23 June 2014

Birthdays
Connor Jessup b. 1994 (Falling Skies)
Louisa Connoly-Burnham b. 1992 (Wolfblood)
Melissa Rauch b. 1980 (Big Bang Theory, True Blood)
Isabella Leong b. 1978 (The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor)
Emmanuelle Vaugier b. 1976 (Lost Girl, Supernatural, Painkiller Jane, Unearthed, Andromeda, Smallville, Charmed, MythQuest, Mindstorm, Level 9, Shapeshifter, Saban’s Ninja Turtles: The Next Mutation, Highlander [TV])
Joel Edgerton b.1974 (The Thing [2011], Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith)
Selma Blair b. 1972 (Hellboy, The Fog, Xena, Amazon High)
Martin Klebba b. 1969 (Pirates of the Caribbean, Monsters on Main Street, Project X, The Cape, Van Helsing, Charmed, Planet of the Apes)
Joss Whedon b. 1964 (writer, Avengers, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., In Your Eyes, The Cabin in the Woods, Dollhouse, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, Commentary! The Musical, Serenity, Angel, Firefly, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Atlantis: The Lost Empire, Titan A.E., Toy Story)
Billy Wirth b. 1962 (Charmed, Space Marines, Starlight, Body Snatchers, The Lost Boys)
Frances McDormand b. 1957 (Transformers: Dark of the Moon, AEon Flux, Darkman, The Twilight Zone [1986])
Russell Mulcahy b. 1953 (director, Teen Wolf [TV], Resident Evil: Extinction, Mysterious Island [TV], Jeremiah, The Hunger [TV], Tale of the Mummy, Perversions of Science, The Shadow, Highlander I and II)
Lauren Shuler Donner b. 1949 (producer, X-Men, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire’s Assistant, Constantine, Ladyhawke)
Bryan Brown b. 1947 (On the Beach [TV], Journey to the Center of the Earth [TV], 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea [TV])
Ted Shackelford b. 1946 (Space Precinct, The Twilight Zone [1988], Wonder Woman)
Jerry Ahern (a.k.a. Axel Kilgore) b. 1946 (author, Survivalist, They Call Me the Mercenary)
James Marcus b. 1942 (A Clockwork Orange, Doctor Who, UFO)
Larry Blyden b. 1925 died 6 June 1975 (The Twilight Zone)
Dennis Price b. 1915 died 6 October 1973 (Son of Dracula, Theatre of Blood, The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland [1972], Dracula Contra Frankenstein, Vampyros Lesbos, The Horror of Frankenstein, Voodoo Blood Death, The Earth Dies Screaming, H.G. Wells’ Invisible Man [TV], Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde [TV])
(Paul) Orban b. 1896 died 6 April 1974 (artist)

Joss Whedon turns 50 today, so the Picture Slot is not a discussion. Usually, if someone is a writer and director, I list the direction credits, but Whedon is a writer first and foremost. Last year, before I had done as much research, Melissa Rauch was the featured birthday girl, but next year don't be surprised if it's the artist Orban, a prolific artist of both covers and interiors during the pulp magazine era who is nearly completely forgotten. The guy doesn't even have a Wikipedia page, though he is noted on the Internet Speculative Fiction Database. I think I'll see if I can remedy that today.

A random thought in closing of the birthday celebrations: Poor Dennis Price! He was so good in Kind Hearts and Coronets, though overshadowed by Alec Guinness, but finishes his career in movies like Vampyros Lesbos and The Erotic Rites of Frankenstein. Brits are very fond of the "when you get a role, take it" view of their jobs, but that's a heck of a way to pay the rent.

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

 

Predictor: OMNI Future Almanac, published 1982

Prediction: A new 3-D movie craze may arise, but will die for the same reasons the technique faded in the 1950s: poor picture quality, shoddy low budget productions and the inconvenience of wearing special glasses to watch the films.

Reality: There are purists who dislike 3-D because it doesn't add to the experience, the late Roger Ebert to name just one. But we are in the middle of a 3-D craze that doesn't have an end in sight. Whether or not it adds anything to a story, poor picture quality and shoddy low budget productions are NOT problems in the 21st Century. Computer generated animation is a look the public likes and it lends itself to 3-D intrinsically. Of all the complaints in the prediction, only the cost of glasses is a factor today.

Sorry, guys, right now I have to give you low marks for this one.

Looking one day ahead... INTO THE FUTURE!

Another glimpse into the collectivist paradise of 2010 as imagined by Geoffrey Hoyle in 1972.

Join us then... IN THE FUTURE!
 

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!