Wednesday, March 12, 2014

12 March 2014

Birthdays
Jaimie Alexander b. 1984 (Thor, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Ultradome, Kyle XY)
Aaron Eckhart b. 1968 (I, Frankenstein, Battle Los Angeles, The Dark Knight, Paycheck, The Core, Aliens in the Family)
Titus Welliver b. 1961 (Transformers: Age of Extinction, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Grimm, Lost, Jericho, Star Trek: Voyager, Total Recall 2070 [TV], The X-Files)
Jason Beghe b. 1960 (X-Men: First Class, The X-Files, Quantum Leap, Alien Nation [TV])
Chris Sanders b. 1960 (writer, The Croods, How to Train Your Dragon, Lilo & Stitch, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast)
Jim Sharman b. 1945 (director, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Shock Treatment)
Harry Harrison b. 1925 died 15 August 2012 (author, Bill the Galactic Hero, The Stainless Steel Rat, Make Room! Make Room!)
Frank Overton b. 1918 died 24 April 1967 (Star Trek, The Invaders, Twilight Zone)
Alfred Abel b. 1879 died 3 December 1937 (Metropolis)

Last year, the Picture Slot belonged to the very pretty Jaimie Alexander, best known as Sif in the Thor movies, but this year it's the Oh That Guy actor Frank Overton, who besides being on Star Trek and The Twilight Zone (twice) had important supporting roles in big movies like Fail-Safe and To Kill a Mockingbird. Overton died at the age of 49, only about a month after his Star Trek episode aired. (This is the one where Spock and other members of the away team go all hippie/pacifist and Kirk can only break the spell by getting Spock to fight him. The best known line from this episode is Kirk's taunt that Spock belongs in a freak show, "right next to the dog-faced boy".)

I almost went with Alfred Abel, the top-billed actor in Metropolis, but he isn't the most iconic image. He plays the industrialist who runs the show, but the most famous images are the robot Maria, played by Brigette Helm, and the mad scientist, played by Rudolf Klein-Rogge. Both of them are definitely in the running for the Picture Slot on their birthdays.  

Many happy returns to all the living on the list and to the dead, thanks for all the memories.

Movies released
The Andromeda Strain released, 1971
  

Predictor: T. Baron Russell from his 1905 book A Hundred Years Hence

Prediction: (People will see the) eating of dead bodies as very little better than cannibalism. Moreover, the constantly increasing demand of the new age upon bodily and nervous energies will call for nourishment suited to their supply. This, and the tastefulness of second-hand food, will banish all flesh from the bill of fare. Fish will be eaten longer than meat.

Reality: So, Russell not only wanted to get rid of alcohol and make coffee and tea difficult to buy, he was also some militant vegan.

I get the strong feeling if we were alive concurrently, we wouldn't be pals.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

Our new Thursday regular Lee de Forest gets another prediction about the year 2000 right from his vantage point in 1960.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!

1 comment:

  1. Harry Harrison wrote one of the first sci fi books I read entitled Deathworld. Great story for a 12 year old, lots of action and fancy weapons. His humorous Stainless Steel Rat books were also good for adolescent boys. I would assume if you met Mr. Russell today he would be wearing patchouli smelling hemp clothing, his breath would smell vaguely of garlic.

    ReplyDelete

Traveler! Have you news... FROM THE FUTURE?