This Date in MSTory

BORN ON THIS DATE
1903: Richard Fantl, editor for the season four serial UNDERSEA KINGDOM.
1914: Josep Mullendore, orchestrator for the movie in episode 109- PROJECT MOON BASE.
1915: Rodney Bell, who had roles in the movies in episodes 509- THE GIRL IN LOVERS LANE and 702- THE BRUTE MAN.
1916: Alf Mangan, who played a circus food vendor in the movie in episode 909- GORGO.
1929: Claus Toksvig, the uncredited narrator in the movie in episode 1101- REPTILICUS.
1942: Jeanne Willardson, who played Mary Smith in the movie in episode 613- THE SINISTER URGE.*
1943: Ron Elliott, songwriter and lead guitarist of The Beau Brummels, who performed a couple of songs in the movie in episode 523- VILLAGE OF THE GIANTS.*
1965: Nick Vidar who did music preparation for the movie in episode 1305- DOCTOR MORDRID.*
1975: Dee Caspary, who played a dancer (uncredited) in the movie in episode 1201- MAC AND ME.*

DIED ON THIS DATE
1970: John Scopes (age 70), the subject of the “Scopes Monkey Trial,” who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 306- TIME OF THE APES. He was also also mentioned in a host segment in episode 203- JUNGLE GODDESS and, again, in episode 209- THE HELLCATS.
1971: Raymond Hatton (age 84), who played Gasspon in the season four serial UNDERSEA KINGDOM and old Pete in THE DAY THE WORLD ENDED (riffed by fans in Sci-fi Channel’s “MST3K: The Home Game”).
1973: Andrei Abrikosov (age 66), who played King Vladimir in the movie in episode 617- THE SWORD AND THE DRAGON.
1996: Harry Thomas (age 87), make-up artist for the movies in episodes 109- PROJECT MOON BASE, 320- THE UNEARTHLY, 602- INVASION U.S.A., 618- HIGH SCHOOL BIG SHOT, 1312- THE BUBBLE and 701- NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST.
1997: Jay A. Morley Jr. (age 79), costumer for the movies in episodes 801- REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, 803- THE MOLE PEOPLE and 804- THE DEADLY MANTIS.
2001: David Lowell Rich (age 81), director of the TV movie in episode K13- SST: DEATH FLIGHT.
2003: Leif Rise (age 78), cinematographer for the movie in episode 612- THE STARFIGHTERS.
2007: Darrell Cathcart (age 72), cinematographer for the movie in episode 1112- CARNIVAL MAGIC.
2009: Duncan “Dean” Parkin (age 78), who played Glenn Manning in the movie in episode 319- WAR OF THE COLOSSAL BEAST, as well as being a stagehand in the movie in episode 517- BEGINNING OF THE END.
2019: Josip Elic (age 98), who played Shim in the movie in episode 321- SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS.
2017: Dick Cherney (age 102), who played an engineer in the movie in episode 401- SPACE TRAVELERS.

EVENTS ON THIS DATE
1962: The Century 21 Exposition closes in Seattle. We got a close look at the Bell Telephone exhibit in the short CENTURY 21 CALLING (seen in episode 906- THE SPACE CHILDREN).
1995: Michael Blodgett, who played Bob Draper in the movie in episode 204- CATALINA CAPER, marries actress Meredith Baxter.
1997: RHINO HOME VIDEO releases episode 507- I ACCUSE MY PARENTS, 619- RED ZONE CUBA and 518- THE ATOMIC BRAIN on VHS.

* = If this appears next to a birthday, this person is alive, according to the IMDB. If you can supply evidence that he or she has died, and when, please let us know.
** = If this appears next to a birthday, the IMDB indicates that the person has died, but the IMDB does not have a full death date (probably just a month and year or just the year he or she died). If you can give us the exact date (with some sort of proof we can check), please let us know.
** = If this appears next to a death date, the IMDB does not have this person’s full birthday. If you can provide it (with some sort of proof we can check), please let us know.
This Date in MSTory is written and compiled by Christopher Cornell, Brian Henry and Steve Finley with assistance by Tim Brown, Gordon Lawyer and many other Satellite News commenters.