This Date in MSTory

BORN ON THIS DATE
1903: Bud Thackery, who did the process photography and other special effects for the season four serial UNDERSEA KINGDOM.
1913: Ernest Taylor, make-up artist for the movie in episode 111- MOON ZERO TWO.**
1913: Maurice Manson, who played Prof. Ulbrect Olinger in the movie in episode 806- THE UNDEAD.

1914: Carey Loftin, who played a motorist in episode 8 (and was also a stuntman) in the season one serial RADAR MEN FROM THE MOON and also appeared in (and was a stuntman for) the movie in episode 419- THE REBEL SET.

1921: John Agar, who played Dr. Clete Ferguson in the movie in episode 801- REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, Dr. Roger Bentley in the movie in episode 803- THE MOLE PEOPLE and Doc Farrell in the movie in episode 104- WOMEN OF THE PREHISTORIC PLANET. He was also mentioned in a host segment in episode 811- PARTS: THE CLONUS HORROR.

1921: Carol Channing, who Mike Nelson was for a while in a host segment in episode 619- RED ZONE CUBA.

1921: Mario Lanza, who was included in the list of prominent “doughy guys” shown in a host segment in episode 522- TEEN-AGE CRIME WAVE.

1922: William Sylvester, who played Leonard Driscoll in the movie in episode 814- RIDING WITH DEATH, Mark English in the movie in episode 818- DEVIL DOLL and Sam Slade in the movie in episode 909- GORGO.

1922: Nicholas Carras, composer of original musical score for the movie in episode 1002- GIRL IN GOLD BOOTS.

1923: Larry Buchanan, producer and director of the movie in episode 418- ATTACK OF THE THE EYE CREATURES, played by Mike Nelson in a host segment of the episode.

1923: Norman Mailer, who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 207- WILD REBELS.

1924: William Bryant, who played Dr. Ralph Martin in the movie in episode 210- KING DINOSAUR and a trucker in the movie in episode 305- STRANDED IN SPACE.

1934: James Franciscus, who played Clayton Stone in the movie in episode 401- SPACE TRAVELERS, Jimbo in the movie in episode K16- CITY ON FIRE and Paul Diller in the movie in episode 1205- KILLER FISH.

1939: Jerry Brutsche, first assistant director and associate producer for the movie “Five the Hard Way,” seen in episode 202- THE SIDEHACKERS.*

1940: Stuart Margolin, who played the Chief in the movie in episode 104- WOMEN OF THE PREHISTORIC PLANET.

1942: Daniela Bianchi, who played Maya in the movie “Operation Kid Brother,” seen in episode 508- OPERATION DOUBLE 007.*

1946: Richard Hylland (aka Richard Highland,) who played Michaels in the movie THE GREEN SLIME (riffed in MST3K’s pilot).*

1954: Jessica Biscardi, who played a skier in the movie in episode 1104- AVALANCHE.

1962: Mike Gandolfi, a contributing writer for two episodes in season three of Mystery Science Theater 3000.*

DIED ON THIS DATE
1967: Oskar Fischingerl (age 66), an animator for the movie in episode 1103- THE TIME TRAVELERS.

1979: Basil Dignam (age 73), who played Admiral Brooks in the movie in episode 909- GORGO.

1988: Nikolay Budashkin (age 77), the score composer for the movie “Morozko,” seen in episode 813- JACK FROST.

1989: Kenneth Kessler (age 68), assiƒstant director and production supervisor for the movie in episode 419- THE REBEL SET.

1989: Jack Douglas, (age 79), who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 514- TEENAGE STRANGLER.

1999: Gaio Frattini (age 77), who co-wrote the movie in episode 502- HERCULES.

2011: Charles E. Sellier Jr. (age 67), producer of the movie in episode K19- HANGAR 18.

2013: Mark Gregory (age 48; overdose), who played Trash in the movie in episode 705- ESCAPE 2000.

2015: Robert Blees (age 96), screenwriter for the movie in episode 113- THE BLACK SCORPION.

EVENTS ON THIS DATE
1957: Martin Landau, who played Commander John Koenig, on TV’s “Space: 1999” (episodes of which were used in the movie in episode K10- COSMIC PRINCESS), marries Barbara Bain, who played Dr. Helena Russell on the same show.

2000: Hedger Wallace (age 72), who played a Submarine Control officer in the movie in episode 909- GORGO.

2004: Episode 912- THE SCREAMING SKULL is the last MST3K episode to air on the Sci-Fi Channel.

2016: Ray Davies, composer of “There’s a New World Opening For Me” heard in episode 204- CATALINA CAPER, is knighted for services to the arts by Queen Elizabeth II.

2017: Shout! Factory releases The Mystery Science Theater 3000 Collection, Vol. IV.

* = 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.