I find it nothing short of amazing that Ray Bradbury -- of all people -- would credit Edgar Rice Burroughs as being, bar none, the single most influential writer of the 20th Century; and that's quite probably because almost every artist, every filmmaker, every storyteller has drawn on the inspirations of the man's epic works.
Among Burroughs' scholars, it's fairly well known that the man failed (miserably) at almost every enterprise he undertook ... that is until, in 1911, he discovered how much he preferred writing stories. "Under the Moons of Mars" was his first written tale -- it garnered him a $400 check, as well as a world of inspiration -- and it's been said that this single act -- the publication of his first tale -- is commonly recognized as a significant changing point in the history of literature.
Burroughs would go on to create two of the most adventurous characters in books: Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, and John Carter of Mars. Both properties remain powerful in publishing even today.
If you're interested in knowing more about him, check out the official website bearing his name:
http://www.edgarriceburroughs.com/
He was born on this day in 1875 ... and, yes, he changed the look of our world. Happy Birthday!
Among Burroughs' scholars, it's fairly well known that the man failed (miserably) at almost every enterprise he undertook ... that is until, in 1911, he discovered how much he preferred writing stories. "Under the Moons of Mars" was his first written tale -- it garnered him a $400 check, as well as a world of inspiration -- and it's been said that this single act -- the publication of his first tale -- is commonly recognized as a significant changing point in the history of literature.
Burroughs would go on to create two of the most adventurous characters in books: Tarzan, Lord of the Apes, and John Carter of Mars. Both properties remain powerful in publishing even today.
If you're interested in knowing more about him, check out the official website bearing his name:
http://www.edgarriceburroughs.com/
He was born on this day in 1875 ... and, yes, he changed the look of our world. Happy Birthday!
Nathan Juran was an Oscar-winning director who leaves behind an incredible resume in the world of genre entertainment. In his lifetime, he helped bring some amazing properties to the big and small screen, including 20 Million Miles To Earth (1957), The Brain From Planet Arous (1957), The 7th Voyage of Sinbad (1958), and First Men In The Moon (1964) as well as episodes of Land of Giants, Men Into Space, Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea, The Time Tunnel, Lost In Space, and Land of the Giants. Though he's no longer with us, Juran was born on this day in 1907. [Source: IMDB.com]
Richard Farnsworth -- perhaps the most likable codger ever -- did give Science Fiction a try with a role in 1985's Space Rage. Though he's no longer with us, Farnsworth was born on this day in 1920.
Screen veteran George Maharis enjoyed several decades of lookin' good on the big and small screen. SciFi fans might recognize him from his work on The Satan Bug (1965), Death In Space (1974), The Bionic Woman (1976), Logan's Run (1978), and Superboy (1989). Maharis was born on this day in 1928.
- SciFiHistory.Net's exclusive take on The Satan Bug can be found right here.
Ron O'Neal played the signature baddie in 1972's seminal Superfly. He was Cdr. Dan Thurman in 1980's Cult/Sci flick, The Final Countdown. Plus, he was in charge of the invasion forces in 1984's Red Dawn. Though he's no longer with us, O'Neal was born on this day in 1937.
During her time as an actress, Elen Willard booked appearances in such properties as One Step Beyond, The Twilight Zone, and The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Willard was born on this day in 1941.
Born on this day in 1942, C. J. Cherryh is a science fiction and fantasy author, perhaps best known for her novels "Downbelow Station" (1981) and "Cyteen" (1988), both of which have won the Hugo Award. She's also responsible for the Alliance-Union series of novels, as well as the Foreigner books. If you're interested in exploring her worlds and background more, then you can check out her website by following the link:
http://cherryh.com/
http://cherryh.com/
Don Stroud's profile on IMDB.com boasts his participation in over 150 film and TV projects. The actor has enjoyed screen time in such properties as Supertrain (1979), The Amityville Horror (1979), The Powers of Matthew Star (1982), Hyper Space (1989), Super Force (1991), Quantum Leap (1991), Frogtown II (1992), Carnosaur 2 (1995), and Babylon 5 (pictured above right). Stroud was born on this day in 1943.
If you're like me, then you've seen James Rebhorn all over the place. He's been in the business for so long, and he's had such a terrific track record in so many programs and motion pictures that you'd think his would be a household name. SciFi fans know him best from his work in Independence Day (1996) and The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002). Though he's no longer with us, Rebhorn was born on this day in 1948.
I'm guessing everyone already knows that Billy Blanks' resume isn't rich with Science Fiction, but TC 2000 (1993) did give him something in the Action/SciFi hybrid field. Blanks was born on this day in 1955.
If you play dress up -- especially Alien Lady dress up -- then you'll find that SciFiHistory.Net has nothing but boundless love for you and your work! Today's subject: the lovely Sachi Parker who turned in a performance as Dr. Tava in "First Contact," a fourth season episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. Parker was born on this day in 1956.
As regular readers of SciFiHistory.Net will attest, I'll take any opportunity to champion a good SciFi comedy: they never get enough love. One of my personal favorites is 1985's Real Genius. In it, the lovely Michelle Meyrink played the super-smart but delightfully clueless Jordan (pictured above). Meyrink was born on this day in 1962.
Steve Pemberton played Strackman Lux for two episodes of Doctor Who's fourth season: "Forest of the Dead" and "Silence in the Library." Pemberton was born on this day in 1967.
When not being fondled by the Hollywood elite, Zak Penn fancies himself a screenwriter, penning scripts for such properties as Last Action Hero (1993), X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), The Incredible Hulk (2008), TV's Alphas, and The Avengers (2012). Penn was born on this day in 1968.
In the role of Foon Van Hoff, Debbie Chazen brought her unique charm to "Voyage of the Damned," a popular episode of Doctor Who's fourth season. Chazen was born on this day in 1971.
Ricardo Chavira is relatively new to genre entertainment, but he's certainly aligning his skills to some very respectable properties. Thus far, he's participated in Superman/Batman: Public Enemies, Dead Space: Aftermath, Dead Space 3, and Warehouse 13. Chavira was born on this day in 1971.
Veteran character actor Maury Sterling has tackled many great roles, one of which SciFi fans possibly recognize him from is Gordon Kern from CBS's summer series Extant (pictured). Sterling was born on this day in 1971.
Bang! That lovely lady with a gun is none other than Canadian actress Polly Shannon. In her years in the entertainment biz, she's graced the properties better known as Forever Knight (1995), Highlander: The Raven (1998), Earth: Final Conflict (1999), The Outer Limits (1999), Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal (1999), Code Name: Eternity (2000), and Hydra (2009). Shannon was born on this day in 1973.
After faithfully serving as part of the BBC's Torchwood team, Burn Gorman switched over to the silver screen, landing a role as part of Guillermo Del Toro's Pacific Rim (2013). Gorman was born on this day in 1974.
Hubba, hubba, hubba! The lovely Adrienne Wilkinson has been a part of Science Fiction and fantasy fandom for quite some time. Star Wars fans have enjoyed a double dose of her, relishing her as Maris Brood in The Force Unleashed I and II (video games) as well as her voice work in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. And Star Trek fans can look forward to discovering her work as Captain Lexxa Singh in the forthcoming Star Trek: Renegades video project. Wilkinson was born on this day in 1977.
Camille Chen has flirted with genre entertainment since her start in the biz, and 2009's TV miniseries Meteor gave her the chance to really flex her SciFi muscles. Chen was born on this day in 1979.
Aboard Powers -- the SciFi superhero program available as a Playstation Original Series -- actor Justice Leak plays Kutter, the detective trying to deal with those who have gifts beyond those of mortal men. Leak will also be seen with a guest-starring role aboard CBS's forthcoming Supergirl. Leak was born on this day in 1979.
Whether voice-acting or live, Michael Adamthwaite continues to build a powerhouse resume chocked full of SciFi goodness from start to finish. He's been a part of X-Men: Evolution, Jeremiah, Stargate: SG-1, Transformers: Cybertron, Flash Gordon, Sanctuary, Fringe, and The 100 to name but a few. Adamthwaite was born on this day in 1981.
In the summer of 2017, relative newcomer Zendaya burst onto the silver screen with a supporting role aboard Marvel's Spider-Man: Homecoming. Zendaya was born on this day in 1996. [Source: IMDB.com]
On this day in 1953 (in Japan), the original SciFi/Classic The War Of The Worlds was released in theatres. The feature starred Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal, and here's the plot summary that's provided by IMDB.com:
"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 1954, the fondly remembered Tobor the Great served up an early look at robotics. The feature starred Charles Drake and Karin Booth, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A young boy-genius befriends his grandfather's robot, designed as a test pilot for space travel and coveted by foreign spies."
"A young boy-genius befriends his grandfather's robot, designed as a test pilot for space travel and coveted by foreign spies."
The Tomorrow Man was a SciFi telefilm that starred Julian Sands, Giancarlo Esposito, and Craig Wasson. It first aired on this day in 1996, and -- according to IMDB.com -- here's the plot summary:
"The android Kent is programmed to travel back in time and save humanity from its future. His way leads to earth, which is going to be destroyed by a great rocket-disaster. As he wants to prohibit this, a mad scientist is in his way. But there are more problems: He has to act as a human. Computer-expert Jonathan Driscoll becomes his mentor and tries to help and repair him."
"The android Kent is programmed to travel back in time and save humanity from its future. His way leads to earth, which is going to be destroyed by a great rocket-disaster. As he wants to prohibit this, a mad scientist is in his way. But there are more problems: He has to act as a human. Computer-expert Jonathan Driscoll becomes his mentor and tries to help and repair him."
On this day in 2012. Lizard Man crept into its fragile existence. The feature starred Michael Harding and James Arthur Lewis, and here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"Haunted by a terrifying incident in his past, billionaire Bill Hansen seeks revenge by enlisting a team of mercenaries and a television personality to capture and exploit a dangerous lizard-like creature."
"Haunted by a terrifying incident in his past, billionaire Bill Hansen seeks revenge by enlisting a team of mercenaries and a television personality to capture and exploit a dangerous lizard-like creature."
On this day in 2015, Mad Max: Fury Road -- one of the year's better SciFi entries -- was released to the home video market. Incidentally, I visited my local WalMart that morning; I wasn't certain whether or not I wanted to pick up a copy for my collection, but -- within a matter of hours -- my store had absolutely zero Blu ray copies available. Whoa. That's somethin', folks. For those of you who missed it, here's the plot summary from IMDB.com:
"A woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in post apocalyptic Australia in search for her homeland with the help of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshiper, and a drifter named Max."
"A woman rebels against a tyrannical ruler in post apocalyptic Australia in search for her homeland with the help of a group of female prisoners, a psychotic worshiper, and a drifter named Max."
On this day in 1976, the SciFi cult series Star Maidens aired its very first episode. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the plot summary:
"Medusa, torn from orbit around Proxima Centauri by a comet, was sent careering through space. Ages later, with Medusa now in orbit between Uranus and Neptune, Adam and Shem escape the autocratic all-female Medusan society and head to earth."
"Medusa, torn from orbit around Proxima Centauri by a comet, was sent careering through space. Ages later, with Medusa now in orbit between Uranus and Neptune, Adam and Shem escape the autocratic all-female Medusan society and head to earth."
On this day in 2012, the first episode of the seventh season to the delicious newfangled Doctor Who premiered, broadcasting "Asylum of the Daleks" to the delight (and terror!) of Whovians everywhere. According to our friends at IMDB.com, here's the adventure's plot summary:
"Kidnapped by his oldest foe, the Doctor is forced on an impossible mission - to a place even the Daleks are too terrified to enter.... the Asylum. A planetary prison confining the most terrifying and insane of their kind, the Doctor and the Ponds must find an escape route. But with Amy and Rory's relationship in meltdown, and an army of mad Daleks closing in, it is up to the Doctor to save their lives, as well as the Pond's marriage."
"Kidnapped by his oldest foe, the Doctor is forced on an impossible mission - to a place even the Daleks are too terrified to enter.... the Asylum. A planetary prison confining the most terrifying and insane of their kind, the Doctor and the Ponds must find an escape route. But with Amy and Rory's relationship in meltdown, and an army of mad Daleks closing in, it is up to the Doctor to save their lives, as well as the Pond's marriage."
On this day in 2015, Zoo aired "Emotional Contagion." This served as the tenth episode of the program's first season, and here's the plot summary as provided by IMDB.com:
"Now fugitives, the members of the team head to Zambia with the ultimate goal of manufacturing a cure for abnormal behavior; Chloe makes a sacrifice."
"Now fugitives, the members of the team head to Zambia with the ultimate goal of manufacturing a cure for abnormal behavior; Chloe makes a sacrifice."
