Sam J. Jones. The legendary Max von Sydow. The lovely Melody Anderson. And a young Timothy Dalton as Prince Baron. Yes, it was a cultural throwback, and, yes, it may have more of a cult movie status than it does mainstream, but 1980's Flash Gordon was released on this day back then. He'll save every one of us!
Visionary film director Fritz Lang -- who delivered Metropolis to sci-fi fans back in the era of film's beginning -- is responsible for a solid handful of motion pictures worth great study. Though he's no longer with us, Lang was born on this day in 1890.
Though I suspect that more folks will remember Alvy Moore's comic turn as Mr. Kimball in the classic TV comedy Green Acres, I first recognized him from a bit role (uncredited at that) aboard George Pal's The War of the Worlds (1953). He also appeared aboard Space Patrol, The Invisible Boy (1957), The Twilight Zone, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Project U.F.O. Though he's no longer with us, Moore was born on this day in 1921.
Norman Burton had some terrific appearances in the realm of Science Fiction. His first SciFi role, though, was under heavy makeup as the Hunt Leader in the original Planet of the Apes (1968), a franchise he reappeard aboard in Escape from Planet of the Apes (1971) and in a guest spot aboard the Apes television series. Though he's no longer with us, Burton was born on this day in 1923.
As anyone who watched the program can attest, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century served up some of the most delectable eye candy this side of the Milky Way. Each week, our hero was paired up with a lady yummier than the last, and one of my favorites was always Morgan Brittany. She appeared in the episode "Happy Birthday, Buck" during the show's first season. Brittany was born on this day in 1951.
With just over twenty screen credits to her name, Carrie Hamilton left us far too soon. Still, she managed to squeeze in an excellent guest spot aboard Fox TV's signature series -- The X-Files -- and we can be forever thankful for that. Though she's no longer with us, Hamilton was born on this day in 1963.
One film where I tend to diverge from the masses is Tim Burton's Mars Attacks. Whereas regular SciFi fans tend to poke holes in it, I love the flick's inherent zaniness from start-to-finish. Model and actress Lisa Marie played the sexually-charged Martian Girl to perfection, imbuing this otherworldly goddess with an obliviousness that made her a perfect addition to the Burton vision. Marie was born on this day in 1968.
Though she's vastly more well known for her work in far more conventional fare, the vivacious Kali Rocha did venture beyond the Earthly bounds in the SciFi comedy Space Station 76 (2014). Rocha was born on this day in 1971.
The totally yummy Christine Stephen-Daly had a terrific little role at Lt. Teeg early on aboard Syfy's Farscape ... all the way, it is, until her commanding officer Crais snapped her neck. (Must you, Crais? This is why we can't have nice things!) She's also appeared on The Sarah Jane Adventures. Stephen-Daly was born on this day in 1973.
For those of you who missed Syfy's Ascension miniseries (and based on its ratings I'm guessing that was most of you), the program actually tried to do something interesting and character-driven with what appeared to be a space voyage to a distant star but was in reality something a bit more challenging for those onboard. One of its players -- Brad Carter as a troubled John Stokes -- ended up rebelling against the great experiment, serving as a catalyst for scientists monitoring the mission. Carter was born on this day in 1973.
ABC's Invasion was a program which I turned off after watching the largely uninteresting pilot episode, though I've been told that the show improved considerably as the installments of its first and only season moved on. In it, the lovely Lisa Sheridan (above right) played Larkin Groves. Genre fans are familiar with her work from FreakyLinks, The 4400, Journeyman. Sheridan was born on this day in 1974.
Paula Patton teamed up with Denzel Washington to deliver the SciFi time travel thriller Deja Vu to audiences in 2006. Patton was born on this day in 1975.
Lovely Amy Acker played the 'genius' but scarred Dr. Claire Saunders on Joss Whedon's Dollhouse for two seasons. She's also booked roles on such programs as Supernatural, Warehouse 13, and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. Acker was born on this day in 1976.
Though Armando Riesco tends to stick more toward mainstream roles, he did sport a single guest appearance aboard Fringe that is worthy a mention. Riesco was born on this day in 1977.
Lots of folks 'rag' on Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines as being a weak installment for the franchise, but I liked the fact that it rather consistently delivered on the negative tone promised in its title from start to finish. Nick Stahl was a hot property in acting at the time, and he took to the role of John Connor and did what he could to make it his own. Stahl was born on this day in 1979.
Bravo, Tamara Feldman! The young actress made her professional debut appearing alongside Tom Welling in an early episode of the WB's signature Smallville program. Since then, she's gone on to roles aboard Jake 2.0 and Supernatural. Feldman was born on this day in 1980.
Generally speaking, Lydia Leonard is involved in some pretty stuffy business, the kind of highbrow dramas that don't get any attention around these parts. Thankfully she's done some voice work in the Star Wars universe of game as that gives us a chance to showcase her lovely smile right here. Leonard was born on this day in 1980.
To the delight of Marvel fans everywhere, Adan Canto brought his A game to the X-Men franchise by appearing as mutant Sunspot in X-Men: Days Of Future Past (2014). Canto was born on this day in 1981.
Young Ross Bagley helped light up the big screen in the summer of 1996 when Roland Emmerich's Independence Day was all the rage. Though his resume is a bit spotty, he continues to work in the acting business to this day. Bagley was born on this day in 1988.
The stunning Najarra Townsend is one of the most talented and hardest working actresses in independent genre films these days (just take a gander at her IMDB.com profile to see what I mean). I stumbled across her in the SciFi-lite Contracted (2013) -- a clever though slow-paced zombie flick that deals with her plight as a progressive disease more than simply the usual horror conceit -- and it's quite effective. Townsend was born on this day in 1989.
Released (on home video) on this day in 1995, Cyber-Tracker 2 probably didn't make any fast friends. This SciFi/Actioner starred Don Wilson, Stacie Foster, and Tony Burton; and here's what all the fuss was about according to IMDB.com:
"A Secret Service agent (Wilson) battles an arms dealer who is creating a cyborg army."
"A Secret Service agent (Wilson) battles an arms dealer who is creating a cyborg army."
On this day in 1952, Adventures of Superman aired "The Deserted Village." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"When Lois has trouble getting her nurse on the telephone, she and Clark drive to the small town of Cliffton to see what the problem is. After arriving, they find that the town is mostly deserted, and the few remaining townspeople don't seem to want them to know what is going on."
"When Lois has trouble getting her nurse on the telephone, she and Clark drive to the small town of Cliffton to see what the problem is. After arriving, they find that the town is mostly deserted, and the few remaining townspeople don't seem to want them to know what is going on."
On this day in 1953, Adventures of Superman aired "Panic in the Sky." This served as the twelfth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Superman rams a giant asteroid on a collision course with Earth. The impact causes the asteroid to now orbit the planet. However, Superman is staggered as he returns to Earth. He manages to change back to Clark Kent (apparently a reflex action) but doesn't remember who he is. Meanwhile, the orbiting asteroid still presents hazards for Earth. Only Superman can place an explosive device that will demolish the asteroid -- and no one, including Clark, knows where Superman is."
"Superman rams a giant asteroid on a collision course with Earth. The impact causes the asteroid to now orbit the planet. However, Superman is staggered as he returns to Earth. He manages to change back to Clark Kent (apparently a reflex action) but doesn't remember who he is. Meanwhile, the orbiting asteroid still presents hazards for Earth. Only Superman can place an explosive device that will demolish the asteroid -- and no one, including Clark, knows where Superman is."
On this day in 1953, Tom Corbett, Space Cadet aired "Spaceship Of Death." According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the adventure's plot summary:
"The course of a crippled space liner threatens a nearby spaceport with destruction."
"The course of a crippled space liner threatens a nearby spaceport with destruction."
On this day in 1964, Doctor Who aired "Day of Reckoning." This served as the sixth episode of the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"The Doctor manages to escape from the Dalek saucer and meet up with Susan and David but Ian is left trapped onboard. Meanwhile, Barbara and her new friends face a dangerous journey across London."
"The Doctor manages to escape from the Dalek saucer and meet up with Susan and David but Ian is left trapped onboard. Meanwhile, Barbara and her new friends face a dangerous journey across London."
On this day in 1986, Starman aired "Fever." This served as the tenth episode of the program's only season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"When Forrester gets sick he ends up in the hospital and the doctor treating him has no idea what's making him sick or how to treat it. At the same time Fox has been relieved of his duty because of his failure to come up with tangible proof of "the alien's" existence."
"When Forrester gets sick he ends up in the hospital and the doctor treating him has no idea what's making him sick or how to treat it. At the same time Fox has been relieved of his duty because of his failure to come up with tangible proof of "the alien's" existence."
On this day in 1986, The Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers aired "Fire and Iron." This (technically" served as the program's sixty-first episode (they were aired wildly out of sequence), and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A new railroad is about to be completed on Prairie. Bur some people don't want it complete. They use any means at their disposal to stop the train, including sabotage. The Rangers are sent to complete the railroad."
"A new railroad is about to be completed on Prairie. Bur some people don't want it complete. They use any means at their disposal to stop the train, including sabotage. The Rangers are sent to complete the railroad."
On this day in 1991, Dark Season aired its fourth episode of its first (and only) season. According to our friends at TV.com, here's the plot summary:
"With Eldrich gone, things should be getting back to normal, right? Well, they would be, if it weren't for the mysterious arrival of Pendragon and the digging up of the school field..."
"With Eldrich gone, things should be getting back to normal, right? Well, they would be, if it weren't for the mysterious arrival of Pendragon and the digging up of the school field..."
On this day in 1994, Time Trax aired "Forgotten Tomorrows." This served as the series finale to a program that probably deserved to go on beyond a second season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by IMDB.com:
"A fugitive from the future is using a chemical to temporarily erase the memory of two witnesses who are going to testify against him in court. While helping to stop this, Darien is hit with the chemical and loses his memory."
"A fugitive from the future is using a chemical to temporarily erase the memory of two witnesses who are going to testify against him in court. While helping to stop this, Darien is hit with the chemical and loses his memory."
On this day in 1937, The Shadow radio serial aired "The House Of Greed." According to our friends at The Shadow Wiki, here's the episode's plot summary:
"After the death of their father, two siblings gain his inheritance. However, they must continue their late father's philanthropy as was termed in his will. If they don't, the money goes to the father's second wife. On the daughters twenty-first birthday, she and her brother are visited by the wife, their uncle and a doctor. The trio plan an elaborate scheme of murdering the young girl and ridding her brother too in order to gain the inheritance for themselves."
"After the death of their father, two siblings gain his inheritance. However, they must continue their late father's philanthropy as was termed in his will. If they don't, the money goes to the father's second wife. On the daughters twenty-first birthday, she and her brother are visited by the wife, their uncle and a doctor. The trio plan an elaborate scheme of murdering the young girl and ridding her brother too in order to gain the inheritance for themselves."
On this day in 1954, The Shadow radio serial aired "Murder By Proxy." This served as the program's 662nd episode, and here's the plot summary as provided by our friends at The Shadow Wiki:
"A man is killing off his siblings with the aid of his butler."
"A man is killing off his siblings with the aid of his butler."
