Tuesday, January 06, 2009
1/6: Today in G-History
1894: WILLIAM NEWELL, who played a man at the bar in "Mighty Joe Young", is born in Millville, N.J.
1906: VERNON RICH, who played Ridley in "Tarantula", is born.
1909: HARUKO SUGIMURA, who was the narrator in "The Three Treasures" and the madame in "Kwaidan", is born in Hiroshima.
1914: HERB WILLIS, who did photographic effects on "Mighty Joe Young", is born.
1927: PAUL WITTENBERG, assistant editor on "Earth vs. the Spider", is born in New York City.
1931: KAORU YACHIGUSA, who was in "Madame White Snake" and played Fujichiyo Kasuga in "The Human Vapor", is born in Osaka.
1949: JIRO CHIBA, who played FBI Agent Taki on "Kamen Rider", "Kamen Rider vs. Shocker", and "Kamen Rider vs. Hell's Ambassador", Detective Go Shinjo on "Robot Detective" and "Robot Keiji K: The Movie", and Ippei Shima on "Akumaizer 3", is born in Kimitsu, Chiba, Japan. The younger brother of Sonny Chiba, he also appeared on "Kikaida 01".
1960: KUMIKO OBA, who played Fanta in "House", is born in Hatogaya, Saitama, Japan.
1972: YOSHIYUKI OMORI, who was in "Godzilla 2000", is born in Kyoto.
1973: Episode 26 of "Kikaida", "Emerald Mammoth Global Freezing Plan", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 93 of "Kamen Rider", "8 Kamen Riders", debuts on Japanese TV.
1976: JOHNNY YONG BOSCH, who played Adam Park the Black Ranger on "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers", "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers: The Movie", "Power Rangers Zeo", "Turbo: A Power Rangers Movie", "Power Rangers Turbo", and "Power Rangers in Space", is born in Kansas City, Missouri.
2005: "The Grudge" is released in the Netherlands.
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Monday, January 05, 2009
1/5: Today in G-History
1906: DONALD RANDOLPH, who played Gen. Mark Ford in "The Deadly Mantis", is born in Cape Town, South Africa.
1947: MIWA TAKADA, who played Kozasa Hanabusa in "Daimajin" and Okiku in "Yokai Monsters: One Hundred Monsters", is born in Kyoto.
1956: TAKAAKI ENOKI, who played Kakugyo in "Moon Over Tao", is born in Kagoshima, Japan.
1959: CLANCY BROWN, the voice of Maximilian Spiel on "Godzilla: The Series", is born in Urbana, Ohio. He appeared in the films "Bad Boys", "The Bride", "Highlander", "Extreme Prejudice", "Shoot to Kill", "The Shawshank Redemption", "Starship Troopers", and "Flubber", and was the voice of Lex Luthor on the "Superman" and "Justice League" animated shows.
1963: "King Kong vs. Godzilla" is released in South Korea.
1965: JIRO OKAMOTO, who did suit acting and stunts for "Kamen Rider Black", "Kamen Rider Black: Terror at Demon Pass", "Kamen Rider Black RX", "Kamen Rider Black: Hurry! To Evil Island", "Kamen Rider Black: All Around the World", "Shin Kamen Rider", "Kamen Rider ZO", "Kamen Rider J", "Kamen Rider World", "Magiranger", and "Magiranger vs. Dekaranger" (on which he played Branken/Magishine/Sunjiel), is born in Miyazaki-ken, Kyushu, Japan.
1973: Episode 14 of "Warrior of Love Rainbowman", "Terror Operation M", debuts on Japanese TV.
1974: Episode 34 of "Kikaida 01", "The Cursed Clock: Bijinda in Peril", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 47 of "Kamen Rider V3", "Ambush! The Destron Leader!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
1977: ONSLOW STEVENS, who played Brigadier General O'Brien in "Them!", dies in Van Nuys, Calif.
1980: Episode 49 of "Battle Fever J" debuts on Japanese TV.
1984: NAOMI NAGASAWA, who played Nanami Nomo/Hurricane Blue on "Stealth Wind Task Force Hurricanger" and "Blast Dragon Task Force Abaranger vs. Hurricanger", is born.
1992: CHESTER W. SCHAEFFER, editor on "The Deadly Mantis", dies in Santa Clara, Calif.
2001: "Godzilla vs. Megaguirus" is released in South Korea.
2004: "Kamen Rider 555: Paradise Lost" is released on DVD in Japan.
2005: "One Missed Call" is released in Spain.
"The Grudge" is released in Bahrain and Italy.
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Sunday, January 04, 2009
1/4: Today in G-History
1922: FUTARO YAMADA, whose novel "Koga Ninpocho" was the basis for "Shinobi", is born in Hyogo, Japan.
1924: WARREN KEMMERLING, who played General Goodhoe in the U.S. release of "Godzilla 1985", is born in St. Louis.
1928: ART FRANKEL, who played Cal in "The Ring", is born in New York.
1933: MASASHI ISHIBASHI is born in Hualien, Taiwan. He played Iron Claw on "JAKQ Blitzkrieg Squad", Commander Hedder on "Battle Fever J", Hosokawa Fujitaka in G.I. Samurai", General Kar in "Science Task Force Dynaman", and Yang in "Jutei sentai Gekiranger: Hong Kong Decisive Battle", and was on "High Speed Task Force Turboranger" and "Orochi the Eight-Headed Dragon", as well as episodes of "Kamen Rider" and "Kamen Rider Black".
1944: MASATO SHIMON is born in Tokyo. He sang the themes to "Kamen Rider", "Iron King", "Kamen Rider V3", "Kikaida 01", "Inazuman", "Kamen Rider X", "Kamen Rider Amazon", and "Kamen Rider Stronger", and the Jet Jaguar song in "Godzilla vs. Megalon".
1951: KIM MIYORI, who played Kyoko's mother in "The Grudge 2", is born in Santa Barbara, Calif.
1953: TERESA NODA, who played Katherine/Kathleen on "Iron King", is born. She was also in Episode 32 of "Mirrorman" and Episode 21 of "Silver Mask".
1964: RIKI TAKEUCHI, who played Monk Grin in "The Sword of Alexander" and Hanerunojyuu in "Big Man Japan", is born in Oita, Japan. He was also the teacher in "Battle Royale II".
1974: Episode 40 of "Ultraman Taro", "Go Beyond the Ultra Brothers", debuts on Japanese TV.
1975: Episode 12 of "Kamen Rider Amazon", "Seen! Geddon's Altered Room", debuts on Japanese TV.
1977: Episode 25 of "Super Human Bibyun", "My Dreams Are Consumed? The Mysterious Ghost Castle", debuts on Japanese TV.
1980: Episode 14 of "Sky Rider" debuts on Japanese TV.
1997: PAUL KOSLO, who played Dr. Haas in "Solar Crisis", marries Allaire Paterson.
1998: Episode 45 of "Electromagnetic Task Force Megaranger", "Hineler's Counterattack", debuts on Japanese TV.
2007: "The Grudge 2" premieres in Argentina and is released in Greece.
"Ghost Train" is released in Thailand.
2008: The U.S. version of "One Missed Call" is released in the U.S.
"That's not my ringtone."
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Saturday, January 03, 2009
1/3: Today in G-History
1906: SHIRO TOYODA, who directed "Madame White Snake" and "Portrait of Hell", is born in Kyoto.
1908: KENNER G. KEMP, who played the cop with a rifle in "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" and a trooper in "Them!", is born in Arizona.
1922: BILL TRAVERS, who played Capt. Joe Ryan in "Gorgo", is born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England. His other films include "Wee Geordie" and "Born Free".
1927: HIROYUKI NISHIMOTO, who played the pilot in "Goke, Bodysnatcher from Hell", is born in Tokyo.
1928: HIROSHI HASEGAWA, who played a rebel in "The Lost World of Sinbad", is born in Tokyo. He is the president of the anime company Studio Deen.
1930: MARA CORDAY, who played Stephanie "Steve" Clayton in "Tarantula", Sally Caldwell in "The Giant Claw", and Teresa Alverez in "The Black Scorpion", is born in Santa Monica, Calif.
1939: SHIHO FUJIMURA, who played Lady Sayuri in "Return of Daimajin", is born in Kanagawa, Japan. She was also in "The Whale God".
1942: TETSUYA OSHITA, who played Captain Minoru Daigo on "Super Robot: Red Baron", is born. He also played Izaki in Episode 31 of "Kamen Rider" and Colonel Samejima in Episode 5 of "Ultraman Taro".
1952: DICK CURTIS, who played a member of the ship's crew in the original "King Kong", dies of pneumonia in Hollywood, Calif.
1954: HARUNA TAKASE, who was in "Izo", is born in Yokohama.
1955: EMIKO SUGAWARA is born. She was in Episode 80 of "Kamen Rider", Episode 33 of "Kamen Rider V3", the village girl in Episode 35 of "Super Robot: Red Baron", and Episode 16 of "Message from Space: Galactic Battle".
1958: "Supa Jyaiantsu: uchusen to jinko eisei no gekitotsu" ("Super Giant: The Spaceships and Satellites Duel") a.k.a. Part Two of "Attack from Space" is released in Japan.
HYUNG-RAE SHIM, writer, producer, and director of "Reptilian" and "Dragon Wars", is born in South Korea.
1961: TOSHIRO YANAGIBA, who played Kazuyuki Asakawa on "Ringu: The Final Chapter" and Toshiro Kizaki in "Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean", is born in Akita, Japan.
1969: JOHN ALES, who played Agent Judah Campbell in "Dragon Wars", is born in Los Angeles.
1983: DAVID BUTTOLPH, who composed the music for "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", dies in Poway, Calif.
1984: "Kamen Rider 10's Birth! Riders Unite!" premieres on Japanese TV.
1999: "The Mighty Peking Man" is rereleased in the U.S.
2003: "Uzumaki" is released in Austria.
2005: WARREN KEMMERLING, who played General Goodhoe in the U.S. release of "Godzilla 1985", dies in Los Angeles.
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Friday, January 02, 2009
1/2: Today in G-History
1897: NATHAN CURRY, who played a native in the original "King Kong" and "Son of Kong", is born in Texas.
1926: HIDEYO (EISEI) AMAMOTO, best known as Dr. Who in "King Kong Escapes" and toymaker Shinpei Minami in "Godzilla’s Revenge", is born in Fukuoka. His sci-fi credits include "The Three Treasures"; one of Onishi’s henchmen in "The Secret of the Telegian"; the drunk in "Gorath"; the High Priest of Mu in "Atragon"; the transitional mushroom man in "Matango"; Granny the Witch in "The Lost World of Sinbad"; Eiji the safecracker in "Dogora the Space Monster"; Princess Salno's servant in "Ghidrah -- the Three-Headed Monster"; Cobra Man in "What’s Up, Tiger Lily?"; the Red Bamboo ship captain in "Godzilla versus the Sea Monster"; the first murderer in "The Killing Bottle"; a "Mighty Jack" team member; Dr. Shirigami in "Kamen Rider", "Kamen Rider vs. Shocker", "Kamen Rider V3" and "Masked Rider: The First"; Satan on "Transforming Ninja Arashi"; Mother Dark in "Message From Space"; the Master of Saiga in "Eko Eko Azarak II: Birth of the Wizard"; and prophet Hirokaga Isayama in "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack". Amamoto also played the husband in "Twenty-Four Eyes" and was in "Yojimbo" and "Sword of Doom", and appeared on "Space Ironmen: Kyodyne", "Gunbaron", "Vigilante Zubat", "Nebula Mask", and "Machineman".
1940: MASAHIKO TSUGAWA, who played the Chief Cabinet Secretary in "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack", is born in Kyoto. He also played the prime minister in "Battle Royale II".
1945: KEIKO SAWAI, who played a lab scientist in "Dogora", Kazuko the dying girl in "Frankenstein Conquers the World", and Haruno Fuji in "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero", is born. She also played Aiko Kasegawa on "Ultra Q".
1960: NAOKO URASAWA, who co-wrote "20th Century Boys", is born in Osaka.
1966: "Urutora Q" a.k.a. "Ultra Q" premieres on Japanese TV with Episode 1, "Defeat Gomess!"
1967: Episode 27 of "The Space Giants", "Kill the Traitor Sultan" a.k.a. "Gor Against Earth", debuts on Japanese TV.
1968: EVAN PARKE, who played Hayes in the 2005 "King Kong", is born in Kingston, Jamaica.
1971: "Supekutoruman" ("Spectreman") premieres on Japanese TV with Episode 1, "Dr. Gori Aims at the Earth!".
1973: TAMAO SATO, who played Momo Maru a.k.a. Ohpink on "Superpower Task Force Ohranger", "Superpower Task Force Ohranger vs. Kakuranger", and "Highspeed Task Force Carranger vs. Ohranger", is born in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan. She was also in "Moon over Tao".
1976: "Kamen Rider: All Back Again! 7 Riders" premieres on Japanese TV.
1993: HIROSHI TANAKA, who played Takeda Shingen in "G.I. Samurai", dies in Tokyo.
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Thursday, January 01, 2009
1/1: Today in G-History
1879: PAUL PORCASI, who played the apple vendor in the original "King Kong", is born in Palermo, Sicily.
1902: EVERETT BROWN, who played the native in the ape costume in the original "King Kong", is born in Texas.
1910: RUSS BENDER, who played Richard Kingman in "The Amazing Colossal Man" and Dr. Carmichael in "War of the Colossal Beast", is born in New York City.
1914: HENRY BERMAN, assistant editor on "Son of Kong", is born in New Castle, Penn.
1924: TERUO ISHII, who directed the Starman films, released in the U.S. as "Atomic Rulers", "Invaders From Space", "Attack from Space", and "Evil Brain From Outer Space", is born in Tokyo. Best known for his action films starring Ken Takakura and his "Women’s Prison" films, his other titles include "Nude Actress Murder -- Five Criminals", "Story of Showa Chivalry", "Abarashi Prison", "The Joys of Torture", "Horror of a Malformed Man", "Story of a Wild Older Sister -- Widespread Lynch Law", "The Executioner", "Field of Villains", and the 1999 "Jigoku".
1928: KAZUO KATO, who played psychiatrist Dr. Momotake in "Goke, Bodysnatcher from Hell" and Mimura in "Tidal Wave", and was in "The Last Days of Planet Earth", is born in Tokyo.
1929: Suit actor HARUO NAKAJIMA is born in Yamagata, Japan. He played Godzilla in "Godzilla, King of the Monsters", "Godzilla Raids Again", "King Kong vs.Godzilla", "Godzilla vs. the Thing", "Ghidrah -- the Three-Headed Monster", "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero", "Godzilla versus the Sea Monster", "Son of Godzilla", "Destroy All Monsters", "Godzilla’s Revenge", "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster", and "Godzilla on Monster Island". He also played the title monsters in "Rodan", "Varan the Unbelievable", "Mothra", "Attack of the Mushroom People", and "King Kong Escapes", as well as Mogera in "The Mysterians"; Magma in "Gorath"; Baragon in "Frankenstein Conquers the World"; Gaila in "War of the Gargantuas"; monsters on "Ultra Q", "The Space Giants", and "Ultraman"; the flying lion and a giant rat in "Latitude Zero"; and Gezora in "Yog -- Monster from Space", and he was the stunt coordinator on most of these films. He can be seen in human form as a bandit in "The Seven Samurai", "The Invisible Man", a victim of "The H-Man", a transitional vapor man in "The Human Vapor", a general in "Destroy All Monsters", and the prime minister’s chauffeur in "Tidal Wave".
1933: YUKO KUSUNOKI, who played Noriko Tokiyasu in "Goke, Bodysnatcher from Hell", is born in Tokyo.
1934: HIROSHI TANAKA, who played Daisuke Kujirai/Joker on "JAKQ Blitzkrieg Squad" and Takeda Shingen in "G.I. Samurai", is born in Kyoto.
1937: KUMI MIZUNO is born in Niigata, Japan. The sexy actress was in "The Three Treasures", Kesuke Shinoda in "Gorath", actress Mami Sekiguchi in "Matango", Miwa the rebel leader in "The Lost World of Sinbad", Dr. Sueko Togami in "Frankenstein Conquers the World", Miss Namikawa in "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero", Daiyo in "Godzilla versus the Sea Monster", Akemi in "War of the Gargantuas", Prime Minister Machiko Tsuge in "Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla", and Earth Defense Commander Akiko Namikawa in "Godzilla: Final Wars". Mizuno also appeared in "The Killing Bottle" with three-time costar Nick Adams (with whom she denies any romantic involvement) as well as "A Bridge for Us Alone", "Chushingura", and "What’s Up, Tiger Lily?".
1938: MASAHARU UEDA, cinematographer on "ESPY" and "The Last Dinosaur", is born in Funabashi, Chiba, Japan.
1939: ROBERT ARMSTRONG, who played Carl Denham in the original "King Kong" and "Son of Kong" and Max O'Hara in "Mighty Joe Young", marries Louise de Bois.
1943: KIYOHIKO OZAKI, who played Keisuke Togo-sensei in "House", is born in Chigasaki, Kanagawa, Japan.
1944: RYU NOGUCHI, character designer on "Super Robot: Red Baron", "Electronic Task Force Denziman", and "Space Sheriff Shaider", is born.
1949: MITSUKO HOSHI, who played Yuko Minami on "Ultraman Ace", "Ultraman Taro", and "Ultraman Mebius", and Queen Meza on "Electroid Zaborger", is born. She also played Yoshiko on Episode 8 of "Iron King".
1956: KOJI YAKUSHO, who played the ship captain in "Pulse" and Shinichi Masami in "Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean", is born in Nagasaki.
TERRY MOORE, who played Jill Young in "Mighty Joe Young", marries Eugene McGrath.
1960: SHINYA TSUKAMOTO, who was producer, director, screenwriter, art director, director of photography, and played the metals fetishist in "Tetsuo: The Iron Man" and "Tetsuo II: Body Hammer", is born in Tokyo. He also played the wizard in "Sakuya: Slayer of Demons".
1967: Episode 25 of "Ultraman", "Weird Comet Tsuifon", debuts on Japanese TV.
1969: VERNE TROYER, who did the stunts for Ferbus on Saban’s "Masked Rider", is born in Sturgis, Mich. The 2’8" actor is best known as Mini-Me from the Austin Powers films.
1971: ETHAN MURRAY is born in Freehold, N.J. He was the voice of Teppei on the English dub of "Zeiram 2"; Duplitronic and Silkoid on "V.R. Troopers"; Leaky Faucet and Admiral Abominator on "Power Rangers Zeo"; Green Cannon Machine, Cyber Serpent, and Lottamuggs on "Big Bad Beetleborgs", Brain Mite and Reptosect on "Masked Rider", Mantix on "Beetleborgs Metallix"; Mad Mike, Numbor, and Mouthpiece on "Power Rangers Turbo"; Lizwizard, Destructoid,and Body Switcher on "Power Rangers in Space"; Wisewizard on "Power Rangers Lost Galaxy", Falkar and Troika on "Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue" and "Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue - Titanium Ranger: Curse of the Cobra"; Tentaclaw on "Power Rangers Time Force"; and Mandilok on Power Rangers Wild Force".
1972: Episode 40 of "Kamen Rider", "Desperate Struggle! Demon Snowman vs. Two Riders", debuts on Japanese TV.
1974: The "Super Robo Mach Baron" movie is released in Japan.
1975: Daisuke Ban, Kikaida, Kikaida 01, Hakaider, and six monsters make an appearance in Honolulu.
1983: DAVID BUTTOLPH, composer on "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", dies in Poway, Calif.
1988: The final episode of "Super Manchine: Metalder", "Eternally Metalder!", debuts on Japanese TV.
1993: JOHN BLYTH BARRYMORE, who played Avery in "Solar Crisis", marries Rebecca Pogrow.
1994: CESAR ROMERO, who played Malic in "Latitude Zero" and best known as the Joker on "Batman", dies from bronchitis and pneumonia in Santa Monica, Calif.
2003: JENNIFER CONNELLY, who played Dahlia in the U.S. version of "Dark Water", marries Paul Bettany.
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008
12/31: Today in G-History
No year given: CAROL HOYT, who played Divatox and Dimitria on "Power Rangers Turbo", is born in Andover, Mass. She was also the voice of Rykon on "Power Rangers Lost Galaxy", and was once a coworker of this G-Historian.
1911: ROBERT CLATWORTHY, art director on "The Deadly Mantis", is born in Illinois.
1935: JOHN CARRADINE, who played Dr. John Rayburn in "Half-Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman", marries Ardanelle McCool.
1936: BRIAN DONLEVY, who played Gen. Terry Arnold in "Gammera the Invincible", marries Marjorie Lane.
1947: TIM MATHESON, who played Steve Kelso in "Solar Crisis", is born in Glendale, Calif. The original voice of Johnny Quest, his films include "National Lampoon’s Animal House" and "1941".
1960: MIO TAKAKI, who played GUTS Captain Megumi Iruma in "Ultraman Tiga", "Ultraman Dyna", "Ultraman Tiga & Ultraman Dyna", and "Ultraman Tiga: The Final Odyssey", is born in Fukuoka. She also played Mayumi Hoshimo in "Ultra Q: The Movie" and Kyoko Shirai in "Wizard of Darkness".
ROBERT HORTON, who played Commander Jack Rankin in "The Green Slime", marries Marilynn Bradley.
1964: JACK CURTIS and PAULETTE RUBENSTEIN, who did many voices for the U.S. dubs of Japanese sci-fi films and TV series, are married.
1965: TAKASHI KORA, who played Lucifer on "Cybercop", is born in Fukuoka.
1967: YOSUKE EGUCHI, who was in "Samurai Commando 1549", is born in Tokyo.
1979: NORIKO NAKAGOSHI, who was in "Orochi -- Blood", is born in Saga, Japan.
1997: SANDY McPEAK, who played Gurney in "Solar Crisis", dies of a heart attack at 62 in Nevada City, Calif.
1999: "Gamera vs. Guiron" is released on laserdisc in the U.S.
2000: Episode 35 of "Kamen Rider Kuuga", "Indomitable", debuts on Japanese TV.
2001: PAUL HUBSCHMID, who played Tom Nesbitt in "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms", dies of a pulmonary embolism in Berlin.
2002: "Kikaida Volume 2" is released on DVD in Hawaii.
2003: PAULA RAYMOND, who played Lee Hunter in "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", dies from respiratory ailments in West Hollywood, Calif.
2004: "One Missed Call" is released in Finland.
2005: Episode 27 of "Ultraman Max", "Stolen! The Max Spark", debuts on Japanese TV.
Thank you to all the tokusatsu fans for reading these trips down memory lane for the past nine years, to all the Japanese film and television experts whose knowledge I shamelessly exploit, and to all the creators, artists, and performers who made G-History possible. Arigato and Happy New Year!
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