere) a race of aliens
living underground due to a devastating war "countless
centuries ago", only "now" beginning to support life again.
The Telosians were forced underground and developed their
mental powers such as the power of creating illusion,
which is limited only by powerful primitive emotions.
They needed other species as a source of inspiration for
their entertainment. they are the original "butt heads"
of the alien world. They found that the human was more
adaptable than other species to help reclaim the planet's
surface. But the human also demonstrates a unique hatred of
captivity even when it is pleasant and benevolent. This makes
 the human too violent and dangerous a species for the Telosian's purposes.

Tidbits:

Dr. Theodore Hefner of the American Continent Institute,
the leader of the doomed expedition on the SS Columbia.

Vega Colony: appearently has "modern" medical facilities
available to the federation.

Rigel 7: Planet where a yeoman of the captain and 7 others
were killed when attacked by a warrior species in a citadel.
Rigel 7 appears to have developed civilizations and be a moon as a large planet is seen very close in the sky.

Mohave, Earth: Home town of Capt. Christopher Pike.
It is no longer a dessert but has cities and lush parks.

Quotes:
-------------------
"She's replacing your former Yeoman, Sir." Number One.

"She does a good job. It's just that I cant get used to having a
woman on the bridge. No offense, Lieutenant. You're different,
of course." Capt. Pike.
-------------------
"You appear to be healthy and intelligent, Captain. A prime specimen." Veena
-------------------
"The vial contains a nourishing protein complex" (first words
the zoo keeper speaks to Capt. Pike.)
------------------
"THE WOMEN!!!!!" Mr. Spock, after Number One and young female
Yeoman were taken out of the transporter without the others in
the landing party. The cool Mr. Spock was yet to appear.

Morality:
Illusions are a trap. They soon become more important than reality.

The grass isn't always greener on the other side.

Aliens, at first may appear to be hostile and callous, but
they can have their compassionate side too.

And Nobody Dies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
At least not ON camera.

--------
Footnote 1: correction by:nemory

"Very good, Metzy. Just one correction: it was not the first voyage of the USS Enterprise. It had  some history already. Let's not forget Capt. April.  Lovingly, nemory.