Giant Monster Movies

7/8: Today in G-History

2008-07-08T07:39:00.000-07:00

1891: FRED BEHRLE, who played a member of the ship's crew in the original "King Kong", is born in San Diego.

1917: GLENN LANGAN, who played Col. Glen Manning in "The Amazing Colossal Man", is born in Denver.

1918: CRAIG STEVENS, who played Col. Joe Parkman in "The Deadly Mantis", is born Gail Shickles Jr. in Liberty, MO. He is most remembered as the star of "Peter Gunn".

1960: "Battle in Outer Space" is released in the U.S.

1966: "Frankenstein Conquers the World" is released in the U.S.

1972: "Jinzo Ningen Kikaida" ("Artificial Human Kikaider") a.k.a. "Kikaida" premieres on Japanese TV with Episode 1, "The Horrible Grey Rhino King is Hell's Messenger" (a.k.a. "Gray Rhino King: Harbinger of Evil").
Episode 67 of "Kamen Rider", "The Shocker Leader Appears! Dangerous Rider", debuts on Japanese TV.

1984: Filming begins on "Godzilla 1985".

1989: Episode 20 of "High Speed Task Force Turboranger", "Violent Demon Clan Haruna", debuts on Japanese TV.

1994: KIM JONG-IL, executive producer of "Pulgasary", assumes leadership of North Korea upon the death of his father.

2005: "The Grudge" is released in Bulgaria.
G-FEXT XII begins in Rosemont, Ill. Yoshimitsu Banno, Robert Scott Field, and Carl Craig are the special guests.
The U.S. version of "Dark Water" is released in the U.S.

7/2-7/7: These Days in G-History

2008-07-01T22:25:00.001-07:00

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.

7/1: Today in G-History

2008-07-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

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.

6/30: Today in G-History

2008-06-30T07:43:00.000-07:00

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.

6/29: Today in G-History

2008-06-29T07:03:00.001-07:00

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.

6/28: Today in G-History

2008-06-28T08:47:00.001-07:00

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.

6/27: Today in G-History

2008-06-27T06:32:00.001-07:00

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!"

6/26: Today in G-History

2008-06-26T05:55:00.000-07:00

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?"

6/25: Today in G-History

2008-06-25T05:50:00.000-07:00

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.

6/24: Today in G-History

2008-06-24T04:47:00.001-07:00

1933: ROBERT EMMETT DOLAN, who composed stock music used in "King Kong vs. Godzilla", marries Vilma Ebsen, the sister of Buddy Ebsen.

1938: CHARLES HOWERTON, who lent his voice to the "Leviathan" episode of "Godzilla: The Series", is born in Cuero, Texas.

1945: KEN NISHIDA is born in Tokyo. He played Fumeo Kishida on "Return of Ultraman", San Doruba on "Space Sheriff Gavan" and "Space Cop Shaider", General Gailer on "Space Sheriff Sharivan", Kojiro Aoyama on "Space Sheriff Shaider: Pursuit! Shigi Shigi Abduction Plan", and Mugensai Hinata on "Stealth Wind Task Force Hurricanger" and "Stealth Wind Task Force Hurricanger vs. Gaoranger".

1949: REI MAKI, who played a Kilaak in "Destroy All Monsters" and Mari Matsubara on "Super Robot: Red Baron", is born. She also played Sane Mizuki in Episode 27 of "Ultra Seven", Episodes 5 & 22 of "Inazuman Flash", and Episode 9 of "Ninja Captor".

1950: YOKU SHIOYA, who played Jun Hayata on "Spectreman", is born. He also was in Episode 23 of "Silver Mask", played the boy in Episode 24 of "Iron King", and was the voice of Garagara on "Star Beast Task Force: Gingaman".

1952: SHIMA MIZUE, who played Kyoko on Episode 10 of "Iron King", is born.

1956: WILLIAM CODY, assistant director on "Son of Kong", dies in Los Angeles.

1958: "Bijo to ekitainingen" ("Beauty and the Liquid People") a.k.a. "The H-Man" is released in Japan.

1972: Episode 65 of "Kamen Rider", "Demon Insect Doctor and the Shocker School", debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: BUD WESTMORE, makeup artist on "Tarantula" and "The Deadly Mantis", dies.

1998: HENRY G. SAPERSTEIN, who produced and distributed "Frankenstein Conquers the World", "Godzilla vs. Monster Zero", "War of the Gargantuas", and "Terror of Mechagodzilla" in the U.S., dies of cancer in Beverly Hills, Calif.

2003: AKIRA NAGOYA, who was the narrator on "Return of Ultraman" and played ZAT Commander Yutaro Asahina on "Ultraman Taro" and D-2 security in "Tidal Wave", dies of pneumonia in Tokyo.
"War of the Monsters" (a.k.a. "Gamera vs. Barugon") is released on DVD in the U.S.
HIROKO HAYASHI, who played Kasumi on "Transforming Ninja Arashi", divorces Hisao Kurosawa.

"If man perishes from the face of the Earth, due to the effects of hydrogen bombing, it is possible that the next ruler of our planet may be The H-Man."

6/23: Today in G-History

2008-06-23T08:07:00.001-07:00

1892: EDMUND COBB, who played Dr. McDermott in "The Amazing Colossal Man", is born in Albuquerque, N.M. The grandson of Kansas Senator Edmund Gibson Ross, he worked with wife Helen Hayes in "A Rodeo Mixup" and "Riders on the Range".

1966: KANAKO MAEDA, who played Momoko a.k.a. Pink-Mask on "Aura Task Force Maskman" and Kanta on "Birdman Task Force Jetman", is born.

1967: YOKO MINAMINO, who played who played Saki Asamiya a.k.a. "Sukeban Deka II" on TV and in the feature film, is born in Hyogo, Itami-shi, Japan.

1968: Episode 38 of "Ultra Seven", "Battle of Bravery" (a.k.a. "The Brave One"), debuts on Japanese TV.

1972: Episode 12 of "Transformning Ninja Arashi" debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: Episode 7 of "Kikaida 01", "Lightning Strikes! 01 Rendered Powerless!", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 19 of "Kamen Rider V3", "Blowfish Apache's Operation: Torpedo", debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: Episode 12 of "Condorman -- Symbol of Justice" debuts on Japanese TV.

1978: KEI SHIBASHI, who played TPC nurse and Tetsuo's younger sister Mayumi Shinjo on "Ultraman Tiga", is born in Kanagawa, Japan.

1979: Episode 21 of "Battle Fever J" debuts on Japanese TV.

1995: Episode 17 of "Superpower Task Force Ohranger" debuts on Japanese TV.

2001: PAUL SCHREIBMAN, Toho's U.S. attorney who helped bring "Godzilla, King of the Monsters" to the U.S. and co-produced the stateside release of "Gigantis the Fire Monster", dies at 92 in Los Angeles.

2004: "Ringu 2" premieres in Argentina on video.

2005: "One Missed Call" is released in Thailand.

6/20-22: This Weekend in G-History

2008-06-22T09:23:00.000-07:00

Just back from L.A., and I'm sorry for forgetting to send out Friday and Saturday in advance.

Friday, 6/20
1960: EDDIE PARKER, who played Paul Lund and Eric Jacobs as monsters in "Tarantula", dies of a heart attack in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
1964: EDGAR BARRIER, who played Dr. Karol Noymann in "The Giant Claw", dies from a heart attack in Hollywood.
1969: MICHAEL J. FOX, ADR mixer and supervisor on the U.S. remake of "Pulse", is born in St. Louis.
1975: KAZUYOSHI SAKAI, who played Sotaro Ushigome a.k.a. Gao Black on "Hundred Beast Task Force Gaoranger", "Hundred Beast Task Force Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai", and "Stealth Wind Task Force Hurricanger vs. Gaoranger", is born.
1980: Episode 38 of "Sky Rider" debuts on Japanese TV.
1983: MASASHI MIKAMI, who played Shouta Mogami/Boken Blue on "Rumbling Task Force Bokenger", "Rumbling Task Force Bokenger the Movie: The Greatest Precious", and "Rumbling Task Force Bokenger vs. Super Sentai", is born.
1981: Episode 33 of "Kamen Rider Super-1" debuts on Japanese TV.
2003: "Kikaida Collecters Edition, Vol. 4" is released on DVD in Hawaii.

Saturday, 6/21
1909: TED SHERDEMAN, who co-wrote "Latitude Zero", is born.
1946: HIROMITSU SUZUKI, who played Nishizawa in "G.I. Samurai", is born in Tokyo. He was also in "Onmyoji 2".
1951: YOKO ICHIJI, who played Yuki Nomura on "Mirrorman" and "Mirrorman: Ikikaetta kyoryu Alloza", is born in Hiroshima.
1955: LEIGH MCCLOSKEY, who played Magnus Dens in "The Bermuda Depths", is born in Los Angeles. The veteran soap opera actor was Kelsey Grammer's roommate in the 1970's.
HATSUNORI HASEGAWA, who played Takeshi Yamato a.k.a. "Ultraman 80" and Col. Satake in "Gamera: The Guardian of the Universe" and "Gamera 2: Attack of Legion", is born in Hokkaido.
1964: DOUG SAVANT, who played Sergeant O'Neal in "Godzilla", is born in Burbank, Calif. Married to actress Laura Leighton, he was on TV on "Melrose Place" and "Desperate Housewives" and in the film "Masquerade".
WALTER ELLIOTT, sound effects associate on the original "King Kong" and "Son of Kong" and sound editor on "Mighty Joe Young", dies in Santa Barbara, Calif.
1973: Episode 12 of "Robot Detective", "Mother Under Attack!", debuts on Japanese TV.
1975: Episode 11 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 12 of "Kamen Rider Stronger" debuts on Japanese TV.
1986: HIROYA MATSUMOTO, who played Tsubasa Ozu a.k.a. Magi Yellow on "Magiranger", "Magiranger the Movie: Bride of Infershia", "Magiranger vs. Dekaranger", and "Rumbling Task Force Bokenger vs. Super Sentai", is born in Japan.
1990: KASUMI SUZUKI, who played Riji on "Blast Dragon Task Force Abaranger" (or the little evil girl on "Power Rangers Dino Thunder"), is born in Japan.
1995: JUN HAMAMURA, who played Dr. Maruse in "Gammera the Invincible", dies of leukemia in Tokyo.
1997: SHINTARO KATSU, who was in "The Whale God" and "Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis", dies of throat cancer in Kashiwa, Chiba Prefecture, Japan.
1998: The "Ultraman Mega Fight" festival in Osaka closes.
2002: "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II" is released on DVD in Japan.
2003: "Alive" is released in Japan.
2005: "Dark Water" is released on DVD in the U.S.

Today, 6/22
1901: EARL A. WOLCOTT, sound recordist on the original "King Kong" and "Son of Kong", is born in North Nassau, N.Y.
1920: PAUL FREES, who can be heard dubbing many of the voices in "Godzilla Raids Again", "Rodan", "The H-Man", "The Last War", and Dr. Who in "King Kong Escapes" (also directing the dubbing), as well as Glen Manning in "War of the Colossal Beast", is born Solomon Hersh Frees in Chicago. The "Man of a Thousand Voices" provided tons of voiceovers and cartoon characters, including MGM's "Barney Bear", Ludwig von Drake on "The Wonderful World of Disney", Boris Badenov on "The Bullwinkle Show", Inspector Fenwick on "Dudley Do-Right", the Ghost Host of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion, the computer on "Colossus: The Forbin Project", and was the original voice of the Pillsbury Dough Boy, and appeared on several Spike Jones songs.
1923: ISAO "KO" KIMURA, who played Detective Akechi in "Black Lizard", is born in Hiroshima, Japan. He is best known as Katsushiro, the youngest of "The Seven Samurai".
1928: HARUYA KATO is born in Tokyo. The baby-faced actor played a doomed firefighter in "The Mysterians", Mattchan the sailor in "The H-Man", a rescued sailor in "Mothra", Obashi�s assistant in "King Kong vs. Godzilla", Sabu the gangster in "Dogora the Space Monster", reporter Komaki in "Ghidrah -- the Three-Headed Monster", and the TV director in "Frankenstein Conquers the World". He appeared as a praying elderly man in "Rhapsody in August".
1934: IWAO DAN is born. He played the truck driver in Episode 1 of "Kikaida" and George Kanamoto in Episode 14 of "Kamen Rider V3", and also appeared on "Transforming Ninja Arashi", "Kamen Rider: Stronger", and "Sky Rider".
1941: MICHAEL LERNER, who played Mayor Ebert in "Godzilla" and "Godzilla: The Series", is born in Brooklyn, N.Y.
1964: HIROSHI ABE, who played CCI Chief Mitsuo Katagiri in "Godzilla 2000", is born in Kanagawa, Japan. He also played Tsukiyomi in "Orochi the Eight-Headed Dragon" and Hayate in "Moon Over Tao", and was in "Haikara-san is Passing", "Bullet Ranger P08", "Love of a Brute", "30", and "French Dressing".
CHRISTOPHER RHODES, who played McCartin in "Gorgo", dies.
1965: DAVID O. SELZNICK, who co-produced "King Kong", dies of an acute coronary occlusion in Hollywood, Calif.
1973: Episode 38 of "Warrior of Love Rainbowman", "Big Explosion on the ABCD Line", debuts on Japanese TV.
1974: Episode 19 of "Kamen Rider X", "The Dead at the Ghost Castle Are Calling", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 12 of "Electroid Zaborger", "Miracle Man, Long-Distance Cannon", debuts on Japanese TV.
1975: Episode 51 of "Electroid Zaborger", "Strong Zaborger Stops Moving!", debuts on Japanese TV.
YUKA ITAYA, who was in "Sky High", is born in Fukuoka.
1983: "G.I. Samurai" is released in Norway.
1987: Episode 14 of "Super Manchine: Metalder", "The Warrior Madonna", debuts on Japanese TV.
1991: Episode 304 of "Mystery Science Theater 3000", featuring "Gamera vs. Barugon", debuts on Comedy Central.
1997: AMANDA WINN LEE, who was the English dubbing voice of Saki on "Sukeban Deka", Annette on "Super Atragon", and Asagi Kusanagi on "Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe", marries Jason Lee. She was born in Houston in 1972.
2000: OSAMU TAKIZAWA, who played the author/narrator in the "In a Cup of Tea" segment of "Kwaidan", dies of pneumonia in Tokyo.
2002: PAMELA HILL, the voice of the bully in the U.S. dub of "Ultraman Gaia: The Battle in Hyperspace", marries her husband, Bill.
2004: NOBORU SHINODA, cinematographer on "Shikoku", dies from liver failure in Tokyo.
2006: "One Missed Call: Final" is released in South Korea.

6/19: Today in G-History

2008-06-19T04:40:00.001-07:00

1917: RAY HYKE, who played Sgt. Willistead in "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms", is born.
ROBERT KARNES, who played Prof. Alan Templeton in "Half Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman", is born in Kentucky.

1961: NORUHIKO UMECHI is born. He played Shigeru on Episode 5 of "Kikaida 01", Kosuke on "Vigilante Lion Maru", Shinji and Kojo on "Inazuman", and Takeshi Honda on Episode 20 of "Kamen Rider X".

1962: KISUKE YAMASHITA, who was in "Lady Battle Cop", is born in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan.

1963: MONTY L. SIMONS, stuntman on "Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero", is born in Denver.

1966: Episode 25 of "Ultra Q", "The Devil Child", debuts on Japanese TV.

1967: Episode 51 of "The Space Giants", "The Space Monster Goa Gongon Attacks!" a.k.a. "The Mightiest of All", debuts on Japanese TV.

1968: "King Kong Escapes" is released in the U.S.

1971: Episode 12 of "Kamen Rider", "Murderous Yamogerasu", debuts on Japanese TV.

1974: BUMPER ROBINSON, who lent his voice to the "Hive" episode of "Godzilla: The Series", is born Larry C. Robinson II in Cleveland.

1976: Episode 54 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.

1980: BILL GIORGIO, who played Deputy Sheriff Saunders in "Earth vs. the Spider" and the bus driver in "War of the Colossal Beast", dies in Los Angeles County.

1988: Episode 36 of "Kamen Rider Black" debuts on Japanese TV.

1992: Episode 17 of "Dinosaur Task Force Zyuranger", "The Sixth Hero", debuts on Japanese TV.

1993: Episode 12 of "Electronic Superhuman Gridman", "Beware of Catburger Matty!", debuts on Japanese TV.

6/18: Today in G-History

2008-06-18T06:23:00.001-07:00

1904: KEYE LUKE, who dubbed the voices of Tsukioka in "Gigantis the Fire Monster" and Shigeru in "Rodan", is born in Guangzhou, China. Best known as Charlie Chan�s #1 son, he made his film debut in "The Painted Veil" and was in the films "The Good Earth", "Mr. Moto's Gamble", "Phantom of Chinatown", "The Feathered Serpent", "Sky Dragon", and "Alice", and the TV series "Kung Fu", "Anna and the King", "The Amazing Chan and the Chan Clan", and "M*A*S*H".

1917: RICHARD BOONE, who played Masten Thrust in "The Last Dinosaur", is born in Los Angeles. Best remembered as Paladin on "Have Gun, Will Travel", the descendant of Daniel Boone and cousin of Pat Boone also starred in the TV series "Medic", "The Richard Boone Show", and "Hec Ramsey", and films like "The Robe", "Vicki", "Dragnet", "Lizzie", "The Alamo", "The Thunder of Drums", "Rio Conchos", and "The Night of the Following Day".
ROSS ELLIOTT, who played George Ritchie in "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" and Joe Burch in "Tarantula", is born in New York City.

1932: CLIFF HARRINGTON, who played a helicopter pilot in "King Kong vs. Godzilla", is born in Seattle. He was also in "Mothra".

1934: MITSUTERU YOKOYAMA, who created "Tetsujin 28" ("Gigantor"), "Masked Ninja Red Shadow", and "Johnny Sokko and His Giant Robot", is born in Kobe.

1937: STACY KEACH SR., who was the voice of Walter on "Ultraman: The Adventure Begins", marries Mary Cain Peckham.

1944: BAKU HATAKEYAMA, who played Police Chief Gebah in "Time of the Apes" and Daita Oiwa/Ki Ranger on "Secret Task Force Goranger", is born Teruo Hatakeyama in Nagano. He died in 1986.
CRAIG STEVENS, who played Col. Joe Parkman in "The Deadly Mantis", marries Alexis Smith.

1955: KEVIN BURNS, executive producer of "Animal Icons: It Came from Japan", is born in Schenectady, N.Y.

1956: SHUNICHI NAGASAKI, who directed "Shikoku", is born in Japan.

1972: Episode 12 of "Superhuman Barom-1" debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: Episode 12 of "Zone Fighter", "Terrorbeast HQ -- Invade the Earth!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1976: FREDERICK HOLLANDER, who composed music used in "20 Million Miles to Earth", dies in Munich.

1977: Episode 11 of "JAKQ Blitzkrieg Squad", "Thirteen Jackpots!! Burn! Friendship's Fire", debuts on Japanese TV.

1979: Episode 7 of "Megaloman, Warrior of Fire", "Fighting the Warrior of Love", debuts on Japanese TV.
YUMIKO KOBAYASHI, who did the voice of Masaru Komyoji on "Kikaider: The Animation", is born in Chiba, Japan.

1988: MARJORIE CORSO, costume designer on "Earth vs. the Spider", dies.

1989: Episode 33 of "Kamen Rider Black RX", "The Decisive Battle of the Bridge Over the Straits", debuts on Japanese TV.

1993: Episode 17 of "Five Star Task Force Dairanger", "The Heart-Throb Pretty Girl", debuts on Japanese TV.

1998: "Godzilla" is released in Hong Kong, New Zealand, and Russia.
EDWARD ELISCU, uncredited composer on "Son of Kong", dies in Newtown, Conn.

2002: NAOZUMI YAMAMOTO, composer on "Space Giants" and "Operation: Mystery", dies.

2005: TATSUO MATSUMURA, who played an official in "The Secret of the Telegian", Editor Ikeda in "The Human Vapor", and Dr. Makino in "King Kong vs. Godzilla", dies from heart failure in Tokyo.

6/17: Today in G-History

2008-06-17T05:46:00.001-07:00

1866: REGINALD BARLOW, who played the engineer in the original "King Kong", is born in Cambridge, Mass.

1920: SETSUKO HARA, who was Amaterasu the Sun Goddess in "The Three Treasures", is born Masae Aida in Yokohama. Her other films include "No Regrets for Our Youth" and "Chushingura".

1926: SEIZO KATO is born in Tokyo. He was on "Kamen Rider Black RX" and was the voice of Satan on "Dinosaur Task Force Zyuranger".

1948: SHO KOSUGI, who played "Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero", is born in Tokyo. He was also in "Revenge of the Ninja", "Ninja III: The Domination", "NIne Deaths of the Ninja", and "Black Eagle".

1951: JOE PISCOPO, who had a bit part in the 1976 remake of "King Kong", is born in Passaic, N.J. He is best known as a former cast member on "Saturday Night Live".

1959: KAZUMI YAO, who played Buzuma on "Voiceslugger", is born in Ishikawa, Japan.

1961: KOICHI YAMADERA, who played the kids' TV host in "Godzilla vs. Megaguirus", the TV studio producer in "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack", and was the narrator in "Godzilla: Final Wars", is born in Miyagi, Japan.

1972: Episode 64 of "Kamen Rider", "Demon Miminga -- Song of Extermination", debuts on Japanese TV.

1974: FRANCOIS AUDOUY, who did graphics on "The Ring", is born in Toulouse, France.

1978: KUMIKO ASO, who played Etsuko Tachihara in "Ringu 0", Michi Kudo in "Pulse", Asuka in "Red Shadow", Luna Kozuki in "Casshern", and was in "Zebraman", is born Kumiko Hiramaru in Sanbu-gun, Chiba, Japan.
ROBERT WILLIAMS, who played the first state trooper in "The Giant Claw", dies in Orange County, Calif.

1984: NOBUO NAKAGAWA, who directed and co-wrote "Jigoku", dies.

2003: REN YAMAMOTO, who played Masaji Sieji in "Godzilla, King of the Monsters" and other monster victims, dies of cerebral apoplexy.

2004: "Rasen" is released in Germany on DVD.

6/16: Today in G-History

2008-06-16T06:37:00.000-07:00

1925: SHIGEO KATO is born. He was in Episodes 3 & 10 of "Ultra Q", Episode 20 of "Ultraman", Episodes 1 & 5 of "Ultra Seven", Episode 4 of "Return of Ultraman", Episodes 26 & 49 of "Jumborg Ace", Episode 49 of "Ultraman Leo", Episode 16 of "Ultraman Tiga", and several episodes of "Fireman".

1926: TAKETOSHI NAITO, who was in "The Last Days of Planet Earth" and played Chief Cabinet Secretary Takegami in "Godzilla 1985", is born. He was also in the "Sukeban Deka" film.

1932: HARRY RAYBOULD, who played the M.P. at the main gate in "The Amazing Colossal Man", is born.

1934: KEISUKE FUJIKAWA, writer on "Super Robot: Red Baron", is born.

1938: MICKEY FINN, who played road foreman Sam Haskel in "Earth vs. the Spider", is born in Hugo, Okla.

1943: JOAN VAN ARK, who played Frankie Bands in "The Last Dinosaur", is born in New York City. He is best known for her TV work on "Wonder Woman", "Dallas", and "Knots Landing".

1947: TOM WYNER, the U.S. dubbing voice of Crabor, Metalbot, and others on "V.R. Troopers"; the Plague Sentry on Saban's "Masked Rider"; Master Vile on "Mighty Morphin Power Rangers" and "Power Rangers Zeo"; Graxxis and Green Cannon Machine on "Big Bad Beetleborgs"; General Havoc and Electrovolt on "Power Rangers Turbo"; Cannonbrawl, Furio, and the PA announcer on "Power Rangers Lost Galaxy"; Fatcatfish on "Power Rangers Time Force"; Fujiwara no Motokata in "Onmyoji; and Lion Tamer Org, Samurai Org, and Plug Org on "Power Rangers Wild Force", is born. He was also a writer on MMPR.

1949: GEOFFREY PIERSON, who played the Secretary of Defense in "Dragon Wars", is born in Chicago.

1950: FUMIE MOTEGI is born. She played the DARK Central Committee secretary in Episode 25 of "Kikaida" and a nurse in Episode 2 of "Kikaida 01".

1968: Episode 37 of "Ultra Seven", "The Stolen Ultra Eye" (a.k.a. "The Devil's Angel"), debuts on Japanese TV.

1971: "Noroi no yakata: chi o suu me" ("Cursed House: Bloodsucking Eyes") a.k.a. "Lake of Dracula" is released in Japan.

1972: Episode 11 of "Transforming Ninja Arashi" debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: Episode 6 of "Kikaida 01", "Black Magic vs. 01's Secret Power!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 18 of "Kamen Rider V3", "V3, Beware the Evil Traitor!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: Episode 11 of "Condorman -- Symbol of Justice" debuts on Japanese TV.

1976: "Godzilla vs. Megalon" is reviewed in Variety.

1977: MICHAEL LEMBECK, who was the voice of Scott on "Ultraman: The Adventure Begins", marries Barbara Deutsch.

1979: Episode 20 of "Battle Fever J" debuts on Japanese TV.

1987: KOJI TSURUTA, who played younger Kumaso in "The Three Treasures" and reporter Kirioka in "Secret of the Telegian", dies of cancer.

1995: Episode 16 of "Superpower Task Force Ohranger" debuts on Japanese TV.

6/15: Today in G-History

2008-06-15T07:19:00.001-07:00

1893: JOSEPH FORTE, who played Putnam the coroner in "Them!", is born.

1905: ARTHUR DAVIS, producer of the U.S. version of "The Final War", is born in Yonkers, N.Y.

1909: BURL IVES, who played Dr. Paulis in "The Bermuda Depths", is born Burle Icle Ivanhoe Ives in Hunt, Ill. Perhaps best remembered as the snowman in "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer", he was also in the films "Smoky", "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof", and "The Big Country", for which he won an Oscar.

1910: TAKEO MURATA, who co-wrote "Godzilla, King of the Monsters", "Half-Human: The Story of the Abominable Snowman", "Godzilla Raids Again", and "Rodan", is born in Tokyo.

1918: FRANKLYN FARNUM, who played a ballet-goer in "The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms", marries Alma Rubens.

1942: HIROSHI MIYAUCHI, who played Shiro Kazami a.k.a. "Kamen Rider V3" in his own series (for which he also sang the theme song) and in "Kamen Rider V3 vs. Destron", "5 Kamen Riders vs. King Dark", "8 Kamen Riders vs. Galaxy King", "Kamen Rider Super-1: The Movie", "Kamen Rider 10's Birth! Riders Unite!", and guest appearances on "Kamen Rider X", "Kamen Rider Stronger", and "Sky Rider", is born in Chiba, Japan. He also played Akira Shinmei the Blue Ranger on "Secret Task Force Goranger"; Ken Hayakawa a.k.a. "Vigilante Zubat"; Shokichi Banba/Big One on "JAKQ Blitzkrieg Squad"; Morrei in "The War in Space"; Go Tachibana on Toei's "Spider-Man", Masaki Tosuke in "Special Police: Winspector", "Special Rescue Command Solbrain", and "Special Investigator Exceedraft"; Captain Miura in "Superpower Task Force Ohranger", "Superpower Task Force Ohranger vs. Kakuranger", "Highspeed Task Force Carranger vs. Ohranger", and "Hundred Beast Task Force Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai" (for which he also reprised his "Goranger" and "JAKQ" roles); and Tachibana Tobei in "Kamen Rider: The First".

1973: Episode 11 of "Robot Detective", "The Secret of BAD's Hideout!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
"Godzilla vs. Megalon" premieres in South Korea on TV.

1975: Episode 10 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 11 of "Kamen Rider Stronger" debuts on Japanese TV.

1981: JIMMY CROSS, who played the sergeant at the reception desk in "The Amazing Colossal Man", dies at 74 of a stroke in Los Angeles.

1982: JOHN TOWEY, who appeared on "Ultraman: The Ultimate Hero", marries Henrietta Valor.

1983: AYUMI BEPPU, who played Hoka Ozu a.k.a. Magi Pink on "Magiranger", "Magiranger the Movie: Bride of Infershia", and "Magiranger vs. Dekaranger", is born.

1994: HENRY MANCINI, who composed stock music used in "Tarantula", "The Deadly Mantis", and the U.S. release of "King Kong vs. Godzilla", dies of cancer in Los Angeles at 70.

1997: RICHARD JAECKEL, who played Perry Lawton in "Latitude Zero" and Vince Elliott in "The Green Slime", dies of cancer in Woodland Hills, Calif. at 70.

2002: TAKAYASU SUGIURA, star of "Ultraman Cosmos", is arrested on charges of assault and extortion. The show is temporarilty pulled from TV as a result.

2003: AAGE WILTRUP, cinematographer on "Reptilicus", dies in Horsholm, Denmark.

2004: NORIAKI YUASA, director of "Gamera", "Gamera vs. Gaos", "Destroy All Planets", "Gamera vs. Guiron", "Gamera vs. Monster X", "Gamera vs. Zigra", and "Gamera Super Monster", dies in Japan from a stroke. Born in Tokyo in 1933, the former child actor also directed the special effects for "Gamera vs. Barugon" and helmed episodes of "Iron King", "Electroid Zaborger", and "Ultraman 80".

2006: "Casshern" premieres in Finland on DVD.

6/14: Today in G-History

2008-06-14T06:31:00.000-07:00

6/13: Today in G-History

2008-06-13T06:45:00.001-07:00

1888: HARRY TYLER, who played an inmate in "Them!" and Manhattan Tunnel spectator in "The Deadly Mantis", is born in New York City.

1918: BEN JOHNSON, who played Gregg in "Mighty Joe Young", is born in Foraker, Okla. The former rodeo star won an Oscar for "The Last Picture Show", and also appeared in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon", "Rio Grande", "Wagon Master", "Cheyenne Autumn", and "The Wild Bunch".

1920: EIJI OKADA, who played project leader Dr. Kato in "The X From Outer Space", is born in Chiba Prefecture, Japan. He also played Salabad in "ESPY" and was in "Deathquake". Okada was best known in the West for "Hiroshima mon amour", "The Ugly American", "Woman in the Dunes", and "Traffic Jam".

1953: "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms" is released in the U.S.

1964: KAORI MIZUSHIMA, who played Eleven in "Gunhed" and Hikari Enokida on "Kamen Rider Kuuga", is born in Tokyo.

1977: SELWYN WARD, who played T.J. Johnson a.k.a. the Red Turbo Ranger on "Power Rangers Turbo", "Power Rangers Wild Force", and "Power Rangers Dino Thunder", and the Blue Space Power Ranger on "Power Rangers in Space" and "Power Rangers Lost Galaxy", is born in Kokomo, Ind. He has also appeared on "Moesha" and "Passions".

1978: MIKAKO ICHIKAWA, who played Natsuko Aki in "Cutie Honey", is born in Tokyo.

1980: Episode 37 of "Sky Rider" debuts on Japanese TV.

1981: Episode 32 of "Kamen Rider Super-1" debuts on Japanese TV.

"This is such a strange feeling, I feel as though I'm leaving a world of untold tomorrows for a world of countless yesterdays."

6/12: Today in G-History

2008-06-12T06:04:00.001-07:00

1896: JAMES ADAMSON, who played a native in the original "King Kong", is born in California.

1909: TOM STEELE, stuntman on "Might Joe Young", is born Thomas Skeoch in Scotland. He also worked on "The Masked Marvel" and "The Thing from Another World".

1918: SAMUEL Z. ARKOFF, co-founder of American International Pictures with James H. Nicholson, is born in Fort Dodge, Iowa. He was executive producer for the stateside releases of "Reptilicus", "Atragon", "The Lost World of Sinbad", "Frankenstein Conquers the World", "Yog -- Monster from Space", and "Godzilla vs. the Smog Monster", along with "The Amazing Colossal Man", "War of the Colossal Beast", "Earth vs. the Spider", and over 300 B-movies.

1948: LEN WEIN, writer on "Godzilla: The Series", is born in New York City.

1952: MAYASA OKI, who was in "The War in Space", is born in Beppu, Oita, Japan.

1966: Episode 24 of "Ultra Q", "The Idol of Goga", debuts on Japanese TV.

1967: Episode 50 of "The Space Giants", "Go to Hell Cosmic Mold Monster Kindora!" a.k.a. "Fury in Space", debuts on Japanese TV.

1971: Episode 11 of "Kamen Rider", "Vampiric Demon Gebacondor", debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: JACQUES BELASCO, who composed music used in "The Giant Claw", dies.

1974: Baseball player HIDEKI MATSUI, who appeared as himself in "Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla", is born in Ishikawa, Japan. He is currently playing for the New York Yankees.
HARRY SHEARER, who played anchorman Charles Caiman in "Godzilla", marries Penelope J. Nichols.

1978: YUMIKO SHAKU, who played Yuki in "The Princess Blade", Akane Shakiro in "Godzilla Against Mechagodzilla" and "Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.", and Mina Saeki/Izuko in "Sky High" (both film and TV series), is born in Tokyo.

1979: HENRY BERMAN, assistant editor on "Son of Kong", dies in Los Angeles.

1988: Episode 35 of "Kamen Rider Black" debuts on Japanese TV.

1993: Episode 11 of "Electronic Superhuman Gridman", "Pocket Money is 100,000 Yen?", debuts on Japanese TV.

1996: MARY FIELD, who played O'Hara's secretary in "Mighty Joe Young", dies from a stroke in Fairfax, Vir.

1999: "The Ring Virus" is released in South Korea.

6/11: Today in G-History

2008-06-11T03:37:00.001-07:00

1890: JAMES BASEVI, production designer on "Mighty Joe Young", is born in Plymouth, England.

1909: PAUL SCHREIBMAN, Toho's U.S. attorney who helped bring "Godzilla, King of the Monsters" to the U.S. and co-produced the stateside release of "Gigantis the Fire Monster", is born in Bayonne, N.J.

1914: GERALD MOHR, who played Colonel Thomas O'Bannion in "The Angry Red Planet", is born in New York City. He was the voice of the Lone Ranger, Phillip Marlowe, Johnny Dollar, and the Lone Wolf on the radio, and starred on the TV series "Foreign Intrigue".

1931: LUCIANNA PALUZZI, who played Lisa Benson in "The Green Slime", is born in Rome. Best known as Fiona Volpe in "Thunderball", she was also in "Hercules" and appeared on "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.".

1936: CHAD EVERETT, who was the voice of Chuck on "Ultraman: The Adventure Begins", is born Raymond Lee Cramton in South Bend, Ind. Best known for the TV series "Medical Center", he was also in the films "Get Yourself a College Girl", "Made in Paris", "Johnny Tiger", "Return of the Gunfighter", "Psycho", "Mulholland Drive", and "View from the Top", and on TV in "The Dakotas", "Centennial", "Hagen", and "Manhattan, AZ".

1942: VERNON L. WALKER, cinematographer on "King Kong" and "Son of Kong", divorces his wife, Lottie.

1965: YASUKO SAWAGUCHI is born in Osaka. She played Naoko Okamura in "Godzilla 1985", Princess Kaguya in "Princess from the Moon", Erica Shiragami in "Godzilla vs. Biollante", and Oto Tachibana in "Orochi the Eight-Headed Dragon".

1971: BRIAN MAGERKURTH, sound recordist on "The Ring" and "Lorelei: The Witch of the Pacific Ocean", is born in East Moline, Ill.

1972: Episode 11 of "Superhuman Barom-1" debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: Episode 11 of "Zone Fighter", "By a Thread -- The Roar of Godzilla!", is shown on Japanese TV. Gigan makes an appearance in this episode.
EI HAMURA, who played Shoji Tenjyosei a.k.a. Pegasus Ranger on "Five Star Task Force Dairanger", is born.

1974: Episode 10 of "Inazuman Flash" debuts on Japanese TV.

1977: MAMI HIGASHIYAMA, who played Miku Imamura a.k.a. Mega Pink on "Electromagnetic Task Force Megaranger", "Star Beast Task Force Gingaman vs. Megaranger", "Electromagnetic Task Force Megaranger vs. Carranger", and "Hundred Beast Task Force Gaoranger vs. Super Sentai", is born Mami Iwatani in Hyogo, Japan.
Episode 10 of "JAKQ Blitzkrieg Squad", "Eleven Collections!! Invitation to Happiness", debuts on Japanese TV.

1978: T.A. MOORE JR., sound re-recording mixer on "Power Rangers Turbo", marries Diane Marie Moore.

1979: Episode 6 of "Megaloman", "Order: Operation Invasion", debuts on Japanese TV.

1985: AN, who played a girl on "Dinosaur Task Force Zyuranger" and was in "School of Ghosts 3", is born in Itoman City, Okinawa.

1988: YUI ARAGAKI, who played Ema on "Shibuya Fifteen", is born in Naha City, Okinawa.

1989: Episode 22 of "Kamen Rider Black RX", "The Sky of Love and Hope", debuts on Japanese TV.

1993: Episode 16 of "Five Star Task Force Dairanger", "Child Stones Lying About", debuts on Japanese TV.

1995: NOBORU TSUBURAYA, son of Eiji Tsuburaya and producer at Tsuburaya Productions, dies. Born in 1939, he produced "Space Warriors 2000", "The Last Dinosaur", "Star Wolf" (a.k.a. "Fugitive Alien"), "The Ultraman", "Ultraman: Monster Big Battle", "Attack of the Super Monsters" ("Dinosaur War Aizenborg"), "The Ultraman Story", "Ultraman: Towards the Future", and "Gridman" ("Superhuman Samurai Syber-Squad").

1998: "Godzilla" is released in Australia.

2000: Episode 20 of "Kamen Rider Kuuga", "Smiling Face", debuts on Japanese TV.

2005: "Sengoku jieitai 1549" ("Samurai Commando Mission 1549") is released in Japan.

6/10: Today in G-History

2008-06-10T03:31:00.000-07:00

1873: VERA LEWIS, who played a theater patron who screamed when "King Kong" escaped, is born Vera Mackey in New York City.

1889: CLIFF CLARK, who played police guard Moran in "Mighty Joe Young", is born in New York City.

1908: OTTO LUND, set decorator on "Reptilicus", is born in Copenhagen.

1909: MARY FIELD, who played O'Hara's secretary in "Mighty Joe Young", is born in New York City.

1910: BUD WOLFE, who was a stuntman on "Mighty Joe Young" and played a bus driver in "Tarantula", is born in New York City.

1921: GARRY WALBERG, who played an army general in the 1976 remake of "King Kong", is born in Buffalo, N.Y.

1935: KOJI TAKAHASHI, who played Rohan Koda in "Tokyo: The Last Megalopolis" and Dr. Genichiro Shiragami in "Godzilla vs. Biollante", is born in Niigata, Japan.

1947: YURIKO HISHIMI, who played Anne Yuri on "Ultraseven" and Tomoko Tomoe in "Godzilla on Monster Island", is born Chiako Sakaiya in Tokyo. She also appeared in "Waga aishita Ultraseven" and "Ultraman Zearth 2".

1966: NED LE FEVRE, who played an announcer in "The Deadly Mantis", dies of cancer in Sun Valley, Calif.

1972: Episode 63 of "Kamen Rider", "Demon Rhino Gang -- Auto Race of Death", debuts on Japanese TV.

1996: FRANKIE SAKAI, who played reporter Bulldog Fukuda in "Mothra", dies at 67.

1999: Filming starts on "Godzilla 2000".
"Ringu 2" has its world premiere in Hong Kong.

2000: "Kurosufaia" ("Cross Fire") a.k.a. "Pyrokinesis" is released in Japan.

2003: "Gamera: Revenge of Irys" is released on DVD in the U.S.

2004: KOTARO TOMITA, who played a villager in "Ghidrah -- the Three-Headed Monster", the lead Seatopian agent in "Godzilla vs. Megalon", and Professor Ota in "Terror of Mechagodzilla", dies from pneumonia in Tokyo.

6/9: Today in G-History

2008-06-09T06:35:00.000-07:00

1951: JAMES NEWTON HOWARD, composer on the 2005 remake of "King Kong", is born in Los Angeles.

1964: HIROKO YAKUSHIMARU, who played the childlike samurai in "G.I. Samurai", is born in Tokyo.

1968: Episode 32 of "Ultra Seven", "The Deadly 0.1 Second" (a.k.a. "Sharpshooter Showdown"), debuts on Japanese TV.

1972: Episode 10 of "Transforming Ninja Arashi" debuts on Japanese TV.

1973: Episode 5 of "Kikaida 01", "Terror! The Laughing Egg on Aowani Island!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 17 of "Kamen Rider V3", "The Devilspray is the Reaper's Weapon", debuts on Japanese TV.

1979: Episode 19 of "Battle Fever J", "The World�s Strongest Beauty", debuts on Japanese TV.

1995: Episode 15 of "Superpower Task Force Ohranger" debuts on Japanese TV.

2003: "Kikaider: The Animation" premieres in the U.S. on the Cartoon Network.

6/8: Today in G-History

2008-06-08T07:37:00.001-07:00

1893: ERNEST B. SCHOEDSACK, who co-directed, produced, co-wrote, and was a cameraman on "King Kong" and "Son of Kong", and played the machine-gunner of the plane that killed Kong, is born in Council Bluffs, Iowa. He also directed "Mighty Joe Young".

1900: GEORGE ANTHEIL, who composed music used in "The Giant Claw" and "20 Million Miles to Earth", is born in Trenton, N.J.

1923: MYRON HEALEY, who played Commander James Bradley in the U.S. version of "Varan the Unbelievable", is born in Petaluna, Calif. He was also in the films "The Time of Their Lives", "The Unearthly" and "The Incredible Melting Man", and on TV on "Wagon Train".

1942: HIE-BONG BYEON, who played Park Hie-bong in "The Host", is born in South Korea.

1953: DANIEL P. MURPHY, who did mechanical effects on "Godzilla", is born in Cincinnati.

1955: SHUSUKE KANEKO, who directed "Gamera, the Guardian of the Universe", "Gamera 2: Attack of Legion", "School of Ghosts 3", "Gamera 3: Revenge of Irys", "Pyrokinesis", "Godzilla, Mothra, King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack", "Death Note", and "Death Note: The Last Name", is born in Tokyo. He also directed episodes of "Ultraman Max", served as co-writer on G3 and GMK, and was special effects consultant on GMK.

1973: Episode 36 of "Warrior of Love Rainbowman", "Your Sweetheart is an Assassin", debuts on Japanese TV.

1974: Episode 17 of "Kamen Rider X", "Scary! Humans Are Being Made into Trees!!", debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 10 of "Electroid Zaborger", "Scary! Humans Are Being Made Into Trees!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: Episode 49 of "Electroid Zaborger", "Hurry, Daimon! Rescue the Zaborger Base!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1977: Episode 19 of "Vigilante Zubat" premieres on Japanese TV.

1978: RUTH ROSE, who co-wrote the screenplays for "King Kong", "Son of Kong", and "Mighty Joe Young", dies in Santa Monica, Calif.

1987: Episode 12 of "Super Manchine: Metalder", "Siege of the Ninjas", debuts on Japanese TV.

1991: Episode 302 of "Mystery Science Theater 3000", featuring "Gamera", debuts on Comedy Central.
STUART FRATKIN, who played the Utah ensign in "Godzilla", marries his wife, Monica.

2002: "Dark Water" premieres in Australia at the Sydney Film Festival.

2004: "Return of the Giant Monsters" and "The Magic Serpent" are released on a double DVD in the U.S.

6/7: Today in G-History

2008-06-07T07:02:00.000-07:00

1902: SIDNEY CLIFFORD, set decorator on "The Giant Claw", is born in New York City.

1919: ALIX TALTON, who played Marge Blaine in "The Deadly Mantis", is born in Atlanta.

1927: YOSHIKAZU SUGI, who was in "Prince of Space", is born. He also played the human form of Ink Squid on Episode 32 of "Kikaida 01".

1964: SUMIKO TANAKA, who played Yellow Four on "Super Electron Bioman", is born.
GIA CARIDES, who played Jean Echo on "Ultraman: Towards the Future", is born in Sydney, Australia. The wife of Anthony LaPaglia, she was also in "Strictly Ballroom" and "Brilliant Lies".

1973: Episode 10 of "Robot Detective", "BAD's Plan for Total Annihilation!!", debuts on Japanese TV.

1974: Episode 9 of "Ultraman Leo", "Bridge of Friendship That Spans Space", debuts on Japanese TV.

1975: Episode 9 of "Secret Task Force Goranger" debuts on Japanese TV.
Episode 10 of "Kamen Rider Stronger" debuts on Japanese TV.

1983: DANIELE AMFITHEATROF, who composed stock music used in "20 Million Miles to Earth", dies in Rome.

1986: KOJI WADA, who played Mashida in "Gappa the Triphibian Monster", dies.

2003: EDWARD BURNS, who played Jack Andrews in the U.S. version of "One Missed Call", marries Christy Turlington.