One of the traits that distinguishes Science Fiction and Fantasy from all other genres is that SciFi is largely a realm of ideas, many of these dealing with a premise down-the-line or a potential future society. Naturally, this includes visionaries who saw the world of tomorrow as a Utopian paradise wherein all were provided for identically, and this 'Christianopolis' was the brainchild of German author and theologian Johannes Valentinus Andreae. He was allegedly also involved with some secret societies, though that claim (to my understanding) has never been proven. Still, forward thinkers like Andreae helped pave the way for works that would inevitably flirt with many SciFi conventions, and that's why we feature him in this space. Though he's no longer with us, Andreae was born on this day in 1586. [Wikipedia.org]
Oliver Crawford was a talented screenwriter who spent almost four decades in the entertainment business. In his career, he contributed stories to the realms of The Outer Limits, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Star Trek, Land of the Giants, The Six Million DollarMan, and The Bionic Woman. Though he's no longer with us, Crawford was born on this day in 1917. [Source: IMDB.com]
HubbaHubba Alert! While screen legend Maureen O'Hara isn't exactly revered for her appearances in genre projects, she did give fans something to gawk at with work in such gems as Sinbad, The Sailor (1947) and Bagdad (1949), Fantasies of a bygone era. Though she's no longer with us, O'Hara was born on this day in 1920. [Source: IMDB.com]
The venerable Julius Harris is probably most remembered for the role of 'Tee Hee' from the James Bond picture, Live and Let Die (1973), but he dabbled in genre projects for some time. His work boasts appearances in King Kong (1976), The Incredible Hulk, Voyagers, The Enchanted (1984), Amazing Stories, Darkman (1990), Eerie Indiana, and The Burning Zone. Though he's no longer with us, Harris was born on this day in 1923. [Source: IMDB.com]
Julianna McCarthy played a bit of a dowdy Cardassian lady aboard a handful of episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. McCarthy was born on this day in 1929. [Source: IMDB.com]
If Gene Roddenberry is Star Trek's true father, then some have argued that Harve Bennett is quite possibly its 'godfather' as it was largely the producer's efforts that heralded the true transition from the small screen to the silver screen with Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) up through the rather dismal Star Trek V: The Final Frontier (1989). Though he's no longer with us, Bennett was born on this day in 1930. [Source: IMDB.com]
You say you invented Warp Drive? Then you deserve a citation! Aboard the original Star Trek, actor Glenn Corbett played 'Zefram Cochrane' in the episode "Metamorphosis" from its second season. Though he's no longer with us, Corbett was born on this day in 1933. [Source: IMDB.com]
When Fox Mulder went on an early 'vision quest' of his own aboard The X-Files, it was actor Floyd 'Red Crow' Westerman who found the missing FBI agent and nursed him back to health. Though he's no longer with us, Westerman was born on this day in 1936. [Source: IMDB.com]
Robert De Niro gave the realm of Fantasy a whirl with a role opposite Bradley Cooper in Limitless (2011). De Niro was born on this day in 1943. [Source: IMDB.com]
In my own personal days of old, the best source of pure escapism was Saturday morning television, of which Land Of The Lost happily filled. Wesley Eure starred as one of the intrepid family who find themselves temporal castaways in the fabled lost land, and Eure was born on this day in 1951. [Source: IMDB.com]
Actor Robert Joy has an incredible resume with over 130 different screen credits. He's enjoyed exposure aboard Threshold (1981), Millennium (1989), The Ray Bradbury Theatre, Waterworld (1995), The Outer Limits, Relic Hunter, Star Trek: Voyager, Aliens Vs. Predator: Requiem (2007), and Syfy's Defiance. Joy was born on this day in 1951. [Source: IMDB.com]
Michael Canavan helped to hijack the USS Defiant aboard a popular episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The actor also clocked in roles aboard Hard Time On Planet Earth, Star Trek: Voyager, The X-Files, and Star Trek: Enterprise. Canavan was born on this day in 1953. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Kate McNeil certainly maintains some acting credentials any genre fan should get excited about. She's been involved with Amazing Stories, Monkey Shines (1988), Quantum Leap, Babylon 5, The X-Files, Space Cowboys (2000), and Star Trek: Enterprise. McNeil was born on this day in 1959. [Source: IMDB.com]
Brooding? And menace? In Science Fiction? Meh. In any event, actor and political activist Sean Penn brought his particular brand of brooding and menace to the short-lived SciFi serial The First for Hulu. Looks like his particular 'greatness' wasn't enough to make it endure. Penn was born on this day in 1960. [Source: IMDB.com]
Earlier in his acting career, the talented Larry B. Scott (at right, on the end) went to SpaceCamp with a talented group of young actors. Scott was born on this day in 1961. [Source: IMDB.com]
Aboard Star Trek: Voyager's earliest days, Angela Dohrmann played one of Tom Paris's 'gal pals' in the Holodeck. Dohrmann was born on this day in 1965. [Source: IMDB.com]
Actor David Conrad (pictured above right) has been busy playing in the TV incarnation of the Marvel Universe with the role of Ian Quinn on Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. The versatile talent also booked a recurring role on the WB's Roswell back in its heyday. Conrad was born on this day in 1967.
The very regal-sounding Helen McCrory played a role in Matt Smith's first season as the infamous Doctor Who: she played the nefarious 'Rosanna' in 2010's "The Vampires of Venice." Though she's no longer with us, McCrory was born on this day in 1968. [Source: IMDB.com]
Andrew Koenig enjoyed a guest spot aboard an early episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as well as a small role in the SciFi picture InAlienable (2007). Though he's no longer with us, Koenig was born on this day in 1968. [Source: IMDB.com]
[NOTE: Sadly, Andrew struggled with depression and took his own life. So if you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please share the number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255. It's never too late to save a life.]
[NOTE: Sadly, Andrew struggled with depression and took his own life. So if you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, please share the number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255. It's never too late to save a life.]
Donnie Wahlberg found himself trapped in the world of cinematic Horror/Fantasy with a role aboard the Stephen King-inspired Dreamcatcher (2003) for Warner Bros. Wahlberg was born on this day in 1969. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Tammy Townsend enjoyed a guest spot aboard NBC's popular Quantum Leap during that program's run. Townsend was born on this day in 1970. [Source: IMDB.com]
Natalie Gold found out what it was truly like to be 'left behind' with her work aboard HBO's Fantasy-themed The Leftovers. Gold was born on this day in 1976. [Source: IMDB.com]
Actor and voiceover specialist Bryton James has been involved with several prominent Science Fiction and Fantasy franchises, including work aboard The Vampire Diaries, Hero Factory, Star Wars Rebels, DC Super Friends, and Young Justice. James was born on this day in 1986. [Source: IMDB.com]
As I've mentioned before, I grew up watching Gerry Anderson's Super-Marionation epic Thunderbirds which (sadly) had a theatrical reboot (if you want to call it that) back in 2004. Early in his career, young Brady Corbet played Alan Tracy in the Jonathan Frakes' directed picture, an attempt which mostly fell flat largely as it sidelined the seminal Tracy family in favor of giving a bunch of kids a chance to be action heroes. Corbet was born on this day in 1988.
Rachel Hurd-Wood continues to build her resume with one impressive project after another. So far as genre work goes, she's been involved with Dorian Gray (2009), Solomon Kane (2009), and Tomorrow When The War Began (2010). Hurd-Wood was born on this day in 1990. [Source: IMDB.com]
MTV's foray into the realm of Fantasy -- The Shannara Chronicles -- was more than a bit uneven in its first season; still, kudos for the Spike Network for picking it up for a second season. Austin Butler (above left) plays the affable 'Wil Ohmsford,' the program's central wizard-slash-hero, and Butler was born on this day in 1991. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Taissa Farmiga has provided the voice for DC Comics' 'Raven' in Justice League Vs. Teen Titans (2016) and Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (2017). Farmiga was born on this day in 1994. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1939 (in Portugal), Buck Rogers took a trip into the future after waking up from a long sleep. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A 20th Century pilot named Buck Rogers and his young friend Buddy Wade awake from 500 years in suspended animation to find that the world has been taken over by the outlaw army of Killer Kane."
"A 20th Century pilot named Buck Rogers and his young friend Buddy Wade awake from 500 years in suspended animation to find that the world has been taken over by the outlaw army of Killer Kane."
A star is born! On this day in 1939, The Man They Could Not Hang hung it up in theatres. The feature starred Boris Karloff and Lorna Gray, and here's the premise as provided by IMDB.com:
"When Dr. Savaard's experiment in cryonics is interrupted by the short-sighted authorities, his volunteer dies, and he is condemned to death. He vows vengeance if he can survive his own hanging."
"When Dr. Savaard's experiment in cryonics is interrupted by the short-sighted authorities, his volunteer dies, and he is condemned to death. He vows vengeance if he can survive his own hanging."
A star is born! On this day in 1951, Lost Continent found its way into theatres. The SciFi/Fantasy starred Cesar Romero and Chick Chandler, and here's the plot summary as provided by the folks at IMDB.com:
"Major Joe Nolan heads a rescue mission in the South Pacific to recover a downed atomic rocket. The crew crashlands on a mysterious island, and spends much time rock-climbing. They meet up with a native girl, a big lizard, and some dinosaurs."
"Major Joe Nolan heads a rescue mission in the South Pacific to recover a downed atomic rocket. The crew crashlands on a mysterious island, and spends much time rock-climbing. They meet up with a native girl, a big lizard, and some dinosaurs."
On this day back in 1960 (in New York City), legendary director George Pal launched The Time Machine, the first big budget adaptation of the H.G. Wells' novel of the same name. Rod Taylor took a trip through time, and -- yowza! -- he found the lovely Yvette Mimieux. That certainly makes it worth it! The film went on to win the Academy Award (in 1961) for Best Special Effects, and it was also nominated for Best Dramatic Presentation to the 1961 Hugo Awards. (CBS TV's The Twilight Zone walked away with the trophy.) Still, bravo to you, Mr. Pal! Bravo! Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"From the book by H.G. Wells, a scientist and tinkerer builds a time machine and uses it to explore the distant future where there are two races, a mild gentle race, and a cannibalistic one living underground. His machine is stolen by the underground race and he must risk being captured (and eaten) to return to his own time."
"From the book by H.G. Wells, a scientist and tinkerer builds a time machine and uses it to explore the distant future where there are two races, a mild gentle race, and a cannibalistic one living underground. His machine is stolen by the underground race and he must risk being captured (and eaten) to return to his own time."
On this day in 1984, Sword of the Valiant: The Legend of Sir Gawain and the Green Knight premiered in theatres, sporting one of the longer film names of the modern era. The feature starred the hunky Miles O'Keeffe and Cyrielle Clair, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at IMDB.com:
"Gawain was a squire in King Arthur's court when the Green Knight burst in and offered to play a game with a brave knight. No knights stand to defend their king's honor. Except for the valiant Gawain. After being quickly knighted Gawain plays the game, but learns that it's all a trick, and he has lost. But the Green Knight shows mercy, letting Gawain grow a year older before having to face the consequences. Gawain journeys across the land, learning about life, saving damsels, and solving the Green Knight's riddle."
"Gawain was a squire in King Arthur's court when the Green Knight burst in and offered to play a game with a brave knight. No knights stand to defend their king's honor. Except for the valiant Gawain. After being quickly knighted Gawain plays the game, but learns that it's all a trick, and he has lost. But the Green Knight shows mercy, letting Gawain grow a year older before having to face the consequences. Gawain journeys across the land, learning about life, saving damsels, and solving the Green Knight's riddle."
A star is born! Of course, some Fantasies are quickly dismissed as high camp, but when the 'camp' is as lovely as Tanya Roberts, then sign me up! Sheena: Queen of the Jungle premiered theatrically on this day in 1984, and here's the premise from IMDB.com:
"Sheena grew up in the African wild, raised by a mystical witch woman. When her foster mother is framed for a murder Sheena is forced to flee, helped by her ability to talk to animals and her knowledge of the jungle."
For the record: Ouch! Sheena cleaned up with a respectable 5 nominations at the 1985 Razzie Awards (no wins, however) in the categories of 'Worst Musical Score,' 'Worst Screenplay,' 'Worst Director,' 'Worst Actress,' and the ever-impressive 'Worst Picture.' Five nominations. No wins. That's gotta leave a mark.
"Sheena grew up in the African wild, raised by a mystical witch woman. When her foster mother is framed for a murder Sheena is forced to flee, helped by her ability to talk to animals and her knowledge of the jungle."
For the record: Ouch! Sheena cleaned up with a respectable 5 nominations at the 1985 Razzie Awards (no wins, however) in the categories of 'Worst Musical Score,' 'Worst Screenplay,' 'Worst Director,' 'Worst Actress,' and the ever-impressive 'Worst Picture.' Five nominations. No wins. That's gotta leave a mark.
A star is born! On this day in 1996, the SciFi/Telefilm Last Exit To Earth dropped into the exit lane and aired on television. The feature starred Costas Mandylor and Kim Greist, and here's the plot as printed up on IMDB.com:
"It is the year 2500 and women are sent back in time to kidnap men to help repopulate the future."
"It is the year 2500 and women are sent back in time to kidnap men to help repopulate the future."
On this day in 2018 (in Portugal), Elizabeth Harvest enjoyed a run in theaters. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Newlywed Elizabeth arrives with her brilliant scientist husband Henry to his magnificent estate, where he wows her with lavish dinners and a dazzling tour of the property. The house staff Claire and Oliver treat her differently but she can't shake the feeling something is off. Henry explains that everything in his world now belongs to her, all is for her to play in - all except for a locked-off room he forbids her from entering. When he goes away for business, Elizabeth decides to investigate."
"Newlywed Elizabeth arrives with her brilliant scientist husband Henry to his magnificent estate, where he wows her with lavish dinners and a dazzling tour of the property. The house staff Claire and Oliver treat her differently but she can't shake the feeling something is off. Henry explains that everything in his world now belongs to her, all is for her to play in - all except for a locked-off room he forbids her from entering. When he goes away for business, Elizabeth decides to investigate."
On this day in 1951, Tales Of Tomorrow aired "A Child Is Crying." This served as the third episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A young child with a genius I. Q. is taken away from her mother to work at a military base. Unfortunately her intellect is so stellar she can only predict absolute doom for everyone in the future."
"A young child with a genius I. Q. is taken away from her mother to work at a military base. Unfortunately her intellect is so stellar she can only predict absolute doom for everyone in the future."
On this day in 1960, Men Into Space aired "Flare Up." This served as the thirty-fourth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A Soviet Major is the sole survivor of a crash landing near a US advance moon station. Determined to appear blameless, he reports Americans sabotaged the landing and then takes drastic action to destroy all evidence."
"A Soviet Major is the sole survivor of a crash landing near a US advance moon station. Determined to appear blameless, he reports Americans sabotaged the landing and then takes drastic action to destroy all evidence."
On this day in 1968, Doctor Who aired "The Dominators: Part 2." This served as the second episode of the program's sixth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The Doctor and Jamie are captured by the Dominators, who subject them to an intelligence test, while Zoe and Cully attempt to convince the Dulcian council of the threat."
"The Doctor and Jamie are captured by the Dominators, who subject them to an intelligence test, while Zoe and Cully attempt to convince the Dulcian council of the threat."
On this day in 1994, Babylon 5 aired "The Quality of Mercy." This served as the twenty-first episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Talia must enter the mind of a convicted murderer while Dr. Franklin goes to Downbelow to investigate a doctor who apparently is 'magically' healing people."
"Talia must enter the mind of a convicted murderer while Dr. Franklin goes to Downbelow to investigate a doctor who apparently is 'magically' healing people."
On this day in 2001, Stargate: SG-1 aired "The Tomb." This served as the eighth episode of the long-running program's fifth season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"SG-1 teams up with a Russian task force to investigate the disappearance of a Russian SG team on P2X-338. They discover that the Russian SG team released a creature that killed Marduk, a Goa'uld, in his sarcophagus. SG-1 must trust their Russian partners in order to escape the ziggurat alive."
"SG-1 teams up with a Russian task force to investigate the disappearance of a Russian SG team on P2X-338. They discover that the Russian SG team released a creature that killed Marduk, a Goa'uld, in his sarcophagus. SG-1 must trust their Russian partners in order to escape the ziggurat alive."
On this day in 2014, Falling Skies aired the ninth episode of its fourth season. It was an hour titled "Till Death Do Us Part," and it weaved various stories about the relationships between the show's various couples throughout the main storyline. Here's the plot summary, compliments of our friends at IMDB.com:
"While members of the 2nd Mass attempt to dig out a shot-down Beamer, Tom and a small team follow the Volm to a supply cache in search of equipment to expedite the process. Along the way, they encounter a friend, and must decide whether or not to trust her. Back at camp, Maggie and Ben grow closer as he teaches her to hone her new skills, while Pope and Sara (guest star Mira Sorvino) continue to clash, resulting in a fight from which they may never recover."
"While members of the 2nd Mass attempt to dig out a shot-down Beamer, Tom and a small team follow the Volm to a supply cache in search of equipment to expedite the process. Along the way, they encounter a friend, and must decide whether or not to trust her. Back at camp, Maggie and Ben grow closer as he teaches her to hone her new skills, while Pope and Sara (guest star Mira Sorvino) continue to clash, resulting in a fight from which they may never recover."
On this day in 2014, Lifetime's The Lottery aired "Crystal City." This served as the fifth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The President announces the 200 lottery finalists; Vanessa makes a discovery about the kidnapping."
"The President announces the 200 lottery finalists; Vanessa makes a discovery about the kidnapping."
On this day in 2017, Zoo aired "Stakes On A Plane." This served as the eighth episode of the program's third (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Abigail holds Jackson prisoner in order to extract information from him that is critical to her secret master plan, and the team faces a mid-air crisis when their plane experiences an electrical malfunction."
"Abigail holds Jackson prisoner in order to extract information from him that is critical to her secret master plan, and the team faces a mid-air crisis when their plane experiences an electrical malfunction."
