Wednesday, April 9, 2014

9 April 2014

 Birthdays
Isaac Hempstead Wright b. 1999 (Game of Thrones)
Elle Fanning b. 1998 (Maleficent, Super 8, The Lost Room)
Kristen Stewart b. 1990 (Snow White and the Huntsman, Twilight, Jumper, Zathura: A Space Adventure)
Lili Mirojnick b. 1984 (Grimm, Cloverfield)
Jay Baruchel b. 1982 (RoboCop, This is the End, Being Human, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, The Worst Witch, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, Matthew Blackheart: Monster Smasher)
Cynthia Nixon b. 1966 (The Outer Limits, Addams Family Values, The Manhattan Project)
Mark Pellegrino b. 1965 (The Tomorrow People, Being Human, Revolution, Grimm, Supernatural, Lost, NYPD 2069, Astronauts, The X-Files, The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Knight Rider 2010)
Fred Dekker b. 1959 (writer, Star Trek: Enterprise, RoboCop 3, The Monster Squad, House I and II)
Dennis Quaid b. 1954 (Legion, Pandorum, G.I. Joe: the Rise of Cobra, The Day After Tomorrow, DragonHeart, Wilder Napalm, Innerspace, Dreamscape, The Right Stuff, Jaws 3-D)
Marty Krofft b. 1937 (producer, Land of the Lost, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl, Wonderbug, Dr, Shrinker, The Krofft Supershow, Far Out Space Nuts, The Lost Saucer, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, The Bugaloos, Lidsville, H.R. Pufnstuf)
Aubrey Woods b. 1928 died 7 May 2013 (Blakes 7, Z.P.G., Doctor Who, Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, The Abominable Dr. Phibes)
Michael Ward b. 1909 died 8 November 1997 (Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell)

In honor of Game of Thrones coming back on the air, the Picture Slot goes to young Isaac Hempstead Wright, who plays Bran Stark. This is a shot from the first episode where we meet the Stark clan, including Jon Snow, also in the picture, Ned Stark's bastard who knows nothing. Quite often, the youngest names on the list have done a lot of work I haven't seen, but the three actors under 30, Wright, Fanning and Stewart, are three of the best known faces on the list, ranking with TV star Cynthia Nixon and movie star Dennis Quaid. Marty Krofft's face isn't well known, but some of his creations will not leave my memory no matter how hard I try.

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


Predictor: T. Baron Russell in One Hundred Years Hence, published 1905

Prediction: We must have, instead of moving pictures, something which represents all objects as solid. The difference is the difference between an ordinary photograph and a highly-improved stereoscopic picture magnified to life-size. When these advantages are attained it will be possible to represent, exactly as it happened, any event which has been suitably photographed.

Reality: 3-D pictures certainly exist, as do 3-D movies. The most recent development that meets his "any event which has been suitably photographed" criterion is the 360 degree camera work that is used in replays of sporting events, most notably basketball. I give him full marks here. Nicely done, Mr. Russell.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

 Our Thursday regular Lee de Forest moves away from his field of expertise in communications and predicts the future of transportation, with less stellar results.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!

3 comments:

  1. , but some of his creations will not leave my memory no matter how hard I try.


    Electra Woman and Dyna Girl?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I give him full marks here. Nicely done, Mr. Russell.

    I dunno. I'd normally nitpick about the "solid" part of his prediction, which seems to imply a holographic projection rather than 3-D filming presented on a 2-D medium; but I am also in a mood to cut him some slack, due to the successful robotics competition last week.

    ReplyDelete

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