This Date in MSTory

BORN ON THIS DATE
1901: Patrick Halpin, who played a circus audience member in the movie CIRCUS OF HORRORS, featured in the Great Cheesy Movie Circus Tour in 2019.

1905: Henry Spitz, production manager for the movie in episode 1105- THE BEAST OF HOLLOW MOUNTAIN.

1907: Cy Schindell, who played a cop in the movie in episode 702- THE BRUTE MAN and one of Khan’s guardsmen in the season four serial UNDERSEA KINGDOM.

1920: Sam Sebby, who played moon scout #7 in the season one serial RADAR MEN FROM THE MOON.

1914: Robert Bice, who played patrolman Smith in the movie in episode 522- TEEN-AGE CRIME WAVE and George Sylvester in the movie in episode 602- INVASION U.S.A. (for which movie he was also dialog director).

1916: William Alland, producer of the movies in episodes 801- REVENGE OF THE CREATURE (for which he also wrote the story), 803- THE MOLE PEOPLE, 804- THE DEADLY MANTIS (for which he also wrote the story), 906- THE SPACE CHILDREN and THIS ISLAND EARTH seen in MST3K: THE MOVIE.

1922: Richard Cunha, cinematographer for the movie in episode 607- BLOODLUST!

1926: Travis Richard Kleefeld aka Tony Travis, who played Eddie Crane in the movie in episode 415- THE BEATNIKS.

1929: Craig Huebing, who played the flight director in the movie in episode 401- SPACE TRAVELERS.

1932: Artist and custom car designer Ed “Big Daddy” Roth, who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 324- MASTER NINJA 2.

1940: Dwayne McLean, stunt coordinator for the movie in episode K20- THE LAST CHASE.*

1948: Chris Squire, co-author of the song “Owner of a Lonely Heart,” discussed in a host segment in episode 1008- FINAL JUSTICE.

1948: Ace Mask, who played Principal Thornton in the movie in episode 1304- MUNCHIE.*

1972: NFL veteran Robert Smith, who appeared as Howard the Hunk in a host segment in episode 803- THE MOLE PEOPLE.*

1973: Len Wiseman, who did miniature effects for the movie in episode 913- QUEST OF THE DELTA KNIGHTS.*

DIED ON THIS DATE
1978: Bobbie Sierks (age 67), script supervisor for the movie in episode 1105- THE BEAST OF HOLLOW MOUNTAIN.

1989: Hiroshi Minami (age 60), who played Atari in the movie in episode K14- /314- MIGHTY JACK.

1997: Carey Loftin (age 83), 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.

EVENTS ON THIS DATE
1937: At the Oscars: Douglas Shearer, recording supervisor for the movie in episode 510- THE PAINTED HILLS wins the best sound recording Award for “San Francisco.”

1942: At the Oscars: Cedric Gibbons, supervising art director for the movie in episode 510- THE PAINTED HILLS, shares the best art direction award for “Blossoms in the Dust.”

1943: At the Oscars: Heinz Roemheld, who composed some of the musical score for the movie in episode 803- THE MOLE PEOPLE and was also one of the composers for the season two serial THE PHANTOM CREEPS and the season four serial UNDERSEA KINGDOM, wins an Oscar for best music and scoring of a musical picture for “Yankee Doodle Dandy.” Farciot Edouart, who did the process photography for the movies in episodes 523- VILLAGE OF THE GIANTS and 906- THE SPACE CHILDREN, shares the best effects special effects Oscar for “Reap the Wild Wind.”

1951: The movie in episode in 510- THE PAINTED HILLS begins general release in the U.S.

1953: Buck Young, who played Detective Aldridge in the movie in episode 512- MITCHELL, marries Peggy Stewart, who played an Inner Council member in the movie in episode 305- STRANDED IN SPACE.

1979: The movie in episode 1310- H.G .WELLS’ THE SHAPE OF THINGS TO COME has its premiere in Canada.

1983: The movie in episode 1112- CARNIVAL MAGIC has its premiere in Greenwood, South Carolina.

EPISODE PREMIERE ON THIS DATE
2022: Episode 1301- SANTO IN THE TREASURE OF DRACULA premiered on the Gizmoplex exclusively for Kickstarter backers.

EVENT ON THIS DATE
1945: Russell Johnson, 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, is shot down over the Philippines during a bombing mission there He broke both ankles in the crash and was awarded a Purple Heart).

* = 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.