Giant Monster Movies

5/15: Today in G-History

2008-05-15T05:34:00.001-07:00

1893: LEE PHELPS, who played a cop in "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms", is born in Pennsylvania.

1902: BERT SHEFTER, who composed music used in the stateside release of "Gigantis the Fire Monster", is born in Russia.

1905: JOSEPH COTTEN, who played Captain Craig McKenzie (and later, Cdr. Glenn McKenzie) in "Latitude Zero", is born in Petersburg, Vir. Married to co-star Patricia Medina, he was best known for his films with Orson Welles -- "Citizen Kane", "The Magnificent Ambersons", "The Third Man", and "Touch of Evil", as well as "Shadow of a Doubt", and "Tora! Tora! Tora!".

1954: JOHN BLYTH BARRYMORE, who played Avery in "Solar Crisis", is born. He is the grandson of John Barrymore, great-nephew of Lionel and Ethel Barrymore, and half-brother of Drew Barrymore.

1959: "The Mysterians" is released in the U.S.

1963: BRENDA BAKKE, who played Texas Air Ranger Sergeant Zim in "Gunhed" and Claire Beeson in "Solar Crisis", is born in Klemeth Falls, Ore.

1964: "Gorath" is released in the U.S.

1966: Episode 20 of "Ultra Q", "The Undersea Humanoid Ragon", debuts on Japanese TV.

1967: Episode 46 of "The Space Giants", "Vengeful Ghost Monster Umibozu vs. Ambassador Magma" a.k.a. "The Final Crush", debuts on Japanese TV.
BRIGITTE BAKO, the voice of Monique Dupre on "Godzilla: The Series", is born in Montreal.

1971: Episode 7 of "Kamen Rider", "Death Chameleon -- Duel! Remains of the World Fair", debuts on Japanese TV.

1972: NIGEL GREEN, who played the bulletin announcer in "Gorgo", dies of an overdose of sleeping pills in Brighton, England.

1976: Episode 51 of "Secret Task Force Goranger", "Blue Counterfeit Production! A Gunman in the Sunset", debuts on Japanese TV.

1978: ROBIN CRAVEN, who played the British ambassador in "Gammera the Invincible", dies from a stroke and heart failure in New York City.

1982: SIDNEY HICKOX, cinematographer on "Them!", dies La Canada, Calif.

1988: Episode 31 of "Kamen Rider Black", "Fight! Young Warriors!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1993: Episode 7 of "Electronic Superhuman Gridman", "Microwave Oven Explosion in 0 Seconds", debuts on Japanese TV.

1998: LINWOOD G. DUNN, who did optical effects on the original "King Kong", was a cameraman on "Son of Kong", and worked special effects on "Mighty Joe Young", dies of cancer in Los Angeles.

2001: "King Kong vs. Godzilla" is released on DVD in the U.S.

2003: "Dark Water" is released in Russia.
"Ringu" premieres in Germany on DVD.

2004: TATSUYA MIHASHI, who played Detective Okamoto in �The Human Vapor� and Dr. Furoi in �Casshern�, dies of an acute myocardial infarction in Tokyo.
"Garuda" premieres in France at the Cannes Film Market.

5/14: Today in G-History

2008-05-14T05:55:00.000-07:00

1906: JAMES FLAVIN, who played Second Mate Briggs in the original "King Kong" and Schultz in "Mighty Joe Young", is born in Portland, Maine.

1915: JACK WATSON, who played Supt. Brown in "Konga", is born Hubert Watson in Thorney, Cambridgeshire, England.

1921: RICHARD DEACON, who played a reporter at the L.A. news conference in "Them!", is born in Philadelphia. He is best remembered as Mel Cooley on "The Dick Van Dyke Show".

1932: KENJI SAHARA is born in Kawasaki City, Japan. He appeared in a record thirteen Godzilla movies: An unbilled extra (as both a journalist and a ship passenger) in "Gojira", wire inventor Kazuo Fujita in "King Kong vs. Godzilla", the ruthless Jiro Torahata in "Godzilla vs. the Thing", Editor Kanamaki in "Ghidrah -- the Three-Headed Monster", Morio in "Son of Godzilla", Commander Nishikawa in "Destroy All Monsters", Ichiro�s father Kenichi in "Godzilla�s Revenge", the captain of the Coral Queen in "Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster", Commander Segawa in "Terror of Mechagodzilla", the Prime Minister in "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah", G-Force Chief Takayuki Segawa in "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II" and "Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla", and paleontologist Hachiro Jinguji in �Godzilla: Final Wars�. His other film and TV appearances include leading man Shigeru Kawamura in "Rodan", scientist Joji Atsumi in "The Mysterians", Dr. Masada in "The H-Man", a helicopter pilot in "Mothra", First Officer Saiki in "Gorath", the Mu Agent posing as a journalist in "Atragon", First Mate Senzo Koyama in "Attack of the Mushroom People", Jun Manjome on "Ultra Q", Commander Fujimoto in Frank Sinatra's "None But the Brave", a soldier in "Frankenstein Conquers the World", scientist Yuzo in "War of the Gargantuas", Commander Takenaka in "Ultraseven", "Mighty Jack", alien-posessed Makoto Obata in "Yog -- Monster from Space", Dr. Jono on "Ultraman 80", and Togo on "Ultraman Nexus".

1946: LEE KOHLMAR, who played Mickey the second process server in "Son of Kong", dies from a heart attack in Hollywood.

1960: KAZUOKI TAKAHASHI, who played Sho Hayate/Change-Gryphon on "Blitzkrieg Task Force Changeman" and Kita and Hakkou on "Super Manchine: Metalder", is born.

1961: TIM ROTH, who played Jeff Platzer in the U.S. version of "Dark Water", is born Timothy Simon Smith in London. His other films include "Made in Britain", "Meantime", "The Hit", "Vincent & Theo", "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead", "Reservoir Dogs", "Pulp Fiction", "Four Rooms", "Rob Roy", "Everyone Says I Love You", "Gridlock'd", "The Legend of 1900", "The War Zone", "Planet of the Apes", and "Silver City".

1966: ROBERT FORSTER, who played Jack in "Dragon Wars", marries June Provenzano.

1968: GRADY HOLDER, lab technician on "Godzilla", is born in Santa Clara, Calif.

1972: Episode 7 of "Superhuman Barom-1" debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: Episode 7 of "Zone Fighter", "Zone Family's Critical Moment!", premieres on Japanese TV.

1974: Episode 6 of "Inazuman Flash" debuts on Japanese TV.

1977: Episode 7 of "JAKQ Blitzkrieg Squad", "Eight Supercars!! 300 Km/h Speed", debuts on Japanese TV.

1979: Episode 2 of "Megaloman: Warrior of Fire", "The Bracelets of Friendship", debuts on Japanese TV.

1982: SAYAKA YOSHINO, who played Renge in "Moon Over Tao" and was in "Mikazuki", is born in Tokyo.

1983: AMBER TAMBLYN, who played Katie Embry in �The Ring� and Aubrey Davis in "The Grudge 2", is born in Santa Monica, Calif. She is the daughter of Russ Tamblyn.

1984: JESSICA BOONE, the voice of Miyuki and a pedestrian woman in the English dub of �Gamera 3: Revenge of Iris�, is born in Houston.

1985: SALLY MARTIN, who played Tori Hanson a.k.a. the Blue Wind Ranger on �Power Rangers Ninja Storm� and �Power Rangers Dino Thunder�, is born.

1987: AMBER WALLACE, who played a student in the U.S. version of "One Missed Call", is born in Atlanta.

1989: Episode 28 of "Kamen Rider Black RX", "Agent of the Majestic Emporer", debuts on Japanese TV.

1993: Episode 12 of "Five Star Task Force Dairanger", "Drunk on Tofu", debuts on Japanese TV.

1996: DICK RANDALL, Western executive producer of "Space Warriors 2000", dies from a stroke in London.

2000: Episode 16 of "Kamen Rider Kuuga", "Greed", premieres on Japanese TV.
YOICHI MIURA, who played Manabu Nonaka in "G.I. Samurai", dies of cancer of the esophagus in Shibayama-cho, Chiba, Japan.

2002: "Ultraman Tiga and Ultraman Dyna" and "Ultraman Gaia: The Battle in Hyperspace" are released on video and DVD in the U.S.

2004: �Ju-on: The Grudge� is released in Greece.

5/13: Today in G-History

2008-05-13T06:25:00.001-07:00

1893: GEORGE J. TEAGUE, who did the technical effects on "The Giant Claw", is born in Pomona, Calif. He died March, 1985, in Iola, Kan.

1904: CHISHU RYU, who was in "The Last War", is born in Kunamoto, Japan. He played the priest in the "Tora-san" series, "The Funeral", and the 103-year-old man in "Akira Kurosawa�s Dreams". He also appeared in most of Yasujiro Ozu's films.

1914: SAMMY MENACKER, who played a strongman in "Mighty Joe Young", is born.

1940: RICHARD GANT, who played Adm. Phelps in "Godzilla", is born in Augusta, Maine.

1957: KOJI SUZUKI, novelist whose books were adapted into �Ringu: Kanzen-ban�, �Ringu�, �The Spiral�, �Ringu: The Final Chapter�, "The Ring Virus", �Ringu 0: Birthday�, �Dark Water�, �The Ring�, �The Ring Two�, and the U.S. version of �Dark Water�, is born in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka, Japan.

1962: FRANK JENKS, who played the truck driver in "The Amazing Colossal Man", dies at 59 of cancer in Hollywood, Calif.
WAYNE ROSE, a director on �Power Rangers Ninja Storm�, is born in Canada.

1966: EIJI OKI, who played the morgue detective in "The Grudge", is born in Nagasaki.

1972: Episode 59 of "Kamen Rider", "The Bottomless Swamp Demon Earthworm Man", premieres on Japanese TV.

1973: BRIDGETT RILEY, who played a Putty Patroller on "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers", is born in Oakville, MO. She is a former world kickboxing champion and was Halle Berry's stunt double in "Catwoman".

1975: HARUHIKO KATO, who played Ryusuke Kawashima in "Pulse", is born in Nagoya.

1978: KIIMBERLY BECK, who appeared on "Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero", marries William Barron Hilton.

1979: DAVID JOSEPH ANSELMO, who played Donald in "The Host", is born in Sudbury, Ont.

1981: "Virus" is released in France.

1982: "Virus" is released in West Germany.

1985: KENNER V. KEMP, who played the cop with a rifle in "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" and a trooper in "Them!", dies in Los Angeles.

2004: �Casshern� premieres in France at the Cannes International Film Festival.

2008: The U.S. version of "One Missed Call" is released on HD-DVD in the U.S.

5/12: Today in G-History

2008-05-12T06:51:00.000-07:00

1899: IRA WEBB, assistant director on the U.S. inserts of "Godzilla, King of the Monsters", is born.

1909: KNUD HALLEST, who was a naval officer in "Reptilicus", is born in Copenhagen.

1930: REN YAMAMOTO, who played doomed older brother Masaji Sieji in "Gojira", is born in Ashigara, Kanagawa, Japan. Often cast as monster victims, he was the landing craft commander in "Godzilla Raids Again", Shinogawa in "Half-Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman", the soldier in the jeep in "Rodan", a gangster in "The H-Man", an inspector in "The Secret of the Telegian", Nomura the robber in "The Human Vapor", a ship survivor in "Mothra", a helicopter pilot in "King Kong vs. Godzilla", a sailor in "Godzilla vs. the Thing" and "War of the Gargantuas", and a bystander in "Frankenstein Conquers the World".

1935: YUSUKE KAWAZU, who played Junichi Amamiya in "Black Lizard", Professor Omae in "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II", and Nojiri in "Gamera 2: Attack of Legion", is born in Tokyo. He was also in "War of the Insects" and �Gamera 3: Revenge of Irys�.

1952: JUN FUBUKI, who played Michi's mother in "Pulse", is born in Toyama, Japan.

1954: Shigeru Kayama accepts the assignment to write "Gojira".

1968: Episode 33 of "Ultra Seven", "The Wandering Planet" (a.k.a. "Island in the Sky"), debuts on Japanese TV.

1971: NAE YUUKI, who played Yoko Maki in "Ultraman: The Next", is born in Yokohama.

1972: Episode 7 of "Transforming Ninja Arashi" debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: "Kikaidaa Zero Wan" ("Kikaida 01") premieres on Japanese TV with Episode 1, "Invincible!! Android 01 is Born!!".
Episode 13 of "Kamen Rider V3", "Terrifying Commandant: Doktor G!!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: Episode 7 of "Condorman -- Symbol of Justice", "Mystery! Monster Nobility", debuts on Japanese TV.

1979: Episode 15 of "Battle Fever J", "Egos' Hades Cooking", debuts on Japanese TV.

1986: EMILY VANCAMP, who played Emily in �The Ring Two�, is born in Port Perry, Ont.

1995: Episode 11 of "Superpower Task Force Ohranger", �Obedience to the Refrigerator of Love�, debuts on Japanese TV.

1998: "Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe" is released on U.S. home video.

5/11: Today in G-History

2008-05-11T06:15:00.001-07:00

1902: DICK CURTIS, who played a member of the ship's crew in the original "King Kong", is born Richard Dye in Newport, Ken.

1973: Episode 32 of "Warrior of Love Rainbowman", "The Android Bagora", debuts on Japanese TV.

1974: Episode 13 of "Kamen Rider X", "Government of Darkness Radmus�s Major Prophecy", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 6 of "Electroid Zaborger", "A Steel Frame Building Disappeared!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: Episode 45 of "Electroid Zaborger", "Duel in a Ghost Town", debuts on Japanese TV.

1981: JAMES DIME, who played a member of the ship's crew in the original "King Kong", dies in Woodland Hills, Calif.

1987: Episode 8 of "Super Manchine: Metalder", "A Farewell to Barlock", debuts on Japanese TV.

2001: Filming begins on "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack".

2005: "Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean" premieres in France at the Cannes Film Festival.

2006: "Shinobi" is released in Thailand.
BYRON MORROW, who played a general in the U.S. version of "The Mysterians" and a newscaster in the U.S. version of "King Kong vs. Godzilla", dies of natural causes in Woodland Hills, Calif.

2007: "One Missed Call: Final" is released in Turkey.

5/10: Today in G-History

2008-05-10T07:25:00.000-07:00

1888: MAX STEINER, composer for the original "King Kong" and "Son of Kong", and composed stock music used in "The Giant Claw","20 Million Miles to Earth", and the 2005 "Kong" remake, is born in Vienna. A protege of Gustav Mahler and Johannes Brahms, he also wrote the scores for "Rio Rita", "The Informer", "Tovarich", "Gone With the Wind", "Now, Voyager", "Since You Went Away", "Life With Father", "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre", "So This Is Paris", "The FBI Story", and "A Summer Place".

1902: DAVID O. SELZNICK, who co-produced "King Kong", is born in Pittsburgh. He also produced "Gone With the Wind" and other classics.

1953: KAORI SEKI, who was in Episode 14 of "Silver Mask", and played an alien in Episode 7 of "Ultraman Ace" and Kazuko in Episode 7 of "Iron King", is born.

1962: "Mothra" is released in the U.S.

1965: JOHN COUNTRYMAN, digital sound transferer on "Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean", is born in Rockford, Ill.

1971: MASAHIRO KOBAYASHI, who played Mitsuaki Takeda in "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah -- Giant Monsters All-Out Attack", is born in Hokkaido. He also appeared on TV in "Marching of the Saints", "Age of Blue", and "GTO".
CLAIRE JANE VRANIAN, special makeup effects coordinator on the U.S. version of "Pulse", is born in West Sussex, England.

1973: Episode 6 of "Robot Detective", "Terror of the Execution Machine!!" debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: Episode 6 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 6 of "Kamen Rider Stronger" debuts on Japanese TV.

1985: ODETTE YUSTMAN, who played Beth McIntyre in "Cloverfield", is born in California.

1986: Episode 11 of "Super Nova Flashman", "Blu-Beastwarrior's Mother", debuts on Japanese TV.

1995: HAJIME SATO, who directed "Terror Beneath the Sea" and "Goke, Bodysnatcher from Hell", dies.

2000: CRAIG STEVENS, who played Col Joe Parkman in "The Deadly Mantis", dies of cancer in Los Angeles.

2005: �Varan the Unbelievable� is released on DVD in the U.S.

5/9: Today in G-History

2008-05-09T07:09:00.000-07:00

1962: EDWIN DUNKLEY, who did video services on "The Ring" and "Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean", is born in San Francisco.

1972: MEGUMI ODAKA, who played psychic Miki Saegusa in "Godzilla vs. Biollante", "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah", "Godzilla vs. Mothra: Battle for the Earth", "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II", "Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla", and "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah", is born in Kanagawa, Japan. She was also Akeno in "Princess From the Moon" and was on the TV series "Radiant Asuka Class" and "Youth Family".

1980: Episode 32 of "Sky Rider" debuts on Japanese TV.

1981: Episode 27 of "Kamen Rider Super-1" debuts on Japanese TV.
JUN USAMI, who played Dr. Yamaguchi in "The Vampire Doll", dies of a brain hemorrhage.

1983: RYUHEI MATSUDA, who played an NSA client in "Cutie Honey", is born in Tokyo. He was also in "Izo".

1985: SETSUKO WAKAYAMA, who played Hidemi Yamaji in "Godzilla Raids Again", dies. She was born in 1930.

1992: "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" is screened at the Cannes Film Festival.

2000: ARTHUR DAVIS, producer of the U.S. version of "The Final War", dies.

2002: SHOGO SHIOTANI, who played ZAC Officer Akira Hojyo/Mars on "Cybercop" and a fugitive alien on "Ultraman Tiga", commites suicide by shooting himself in the head.

2004: LEN WISEMAN, who did props on "Godzilla", marries Kate Beckinsdale.

5/8: Today in G-History

2008-05-08T06:35:00.000-07:00

1907: JIMMY CROSS, who played the sergeant at the reception desk in "The Amazing Colossal Man", is born in New York City. He is best remembered as elevator man Mr. Jesse Flouge on the TV series "How to Marry a Millionaire".

1936: KAZUO KOIKE, creator of the "Electroid Zaborger" and "The Princess Blade" manga, is born in Akita, Japan. He also created the "Lone Wolf and Cub" series.

1966: Episode 19 of "Ultra Q", "Challenge From the Year 2020", debuts on Japanese TV.

1967: Episode 45 of "The Space Giants", "Mysterious Sea Creature Umibozu Appears in Nikko" a.k.a. "The Fantastic Gonda", debuts on Japanese TV.

1971: Episode 6 of "Kamen Rider", "Death Chameleon", debuts on Japanese TV.

1972: "King Kong Escapes" is released in Sweden.

1974: AYANE MIURA, who played Sadako Yamamura in "Ringu: Kanzen-ban", is born in Shizuoka Prefecture, Japan.

1976: Episode 50 of "Secret Task Force Goranger", "Secret of the Blue Wings! Varidoreen in Danger", debuts on Japanese TV.

1987: "King Kong Lives" is released in Sweden.

1988: Episode 30 of "Kamen Rider Black", "Saying Aloha to an Assassin", debuts on Japanese TV.

1993: Episode 6 of "Electronic Superhuman Gridman", "Melody of Terror", debuts on Japanese TV.

1994: STEVEN KEATS, who played Chuck Wade in "The Last Dinosaur", dies of an apparent suicide in New York City.
MURRAY SPIVAK, who did sound effects for the original "King Kong" and "Son of Kong", dies in California.

1995: JASON DAVID FRANK, who played Tommy Oliver on the "Power Rangers" series, marries his first wife, Shawna.

1999: Episode 118 of "Godzilla: The Series", "An Early Frost", premieres on Fox.
JOHN DUINO, system administrator on "Godzilla", marries Amy Smith.

5/7: Today in G-History

2008-05-07T04:41:00.001-07:00

1888: SELMER JACKSON, who played a judge in "Mighty Joe Young", is born in Lake Mills, Iowa.

1911: ISHIRO HONDA, who directed "Godzilla, King of the Monsters" (and provided the hand that threw the power switch), is born in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. He followed his landmark film with "Half-Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman", "Rodan", "The Mysterians", "The H-Man", "Varan the Unbelievable", "Battle in Outer Space", "The Human Vapor", "Mothra", "Gorath", "King Kong vs. Godzilla", "Atragon", "Attack of the Mushroom People", "Godzilla vs. the Thing", "Dagora the Space Monster", "Ghidrah -- the Three-Headed Monster", "Frankenstein Conquers the World", "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero", "War of the Gargantuas", "King Kong Escapes", "Destroy All Monsters", "Latitude Zero", "Godzilla�s Revenge", "Yog -- Monster from Space", episodes of "Return of Ultraman", "Mirrorman", "Fireman", "Zone Fighter", and "Terror of Mechagodzilla", sometimes doing writing and effects duties on these films. A longtime friend of Akira Kurosawa, he was an assistant director on "Stray Dog", "Kagemusha", "Ran", "Akira Kurosawa's Dreams", "Rhapsody in August", and "Madadayo", and his own non-sci-fi films include the documentaries "The Story of a Collaborative Union" and "The Legend of Ise-Shima", "The Blue Pearl", "The Man Who Came to Port", "Eagle of the Pacific", and "Farewell, Rabaul".

1933: NOBUO TSUKAMOTO, who played Captain Katsuichiro Kato on "Return of Ultraman", and Jiro Tanihara on "Sky Rider", "Kamen Rider Super-1", and "Kamen Rider Super-1: The Movie", is born.

1947: TAKESHI SASAKI, who played Ichimonji Hayato a.k.a. Kamen Rider 2 on "Kamen Rider", "Kamen Rider vs. Shocker", "Kamen Rider V3", "Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron", "Kamen Rider X", "Kamen Rider Stronger", "5 Kamen Riders vs. King Dark", "Kamen Rider: All Back Again! 7 Riders", "Sky Rider", and "8 Kamen Riders vs. Galaxy King", is born in Shibata, Niigata, Japan. He also played Ground-Zel on "Space Ironmen Kyodyne".

1950: STEVE CLEMENTE, who played the native Witch King in "King Kong" and "Son of Kong", dies of a cerebral hemorrhage in Los Angeles.

1965: TAKAYA KAMIKAWA, who was in �Gamera 3: Revenge of Irys� and "Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean", is born.

1972: Episode 6 of "Superhuman Barom-1" debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: Episode 6 of "Zone Fighter", "King Ghidorah Strikes Back!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1974: Episode 5 of "Inazuman Flash" debuts on Japanese TV.
KEI MIZUTANI, who played Shelinda on "Star Beast Task Force Gingaman" and "Star Beast Task Force Gingaman vs. Megaranger", is born Saori Fukuda in Aomori Prefecture, Japan. She also played Saki on �Icarus Task Force Jetman�.

1977: MEL BERNS, makeup supervisor on the original "King Kong", "Son of Kong", and "Mighty Joe Young", dies in Hollywood, Calif.
Episode 6 of "JAKQ Blitzkrieg Squad", "Nine Pokers!! The Beautiful Woman's Trap", debuts on Japanese TV.

1979: "Megaroman, Hono o-no Senshi" ("Megaloman, Warrior of Fire"), premieres on Japanese TV with Episode 1, "The Fiery Superman Strikes!"

1980: "Gamera, Super Monster" is released in the U.S.

1985: "Variety" reports that "Godzilla 1985" grossed roughly $6.8 million in Japan.

1989: Episode 27 of "Kamen Rider Black RX", "Huge Counterattack! The Prince of Shadows", debuts on Japanese TV.

1993: Episode 11 of "Five Star Task Force Dairanger", "A Magnet Gauss!", debuts on Japanese TV.

2000: Episode 15 of "Kamen Rider Kuuga", "Armor", debuts on Japanese TV.

2004: �Gojira�, the subtitled original movie, is released in the U.S. and is the top grossing film per theater that weekend.

2006: MACHIKO SOGA, who played Queen Hedrian on "Electronic Task Force Denziman" and "Solar Task Force Sunvulcan", Bandora on "Dinosaur Task Force Zyuranger", Queen Pandora on "Space Sheriff Spielban", and Magiel on "Magiranger", dies from pancreatic cancer in Tokyo.

5/6: Today in G-History

2008-05-06T07:03:00.001-07:00

1878: EDWARD CLARK, who played a member of the ship's crew in the original "King Kong" and the lighthouse keeper in "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", is born in Russia.

1904: RAYMOND BAILEY, who played Dr. Townsend in "Tarantula", is born in San Francisco. He is best remembered as banker Milburn Drysdale on "The Beverly Hillbillies".

1910: JUNE GITTELSON, who played a fat woman in the original "King Kong", is born in Los Angeles.

1961: SHIRO IZUMI, who played Yuuma Oozara a.k.a. Change Pegasus on "Blitzkrieg Task Force Changeman" and Burai a.k.a. Dragon Ranger on "Dinosaur Task Force Zyuranger", is born.

1964: "Variety" reports that the U.S. theatrical and TV rights to "Mothra vs. Godzilla" have been acquired by Henry G. Saperstein.

1967: ROBERT FLOYD, who played an Apache pilot in "Godzilla", is born.

1972: Episode 58 of "Kamen Rider", "Poison Demon Tokage -- Duel in the Valley of Fear", debuts on Japanese TV.

1987: JACK PALANCE, who played Travis in "Solar Crisis", marries Elaine Rogers.

1998: "Godzilla, King of the Monsters", "Godzilla vs. the Thing" (or "Godzilla vs. Mothra"), and "Terror of Mechagodzilla" are released on DVD in the U.S by Simitar.

5/5: Today in G-History

2008-05-05T06:48:00.000-07:00

1884: CY CLEGG, who played a sailor and did stunts in "Son of Kong", is born in Pennsylvania. He died in Pennsylvania in September, 1963.

1912: JOE GRAY, who played a longshoreman in "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", is born in Brooklyn, N.Y.

1926: NEIL "BING" RUSSELL, who played a deputy in "Tarantula" and a state trooper at the train and bus wrecks in "The Deadly Mantis", is born in Brattleboro, Ver. He is best remembered as the sheriff in "Bonanza" and Robert in "The Magnificent Seven", and was Kurt Russell's father.

1947: DAISUKE (NAOYA) BAN is born Kiyonori Saito in Kawaguchi City, Japan. He played Jiro a.k.a. "Kikaida", reprising the role in "Jumping Out: Android Kikaida", and "Kikaida 01"; Watari Goro a.k.a. "Inazuman", reprising the role in "Jumping Out, Inazuman" and "Inazuman Flash"; Daisuke Izumo a.k.a. Fire Ninja on "Ninja Captor", Makoto Jin a.k.a. Battle Cossack II on "Battle Fever J", Dr. Heihachiro Ikuma in "Ringu", "Ringu 2", and "Ringu 0"; and starred in the TV series "Special Investigation Frontline", and "Electronic Superhuman Gridman", and made special appearances on "Secret Task Force Goranger", "Vigilante Zubat", and "Super Animal Task Force Liveman", "Monster-Hunter Juspion", "High Speed Task Force Turboranger", and �Sukeban Deka�.

1951: EDDIE DUNN, who played the first bartender in "Mighty Joe Young", dies in Hollywood.

1954: DAVE SPECTOR, who played the phony producer in the U.S. version of "One Missed Call", is born in Chicago.

1955: NICHOLAS GUEST, the voice of Chad Gordon on the "Freeze" episode of "Godzilla: The Series", is born. He is the brother of Christopher Guest and the brother-in-law of Jamie Lee Curtis.

1968: ALBERT DEKKER, who starred in the U.S. release of "Gammera the Invincible", dies of asphyxia from accidentally hanging himself in Hollywood, Calif.
Episode 31 of "Ultra Seven", "A Flower Where a Devil Dwells" (a.k.a. "Blood Thirst"), debuts on Japanese TV.
ATSURO WATABE, who played Oikawa in �Zebraman�, is born in Tokyo.

1972: Episode 6 of "Transforming Ninja Arashi" debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: Episode 12 of "Kamen Rider V3", "Junko Becomes a Mutant's Bride?!", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 43, the final episode of "Kikaida", "Jiro's End or Dark's Destruction?!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: Episode 6 of "Condorman -- Symbol of Justice" debuts on Japanese TV.

1979: Episode 14 of "Battle Fever J", "Marriage of Beauty and Beast", debuts on Japanese TV.
YUKIKO OKAMOTO, who played Dr. Yagi in "Returner", is born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

1995: Episode 10 of "Superpower Task Force Ohranger", "The Visiting Thief", debuts on Japanese TV.

1998: "Godzilla: King of the Monsters" is released on DVD in the U.S.

2004: �Avalon� premieres in Mexico in Mexico City.

5/4: Today in G-History

2008-05-04T05:50:00.001-07:00

1893: EDGAR DEARING, who played the second tramp in "Tarantula", is born in Ceres, Calif.

1894: RUSSELL GAIGE, who had a bit part in "Them!", is born in Iowa.

1913: HIYASA MORISHIGE, who played fortune teller in "Madame White Snake", the prime minister in "Don't Call Me a Con Man" and the Earth Federation President in "Sayonara, Jupiter", is born in Osaka.

1928: DAVID GARDNER, who played Watt in "Virus", is born in Toronto.

1929: NOBORU NAKAYA is born in Tokyo. He played Shikibu Heinai in the "In a Cup of Tea" segment of "Kwaidan" and Yoshitaka Kujo in "G.I. Samurai", and was in "Time of the Apes".

1950: HILLY HICKS, who was the voice of Brock on "The Godzilla Power Hour", is born in Los Angeles.

1953: MASASHI EBARA, who was the voice of Professor Go on the "Giant Robo" anime, is born in Kanagawa, Japan.

1972: Bassist MIKE DIRNT of Green Day, who performed "Brain Stew" on the "Godzilla" soundtrack, is born Mike Pritchard in Berkeley, Calif.

1973: Episode 31 of "Warrior of Love Rainbowman", "The Terrifying Sequential Explosions", debuts on Japanese TV.

1974: Episode 12 of "Kamen Rider X", "The Fascination of Super Ability Woman", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 5 of "Electroid Zaborger", "Omega Hell Project Beginning", debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: Episode 44 of "Electroid Zaborger", "Crisis at Zaborger Base!!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1986: VIVIAN MASON, who played secretary Miss Ryan in "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", marries John W. Hite.

1987: Episode 7 of "Super Manchine: Metalder", "The Flames of Defiance", debuts on Japanese TV.

1997: Episode 12 of "Electromagnetic Task Force Megaranger" debuts on Japanese TV.

1998: ALBERT GLASSER, who composed the scores for "The Amazing Colossal Man", "Earth vs. the Spider", and "War of the Colossal Beast", and stock music used in the U.S. release of "Varan the Unbelievable", dies at 82 of a heart attack in Los Angeles.

2007: SHINSUKE ACHIHA, who played Soga on "Ultra Seven", is found dead from an apparent suicide in Kagoshima Prefecture.

5/3: Today in G-History

2008-05-03T06:44:00.000-07:00

1936: ARNOLD GRAY, who played a reporter in the original "King Kong", dies in Alpine, Calif.

1948: CHRIS MULKEY, who played Agent Frank Pinsky in "Dragon Wars", is born in Viroqua, Wis.

1961: "Konga" is released in the U.S.

1966: RICK BONGIOVANNI, mold maker on "Godzilla", is born in San Jose, Calif.

1967: "Gamera vs. Barugon" is released in West Germany.

1972: BRUCE CABOT, who played Jack Driscoll in the original "King Kong", dies from lung and throat cancer in Woodland Hills, Calif.
Episode 5 of "Transforming Ninja Arashi" debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: JENNIFER TUNG, who was on Saban's "Masked Rider", is born. She appeared on the TV series "Charmed", "King of Queens", and "Angel", and the TV movie "The President's Man".
Episode 5 of "Robot Detective", "The Double Criminal Mystery", debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: Episode 5 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 5 of "Kamen Rider Stronger" debuts on Japanese TV.

1991: Episode 12 of "Icarus Task Force Jetman", "The Mystery Bus", debuts on Japanese TV.

1997: Shooting on "Godzilla" begins in New York City.

2002: "Uzumaki" premieres in the U.S. in New York City.

5/2: Today in G-History

2008-05-02T06:54:00.001-07:00

1894: VERNON L. WALKER, cinematographer on "King Kong" and "Son of Kong", is born in Detroit.

1922: DOUG WILDEY, producer of "The Godzilla Power Hour", is born in Yonkers, N.Y.

1968: HIKARU MIDORIKAWA, who was the voice of Salamandes on "Rescue Task Force Go Go V" and Bakuryuu Top Galer on "Blast Dragon Task Force Abaranger", is born in Tochigi, Japan.

1972: ADAM T. WEISINGER, second second assistant director on the U.S. version of "Dark Water", is born in New York City.

1979: SANEZUMI FUJIMOTO, who co-produced "The Human Vapor" and "Godzilla vs. the Thing", dies in Tokyo.

1980: Episode 31 of "Sky Rider" debuts on Japanese TV.

1981: Episode 26 of "Kamen Rider Super-1" debuts on Japanese TV.

1996: Tri-Star announces that Dean Devlin and Roland Emmerich will make "Godzilla".
DANNY KAMEKONA, who appeared on "Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero", dies in Los Angeles.

2007: "The Host" is released in Belgium.

5/1: Today in G-History

2008-05-01T06:19:00.001-07:00

1901: HEINZ ROEMHELD, who co-composed stock music used in "King Kong vs. Godzilla", is born in Milwaukee.

1916: GLENN FORD, who played President Richardson in "Virus", is born Gwyllyn Samuel Newton Ford in Sainte-Christine, Quebec. His films include "Heaven with a Barbed Wire Fence", "The Lady in Question", "A Stolen Life", "Gilda", "The Loves of Carmen", "Affair in Trinidad", "The Big Heat", "The Blackboard Jungle", "The Teahouse of the August Moon", "3:10 to Yuma", "The Gazebo", and "The Money Trap".

1917: JOHN BERADINO, who played LAPD patrolman Ryan in "Them!", is born in Los Angeles. He played baseball with the Cleveland Indians when they won the World Series in 1948.

1953: NAOYA UCHIDA, who played Tatsuya Midorikawa a.k.a. Denzi-Green on "Electronic Task Force Denziman" and was the voice of Inspector Soichiro Yagami on the "Death Note" anime, is born in Japan.

1960: YOSHIYA OBARA, who did the sound on �Ringu� and �Zebraman�, is born in Iwate Prefecture, Japan.

1966: Episode 10 of "Ultra Q", "The Rainbow's Egg", debuts on Japanese TV.
LEE TUNG FOO, who played a waiter in "Mighty Joe Young", dies in Los Angeles.

1967: Episode 44 of "The Space Giants", "Magma's Mission" a.k.a. "The Four Million-Volt Shock", debuts on Japanese TV.

1971: Episode 5 of "Kamen Rider", "Demon Mantis-Man", debuts on Japanese TV.
MIKE LAMBERT, stuntman on "The Princess Blade", is born.

1975: MANAMI HONJOU, who was in "Onmyoji", is born in Yamagata, Japan.

1976: Episode 49 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.

1980: YOSUKE ICHIKAWA, who played Hikaru a.k.a. Magi Shine on "Magiranger", "Magiranger the Movie: Bride of Infershia", "Magiranger vs. Dekaranger", and "Rumbling Task Force Bokenger vs. Super Sentai", is born.
ANA CLAUDIA TALANCON, who played Taylor Anthony in the U.S. version of "One Missed Call", is born in Quintana Roo, Cancun, Mexico.

1981: MARTIN SKILES, who composed music used in "The Giant Claw" and "20 Million Miles to Earth", dies.

1983: CHARLES SHERLOCK, who played a policeman in "Mighty Joe Young", dies in North Hollywood, Calif.

1988: Episode 29 of "Kamen Rider Black" debuts on Japanese TV.

1995: Episode 5 of "Electronic Superhuman Gridman", "Fatal Blade of Man's Pride", debuts on Japanese TV.

1997: ARIEL GADE, who played Ceci in the U.S. remake of "Dark Water", is born in San Jose, Calif.

1999: Episode 120 of "Godzilla: The Series", "Web Site", premieres on Fox.

2002: �Avalon� is released in Belgium.

2004: Episode 29 of �Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon�, �Act 29�, debuts on Japanese TV.

4/30: Today in G-History

2008-04-30T06:53:00.001-07:00

1914: CHRISTOPHER RHODES, who played McCartin in "Gorgo", is born in Alverstone, England.

1922: JAMES R. HASKIN, who played the civilian announcer in "The Deadly Mantis", is born in Kansas.

1930: ROKKO TORA, who played a samurai in "Kuroneko", is born.

1953: LAWRENCE L. SIMEONE, director on "Power Rangers Turbo", is born.

1962: TOM FAHN, the voice of a Goa servant on the "Ambassador Magma" anime, Skelereena on "Might Morphin Power Rangers", Firecat on "Big Bad Beetleborgs", Count Nocturn, Wicked Wisher, and Demon Racers on "Power Rangers Turbo", Chameliac and Green Shark on "Power Rangers Lost Galaxy", and a Shadow underling and a reporter on Kikaider 01: The Animation", is born in New York City.

1972: JOHN BERADINO, who played LAPD patrolman Ryan in "Them!", marries Marjorie Binder.
Episode 5 of "Superhuman Barom-1" debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: Episode 5 of "Zone Fighter", "The Arrival of King Ghidorah", debuts on Japanese TV.

1974: Episode 4 of "Inazuman Flash" debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: MICHAEL CHATURANTABUT, who played Chad Lee the Blue Lightspeed Power Ranger on "Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue" and "Power Rangers Time Force", is born in Rayong, Thailand.

1976: "Tidal Wave" is released in Finland.

1977: Episode 5 of "JAKQ Blitzkrieg Squad", "Three Snaps!! The Ballad of Betrayal", debuts on Japanese TV.

1988: EMMETT BERGHOLTZ, camera operator on "Mighty Joe Young", dies.

1989: Episode 26 of "Kamen Rider Black RX", "Bosskan's Counterattack", debuts on Japanese TV.
TAIJI TOMOYAMA, who played Ushi in "Onibaba" and a farmer in "Kuroneko", dies.

1993: Episode 10 of "Five Star Task Force Dairanger", "Ah, the Goddess of Revenge", debuts on Japanese TV.

2000: Episode 14 of "Kamen Rider Kuuga", "Omen", debuts on Japanese TV.

4/29: Today in G-History

2008-04-29T06:51:00.001-07:00

1922: NORIKO SENGOKU, who played a female villager in "Kwaidan" and the female delegate in "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero", is born in Tokyo. She also played Yoshio Tsuchiya�s kidnapped wife in "The Seven Samurai".

1930: DAVID O. SELZNICK, who co-produced "King Kong", marries Irene Mayer, daughter of MGM producer Louis B. Mayer.
KYOKO KISHIDA, who was the narrator on "The Last Days of Planet Earth" and played Kogo in "Princess from the Moon", is born in Tokyo. She is the cousin of Shin Kishida.

1934: AKIRA TAKARADA, who played Naval Salvage Officer Hideo Ogata in "Godzilla, King of the Monsters", is born in Chosun, Korea. He also was Takeshi Iijima ("The Boy" in the U.S. version) in "Half-Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman", "The Three Treasures", Takano in "The Last War", reporter Ichiro Sakai in "Godzilla vs. the Thing", astronaut Kazuo Fuji in "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero", Yashi the bank robber in "Godzilla versus the Sea Monster", Lt. Cdr. Jiro Nomura in "King Kong Escapes", Dr. Ken Tashiro in "Latitude Zero", Environmental Planning Board Chief Jyoji Minamito in "Godzilla vs. Mothra: The Battle for Earth" and U.N. Secretary General Naotaro Daigo in �Godzilla: Final Wars�. One of Toho�s biggest stars, Takarada made his film debut in "And Then the Liberty Bell Rang" and "Bride in a Bathing Suit", and appeared in "Early Autumn", "Chushingura", "A Woman�s Life", "Wall-Eyed Nippon", "100 Shot, 100 Killed", "Booted Babe, Busted Boss", "A-Ge-Man", and "Minbo: Or the Gentle Art of Japanese Extortion".

1940: JACK MORRIS, who played a rocket pilot in "The Green Slime", is born in Winnipeg, Man.

1955: WENDEE LEE is born in Los Angeles. She was the U.S. dubbing voice of Yukiko in "Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis", Iria in "Zeiram 2", several voices on "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers", Knighttime and others on "V.R. Troopers", a reporter on Saban's "Masked Rider", Impersunator on "Power Rangers Zeo", Alpha 6 on "Power Rangers in Space" and "Power Rangers Lost Galaxy", Miyuki on "Kikaider: The Animation", Mari/Bijinder on "Kikaider 01: The Animation", Redeye on "Power Rangers Time Force", Yurika Saegusa in "Alive", and Rika Nishina in "Ju-on: The Grudge".

1964: "Mosura tai Gojira" ("Mothra vs. Godzilla") a.k.a. "Godzilla vs. the Thing" a.k.a. "Godzilla vs. Mothra" is released in Japan.

1972: KAN ISHII, who wrote the music for "Gorath", dies.
Episode 57 of "Kamen Rider", "Earth-Spider Dogumondo", debuts on Japanese TV.

1984: FIRASS DIRANI, who played Nick Russell the Red Mystic Ranger on "Power Rangers Mystic Force", is born.

1997: KO NISHIMURA dies of heart failure in Tokyo. He played Secretary of the Space Agency Murata in "Gorath" and Makoto Nishimura in "Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis".

1999: "Ringu" is released in Hong Kong.

2000: BOB WEINSTEIN, co-producer of the U.S. version of "Pulse", marries Annie Clayton. Born in 1954 in New York City, he and his brother Harvey founded the Miramax and Dimension film companies.

2003: "Gamera: Attack of Legion" is released on DVD in the U.S.

2006: "Gamera: Chiisaki yusha-tachi" ("Gamera: Little Brave Ones") a.k.a. "Gamera the Brave" is released in Japan.
YOICHI NUMATA, who played Takashi Yamamura in "Ringu" and "Ringu 2", and Kuka in "The Princess Blade", dies from heart failure in Saitama.

"I'm not as afraid of Godzilla as I am of the editor... he's meaner."

4/28: Today in G-History

2008-04-28T06:38:00.000-07:00

1912: KANETO SHINDO, who directed "Onibaba" and "Kuroneko" and wrote "The Whale God" and "Deathquake", is born in Hiroshima.
MARJORIE CORSO, costume designer on "Earth vs. the Spider", is born in March Field, Missouri.

1917: ROBERT CORNTHWAITE, who did the dubbing on �Reptilicus�, is born in St. Helens, Ore.

1930: RICHARD C. SARAFIAN, who directed "Solar Crisis", is born in New York City. His son, Tedi Sarafian, co-wrote songs for the film.

1950: STUART GILLARD, who played Dr. Mayer in "Virus", is born in Coronation, Alb.

1957: CHRISTOPHER YOUNG, who composed music used in the U.S. release of "Godzilla 1985" and was composer on "The Grudge" and "The Grudge 2", is born Robert Gilchrist Ilsley Young in Redbank, N.J.

1965: STEVEN JAY BLUM, who was the U.S. dubbing voice of the anime "Ambassador Magma" and Saburo/Hakaider on "Kikaider: The Animation", is born in Santa Monica, Calif.

1968: Episode 30 of "Ultra Seven", "For Whom Holds the Glory" (a.k.a. "Trial By War"), debuts on Japanese TV.

1972: Episode 4 of "Transforming Ninja Arashi" debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: Episode 11 of "Kamen Rider V3", "The Claws of Evil Reach Out for V3!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 42 of "Kikaida", "Henshin Disabled!? The Hakaider Great Revolt!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1974: SHINJI KASAHARA, who was on "Future Task Force Timeranger", is born.

1975: Episode 5 of "Condorman -- Symbol of Justice", debuts on Japnaese TV.

1979: Episode 13 of "Battle Fever J" debuts on Japanese TV.
"Uratora 6-Kyodai tai kaiju gundan" ("The Six Ultra Brothers vs. the Monster Army") a.k.a. "White-Monkey Hanuman and the Six Ultra Brothers" a.k.a. "Space Warriors 2000" is released in Japan.

1980: DEE CARROLL, who played the telephone operator in "Tarantula", dies after surgery in Burbank, Calif.

1987: RUSSELL SAUNDERS, assistant director on "Them!", dies.

1989: "Ultraman U.S.A." a.k.a. "Ultraman: The Adventure Begins" premieres in Japan.
"Ultraman Festival" is released in Japan.

1995: Episode 9 of "Superpower Task Force Ohranger", �Suddenly!! Traitor�, debuts on Japanese TV.

1998: "Godzilla vs. King Ghidora" and "Godzilla vs. Mothra: The Battle for Earth" are released in the U.S. on video.

2001: "Ringu" premieres in Sweden at the Uppsala Horror Film Festival.

2002: HIDEAKI ANNO, director of �Cutie Honey�, marries his wife, Moyoco.

2004: "The Princess Blade" premieres in Norway on DVD.

4/27: Today in G-History

2008-04-27T05:31:00.000-07:00

1889: BLACKIE WHITEFORD, who played a sailor in "King Kong", is born in NewYork City.

1918: BRUCE SCHOENGARTH, sound effects editor on "Earth vs. the Spider", is born.

1923: SENKICHI OMURA, who played Konno the translator in "King Kong vs. Godzilla" and the hat retriever in "Ghidrah -- the Three-Headed Monster", is born in Tokyo. His other sci-fi credits include "Half Human: The Story of the Abmoninable Snowman", an escaping convict in "Godzilla Raids Again", a doomed would-be firefighter in "The Mysterians", the first dissolved sailor in "The H-Man", a fisherman in "The Secret of the Telegian", "Mothra", a peddler in "The Lost World of Sinbad", the egg-watching fisherman in "Godzilla vs. the Thing", "Ultra Q", a news cameraman in "Frankenstein Conquers the World", and "Ultra Seven". He was also a bandit in "The Seven Samurai", the man who hands the kidnapper the note in "High and Low", and was in "Kagemusha". He died in 1991 in Urawa City, Japan.

1944: MIKE MAKI, who played Mondo Tatsumi on "Rescue Task Force Go Go V", "Rescue Task Force Go Go V: The Movie", "Rescue Task Force Go Go Five vs. Gingaman", and "Future Task Force Timeranger vs. Go Go V", is born.

1947: TOSHIO SHIBAKI, who played Yukio Keuchi in "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster", is born Toshio Shibamoto in Tokyo. He also played Kyotaro Kagami a.k.a. "Mirrorman" in the pilot episode, starred in the TV series "Silver Mask", and was Jun Manjome in "Ultra Q: The Movie".

1956: "Tarantula" is released in Finland.

1963: MASAYA KATO, who played the Japanese tanker crewman in "Godzilla", is born in Nara, Japan.

1966: MATT REEVES, who directed "Cloverfield", is born in Rockville Center, N.Y.

1973: Episode 30 of "Warrior of Love Rainbowman", "Operation Mogurard Wreak Havoc", debuts on Japanese TV.

1974: Episode 11 of "Kamen Rider X", "Water Snake of Invulnerability� Hydra", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 4 of "Electroid Zaborger", "Attack the Sigma Murder Base", debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: Episode 43 of "Electroid Zaborger", "The Fearsome Dragon Army's Ambition!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1987: ANNE SUZUKI, who played Milly in "Returner", is born in Tokyo.
Episode 6 of "Super Manchine: Metalder", "Boxer in Action", debuts on Japanese TV.

1997: Episode 11 of "Electromagnetic Task Force Megaranger" debuts on Japanese TV.

2004: "The Princess Blade" premieres in Iceland on video.

2005: "Ringu 2" premieres in Hungary on DVD.

4/26: Today in G-History

2008-04-26T07:34:00.000-07:00

1886: Blues musician MA RAINEY, whose "Runaway Blues" was used in "The Son of Kong", is born Gertrude Pidgett in Columbus, Geo.

1898: CONSTANTIN BAKALEINIKOFF, musical director on "Mighty Joe Young", is born in Moscow.

1906: WILLIAM GLASGOW, production designer on "The Amazing Colossal Man", is born.

1910: TOMOYUKI TANAKA is born in Osaka. He produced or executive-produced virtually all of Toho�s sci-fi and fantasy films: "Godzilla, King of the Monsters", "Godzilla Raids Again", "Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman", "Rodan", "The Mysterians", "The H-Man", "Varan the Unbelievable", "Battle in Outer Space", "The Three Treasures", "The Secret of the Telegian", "The Human Vapor", "Mothra", "The Last War", "Gorath", "King Kong vs. Godzilla", "Atragon", "Attack of the Mushroom People", "The Lost World of Sinbad", "Godzilla vs. the Thing", "Dogora the Space Monster", "Ghidrah -- the Three-Headed Monster", "Frankenstein Conquers the World", "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero", "Godzilla versus the Sea Monster", "War of the Gargantuas", "King Kong Escapes", "Son of Godzilla", "Destroy All Monsters", "Latitude Zero", "Godzilla�s Revenge", "Portrait of Hell", "The Vampire Doll", "Yog -- Monster from Space", "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster", "Godzilla on Monster Island", "Tidal Wave", "Godzilla vs. Megalon", "Zone Fighter", "Godzilla vs. the Cosmic Monster", "Last Days of Planet Earth", "E.S.P.Y.", "Terror of Mechagodzilla", "The War in Space", "House", "Deathquake", "Sayonara Jupiter", "Godzilla 1985", "Princess from the Moon", "Gunhed", "Godzilla vs. Biollante", "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah", "Godzilla vs. Mothra: Battle for the Earth", "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II", "Godzilla vs. Space Godzilla", and "Godzilla vs. Destoroyah". Beginning his producing career with "Until the Day of Victory", Tanaka�s over 200 films include some of Japan�s classic cinema -- "Those Who Make Tomorrow", "Over the Silvery Peaks", "Farewell Rabaul", "The Hidden Fortress", "The Bad Sleep Well", "Yojimbo", "Sanjuro", and "High and Low". He was married to actress Chieko Nakakita, and TriStar's "Godzilla" was dedicated to his memory.

1943: ANDREW MEYER, who directed, wrote, and acted in the U.S. version of "Tidal Wave", is born in New York City.

1971: NAOKI TANAKA, who was on "Operation: Mystery -- Second File", is born in Osaka.

1973: Episode 4 of "Robot Detective", "The Assassin Vanished in the Wall", debuts on Japanese TV.
IRENE RYAN, who played a woman at the bar in "Mighty Joe Young", dies from a brain tumor in Santa Monica, Calif.

1975: Episode 4 of "Kamen Rider Stronger" debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 4 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.

1983: BRONISLAU KAPER, who composer on "Them!", dies of cancer in Hollywood.

1990: HARRY GILLAM, camera operator on "Konga", dies.

1997: SONDRA SPRIGGS, who was on the "Dino Might" episode of "Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero", marries Mykelti Williamson.

2003: "Versus" premieres in Sweden at the Uppsala Horror Film Festival.

2007: "The Host" is released in Greece.

4/25: Today in G-History

2008-04-25T07:13:00.001-07:00

1964: HANK AZARIA, who played cameraman Victor "Animal" Palotti in "Godzilla",is born in New York City. Best known for his voices on "The Simpsons" (Chief Clancy Wiggum, Moe the Bartender), Azaria also appeared in "The Birdcage", "Mystery, Alaska", and"Mystery Men", and appeared on TV on "Friends" and "Huff".

1971: TOMOKO KAWAKAMI, who played Satsuki Miyanoshita on the "School of Ghosts" TV series, is born in Tokyo.

1973: KEVIN CARTER, who did the special effects contact lenses for the U.S. version of "Pulse", is born in Medford, Ore.

1980: Episode 30 of "Sky Rider" debuts on Japanese TV.
JURI MIYAZAWA, who played Saya a.k.a. Ginga Pink on "Star Beast Task Force Gingaman", "Star Beast Task Force Gingaman vs. Megaranger", and "Rescue Task Force Go Go V vs. Gingaman", is born.

1981: Episode 25 of "Kamen Rider Super-1" debuts on Japanese TV.

1983: MICHAEL O. GOTTO, who played Young Tommy on "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers", is born.

1999: Episode 10 of "Rescue Task Force Go-Go V", "Pride of Yellow", debuts on Japanese TV.

2002: "Godzilla 1985" is released on DVD in Japan.

2003: "Returner" is released in Thailand.

2006: "The War in Space" is released on DVD in the U.S.

2007: The U.S. version of "Pulse" is released in Greece on DVD.

4/24: Today in G-History

2008-04-24T06:00:00.000-07:00

1899: CHARLES SULLIVAN, who played a sailor in "King Kong", is born in Louisiana.

1955: "Gojira no Gyakushu" ("Godzilla�s Counterattack") a.k.a. "Gigantis the Fire Monster" a.k.a. "Godzilla Raids Again" is released in Japan.
KYUSAKU SHIMADA, who played Yasunori Kato in "Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis", Syuzo in "Sakuya: Slayer of Demons", Biyakurai in "The Princess Blade", and Minila in "Dragon Head", is born in Kanagawa, Japan. He was also in "Kamen Rider the Next".

1959: Part Two of "Supa Jyaiantsu: uchu kaijin shutsugen" ("Super Giant: Mysterious Spacemen Appear") a.k.a. "Evil Brain from Outer Space" is released in Japan.
GLENN MORSHOWER, who played Kyle Terrington in "Godzilla", is born Glenn Bennett in Dallas. He appeared in the films "Drive-In" and "Air Force One" and the TV series "The West Wing", "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation" and "24".
NORMAN ENGLAND, who played a Caucasian running from the UFO in "Godzilla 2000", a surprised man in the restaurant in "Pyrokinesis", Sgt. Woodyard in "Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.", a sonar operator in "Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean", and an FBI agent in "Death Note", is born in San Mateo, Calif. Also playing a foreigner in the bar on "Ultraseven X", he is a veteran correspondent for magazines like "G-FAN", "Japanese Giants", and "Fangoria".

1960: MASAMI KIKUCHI, the voice of Mamoru Murakami on the "Ambassador Magma" anime, is born in Nagano.

1966: Episode 17 of "Ultra Q", "The 1/8 Project", debuts on Japanese TV.

1967: Episode 43 of The Space Giants", "Magnet Monster Jigira Appears" a.k.a. "Magno's Strangest Weapon", debuts on Japanese TV.

1971: Episode 4 of "Kamen Rider", "Man Eating Sarasenian", debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: Episode 4 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.

1976: Episode 48 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.

1977: MEGUMI KOBAYASHI, who played Moll in "Rebirth of Mothra", "Rebirth of Mothra II", and "Rebirth of Mothra III", is born.

1981: AZUSA YAMAMOTO, who played Furabiijo on "Stealth Wind Task Force Hurricanger", "Stealth Wind Task Force Hurricanger vs.Gaoranger", "Blast Dragon Task Force Abaranger vs. Hurricanger", and "Rumble Task Force Bokenger vs. Super Sentai", and a student in "Special Police Task Force Dekaranger: The Movie -- Full Blast Action", is born.
PAT CONWAY, who played Sgt. Pete Allen in "The Deadly Mantis", dies.
SASHA BARRESE, who played a teenage girl in "The Ring" is born Alexandra Barrese in Maui.

1988: Episode 28 of "Kamen Rider Black" debuts on Japanese TV.

1989: MICKEY FINN, who played road foreman Sam Haskel in "Earth vs. the Spider", dies at 50.

1996: BOB BROWN, stunt coordinator on the U.S. version of "Dark Water", marries Marta Merrifield. He was born in 1959 and was a former champion high diver.

2004: "Casshern" is released in Japan.

2007: ROY JENSON, who played the bartender in "Solar Crisis", dies from cancer in Los Angeles.

"Kobayashi... we beat Godzilla for you."

4/23: Today in G-History

2008-04-23T06:22:00.000-07:00

1564: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, whose "Hamlet" was quoted in the U.S. version of "King Kong vs. Godzilla", is born in Stratford-upon-Avon, England.

1616: WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE dies. See above.

1875: LEE TUNG FOO, who played a waiter in "Mighty Joe Young", is born in California.

1930: ALAN OPPENHEIMER, who played Dr. Contrare in the U.S. release of "Gammera the Invincible", is born in New York City. He is a veteran of sitcoms and cartoons, and was the voice of Mighty Mouse and Skeletor.

1931: HAJIME TSUBURAYA, the eldest son of Eiji Tsuburaya, is born. He was director and special effects director on "Ultra Q", "Ultraman", "Ultra Seven", "Operation: Mystery", "Return of Ultraman", "The Ultraman", "Ultraman 80", and "Ultraman: Monster Big Battle", as well as producer of "Mirrorman", "Daigoro vs. Goliath", and "Jumborg Ace". He also was an assistant cameraman on "Gojira".

1938: KATSUO NAKAMURA, who played Hoichi the Earless in "Kwaidan", the fisherman in Yaizu Harbor in "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack", and the commentator in "Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.", is born Katsuo Ogawa in Tokyo. He also played Lise in "Princess From the Moon" and was in the live-action "Tetsujin 28".

1956: WAKIKO KANO, who played Maria Nagisa a.k.a. Miss America II on "Battle Fever J" and Mimi on "Space Sheriff Gavan", "Space Sheriff Sharivan", and "Space Sheriff Shaider", is born Wakiko Takamatsu in Hokkaido.

1957: KENJI KAWAI, composer for "The Red Spectacles", "Stray Dog: Kerberos Panzer Cops", "Ringu", "Ringu 2", "The Princess Blade", "Dark Water", "Ultraman Nexus", "Death Note", and "Death Note: The Last Name", is born in Tokyo.

1958: JERZY GUDEJKO, who played Murphy in �Avalon�, is born in Gdansk, Poland.

1972: Episode 4 of "Superhuman Barom-1" debuts on Japanese TV.
CARLTON HOLDER, writer on "Power Rangers Lost Galaxy", is born in Brooklyn, N.Y. He also wrote "Bridge of Dragons" and "El Padrino".

1973: Episode 4 of "Zone Fighter", "Onslaught! The Garoga Army Attacks -- Enter Godzilla", debuts on Japanese TV.

1974: Episode 3 of "Inazuman Flash" debuts on Japanese TV.

1976: JAMES FLAVIN, who played Second Mate Briggs in the original "King Kong" and Schultz in "Mighty Joe Young", dies of a ruptured aorta in Los Angeles.

1977: Episode 4 of "JAKQ Blitzkrieg Squad", "One Joker!! The Perfect Crime's Assassin", debuts on Japanese TV.

1980: KUON SAYAKA, who was on "Kamen Rider Ryuki", is born in Tokyo.

1983: Episode 12 of "Science Task Force Dynaman" debuts on Japanese TV.

1988: Episode 9 of "Super Animal Task Force Liveman" debuts on Japanese TV.
EITARO OZAWA, who played Inspector Miyashita in "The H-Man", Minister of Justice Kinami in "Gorath", and Finance Minister Kanzaki in "Godzilla 1985", dies.

1989: Episode 25 of "Kamen Rider Black RX", "The Bride of the Scorpion Seat", debuts on Japanese TV.

1992: "The Space Giants" is released on laserdisc in Japan.

1993: Episode 9 of "Five Star Task Force Dairanger", "Don't Be Vain", debuts on Japanese TV.

1999: "The Mighty Peking Man" has a limited re-release in the U.S.

2000: Episode 13 of "Kamen Rider Kuuga", "Suspicion", debuts on Japanese TV.

2003: "Dark Water" is released in Belgium.

4/21: Today in G-History

2008-04-22T06:36:00.000-07:00

1902: NATE D. SLOTT, second assistant director on "The Amazing Colossal Man", is born in Chicago.

1932: ISAO TOMITA, composer for "Black Lizard", "Mighty Jack", and "The Last Days of Planet Earth", is born in Tokyo.

1945: HARUKO WANIBUCHI, who played Ryouko Ema in "House", is born in Tokyo.

1967: "Dai kyoju Gappa" ("Great Giant Monster Gappa") a.k.a. "Monster from a Prehistoric Planet" a.k.a. "Gappa the Triphibian Monster" is released in Japan.

1972: Episode 56 of "Kamen Rider", "Amazon�s Poison Butterfly Kirira", debuts on Japanese TV.

2005: "One Missed Call" premieres in the U.S. in New York City and San Francisco, and is released in Estonia.

2006: "Jigoku" premieres in Hong Kong at the Hong Kong International Film Festival.

No year given: VICTOR MCCAY, who played the desk man in �The Ring Two�, is born.

"Gappa angry!"

4/21: Today in G-History

2008-04-21T06:35:00.000-07:00

1904: SVEN GYLDMARK, composer for "Reptilicus", is born in Sollerod, Denmark.

1924: KOJI UNO, who played reporters in "Rodan", "Mothra", "Gorath", "Godzilla vs. the Thing", "Dogora", "War of the Gargantuas", and "Destroy All Monsters", is born in Fukuoka. He also played a truck driver in "Secret of the Telegian", a police officer in "Atragon", the hotel clerk in "Ghidrah -- the Three-Headed Monster", and Namikawa's associate in "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero". He was also in "The Last War".

1935: CHARLES GRODIN, who played Fred Wilson in the 1976 remake of "King Kong", is born Charles Grodinsky in Pittsburgh.

1949: JACK PALANCE, who played Travis in "Solar Crisis", marries Virginia Baker.

1967: SHINPEI TAKAGI, who was in "The Manster", dies.

1968: Episode 29 of "Ultra Seven", "Solitary Earthman" (a.k.a. "The Apprentice Alien"), debuts on Japanese TV.

1972: Episode 3 of "Transforming Ninja Arashi" debuts on Japanese TV.
"Gamera vs. Monster X" is released in West Germany.

1973: MERIAN C. COOPER, who co-directed and co-wrote "King Kong", co-produced "Son of Kong", and co-produced and co-wrote "Mighty Joe Young", and played the pilot of the plane that killed Kong, dies of cancer in San Diego.
Episode 10 of "Kamen Rider V3", "Secret of the Double Typhoon", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 41 of "Kikaida", "Magnificence the Jiro Mid Air Break Up!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: Episode 4 of "Condorman -- Symbol of Justice", "Shining! Golden Condorman", debuts on Japanese TV.

1979: Episode 12 of "Battle Fever J" debuts on Japanese TV.
SAMMY HARTE, who provided additional voices in the U.S. dub of "The Princess Blade", is born in Virginia.

1982: JOE SAWYER, who played Captain O'Connell in "Them!", dies from liver cancer in Ashland, Ore.

1985: GEORGE KHOURY, who played Verrico the fisherman in "20 Million Miles to Earth", dies in Los Angeles.

1995: Episode 8 of "Superpower Task Force Ohranger", "Crash!! A Super Giant Battle", debuts on Japanese TV.

2001: "King Kong vs. Godzilla" is released on DVD in Japan.

2003: Volumes 4 and 5 of "Space Sheriff Shaider" are released on DVD in Japan.

2005: "Shikoku" and "J-Horror Theater Vol. 1: Infection" are released in Singapore.

2006: "The Day Toto Became Gamera" is released in Japan on DVD.
"Casshern" is released in Italy.