May 20

I have absolutely no problem admitting my love for some of the cheesiest sci-fi movies ever made, and -- in that spirit -- I know that Spacehunter: Adventures In The Forbidden Zone is not a very good movie. That, however, doesn't concern me. It's perfect camp, performed wonderfully by Peter Strauss as the Han Solo wannabe and his plucky sidekick played by Molly Ringwald.

Plus, it has the reliable Michael Ironside as the creepiest bad guy he ever played. What's not to love? It came & went from theatres, released on this day in 1983, as part and parcel of a cheap 3-D craze for the early 1980's.

Preserving history as we do here on SciFiHistory.Net is tricky business largely because there will be times when folks from the past just have escaped into obscurity. Largely this means that we only have scraps of information to go on, and occasionally we'll be unable to locate so much as a picture.

I've read enough about 18th century Science Fiction to know that an awful lot of it exploring Utopian ideas within the framework of fiction, sometimes depicting a future society that finally got its act together or taking readers to another place in the galaxy wherein that alien society adopted more of a socialist living model. It looks like that's the case with author Robert D. Blaine's singular work, "Messages From Mars By Aid Of The Telescope Plant." Though he's no longer with us, Braine was born on this day in 1861. [Source: The Encyclopedia Of Science Fiction]

Alas, some of us aren't long for this world, and such was the case with Fantasy author Margaret Horton Potter. But her thirty years gave her the chance to explore an opportunity to weave a bit of tapestry, including "Uncanonized" (a tale involving King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table ... or did it?) and "Istar Of Babylon" (a tale involving the goddess Aphrodite who is given the chance at a mortal life). Sadly, alcohol and drugs consumed much of her last years. Though she's no longer with us, Potter was born on this day in 1881. [Source: Wikipedia.org]

John Emery and crew were some of the very first to explore the Final Frontier for their work aboard Rocketship X-M (1950) for Lippert Pictures. Though he's no longer with us, Emery was born on this day in 1905. [Source: IMDB.com]

Ach! Reducing a man's life to a mere post in SciFiHistory.Net is never easy ... and it's especially difficult when considering the life of author and comic book storyteller Gardner F. Fox. In short, he's responsible for (allegedly) the stories for over 4,000 comic books and over 150 novels. Though I'm certainly no expert on the man's work, I think it's fair to say that -- in many respects -- he wrote manly reads for manly men. He's recognized as the co-creator (for DC Comics) of The Flash and Hawkman. But he leaves behind a massive, massive contribution to storytelling from the Golden and Silver Age of comic books as well as the age of pulp in publishing that deserves to be rediscovered. Though he's no longer with us, Fox was born on this day in 1911. [Source: IMDB.com]

David Hedison is another one of those faces you recognize from genre work yet might not know his name. He's enjoyed a fabulous career which includes contributions to The Fly (1958), The Lost World (1960), Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Journey to the Unknown, The Cat Creature (1973), Wonder Woman, Project U.F.O., Knight Rider, and Megiddo: The Omega Code 2 (2001). Hedison was born on this day in 1927. [Source: IMDB.com]

The lovely Vera Fusek appeared as no less than the President of the Earth aboard "Frontier in Space," an early 1970's era serial of the BBC's Doctor Who. Fusek was born on this day in 1932. [Source: IMDB.com]

Soap opera veteran Constance Towers enjoyed a guest spot aboard Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's "The Forsaken" in 1993. As far as SciFi goes, she's also appeared aboard Tales of Tomorrow, The Outer Limits, The 4400, and Hulu's adaptation of Stephen King's 11.22.63. Towers was born on this day in 1933. [Source: IMDB.com]

I realize that Star Trek: Insurrection probably wasn't anybody's favorite of The Next Generation string of movies, but I thought it was all well and good, albeit not nearly as incomprehensible as Nemesis. In Insurrection, the great Anthony Zerbe played a senior Starfleet officer who was caught between doing what was right and what was needed for the Federation, and it was great to see what his gravitas (as a creative talent) added to the role. Zerbe was born on this day in 1936. [Source: IMDB.com]

The fetching Joan Staley caught early man's eye with her work aboard the SciFi/Fantasy Valley Of The Dragons (1961). She also enjoyed a pair of appearances aboard the late 1960's Batman series. Staley was born on this day in 1940. [Source: IMDB.com]

While I don't know this for certain, I'm willing to guess that singer/songwriter/actress Jane Wiedlin (of The GoGo's) has a curious fascination with Science Fiction. For starters, she's had small roles in Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home; and -- to top it off -- she has a comic book property (which is also a rock opera) named Lady Robotika to her name. Wiedlin was born on this day in 1958.

In 1989, Matt McCoy had a role in the SciFi cult flick Deepstar Six, and that was the same year he turned up in a guest-starring role aboard Star Trek: The Next Generation as Devinoni Ral. McCoy was born on this day in 1958.

Funnyman Bronson Pinchot brought his particular brand of lunacy to his portrayal of 'The Prankster' aboard the popular Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. Pinchot was born on this day in 1959. [Source: IMDB.com]

When it comes to Star Trek: Enterprise, I just didn't much care for the program. As I've said many times, I thought going back to that time period was genius; I just didn't like the stories that the writers came up with. However, I did enjoy the work that the talented cast brought to the program each week, and one of those regulars was John Billingsley. As Dr. Phlox, he brought a level of alien admiration to the role of dispensing medicine that only John could. Billingsley was born on this day in 1960.

Actor Tony Goldwyn took a break from running the United States on ABC TV's popular soap opera serial Scandal in order to play father to Shailene Woodley in 2014's Divergent. Goldwyn was born on this day in 1960.

The fate of Owen Teale's character on Game Of Thrones was pretty much sealed when he decided to take a position opposite of that of show regular Jon Snow. (But aren't they all?) The actor's resume also includes memorable work aboard Doctor Who and Torchwood. Teale was born on this day in 1961. [Source: IMDB.com]

Early in her acting career, a young Gina Ravera had a guest role aboard the Star Trek: The Next Generation seventh season mind-trip, "Phantasms," which has gone on to be revered as one of the weirder adventures in all of Trekdom. (It's the one where Data dreams that Counselor Troi is a cake.) Ravera was born on this day in 1966.

It isn't all that often that you ladies get on the bridge of the Enterprise-E (shame on you, you sexist, Capt. Picard!), so when you do we gotta celebrate! So -- with said equality in mind -- go get 'em, Stephanie Niznik! She was seen briefly in Star Trek: Insurrection (all too briefly, I might add), but she's also found work aboard Star Trek: Enterprise as well as ABC TV's Lost. Though she's no longer with us, Niznik was born on this day in 1967. [Source: IMDB.com]

For whatever reason, SciFi rarely lures an actor of Timothy Olyphant's status. He's stuck to either more period or mainstream fare, but let's hope down the road he comes over to our side of the creative universe in some high profile projects. Olyphant was born on this day in 1968. [Source: IMDB.com]

As part of the cast to Syfy's new-fangled Battlestar Galactica, character actor Tahmoh Penikett did a great job trying to balance out the demands of living a regular life aboard a starship with that of serving in what remained of that universe's military. Penikett was born on this day in 1975. [Source: IMDB.com]

Gilmore Girls' alumnus Matt Czuchry has dabbled in Science Fiction with a guest role aboard Jake 2.0 and a guest voice-role aboard the Justice League Unlimited animated series. Czuchry was born on this day in 1977.

German-born Jana Pallaske's Hollywood clout didn't exactly go zero-to-sixty for her work aboard The Wachowski's poorly-received adaptation of Speed Racer (2008), a shame 'cause I found the film quite fun. Pallaske was born on this day in 1979. [Source: IMDB.com]

Candace Bailey braved the Apocalypse that was CBS's Jericho for sixteen episodes. Since then, she's popped up here and there in guest starring roles and has even committed voice work to Cartoon Network's Robot Chicken. Bailey was born on this day in 1982.

The dreamy Michaela McManus sacrificed all of that dreaminess in order to appear as a villainous Krill aboard Fox TV's The Orville. No stranger to genre work, she's also visited the worlds of The Vampire Diaries, Awake, and The Magicians. McManus was born on this day in 1983. [Source: IMDB.com]

In practically no time at all, young Jack Gleeson seamlessly morphed into the king everyone loved to hate aboard HBO's Game of Thrones. Gleeson was born on this day in 1992. [Source: IMDB.com]

A star is born! Oh, be still my beating heart! On this day in 1962, Invasion Of The Star Creatures enjoyed its very, very, very limited U.S. theatrical release. (Actually, IMDB.com shows this day in history as its only theatrical exhibition ever!) The feature starred Robert Ball and Gloria Victor, and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:

"A pair of comical soldiers (Robert Ball and Frankie Ray) investigate a mysterious crater in an atomic detonation area and discover several beautiful alien vixens (Dolores Reed and Gloria Victor) who plan to conquer the world using an army of vegetable monsters."

On this day in 1964, The Human Vapor condensed theatrically. The feature starred Tatsuya Mihashi and Kaoru Yachigusa, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:

"A librarian is subject to a scientific experiment which goes wrong and transforms him into 'The Human Vapour'. He uses his new ability to rob banks to fund the career of his girlfriend, a beautiful dancer. The Human Vapour is ruthless in his quest for money and kills anyone who stands in his way, especially police. He soon becomes Tokyo's most wanted criminal. Can he be stopped before he kills again?"

On this day in 1974 (in Sweden), the diabolical Superbeast sprang from the imagination of writer/director George Schenck. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:

"A doctor finds a jungle laboratory, complete with mad scientist and genetic engineering experiments."

On this day in 1983 (in Finland), Megaforce roared onto the silver screen. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary for SciFi/Actioner:

"Ace Hunter is the leader of Megaforce, an elite group of American soldiers who travel the world to fight Evil. In this case, Evil is represented by a third rate dictator who they must blow to bits."

Those of us who've been around at least as I have know all too well how sci-fi has had to embrace a fair amount of 'cheese' in order to have the longevity it has -- cheesy stories, cheesy special effects, and even just plain old cheese (aka voluptuous skin and bones). For a certain generation, there was no better 'cheese' than the lovely Traci Lords. Those of you interested can Google and/or Wiki the woman's legend; it's the stuff red-blooded American males are made of! Anyway, Ms. Lords has had a dubious flirtatious with legitimate pictures throughout the years, and she even dabbled in our territory. 1988's Not Of This Earth screened on this day back then, and here's the summary from IMDB.com:

"A nurse is assigned to help a strange man requiring regular blood transfusions at his home. He is really an alien checking out humans for harvesting their blood, since his race is dying out because of intergalactic nuclear wars. An assistant joins him as the final studies of blood are being completed, but the nurse, her boyfriend, and a local doctor begin figuring it out and resist."

On this day in 1997, Invisible Mom appeared on home video ... or is that "disappeared"? It starred Dee Wallace and Barry Livingston, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:

"A family's life is thrown into comical chaos after mom accidentally drinks her inventor husband's latest concoction, an invisibility potion."

As a lover of good ol' fashioned sci-fi monster, I actually spent a good portion of early 1998 looking forward to Godzilla. I was hoping that director Roland Emmerich could tap the magic he used to bring Independence Day to life once more and, in the process, serve up a wonderful return for the monster movie. However, on this day in 1998, my hopes were dashed as Godzilla came to life ... but maybe he was better off dead.

On this day in 2003 (in Kuwait), Xchange gave audiences a peek at one potential future. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:

"In the near future, a company called Xchange owns a mind transference technology that enables instantaneous travel by swapping bodies with someone at the destination. A member of the privileged corporate class ("Corpie") Xchanging for the first time unwittingly switches bodies with a terrorist. Forced to hide in a limited life span cloned body with just 2 days remaining, he races against time to stop the terrorist and regain his body."

On this day in 2015 (in the Phillipines), the SciFi/Horror film Infini sprang to life. It starred Daniel MacPherson and Grace Huang, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:

"An elite 'search and rescue' team transport onto an off-world mining-facility to rescue Whit Carmichael, the lone survivor of a biological outbreak."

On this day in 2015, They Came From The Ether enjoyed its release the 2015 GI Film Festival. The feature starred Tavis L. Baker and Lindsey Bullen, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:

"John Henry, a down on his luck salesman, is given a chance at success by an alien visitor, trading technology for help in human experimentation. Blinded by his ambition, the salesman open a doorway in which the alien can develop the means to control the human race. It's left to Detective Mike Washburn, who is investigating the missing persons reports, to get to the bottom of the disappearances."

On this day in 1960, The Twilight Zone aired "A Passage for Trumpet." This served as the thirty-second episode to the long-running program's first season, and here's the plot summary compliments of IMDB.com:

"A suicidally despondent trumpet player finds himself in a bizarre world where he seems to be the only moving being, except for one helpful other musician."

On this day in 1967, Doctor Who aired "The Evil of the Daleks: Part 1." This served as the thirty-seventh episode of the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:

"Trying to find the stolen TARDIS, the Second Doctor and Jamie are lured into a trap by the Doctor's old enemies the Daleks."

On this day in 1972, Doctor Who aired "The Time Monster." This served as the twenty-first episode of the program's ninth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:

"UNIT are invited to observe a demonstration of the new TOMTIT machine, unaware its creator, Professor Thascales, is actually the Master."

On this day in 1978, Project U.F.O. aired "Sighting 4011: The Dollhouse Incident." This served as the eleventh episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:

"Major Gatlin and S Sgt. Fitz investigate a UFO sighting by an emotionally troubled man who lives on the estate of a scheming politician who wants to use the incident to further his political aspirations."

On this day in 1981 (in Belgium), Battlestar Galactica aired "Take The Celestra." Officially, this served as the twentieth episode in the program's only season on original broadcast television, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:

"Starbuck runs into his long-lost love, Aurora, who is involved with a group trying to free the electronics ship Celestra from its supposedly dictatorial captain."

On this day in 1992, Quantum Leap aired "A Leap For Lisa." This served as the twenty-second episode to the popular program's fourth season (also it's season finale), and that sexy nurse about to lock lips with Dr. Sam Beckett is none other than Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Terry Farrell! Here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:

"While trying to save a married woman, Sam changes history and Al is sent to the gas chamber giving Sam a new observer."

On this day in 1996, goodbyes were said as Babylon 5 aired "War Without End, Part 2." This served as the seventeenth episode of the program's third season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:

"The mission to send Babylon 4 where it's needed continues. Sinclair's destiny is revealed. Sheridan sees what will happen to Centauri Prime in the future. Zathras explains who the "One" is."

On this day in 1996, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine aired "The Quickening." This served as the twenty-third episode of the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:

"Bashir tries to help a planet in the grips of a Dominion-engineered plague that guarantees a painful death."

On this day in 1996, Capt. Janeway and the crew aboard Star Trek: Voyager got back to "Basics, Part 1." This hour served as the finale to the program's second season, and here's the plot summary as detailed by TrekCore.com:

"When Seska sends a message to Chakotay that the Kazon plan to kill their son, Voyager sets out to rescue the baby. The message turns out to be a trap, however, and the Kazon take the ship, stranding the entire crew on an inhospitable planet with volcanoes, large reptiles, and hostile aliens."

On this day in 1997, the SciFi program that was The Burning Zone came to its end with the airing of its series finale, "On the Wings of Angels." This served as the show's nineteenth episode, and here's the summary as provided by TV.com:

"Prison officials experiment on prisoners then several prisoners escape and when their leader becomes ill, one of the prisoners knows of Taft and the escaped prisoners kidnap him, insisting he treat the dying man. Cassian and Hailey must find Taft, before the gang members kill him."

On this day in 1998, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine aired "Time's Orphan." This served as the twenty-fourth episode in the program's sixth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:

"The Chief's daughter gets caught in a time displacement and when they get her back, she is considerably older."

On this day in 1998, Star Trek: Voyager aired "Hope and Fear." This served as the twenty-sixth episode of the program's fourth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:

"After a Starfleet rescue ship, the Dauntless, is located when an alien visitor interprets a damaged data stream from Starfleet Command. The ship features a novel "slipstream" drive that offers quick trip home to earth. After her initial delight is tempered by suspicion and Seven of Nine proposes to remain in the Delta Quadrant Captain Janeway re-interprets the message and accosts the alien whom takes her and Seven-of-Nine away on the Dauntless. He reveals that her assistance to the Borg against Species 8472 led to Borg domination of a large portion of the Delta Quadrant and he intends to make her pay by returning to his home world inside Borg space."

Cleopatra 2525 was a "blink and you'll miss it program" that served up ample amounts of sci-fi cheese for inquiring young minds (mostly male) that wanted to watch. Cheese. Goofy humor. Victoria Pratt's killer abs. Its first season closed out on this day back in the year 2000 with an episode titled "Hel and Highwater: Part 2" as our three ladies remained trapped in an underwater city but their exploits meant certain doom for all the residents in the underground.

It all came down to this: on this day in 2000, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's The Lost World aired "Barbarians At The Gate" which served as the finale (Episode 22) of its first season. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:

"The adventurers try to leave the plateau in their balloon but are shot down by some raiders. As they try to escape the raiders, Summerlee gets shot by an arrow, while Challenger, Roxton and Malone drop from a collapsing bridge into a river."

On this day in 2017, Doctor Who aired "Extremis." This served as the sixth episode in the relaunched program's tenth season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:

"The Haereticum holds an ancient book known only as The Veritas. Throughout history, anyone who has ever read it has immediately taken their own life. When a new translation is online, spreading danger, the Vatican appeals to the Doctor for help. Will he read The Veritas? But can even the Doctor survive the ultimate truth?"

On this day in 2020, The 100 aired "From The Ashes." Officially, this was the first episode in the program's seventh (and final) season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:

"Clarke and her friends attempt to rebuild Sanctum as a new threat rises in the woods."

On this day in 2014, the Alternate History game Wolfenstein: The New Order enjoyed its release to the consumer marketplace. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the premise behind all of the action:

"After regaining consciousness following an injury sustained in World War II, legendary American commando, B.J. Blazkowicz, awakens from coma in a dystopian Nazi dominated world of 1960s. He tries to locate the remnants of the resistance."

On this day in 1943, The Adventures Of Superman radio serial began its "The Ghost Squadron" story. This serial aired from this day through June 2nd, and (unfortunately) I've not been able to locate any plot summary online.

If you're interested, the entire radio play can be listened to online via YouTube.com right here.