Saturday, May 14, 2005
5/14: Today in G-History
1906: JAMES FLAVIN, who played Second Mate Briggs in "King Kong" is born in Portland, Maine. The West Point grad played police and military types in hundreds of films.
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", Army Commander Segawa 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", and Dr. Jono on "Ultraman 80".
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" 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”, 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 version of “Gamera 3: Revenge of Irys”, 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.
1989: Episode 28 of "Kamen Rider Black RX", "Agent of the Majestic Emporer", debuts on Japanese TV.
1992: "Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah" is screened a second time at the Cannes Film Festival.
1993: Episode 12 of "Five Star Task Force Dairanger" 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 "Time Slip", 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.
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Friday, May 13, 2005
5/13: Today in G-History
1904: CHISHU RYU, who played the teacher 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.
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”, “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.
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 Halle Berry's stunt double in "Catwoman".
2004: “Casshern” premieres in France at the Cannes International Film Festival.
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Thursday, May 12, 2005
5/12: Today in G-History
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”.
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.
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 Zero One is Born!!".
Episode 13 of "Kamen Rider V3", "Chief Executive of Terror — 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.
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Wednesday, May 11, 2005
5/11: Today in G-History
1902: DICK CURTIS, who played a sailor in "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.
2001: Filming begins on "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack".
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Tuesday, May 10, 2005
5/10: Today in G-History
1888: MAX STEINER, who composed the music for "King Kong" and stock music used in "20 Million Miles to Earth", is born in Vienna. A protege of Gustav Mahler, he also wrote the scores for "Symphony of Six Million", "The Gay Divorcee", "The Lost Patrol", "The Informer", "The Charge of the Light Brigade", "The Garden of Allah", "The Life of Emile Zola", "Dark Victory", "Gone With the Wind", "Dodge City", "They Died With Their Boots On", "The Letter", "Sergeant York", "Casablanca", "So This Is Paris", "Now, Voyager", "Since You Went Away", "The Adventures of Mark Twain", "Rhapsody in Blue", "Night and Day", "The Beast With Five Fingers", "Life With Father", "My Wild Irish Rose", "Johnny Belinda", "The Treasure of the Sierra Madre", "Beyond the Forest", "The Jazz Singer", "The Miracle of Our Lady of Fatima", "Springfield Rifle", "The Caine Mutiny", "Battle Cry", and "The Searchers".
1902: DAVID O. SELZNICK, who co-produced "King Kong", is born in Pittsburgh. He also produced "Gone With the Wind" and other classics.
1962: "Mothra" is released in the U.S.
1971: MASAHIRO KOBAYASHI, who played Mitsuaki Takeda in "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah — the Giant Monsters’ All-Out Attack", is born in Hokkaido. He also appeared on TV in "Marching of the Saints", "Age of Blue", and "GTO".
1973: Episode 6 of "Robot Detective" 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.
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.
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Monday, May 09, 2005
5/9: Today in G-History
1962: EDWIN DUNKLEY, who did video services on "The Ring", 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.
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.
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Sunday, May 08, 2005
5/8: Today in G-History
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 "Electroid Zaborger", 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.
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 "King 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.
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