I ask you: has any other television show's mythology ever been rich enough to allow for the existence of a Tribble? On this day back in 1967, the beloved warm-fuzzy kitten of tomorrow -- the Tribble -- was introduced into Trek lore with the aptly titled, "The Trouble with Tribbles." It's a great episode -- one with plenty of tongue-in-cheek moments -- and its peppered with wonderful performances all around. If that ain't enough for you, well then it's also got Klingons. (And the hour was nominated for a Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation back in 1968!)
Late in her life and professional career, award-winning actress Viveca Lindfors went deep into the realm of Fantasy with a role aboard the popular Stargate (1994) motion picture, the very same that spawned a franchise. Though she's no longer with us, Lindfors was born on this day in 1920. [Source: IMDB.com]
Bernard Cribbins' recent run on the BBC's long-running Doctor Who actually isn't his first adventure alongside the legendary time traveler: in fact, Cribbens was there back near the Doctor's beginning, joining no less than Peter Cushing as the singular character in the 1966 big screen outing, Daleks' Invasion of Earth 2150 A.D. The actor also appeared as a guest star aboard Space:1999 in its heyday, and I recently recognized the man from his role in 1965's She. Cribbins was born on this day in 1928. [Source: IMDB.com]
The revered Barbara Steele has a resume incredibly chocked full of some horrific cinema exploits, and she even gave the SciFi/Horror hybrid a performance with the role of Dr. Mengers in Piranha (1978). Steele was born on this day in 1937. [Source: IMDB.com]
Jon Voight remains one of the most talented actors of his generation, but he's not so 'above the fray' that he'll turn down a role in something as mainstream as Michael Bay's Transformers (2007). Voight was born on this day in 1938. [Source: IMDB.com]
Before he took audiences to a galaxy far, far away, writer/director George Lucas gave viewers a look at one very dark future in THX 1138 (1971). Maggie McOmie went along for the visual ride in her first starring role ever. McOmie was born on this day in 1941. [Source: IMDB.com]
Patricia Clarkson had a small but critical role in 2014's under-appreciated The Maze Runner as well as the franchise sequels. The amazingly talented lady was born on this day in 1959. [Source: IMDB.com]
Ah, Michael Cudlitz! My heart's broken over what went down with the character of Abraham Ford on AMC's The Walking Dead, but we'll always have Surrogates (2009). (That's him, in the front seat above, with the earpiece.) Cudlitz was born on this day in 1964. [Source: IMDB.com]
Believe it or not, John Newton got his start on the small screen in the big role of no less than Superboy for a run of twenty-six episodes. Newton was born on this day in 1965. [Source: IMDB.com]
The delicious Alexandra Kamp stepped into Fantasy history as the lead in Sumuru (2003), a theatrical adaptation based on the cult novels of Sax Rohmer. She also starred in the SciFi/Comedy 2001: A Space Travesty (2000). Kamp was born on this day in 1966. [Source: IMDB.com]
Ahem. Back when he was Andy Wachowski, the now-known-as Lilly Wachowski teamed up with then-brother-now-sister Lana Wachowski -- known as the writing team of 'the Wachowski Brothers' (now known as 'The Wachowskis') -- and crafted a little something-something better known as The Matrix (1999) as well as its assorted sequels. Together, they've gone on to identity changes and some utter box office failures, including Cloud Atlas (2012) and Jupiter Ascending (2015). There's a film in there somewhere. In any event, Wachowski was born on this day in 1967. [Source: IMDB.com]
In early 2014, lovely Jennifer Ehle made an appearance in the RoboCop reboot, playing the head of OCP's legal affairs department. Ehle was born on this day in 1969. [Source: IMDB.com]
Actresses like Ingrid Torrance are truly the backbone of SciFi entertainment. Why? Because they toil away in some of the smaller roles, using their gifts to bring secondary characters to life for fans of these respective programs. She's made appearances in such properties as Poltergeist: The Legacy, The Sentinel, Viper, First Wave, The Outer Limits, Seven Days, Smallville, Stargate: SG-1, The 4400, Blade: The Series, Fringe, The Tomorrow People, and Supernatural. Torrance was born on this day in 1969. [Source: IMDB.com]
Patrick Fischler is one of those great scene-stealing character actors you've seen all over the place but never quite lands in the spotlight enough. Genre fans know him from work in Birds Of Prey, Angel, Star Trek: Enterprise, The Middleman, Pushing Daisies, Lost, and Once Upon A Time, to name a few. Fischler was born on this day in 1969. [Source: IMDB.com]
Leonor Varela caught fandom's eye when she appeared as Nyssa in Blade II. Since then, she's appeared in such other genre projects as Stargate: Atlantis, Human Target, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Varela was born on this day in 1972. [Source: IMDB.com]
Critical darling Jude Law (above center) made a splash in Science Fiction first by appearing in Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and then following it up with 2010's Repo Men. He's also booked appearances in eXistenZ and Steven Spielberg's A.I. Artificial Intelligence. Law was born on this day in 1972. [Source: IMDB.com]
Maria Dizzia seemed to know a little bit more about a greater alien conspiracy than she was letting on with her work aboard the short-lived Emergence TV series. Dizzia was born on this day in 1974. [Source: IMDB.com]
Actor Mekhi Phifer followed up his appearance in Torchwood: Miracle Day with a role in 2014's Divergent, a role he backed up with even a bit more muscle and menace in its sequel, Insurgent (2015). Phifer was born on this day in 1974. [Source: IMDB.com]
Unlike so many others, I didn't mind Alien: Covenant (2017). My central issue with it was that the only reason I could find as a viewer to justify its existence was its obvious tie-in with Ridley Scott's Prometheus (2012), itself a rather loose addition to the growing mythology of the Alien cinematic universe. In any event, funnyman Danny McBride played a credible 'blue collar' addition to space exploration -- very similar thematically to Scott's Alien (1979) -- and the actor was born on this day in 1976. [Source: IMDB.com]
Syfy's Dark Matter is a hard show to love. In short, it's a SciFi serial that's essentially about nothing ... or it's safe to say that there's no central storyline that I've been able to discern. Still, the galaxy is always big enough for charismatic bad guys, of which the impressive Ennis Esmer gave it a go for a few episodes. Esmer was born on this day in 1978. [Source: IMDB.com]
What would a rebellion be, after all, without a few lovable rogues? Diego Luna brought a measure of charisma to the role of Cassian Andor in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016). Luna was born on this day in 1979. [Source: IMDB.com]
The lovely Charlotte Riley played a role aboard the fantastic Edge of Tomorrow (2014) with Tom Cruise and Emily Blunt. Riley was born on this day in 1981. [Source: IMDB.com]
Iain De Caestecker has found acting happiness on the small screen as one of the regulars in the Marvel Universe creation better known as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. for ABC TV. De Caestecker was born on this day in 1987. [Source: IMDB.com]
Pretty lady Tori Anderson enjoyed a recurring role aboard Syfy's flagship series, Killjoys, in 2016. As far as SciFi goes, she's also booked roles on The Twilight Zone, Smallville, The 4400, and Warehouse 13. Anderson was born on this day in 1988. [Source: IMDB.com]
Model and actress Mecia Simson has enjoyed a fair amount of screen time aboard Netflix's popular Fantasy series The Witcher. Simson was born on this day in 1989. [Source: IMDB.com]
Hard-working actress Cyrina Fiallo doesn't have much genre work on her resume but that can always change. In the meantime, we'll have to make do with her appearance aboard the fan-favorite series Supernatural to tide us over. Fiallo was born on this day in 1991. [Source: IMDB.com]
Dylan Minnette's work first fell onto SciFiHistory.Net's radar with his appearance on ABC TV's long-running Lost (he played Jack Shephard's son, David, in the final season). He's also put in guest spots aboard Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Minnette was born on this day in 1996. [Source: IMDB.com]
As I've said many, many times as the editor of SciFiHistory.Net, we here love ladies who play dress up, especially when they serve the forces of good! Today's evidence: Paris Berelc plays 'Skylar Storm' aboard the SciFi/Family-friendly Lab Rats: Elite Force for the Walt Disney Company. May she be forever clad in Spandex! Berelc was born on this day in 1998. [Source: IMDB.com]
A star is born! On this day in 1923, Black Oxen enjoyed its very first theatrical engagement for citizens of Los Angeles, California. (The full U.S. release would follow in January, 1924.) Directed by Frank Lloyd, the Fantasy feature starred Corinne Griffith and Conway Tearle, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"A Manhattan playboy falls in love with a mysterious European woman, whom he notices as an exact double for a famous socialite who disappeared at the turn of the century. At first, he thinks it's just pure coincidence, as the beautiful young woman he's currently romancing is much younger than the woman who vanished years before, but soon, he begins to believe that maybe it's not such a coincidence after all."
For the record: It would appear that this is a story lost to history somewhat as IMDB.com reports that the final three film reels are apparently missing from the only known cut of the motion picture. Who knows? Perhaps a complete cut with turn up in some secret vault in the years ahead.
"A Manhattan playboy falls in love with a mysterious European woman, whom he notices as an exact double for a famous socialite who disappeared at the turn of the century. At first, he thinks it's just pure coincidence, as the beautiful young woman he's currently romancing is much younger than the woman who vanished years before, but soon, he begins to believe that maybe it's not such a coincidence after all."
For the record: It would appear that this is a story lost to history somewhat as IMDB.com reports that the final three film reels are apparently missing from the only known cut of the motion picture. Who knows? Perhaps a complete cut with turn up in some secret vault in the years ahead.
On this day in 1950 (in Finland and South Africa), Destination Moon took viewers on a trip to our fine satellite. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"After their latest rocket fails, Dr. Charles Cargraves and retired General Thayer have to start over again. This time, Gen. Thayer approaches Jim Barnes, the head of his own aviation construction firms to help build a rocket that will take them to the moon. Together they gather the captains of industry and all pledge to support the goals of having the United States be the first to put a man on the moon. They build their rocket and successfully leave the Earth's gravitational pull and make the landing as scheduled. Barnes has miscalculated their fuel consumption however and after stripping the ship bare, they are still 100 lbs too heavy meaning that one of them will have to stay behind."
"After their latest rocket fails, Dr. Charles Cargraves and retired General Thayer have to start over again. This time, Gen. Thayer approaches Jim Barnes, the head of his own aviation construction firms to help build a rocket that will take them to the moon. Together they gather the captains of industry and all pledge to support the goals of having the United States be the first to put a man on the moon. They build their rocket and successfully leave the Earth's gravitational pull and make the landing as scheduled. Barnes has miscalculated their fuel consumption however and after stripping the ship bare, they are still 100 lbs too heavy meaning that one of them will have to stay behind."
On this day in 1954 (in Argentina), The War Of The Worlds enjoyed its theatrical release. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A small town in California is attacked by Martians, beginning a worldwide invasion."
"A small town in California is attacked by Martians, beginning a worldwide invasion."
On this day in 1972 (in Uruguary), The Light At The End Of The World was shown in theaters. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A ruthless pirate captures the keeper of a lighthouse, in the most southern city in Argentina. His goal is obvious and horrific. He plans to control the lighthouses signals in a way that the passing ships will be crushed on the rocks."
"A ruthless pirate captures the keeper of a lighthouse, in the most southern city in Argentina. His goal is obvious and horrific. He plans to control the lighthouses signals in a way that the passing ships will be crushed on the rocks."
On this day in 1986 (in West Germany), The Aurora Encounter showed that not only life was out there but also it could come here! According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"In 1897, residents of a small Texas town are visited by a benevolent extraterrestrial being whose presence divides the community."
"In 1897, residents of a small Texas town are visited by a benevolent extraterrestrial being whose presence divides the community."
A star is born! On this day in 1993, the R-rated SciFi/Thriller Ghost In The Machine came out of the Hollywood machine. The feature starred Karen Allen and Chris Mulkey, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Karl Hochman is a technician in a computer store. He is also known as the "Address Book Killer" due to his habit of stealing people's address books and proceeding to murder anyone listed in the book. Terry Munroe and her son Josh come into the store to purchase software, and a salesman uses Terry's address book to demonstrate a handheld scanner. Karl obtains the book, and while driving to Terry's house that night in a thunderstorm, his car runs off the road and lands upside down in a cemetery. While Karl is undergoing an MRI at a hospital, a surge of lightning courses through the building, and Karl's mind is transformed into electrical energy. Karl uses the electrical grid and computer networks to continue his killing spree. It is up to Terry, Josh, and computer hacker Bram Walker to stop him before it is too late."
"Karl Hochman is a technician in a computer store. He is also known as the "Address Book Killer" due to his habit of stealing people's address books and proceeding to murder anyone listed in the book. Terry Munroe and her son Josh come into the store to purchase software, and a salesman uses Terry's address book to demonstrate a handheld scanner. Karl obtains the book, and while driving to Terry's house that night in a thunderstorm, his car runs off the road and lands upside down in a cemetery. While Karl is undergoing an MRI at a hospital, a surge of lightning courses through the building, and Karl's mind is transformed into electrical energy. Karl uses the electrical grid and computer networks to continue his killing spree. It is up to Terry, Josh, and computer hacker Bram Walker to stop him before it is too late."
Before the Walt Disney Company got around to their big budget theatrical debacle that was 2012's John Carter, writer/director Mark Atkins (check out his IMDB.com profile, and you'll find he has a history of piggybacking on genre-related projects) delivered up his (ahem) glorious adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs' Princess of Mars. This one starred Antonio Sabato Jr. as John Carter and the luscious Traci Lords fittingly as Dejah Thoris. It was first released on home video on this day in 2009. Haven't seen it, so buyer beware. Here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"When a solider in the middle east gets wounded in the line of duty, he is teleported to the planet Barsoom. There, he must face the hostile aliens to fight for his survival again."
"When a solider in the middle east gets wounded in the line of duty, he is teleported to the planet Barsoom. There, he must face the hostile aliens to fight for his survival again."
On this day in 2012, 1982's TRON played for audiences in attendance of a special ceremony held for the Film Society of Lincoln Center. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A computer hacker is abducted into the digital world and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program."
"A computer hacker is abducted into the digital world and forced to participate in gladiatorial games where his only chance of escape is with the help of a heroic security program."
This is a bit weird, folks, but -- according to all details I'm able to locate -- the 2002-produced SciFi film Time Changer finally found its theatrical release on this day in 2016 (in South Korea). According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the straight skinny:
"A Bible professor from 1890 comes forward in time to the present via a time machine and cannot believe the things that he sees!"
"A Bible professor from 1890 comes forward in time to the present via a time machine and cannot believe the things that he sees!"
On this day in 2019 (in Estonia), Rise Of The Dinosaurs (aka Jurassic Attack) sunk its teeth into audiences. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"A group of soldiers attempting to rescue a hostage from a terrorist crash land into unfamiliar jungles which are inhabited by a group of long hidden dinosaurs."
"A group of soldiers attempting to rescue a hostage from a terrorist crash land into unfamiliar jungles which are inhabited by a group of long hidden dinosaurs."
On this day in 1958 (in the United Kingdom), Quatermass and the Pit aired "The Ghosts." Officially, this served as the second episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Col. Breen believes the projectile is a bomb - it's cold to the touch, slightly radioactive and made of an unknown substance, Roney's assistant Barbara Judd finds the area has a history of supernatural events, and a terrified Pte West claims to have seen an imp-like ghost: 'It went through the wall!'"
"Col. Breen believes the projectile is a bomb - it's cold to the touch, slightly radioactive and made of an unknown substance, Roney's assistant Barbara Judd finds the area has a history of supernatural events, and a terrified Pte West claims to have seen an imp-like ghost: 'It went through the wall!'"
"A Quality of Mercy" is an episode of The Twilight Zone that first aired on this day in 1961. To be honest, it's a relatively forgettable story -- a brash soldier wants to make a mark on the last day of World War II -- but it does have a singular distinction Star Trek fans can appreciate: it sports a young Leonard Nimoy in a very small role!
On this day in 1963, My Favorite Martian aired "How To Be A Hero Without Really Trying." Officially, this served as the thirteenth episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The O'Hara's have new neighbors, the Richmonds, within the family being young Stevie and his grown up sister Jennifer. The foursome go on a picnic to Sunset Mountain, since Martin needs to pick up some bling, an alloy located there but that has not yet been discovered by humans. Stevie has a vivid imagination and likes to pretend he's from Mars, which intrigues Martin. That's OK with Tim, as that means he can spend time with Jennifer alone. However Jennifer is concerned with Stevie's ability to discern reality from fantasy. While Martin goes off to collect his bling, Stevie plays a game of pretend and climbs up the mountain, but reality hits when he can't get down on his own. Martin suggests that Tim climb up and get Stevie as an act of heroism, but Tim is afraid of heights. Martin reassures Tim that he will be safe with the assistance of his remote control gravitation machine. Tim bounds up the mountain, but doesn't know that Martin's machine breaks while he's half way up. Tim and Stevie have a couple of close calls, which Tim thinks is Martin just trying to be dramatic. Although Tim faints when he finds out the truth about the gravitation machine, he shows that one just needs to have a little faith to accomplish mountains."
"The O'Hara's have new neighbors, the Richmonds, within the family being young Stevie and his grown up sister Jennifer. The foursome go on a picnic to Sunset Mountain, since Martin needs to pick up some bling, an alloy located there but that has not yet been discovered by humans. Stevie has a vivid imagination and likes to pretend he's from Mars, which intrigues Martin. That's OK with Tim, as that means he can spend time with Jennifer alone. However Jennifer is concerned with Stevie's ability to discern reality from fantasy. While Martin goes off to collect his bling, Stevie plays a game of pretend and climbs up the mountain, but reality hits when he can't get down on his own. Martin suggests that Tim climb up and get Stevie as an act of heroism, but Tim is afraid of heights. Martin reassures Tim that he will be safe with the assistance of his remote control gravitation machine. Tim bounds up the mountain, but doesn't know that Martin's machine breaks while he's half way up. Tim and Stevie have a couple of close calls, which Tim thinks is Martin just trying to be dramatic. Although Tim faints when he finds out the truth about the gravitation machine, he shows that one just needs to have a little faith to accomplish mountains."
On this day in 1965, Irwin Allen's Lost In Space aired "Return From Outer Space." This served as the fifteenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Using a matter transfer device left behind by the Taurons, Will beams himself back to Earth. He arrives safely in the small town of Hatfield Four Corners, Vermont, but his pleas for help are considered the fantasies of a runaway boy."
"Using a matter transfer device left behind by the Taurons, Will beams himself back to Earth. He arrives safely in the small town of Hatfield Four Corners, Vermont, but his pleas for help are considered the fantasies of a runaway boy."
No, that's not an ad for 'Bring Your Furry To Work Day.' That's Leonard McCoy. Dr. McCoy, to the uninformed. And he's enjoying his "Shore Leave." It's a bit of flight and fancy as the title suggests, and it first aired on Star Trek on this day back in 1966.
On this day in 1967 (in the United Kingdom), The Prisoner aired "Living In Harmony." Officially, this served as the thirteenth episode in the program's only season in original broadcast existence, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"In a Wild West setting, a lawman who resigned is trapped in a town called Harmony where the Judge wants him to be the new sheriff - by hook or by crook."
"In a Wild West setting, a lawman who resigned is trapped in a town called Harmony where the Judge wants him to be the new sheriff - by hook or by crook."
On this day in 1968, Irwin Allen's Land Of The Giants aired "The Golden Cage." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The crew finds a woman of their size while on a trek. Mark falls in love with her, who in return, invites him to her home. Burton tries to convince Mark that this is a trap set to become a guinea pig for the Giants. However, blinded by love, Mark is unable to make up his mind, even that his urge ends up with a fight with the commander itself..."
"The crew finds a woman of their size while on a trek. Mark falls in love with her, who in return, invites him to her home. Burton tries to convince Mark that this is a trap set to become a guinea pig for the Giants. However, blinded by love, Mark is unable to make up his mind, even that his urge ends up with a fight with the commander itself..."
On this day in 1973 (in Canada), The Starlost aired "The Beehive." Officially, this served as the fifteenth episode in the program's only season on original broadcast television, and here's the plot summary from TV.com:
"Rachel, Garth and Devon are trapped inside a giant food production centre for the Ark. It is a giant beehive where some sonic experiments are causing the natives to become restless."
"Rachel, Garth and Devon are trapped inside a giant food production centre for the Ark. It is a giant beehive where some sonic experiments are causing the natives to become restless."
On this day in 1978, Wonder Woman aired "Gault's Brain." Officially, this served as the twelfth episode in the program's third (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"The living brain of a dead billionaire seeks to have itself transplanted into the perfect physical specimen."
"The living brain of a dead billionaire seeks to have itself transplanted into the perfect physical specimen."
On this day in 1979, Flash Gordon continued to wage his crusade against Ming the Merciless. "Chapter 15: Revolt of the Power Men" saw the Earthman planning to retake Vultan's Sky City from the clutches of Ming's robot guards.
On this day in 1985, Amazing Stories aired "Vanessa In The Garden." Officially, this served as the twelfth episode in the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"When a brilliant young artist's beloved wife dies in a carriage wreck, the grief-stricken husband is possessed with an incredible plan to bring her back through his art."
"When a brilliant young artist's beloved wife dies in a carriage wreck, the grief-stricken husband is possessed with an incredible plan to bring her back through his art."
On this day in 1986, Amazing Stories aired "The Eternal Mind." Officially, this served as the twelfth episode in the program's second (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Applying experiments with chimps to himself, a dying scientist transfers his mind into a computer. But his unique survival after physical death brings unexpected heartaches."
"Applying experiments with chimps to himself, a dying scientist transfers his mind into a computer. But his unique survival after physical death brings unexpected heartaches."
On this day in 1990, Star Trek: The Next Generation aired "The Loss." This served as the tenth episode of the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"As an unknown force drags the Enterprise, Deanna Troi struggles with the loss of her powers."
"As an unknown force drags the Enterprise, Deanna Troi struggles with the loss of her powers."
On this day in 1990, Super Force aired "Water Mania." This served as the fifteenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from TV.com:
"Super Force is brought in to stop an extortion racket on The Strip."
"Super Force is brought in to stop an extortion racket on The Strip."
On this day in 1994 (in Canada), TekWar aired "Unknown Soldier." This served as the second episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary provided by IMDB.com:
"Electra is a military vet who was modified and made into an X-class soldier. She ends up being hired to work at Cosmos but things do not go well as she is being controlled by a former superior officer."
"Electra is a military vet who was modified and made into an X-class soldier. She ends up being hired to work at Cosmos but things do not go well as she is being controlled by a former superior officer."
On this day in 2008, Syfy's Sanctuary aired "Revelations, Part 1." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary provided by IMDB.com:
"In an unprecedented alliance Druitt and Sherlock Holmes work with Sanctuary to deduce why normally placid abnormals are running amok. Their plan, infiltrate their prime suspect, The Cabal."
"In an unprecedented alliance Druitt and Sherlock Holmes work with Sanctuary to deduce why normally placid abnormals are running amok. Their plan, infiltrate their prime suspect, The Cabal."
On this day in 2014, Star Wars: Rebels aired "Path of the Jedi." This served as the ninth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Ezra must face a great challenge as part of his growth as a member of the team."
"Ezra must face a great challenge as part of his growth as a member of the team."
