This Date in MSTory

BORN ON THIS DATE
1886: Jamison “Jam” Handy, whose Jam Handy Organization produced six shorts seen on MST3K: HIRED!, seen in episodes 423- BRIDE OF THE MONSTER and 424- “MANOS” THE HANDS OF FATE; THE SELLING WIZARD, seen in episode 603- THE DEAD TALK BACK; UNCLE JIM’S DAIRY FARM, seen in episode 607- BLOODLUST; A YOUNG MAN’S FANCY, seen in episode 610- THE VIOLENT YEARS; OUT OF THIS WORLD, seen in episode 618- HIGH SCHOOL BIG SHOT; and A CASE OF SPRING FEVER, seen in episode 1012- SQUIRM.

1903: Kenneth Peach, who did the second unit photography for the movie in episode 912- THE SCREAMING SKULL.

1916: Virginia Gregg, who played the ward E administrator in the movie in episode 305- STRANDED IN SPACE and played a nurse in the movie in episode 1312- THE BUBBLE.
1916: Sidney Pink, producer, director and writer of the original story in the movie in episode 1101- REPTILICUS.

1928: Robert Clouse, director of the premiere episode “Max” of the TV show “The Master” in the movie in episode 322- MASTER NINJA I.

1930: Allison Hayes, who played Livia in the movie in episode 806- THE UNDEAD, Grace Thomas in the movie in episode 320- THE UNEARTHLY, Erica Page in the movie in episode 511- GUNSLINGER and Donna in the movie in episode 106- THE CRAWLING HAND.

1931: Hal Needham, who was mentioned (twice!) in host segments in episode 704- THE INCREDIBLE MELTING MAN.

1936: Georgianna Carter, who played Donna Bixby in the movie in episode 701- NIGHT OF THE BLOOD BEAST.*

1941: George P. Wilbur, a stuntman for the movie in episode 403- CITY LIMITS and a stunt gaffer for the movie in episode 811- PARTS: THE CLONUS HORROR (in which he also played a walker man).

1942: Ben Murphy, who played Sam Casey in the movie in episode 814- RIDING WITH DEATH and Prof. Doug McCadden in the movie in episode 405- BEING FROM ANOTHER PLANET. He was also mentioned in a host segment in the movie in episode 1012- SQUIRM.*

1948: Stephen Schwartz, who wrote the song “Corner of the Sky,” which was sung in the “swing choir” host segment in episode 609?-THE SKYDIVERS.*

1950: Teresa Eckton, sound effects editor for the movies in episode 622- ANGELS’ REVENGE and 811- PARTS: THE CLONUS HORROR.

1952: Bill Heintz, key grip for THE BRAIN, which was featured in the 30th Anniversary Tour in 2018.

1957: Eddie Deezen, who played Froggy in the movie in episode 706- LASERBLAST.*

DIED ON THIS DATE
1964: Edward Van Sloan (age 82), who played Jarvis in the season two serial THE PHANTOM CREEPS.

1967: Nelson Eddy (age 65), who was mentioned in a host segment in episode 524- 12 TO THE MOON.

1967: Kenneth Harlan (age 71), who played Keenan in the movie in episode 105- THE CORPSE VANISHES.

1970: William Hopper (age 55; pneumonia), who played Dr. Nedrick Jackson in the movie in episode 804- THE DEADLY MANTIS.

1973: Aleksandr Ptushko (age 72), director for the movies in episodes 422- THE DAY THE EARTH FROZE, 505-THE MAGIC VOYAGE OF SINBAD and 617- THE SWORD AND THE DRAGON.

1979: Charles Wagenheim (age 83), who played the pawnbroker in the movie in episode 702- THE BRUTE MAN.

2001: Carl Don (age 90), who played both Chochem and Von Green in the movie in episode 321- SANTA CLAUS CONQUERS THE MARTIANS.

2008: Gloria Shayne (age 84), who co-wrote the song “The Men in My Little Girl’s Life,” mentioned in a host segment in episode 301- CAVE DWELLERS.*

2009: Daniel Walker (age 75), assistant director for the movie in episode 817- HORROR OF PARTY BEACH (in which he also played a drunk).

2014: Peter Strudwick (age 84), who played the mutant in the movie in episode 1103- THE TIME TRAVELERS.

EVENT ON THIS DATE
1947: Marie Windsor’s brief marriage to actor Ted Steele is annulled. She played Josie in the movie in episode 503- SWAMP DIAMONDS. The marriage would last less than a year before being annulled.

* = 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.