Tuesday, July 01, 2008
7/2-7/7: These Days in G-History
I have to go to Chicago for obvious reasons, so here's what we can commemorate in advance.
Wednesday, 7/2
1566: MICHEL DE NOTREDAME a.k.a. NOSTRADAMUS, whose prophecies were the basis for "The Last Days of Planet Earth", dies of heart failure in Salon, France.
1903: LEROY MASON, who played a theater patron in "King Kong", is born in Larimore, N.D.
1960: TERRY ROSSIO, who, with Ted Elliot, wrote the original script for Tri-Star's "Godzilla", is born in Kalamazoo, Mich.
1972: Episode 14 of "Superhuman Barom-1" debuts on Japanese TV.
"Aian Kingu" ("Iron King") premieres on Japanese TV with Episode 1, "A Secret Messenger on the Morning Wind".
1973: Episode 14 of "Zone Fighter", "Insane with Anger! The Garoga Boy's Squad", debuts on Japanese TV.
1974: Episode 12 of "Inazuman Flash" debuts on Japanese TV.
1977: Episode 13 of "JAKQ Blitzkrieg Squad", "Blue Key Quiz!! The Closet Murder Incident", debuts on Japanese TV.
RANDY MCDOWELL, who played a clerk in the U.S. version of "One Missed Call", is born in Warsaw, Ind.
1979: Episode 9 of "Megaloman, Warrior of Fire", "A UFO and a Dead Soldier in the Sea", debuts on Japanese TV.
1989: Episode 35 of "Kamen Rider Black RX", "Kotaro's Designated Arrangement!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
1990: HOWARD WRIGHT, who played the medical corps officer in "War of the Colossal Beast" and Jake in "Earth vs. the Spider", dies in Los Angeles County.
1993: Episode 19 of "Five Star Task Force Dairanger", "A New Hero Appeared", debuts on Japanese TV.
2000: Episode 22 of "Kamen Rider Kuuga", "A Game", debuts on Japanese TV.
2005: "Urutoraman Makkusu" ("Ultraman Max") premieres on Japanese TV with Episode 1, "Ultraman Max is Born!"
2006: "Mirror Man: Reflex" premieres in the U.S. as part of the "Giant Monsters on the Loose" film festival in Hollywood.
Thursday, 7/3
1920: JOHN FORD, co-producer of "Mighty Joe Young", marries his wife, Mary.
1930: KINJI FUKASAKU, director of "Black Lizard", "The Green Slime", "Message From Space", "Virus", and "Battle Royale", is born in Mito, Japan.
1949: MASATO HARADA, who directed and wrote "Gunhed", is born in Numazu, Shizuoka, Japan.
1966: Episode 27 of "Ultra Q", "The Disappearance of Flight 206", debuts on Japanese TV.
1969: EDWARD L. ALPERSON, executive producer of the U.S. release of "The Human Vapor", dies in Beverly Hills, Calif.
1971: Episode 14 of "Kamen Rider", "Devilman Saboteguron's Raid", debuts on Japanese TV.
1975: JOHN CARRADINE, who played Dr. John Rayburn in the U.S. version of "Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman", marries Emily Cisneros.
1976: Episode 55 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.
1981: ROSS MARTIN, who did voices on "The Godzilla Power Hour", dies of a heart attack in Ramona, Calif.
1988: Episode 38 of "Kamen Rider Black" debuts on Japanese TV.
1992: Episode 19 of "Dinosaur Task Force Zyuranger", "Woman Warrior Scorpion", debuts on Japanese TV.
1993: Episode 14 of "Electronic Superhuman Gridman", "Manipulated Time", debuts on Japanese TV.
1998: "Godzilla" is released in South Africa.
2008: G-FEST XV begins in Chicago with a film festival. Haruo Nakajima, Don Frye, Robert Scott Field, and Don Glut are among the special guests.
Friday, July 4
1826: STEPHEN FOSTER, whose song "Beautiful Dreamer" was used in "Mighty Joe Young", is born in Lawrenceville, Penn.
1892: RUSSELL A. GAUSMAN, set decorator on "Tarantula" and "The Deadly Mantis", is born in Missouri.
1938: SAISAKU SHIROHARA, narrator on "Vigilante Lion Maru", is born. He also played the news announcer in Episode 34 of "Kikaida 01".
1961: FRANKLYN FARNUM, who played a ballet-goer in "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms", dies of cancer in Woodland Hills, Calif.
1962: BILL FULTON, uncredited co-composer on "The Ring", is born in Oakland, Calif.
1965: INON ZUR, composer on "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie", "Power Rangers Turbo", "Power Rangers in Space", "Power Rangers Lost Galaxy", "Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue", "Power Rangers in 3D: Triple Force", and "Power Rangers Time Force", is born in Israel.
1966: "Magma Taishi" ("Ambassador Magma") a.k.a. "The Space Giants" premieres on Japanese TV with episode 1, "I Am Goa" (a.k.a. "Rodak").
1970: "Yureiyashiki no kyofu: chi o su ningyo" ("Fear of the Ghost House: Blood-Sucking Doll") a.k.a. "The Vampire Doll" is released in Japan.
1973: "Super Robot: Red Baron" premieres on Japanese TV.
1976: REGGIE ROLLE, who played Damon Henderson a.k.a. the Green Galaxy Power Ranger on "Power Rangers Lost Galaxy", "Power Rangers Lost Galaxy: Return of the Magna Defender", and "Power Rangers in 3D: Triple Force", is born in Minneapolis.
1980: Episode 40 of "Sky Rider" debuts on Japanese TV.
1981: ISAO "KO" KIMURA, who starred in "Black Lizard" and "The Seven Samurai", dies of esophageal cancer.
Episode 35 of "Kamen Rider Super-1" debuts on Japanese TV.
1997: IAN ZIERING, the voice of Nick Tatopolous on "Godzilla: The Series", marries Nikki Schieler.
1998: "Kamen Tenshi Rosetta" a.k.a. "Masked Angel Rosetta" premieres on Japanese TV.
"Godzilla" is released in Indonesia.
1999: JACK WATSON, who played Supt. Brown in "Konga", dies in Bath, England.
2003: DEAN DEVLIN, who co-produced "Godzilla" and "Godzilla: The Series" and co-wrote the film, marries Lisa Brenner.
MASATO HAGIWARA, who played Sawara-Shin'nou in "Onmyoji", divorces Emi Wakui.
2006: "Tetsujin-28"is released in the U.S. on DVD.
Saturday, 7/5
1897: CONSTANTINE ROMANOFF, who played Bill the sailor in "Son of Kong", is born.
1929: SAKAE UMEZU, who was in "Misa the Dark Angel", is born in Toyama, Japan.
1932: KYOKO TERASE, who played Sphinx on "Magiranger", is born in Tokyo.
1935: SAKAE UMEZU is born. He played Hirokawa on Episode 13 of "Ultraman", Takemura on Episode 41 of "Ultraseven", Ichiro's dad on Episode 6 of "Mirrorman", Nakamura on Episode 82 of "Kamen Rider", Mr. Sasaki on Episode 22 of "Kikaida 01", Tanabe on Episode 27 of "Kamen Rider X", Yamazaki on "Space Ironmen Kyodyne", Makiguchi on Episode 22 of "Aztecizer", Necromancer on Episode 15 of "Superhuman Bibyuun", Fujiwara on Episose 26 of "Ultraman 80", and Dr. Kameda on Episode 18 of "Space Sheriff Gavan", and was in "Eko Eko Azarak III: Misa the Dark Angel"
1938: TETSUO KINJO, writer on "Ultraman" and "Ultraseven", is born in Tokyo.
1943: BIN FURUYA, who wore the "Ultraman" costume and played Amagi on "Ultraseven", is born in Tokyo. He also did stunts and monster costume work on "Ultra Q", "Ultraman 80", and "Ultraman: Big Monster Battle".
1950: Bandai Co., Ltd., Japan’s largest toy manufacturer and maker of hundreds of figures from Japanese monster films and superhero series, is founded.
1954: Production begins on "Gojira"
1956: "Byaku fujin no yoren" ("Bewitched Love of the White Wife") a.k.a. "Madame White Snake" is released in Japan.
1973: Episode 14 of "Robot Detective", "Terror of the Twinkling Eyes!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
1975: Episode 13 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 14 of "Kamen Rider Stronger" debuts on Japanese TV.
1991: NOBUO NAKAMURA, who played Dr. Munakata in "Dogora", the skeptical museum chief in "Frankenstein Conquers the World", and Dr. Kita in "War of the Gargantuas", dies.
"Honto ni atta kowai hanashi" a.k.a. "Scary True Stories -- Ten Haunting Tales from the Japanese Underground", is released in Japan on video.
2007: "Japan Cuts: Festival of New Japanese Film", featuring appearances by Shusuke Kaneko and Sion Sono, begins in New York City. Sion's "Exte: Hair Extensions" has its U.S. premiere on this day.
Sunday, 7/6
1918: HAJIME IZU, who played Prince Oozu in "The Three Treasures", Professor Komyoji on "Kikaida" and "Jumping Out, Android Kikaida", Dr. Tsushima on "Iron King", and Dr. Kenzo Igarashi on "Mobile Sheriff Jiban", is born in Japan. He also played Dr. Osumi in Episode 23 of "Kamen Rider" and Dr. Daidoji in "Kamen Rider vs. Shocker".
1922: WILLIAM SCHALLERT, who played the gas station attendant in "Mighty Joe Young" and an ambulance attendant in "Them!", is born in Los Angeles. His films include "The Foxes of Harrow" and was on "The Patty Duke Show" and "Star Trek".
1925: MERV GRIFFIN, who was the voice of the off-screen radio announcer in "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms", is born in San Mateo, Calif. He was also in the films "So This Is Love" and "The Boy From Oklahoma", hosted his own talk show, and created the game shows "Jeopardy" and "Wheel of Fortune".
1931: ROBERT DUNHAM, who played Emporer Antonio of Seatopia in "Godzilla vs. Megalon", is born in Maine. He also played a Rolisican official in "Mothra", Mark Jackson in "Dogora", Captain Martin in "The Green Slime", and an airline captain in "E.S.P.Y." He also starred in and directed "The Time Travelers", and was the motorcycle stuntman in "Megalon".
1933: MICHIO YAMAMOTO, who directed "The Vampire Doll", "Lake of Dracula", and "Evil of Dracula", is born in Niigata, Japan.
1943: REGINALD BARLOW, who played the engineer in the original "King Kong", dies in Hollywood.
1966: ANNE NAGEL, who played the brunette at the bar in "Mighty Joe Young", dies from cancer in Hollywood.
1967: POUL BANG, who co-directed "Reptilicus", dies in Denmark.
1968: YUKA ONISHI, who played Yuka Kazama on "Sukeban Deka III", reprising the role in the films "Sukeban Deka" and "Sukeban Deka: Counter-attack from the Kazama Sisters", is born in Osaka.
1973: Episode 40 of "Warrior of Love Rainbowman", "Operation Diamond Plunder", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 14 of "Ultraman Taro", "Taro's Head Got Chopped Off", debuts on Japanese TV.
1974: Episode 21 of "Kamen Rider X", "Apollo Geist — The Last General", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 14 of "Electroid Zaborger", "Impervious Killer Girukonfu", debuts on Japanese TV.
1976: "Chojin Bibyun" ("Super-Divine Bebyun") premieres on Japanese TV with Episode 1, "Ghost Extermination! Super Humans Appear".
1979: AYAKA NANAMI, who played Aya Kinoshita in "Misa the Dark Angel", is born in Aichi, Japan.
1982: RUSSELL THORSON, who played Prof. Philip Osbourne in "Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman", dies in Van Nuys, Calif.
1987: Episode 16 of "Super Manchine: Metalder", "The Rival Biker", debuts on Japanese TV.
1997: Episode 21 of "Electromagnetic Task Force Megaranger", "Now! Life-Threatening Super Combination", debuts on Japanese TV.
2004: "Uzumaki" is released on DVD in the U.S.
JIMMIE F. SKAGGS, who played a biker in "Solar Crisis", dies from lung cancer in Highland Park, Calif. He was born in Hot Springs, Ark. in 1944.
2007: G-FEST 14 begins in Chicago. Rhodes Reason, Shelley Sweeney, Robert Scott Field, Carl Craig, Donald Glut, and Reiko Wada Yamada are among the special guests.
"The Host" is released in Norway.
Monday, 7/7
1884: J. ROY HUNT, cinematographer on "Mighty Joe Young", is born in Caperton, W.V. He died October, 1972, in Sheffield, Ala.
1901: EIJI TSUBURAYA is born in Sukagawa City, Fukushima, Japan. Toho's master of special effects, he directed or oversaw the effects in "The Invisible Man", "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 Human Vapor", "The Secret of the Telegian", "Mothra", "The Last War", "Gorath", "King Kong vs. Godzilla", "Atragon", "Attack of the Mushroom People", "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", and "Godzilla's Revenge". As the founder of Tsuburaya Productions, he produced the TV shows "Ultra Q", "Ultraman", "Ultraseven", "Mighty Jack", and "Operation: Mystery". Beginning his career as a silent-era cameraman on "A Page of Madness" and "Baby Kenpo", he also did the sfx for many other films, mainly war movies: "Princess of the Moon", "The New Land", "The War at Sea from Hawaii to Malaya", "General Kato's Falcon Fighters", "Torpedo Squadrons Move Out", "The Retreat from Kiska", Frank Sinatra's "None but the Brave", and "Battle of the Japan Sea".
SAM KATZMAN, producer of "The Giant Claw", is born in New York City.
1913: FRED F. SEARS, who directed "The Giant Claw", is born in Boston.
1920: SHUE MATSUBAYASHI, who directed "The Last War", is born. The veteran of the Imperial Navy directed a number of war movies: "Submarine E-57 Never Surrenders!", "I Bombed Pearl Harbor", "Attack Squadron!", and "Imperial Navy", as well as many "Shacho" ("Company President") films.
1949: ELLEN MIROJNICK, costume designer on "Cloverfield", is born in New York City.
1951: T.A. MOORE JR., sound re-recording mixer on "Power Rangers Turbo", is born in Fort Ord, Calif.
1958: MARI KANNO, who played Kimera on "Science Task Force Dynaman", is born.
1964: SHINICHI TSUTSUMI, who played Hiroshi Yamashita in "One Missed Call" and Ryokitsu Asakura in "Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean", is born in Hyogo, Nishinomiya, Japan. He starred on the TV series "Yamato nadeshiko" and "The Strength of Love" and the film "Drive".
1968: Episode 40 of "Ultra Seven", "Plot to Assassinate Seven -- Part 2" (a.k.a. "Ultra 7: Execution at Dawn -- Part 2"), debuts on Japanese TV.
1971: BRIAN GARLAND, who composed additonal music for "Godzilla: The Series", is born in Perryton, Texas.
1972: Episode 14 of "Ultraman Ace", "Five Stars Scattered Across the Milky Way", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 14 of "Transforming Ninja Arashi" debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 2 of "Iron King", "The Swan of Ruin", premieres on Japanese TV.
1973: Episode 9 of "Kikaida 01", "The Weird Crime Syndicate Shadow Appears!", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 21 of "Kamen Rider V3", "The Double Riders Live", debuts on Japanese TV.
1975: Episode 14 of "Condorman -- Symbol of Justice" debuts on Japanese TV.
1979: Episode 23 of "Battle Fever J", "Showdown! The Appearance of Many Monsters!", debuts on Japanese TV.
1988: KONOSUKE TOKAI, who played Musashi Haruno in "Ultraman Cosmos: First Contact", is born.
1995: Episode 19 of "Superpower Task Force Ohranger", "New Robo’s Red Impact", debuts on Japanese TV.
2001: "Ultraman Cosmos" premieres on Japanese TV.
2005: "Casshern" is released in South Korea.
2006: G-FEST XIII begins in Chicago. Kazuki Omori, Robert Scott Field, and Yoshikazu Ishii are among the special guests.
posted by Jay | permalink
7/1: Today in G-History
1906: SHIGERU KAYAMA, who wrote the stories for "Godzilla, King of the Monsters", "Godzilla Raids Again", "Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman", and "The Mysterians", is born Koji Yamada in Tokyo.
1907: GORDON BAU, who did the makeup for "Them!", is born Robert Blau.
1926: KJELD PETERSEN, who played Police Officer Olsen in "Reptilicus", is born in Copenhagen.
1933: KEIZO KAWASAKI, who played Toru in "Warning from Space", is born in Kanagawa, Japan.
1953: MICHAEL DIERSING, construction coordinator on "The Ring", is born.
1972: Episode 66 of "Kamen Rider", "Shocker Graveyard -- Revived Demons", debuts on Japanese TV.
TETSU INADA, who was the voice of Doggy Krugger/Deka Master on "Special Police Task Force Dekaranger", "Special Police Task Force Dekaranger: The Movie -- Full Blast Action", "Special Police Task Force Dekaranger vs. Abaranger", and "Magiranger vs. Dekaranger", and Titan on "Magiranger", is born in Tokyo.
1977: KARL "KILLER" DAVIS, who played a strongman in "Mighty Joe Young", dies in San Bernardino County, Calif.
1990: PAUL WITTENBERG, assistant editor on "Earth vs. the Spider", dies.
1995: Episode 13, the final episode of "Ultraman Powered", debuts on Japanese TV.
1999: JOHN W. ROGERS, assistant director on "War of the Colossal Beast" and "Earth vs. the Spider", dies in Tarzana, Calif.
"Rasen" ("The Spiral") the series premieres on Japanese TV.
2000: MAYU YAMABUKI, who played Diana on "Warrior of Love Rainbowman", dies.
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Monday, June 30, 2008
6/30: Today in G-History
1891: MAN MOUNTAIN DEAN, who played a strongman in "Mighty Joe Young", is born Frank Simmons Leavitt in New York City.
1905: NESTOR PAIVA, who played Brown in "Mighty Joe Young" and Sheriff Jack Andrews in "Tarantula", is born in Fresno, Calif.
JAMES DALY, assistant cameraman on "Son of Kong", is born.
1968: Episode 39 of "Ultra Seven", "Plot to Assassinate Seven -- Part 1" (a.k.a. "Ultra 7 Tastes Defeat -- Part 1"), debuts on Japanese TV.
1972: Episode 13 of "Transforming Ninja Arashi" debuts on Japanese TV.
SAUL A. GOODKIND, co-editor on "The Giant Claw", dies in Los Angeles.
1973: Episode 8 of "Kikaider 01", "Ichiro in Danger! The Gang of Four Unites!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 20 of "Kamen Rider V3", "Operation: Destron Shikoku Conquest", debuts on Japanese TV.
1975: Episode 13 of "Condorman -- Symbol of Justice" debuts on Japanese TV.
1979: Episode 22 of "Battle Fever J", "The Revenge of the Woman Spy", debuts on Japanese TV.
RICK GONZALEZ, who played Stone in the U.S. version of "Pulse", is born in New York City. He was also in "The Rookie".
1980: THOMAS BROWNE HENRY, who played Gen. A.D. McIntosh in "20 Million Miles to Earth", dies in La Mesa, Calif.
1982: LIZZY CAPLAN, who played Marlena Diamond in "Cloverfield", is born in Los Angeles. She was also on the TV shows "Freaks and Geeks", "Related", and "The Class".
1984: Episode 22 of "Super Electron Bioman" debuts on Japanese TV.
1987: KING DONOVAN, who played Dr. Ingersoll in "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", dies of cancer in Hartford, Conn.
1995: Episode 18 of "Superpower Task Force Ohranger" debuts on Japanese TV.
BRUCE SCHOENGARTH, sound effects editor on "Earth vs. the Spider", dies in Canyon Country, Calif.
1999: DEAN FREDERICKS, who played Detective Curtis in "Them!", dies of cancer.
2000: The Asian Fantasy Film Festival is held in Saddle Brook, NJ. Shusuke Kaneko and suit maker Fuyuki Shinada are among the featured guests.
ROBERT L. MANAHAN, who was the voice of Zordon on the "Power Rangers" series, dies from a heart aneurysm in Alameda County, Calif.
2002: "Avalon" premieres in Russia at the Moscow Film Festival.
2006: The "Giant Monsters on the Loose" film festival begins in Hollywood, featuring the U.S. premiere of "Gamera the Brave".
2007: WILL SCHAEFER, who co-wrote the theme for "The Godzilla Power Hour", is born in Kenosha, Wis.
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Sunday, June 29, 2008
6/29: Today in G-History
1920: RAY HARRYHAUSEN is born in Los Angeles. A disciple of Willis O’Brien who worked with his mentor on "Mighty Joe Young", he did the stop-motion effects on "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", "It Came from Beneath the Sea", "20 Million Miles to Earth", "The Seventh Voyage of Sinbad", "Jason and the Argonauts", "One Million Years B.C.", "The Valley of Gwangi", "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad", "Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger", and "Clash of the Titans". He also appeared as a Rome Zoo visitor on 20MMtE and a gentleman at the party in the "Mighty Joe Young" remake.
1925: JOHN FUJIOKA, who played Narita in the U.S. version of "Tidal Wave", is born in Olaa, Hawaii.
1941: CHIEKO BAISHO, who was in "A Heartful of Love", is born in Tokyo.
1955: JAMES CRAVEN, who played the first man at the bar in "Mighty Joe Young", dies in Los Angeles, Calif.
1956: CARL CRAIG, who played Jim Crane in "Destroy All Planets", is born in Columbia, S.C.
1964: DARIUSZ BISKUPSKI, who played Bishop in "Avalon", is born in Warsaw.
1967: PRIMO CARNERA, who played a strongman in "Mighty Joe Young", dies from liver disease in Sequals, Italy.
1973: Episode 39 of "Warrior of Love Rainbowman", "The Final Sun in the Capitol of Tokyo", debuts on Japanese TV.
1974: Episode 20 of "Kamen Rider X", "A Monster!? The Riddle of the Human-Snake’s Appearance!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 13 of "Electroid Zaborger", "Undercover Detective One-on-One Duel to the Death", debuts on Japanese TV.
1974: ROBERT VAUGHN, who played Barkley in "Virus", marries Linda Staab.
1975: Episode 52, the final episode of "Electroid Zaborger", "Always and Forever, Strong Zaborger", debuts on Japanese TV.
1983: BROOKE OGAWA, who played Kasumi/Lijewell on "Blast Dragon Task Force Abaranger", is born in Ogawa, Japan.
1985: TIM MATHESON, who played Steve Kelso in "Solar Crisis", marries Megan Murphy.
1987: Episode 15 of "Super Manchine: Metalder", "Motherly Love", debuts on Japanese TV.
YASUKA SAITO, who played Masumi Inou/Boken Black on "Rumbling Task Force Bokenger", "Rumbling Task Force Bokenger the Movie: The Greatest Precious", and "Rumbling Task Force Bokenger vs. Super Sentai", is born.
1989: KAZUO MORI, who directed "Wrath of Daimajin", dies.
1990: Episode 18 of "Earth Task Force Fiveman" debuts on Japanese TV.
1997: Episode 20 of "Electromagnetic Task Force Megaranger", "Good Luck! New Robo Delta Mega", debuts on Japanese TV.
1998: LOUIS PHILIPPI, makeup artist on "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", dies in Port Hueneme, Calif.
1999: BERT SHEFTER, who composed stock music used in "Gigantis the Fire Monster", dies in West Hollywood, Calif.
2005: "Godzilla: Final Wars" premieres in France at the Paris Cinema.
"Rasen" premieres in Hungary on DVD.
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Saturday, June 28, 2008
6/28: Today in G-History
1881: WALTER ACKERMAN, who played a reporter in the original "King Kong", is born in New York City.
1910: RUTH ATTAWAY, who played Delia in "The Bermuda Depths", is born in Greenville, Miss.
1929: NOBUYA IMAMURA, director on "Kikaida 01" and "Blazing Robocon", is born.
1961: KENICHI ENDO, who played Young Noble Junia on "NInja Task Force Kakuranger" and Ou Tengu in "The Great Yokai War", and was in "Izo", is born in Tokyo.
1971: NORIKA FUJIWARA, who played Rui Kisumi in "Cat's Eye", is born in Nishinomiya, Japan.
1973: Episode 13 of "Robot Detective", "Watch Out for the Devil's Smoke!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
1975: Episode 12 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 13 of "Kamen Rider Stronger" debuts on Japanese TV.
1974: MIKI MIZUNO, who played Midori Honami in "Gamera 2: Attack of Legion", is born in Mie, Japan. She is the granddaughter of Toho diva Kumi Mizuno.
1983: MAYASA OKI, who was in "The War in Space", commits suicide in Tokyo.
1996: ISAO YAMAGATA, who played Dr. Matsuda in "Warning from Space", dies of lung tuberculosis.
2007: SHINJI NAKAE, narrator on the "Kamen Rider" series and other tokusatsu films and TV shows, dies from liver cancer at 72 in Tokyo.
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Friday, June 27, 2008
6/27: Today in G-History
1850: LAFCADIO HEARN, who wrote the book on which the film "Kwaidan" was based, is born in Leucos on the Ionian Islands of Greece.
1944: PAUL KOSLO, who played Dr. Haas in "Solar Crisis", is born Manfred Koslowski in Germany. He was also in "Little White Crimes", "Vanishing Point", "The Omega Man", "Joe Kidd", "Cleopatra Jones", "The Stone Killer", "Mr. Majestyk", and "Chained Heat II", and the TV series "The Incredible Hulk", "The Fall Guy", "The A-Team", "Matlock", and "MacGyver".
1961: PAUL GUILFOYLE, who played Smith in "Might Joe Young", dies in Hollywood.
1965: JIMMY SPEAK, sound recordist on "Son of Kong", dies in Los Angeles.
1966: J.J. ABRAMS, producer of "Cloverfield", is born in New York City. He also produced, directed, and wrote on the TV series "Alias" and directed and wrote "Mission Impossible III".
1980: Episode 39 of "Sky Rider" debuts on Japanese TV.
1981: Episode 34 of "Kamen Rider Super-1" debuts on Japanese TV.
1982: TAKERU SHIBAKI, who played Kai Samezu a.k.a. Gao Blue on "Hundred Beast Task Force Gaoranger", "Hundred Beast Task Force Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai", and "Stealth Wind Task Force Hurricanger vs. Gaoranger", is born Takeru Skibaki in Tokyo. He was also in "Battle Royale II".
1984: EMMA LAHANA, who played Kira Ford a.k.a. the Yellow Dino Thunder Ranger on "Power Rangers Dino Thunder", is born in Auckland, New Zealand.
1987: Episode 18 of "Aura Task Force Maskman", "Doll Strategy", debuts on Japanese TV.
1998: "Godzilla" is released in South Korea.
2002: "Dark Water" premieres in Russia at the Moscow Film Festival.
2003: "Ju-on: The Grudge" is released in South Korea.
2005: The U.S. version of "Dark Water" has its world premiere in New York City.
"I can't be her mother...I don't know how to be myself!"
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Thursday, June 26, 2008
6/26: Today in G-History
1951: KOJI NAKA, who played mentor Doshi Kaku on "Five Star Task Force Dairanger", is born.
1963: "King Kong vs. Godzilla" is released in the U.S.
1966: Episode 26 of "Ultra Q", "The Blaze of Glory", debuts on Japanese TV.
1967: Episode 52, the final episode of "The Space Giants", "The Final Battle: Space Emporer Goa vs. Ambassador Magma" a.k.a. "Show Down", debuts on Japanese TV.
1971: Episode 13 of "Kamen Rider", "Tokageron and the Huge Corps of Demons", debuts on Japanese TV.
1976: "Son of Godzilla" is released in Finland.
1978: "The War in Space" is released in Sweden.
KAORI ASO, who played Yui Toba on "B-Fighter Kabuto", is born in Tokyo.
1980: "Fukkatsu no hi" a.k.a. "Virus" is released in Japan.
1988: Episode 37 of "Kamen Rider Black" debuts on Japanese TV.
1993: Episode 13 of "Electronic Superhuman Gridman", "I Hate Sports and Such", debuts on Japanese TV.
1998: FUYUKICHI MAKI, who played Shiro-kage on "Masked Ninja Red Shadow" and Tatsumaki on "Transforming Ninja Arashi", dies of cancer.
2007: "Frankenstein Conquers the World" is released on DVD in the U.S.
"Battle Against Depression -- The Story of the Takashima Family: Six Years of Love and Fighting", a TV movie about Tadao Takashima's struggle, debuts on NTT in Japan.
"I wanted my name to be entered into the history books, but I wanted it to be for something meaningful, something lasting. What could I have done that would have made the slightest damn bit of difference... wha... what could I have done?"
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Wednesday, June 25, 2008
6/25: Today in G-History
1948: MICHAEL LEMBECK, who was the voice of Scott on "Ultraman: The Adventure Begins", is born in Brooklyn, NY.
NAOYA MAKOTO, who played Daisuke Misaki a.k.a. "Fireman" and Kaijo Tsuyoshi/Aka Ranger on "Secret Task Force Goranger", is born Seigo Furukawa in Saga-ken, Kyushu, Japan.
KENJI SAWADA, who was in "Godzilla: Final Wars", is born in Tottori, Japan.
1951: PATRICIA MEDINA, who played Lucretia in "Latitude Zero", divorces from Richard Greene.
1972: CHARLES SULLIVAN, who played a sailor in "King Kong", dies in Los Angeles.
Episode 13 of "Superhuman Barom-1" debuts on Japanese TV.
1973: Episode 13 of "Zone Fighter", "Absolute Terror: Birthday of Horror!", debuts on Japanese TV.
1974: Episode 11 of "Inazuman Flash" debuts on Japanese TV.
1977: Episode 12 of "JAKQ Blitzkrieg Squad", "Ten Pyramids!! Maze of the Golden Mask", debuts on Japanese TV.
1979: Episode 8 of "Megaloman", "On Guard, Small Hero", debuts on Japanese TV.
1989: Episode 34 of "Kamen Rider Black RX", "Making a Plan for the Shikoku Aircraft", debuts on Japanese TV.
1993: Episode 18 of "Five Star Task Force Dairanger", "First Public Opening of the Gorma Palace", debuts on Japanese TV.
2000: Episode 21 of "Kamen Rider Kuuga", "Behind-the-Scenes Maneuvering", debuts on Japanese TV.
2002: The "Ambassador Magma" anime is released on DVD in Japan.
2004: "Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S." premieres in the U.S. at the Godzilla 50th Anniversary Tribute.
2005: Episode 37, the final episode of "Ultraman Nexus", debuts on Japanese TV.
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