This Date in MSTory

BORN ON THIS DATE
1881: Arthur Kay, one of the musical score composers for the season four serial UNDERSEA KINGDOM.

1887: John Hamilton, who played Prof. Cushman in the movie in episode 702- THE BRUTE MAN.

1894: Alfred Wilken who had an uncredited role in the movie in episode 1101- REPTILICUS.

1903: Peter Brocco, who played Krog in the season one serial RADAR MEN FROM THE MOON.

1907: John Hiestand, who played a TV newscaster in the movie WORLD WITHOUT END, the movie riffed in MST3K’s first live show.

1908: Ethel Merman, who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 411- THE MAGIC SWORD.

1909: George Gittens, editorial supervisor for the movie in episode 809- I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF.

1920: Steve Conte, who played Bruno in the movie in episode 515- THE WILD WILD WORLD OF BATWOMAN and was an extra in the movie in episode 809- I WAS A TEENAGE WEREWOLF.

1922: Sherry Moreland, who played a Martian in the movie in episode 201- ROCKETSHIP X-M.

1928: Walter Maslow, who was a passenger in the movie in episode K13- SST: DEATH FLIGHT and a “main gate guard” in the movie in episode 420- THE HUMAN DUPLICATORS.*

1938: Michael Pataki, who played Tony in the movie in episode K15- SUPERDOME, J.C. in the movie in episode 202- THE SIDE HACKERS and Sgt. Ward in the movie in episode 1010- IT LIVES BY NIGHT.

1941: Gary McLarty, who played a Mistrella hood and was a stuntman in the movie in episode 512- MITCHELL.

1944: Jim Stafford, who played Joe “Buffalo Bill” Hickens in the movie in episode 814- RIDING WITH DEATH.*

1949: Caroline Munro, who played Stella Star in the movie in episode 1106- STARCRASH and Dia in the movie in episode 1114- AT THE EARTH’S CORE.*

1968: David Chokachi, who played Red in the movie in episode 1202- ATLANTIC RIM.*

1974: Kate Moss, who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 516- ALIEN FROM L.A.*

DIED ON THIS DATE
1971: Kermit Maynard (age 73), who played a barfly in the movie in episode 511- GUNSLINGER.

1974: Newell P. Kimlin (age 60), editor for the movie in episode 510- THE PAINTED HILLS.

1981: Bernard Lee (age 73), who played Commander Cunningham in the movie “Operation Kid Brother,” seen in episode 508- OPERATION DOUBLE 007.

1986: Holger Harrivirta (age 70), assistant director and editor of the movie in episode 422- THE DAY THE EARTH FROZE.

1987: Earl Wilson (age 79), who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 505- THE MAGIC VOYAGE OF SINBAD.

1993: Glenn Corbett (age 62), who played Neil Stryker in the movie in episode 305- STRANDED IN SPACE.

1993: Phil Chambers (age 76), who played Dr. Paul Stuart in the movie in episode 803- THE MOLE PEOPLE.

2013: Abigail Van Buren, aka “Dear Abby” (age 94), who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 311- IT CONQUERED THE WORLD.

2014: Russell Johnson (age 89), who played Joe Gamble in the movie in episode 906- THE SPACE CHILDREN and Dr. Steve Carlson in THIS ISLAND EARTH seen in MST3K: THE MOVIE. He treated MSTies to a great personal appearance at 1996’s MST3K’S CONVENTIOCON EXPOFEST-A-RAMA.

2018: Bradford Dillman (age 87), the narrator in the movie “Monstrosity,” seen in episode 518- THE ATOMIC BRAIN, and who played Dobler in the movie in episode 1203- LORDS OF THE DEEP.

2021: Phil Spector (age 81), who murdered Lana Clarkson, who played Amathea in the movie in episode 1111- WIZARDS OF THE LOST KINGDOM II.

2021: Jim MacGeorge (age 92), who played Mac the cop in the movie in episode 404- TEENAGERS FROM OUTER SPACE.

EPISODE PREMIERE ON THIS DATE
1993: episode 422- THE DAY THE EARTH FROZE (with the short “Here Comes The Circus” ) first shown.

EVENTS ON THIS DATE
1994: The winners of the CableAce awards are announced. “Mystery Science Theater 3000” is nominated for best writing in a comedy series and best comedy series, but does not win either. Instead, “The Larry Sanders Show” wins for best comedy. “Beavis and Butt-Head” and “Kids in the Hall” were also nominated. In the writing category, the show is up against FOUR episodes of “The Larry Sanders Show.” The show is also nominated for best art direction in a comedy or music special or series, an award that was won by something called “Mastergate.”

* = 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.