Happy birth-month, Chinese astronaut Liu Wang!

Liu Wang, born in March 1969 in China, went into space aboard Shenzhou 9 in June 2012.  Wang performed the first manual docking for the Chinese space program. 

Def Leppard releases "Adrenalize" 1992

Def Leppard released their fifth studio album Adrenalize March 31, 1992.  It was the first album after the death of guitar player Steve Clark the previous year.  It debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 and received a 4-star review from Rolling Stone.

It is currently triple platinum in the the US.

"The Man in the White Suit" premieres 1952

The Man in the White Suit, starring Alec Guinness (Obi-Wan Kenobi) as a chemist, made its premiere in New York City March 31, 1952.  It would be released to the rest of the US in April.

Guinness plays a man who develops an indestructible material, that won't even take a dye.  Hence, the white suit.  Hilarity ensues.

I love this film!  It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay.  It did win National Board Review award for Best Foreign Film.

"20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" wins two Academy Awards (1955)

Disney's science-fiction masterpiece 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea won two Academy Awards at the 27th ceremony March 30, 1955.  It won Best Art Direction, Color for John Meehan (Art Direction) and Emile Kuri (Set Decoration).  It also won Best Special Effects.

It was nominated for Best Film Editing for Elmo Williams.

I think it is great that a horror favorite of mine Them! was also nominated for Best Special Effects.

Aleksei Gubarev, cosmonaut, born 1931

Aleksei Gubarev, born March 29, 1931 in the former Soviet Union, went into space twice.

His first trip was aboard Soyuz 17 as commander to the Salyut 4 space station, launched in January 1975.  It was the first of two long-term stays aboard the station.  He returned to Earth in February 1975 after over 29 days.

His second and final flight was aboard Soyuz 28 to Salyut 6 in March 1978, where he participated in expedition EP-2.  He returned to Earth after almost 8 days in space.

He passed away in February 2015. 

"The Poseidon Adventure" wins two Academy Awards 1973

Actress Merle Oberon presents the Special Achievement Award for visual effects to The Poseidon Adventure

Irwin Allen's disaster pic The Poseidon Adventure won two Academy Awards at the 45th ceremony held March 27, 1973.  It won an award for Best Original Song The Morning After, which was written by Joel Hirschhorn and Al Kasha.

It was presented a Special Achievement Award for visual effects for L. B. Abbot and A. D. Flowers.  

The Poseidon Adventure was nominated for six more awards: Best Supporting Actress for Shelley Winters, Best Original Score for John Williams, Best Costume Design, Best Sound, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing.

Maggie Smith was nominated for Best Actress.

"Birds Anonymous" wins Best Short Subject Academy Award 1958

The animated short Birds Anonymous won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject - Cartoons at the 30th ceremony March 26, 1958.  It beat Tabasco Road with Speedy Gonzales.  Warner Brothers released it in August 1957 and is a spoof on Alcoholics Anonymous movement.

Mel Blanc provided the voices for Sylvester and Tweety.  

https://www.supercartoons.net/cartoon/790/sylvester-birds-anonymous.html

Janet Jackson, Patti LaBelle and Kermit the Frog selected for National Recording Registry

The National Recording Registry announced its selections for “audio treasures worthy of preservation for all time based on their cultural, historical or aesthetic importance in the nation’s recorded sound heritage” for 2020 yesterday, March 24, 2021.

Among the 25 selections are Janet Jackson's Rhythm Nation 1814 album, LaBelle's single Lady Marmalade, Kermit the Frog's performance of Rainbow Connection, and Kool & the Gang's Celebration.

See all the selections here:

https://variety.com/2021/music/news/library-of-congress-national-recording-registry-nas-janet-jackson-1234936992/

"Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" wins 3 Golden Razzies 1990

As much as it pains me to do so, I have to agree that Star Trek V: The Final Frontier deserved all the Razzies it won.  Of all the movies and television shows I enjoy, this movie is definitely at the bottom of the list. And that includes the third season of the original series.

It won(?) for Worst Picture, Worst Actor (William Shatner), and Worst Director (also William Shatner).  DeForest Kelley was nominated as Worst Supporting Actor.  The movie also received nominations for Worst Screenplay and Worst Movie of the Decade.

Happy birthday, Sadako Pointer!

Sadako Pointer, born March 25, 1984 in Marin County, California, is a member of the fabulous Pointer Sisters!  She is grand-daughter of Ruth Pointer and niece of Issa.  

Halle Berry wins Academy Award for Best Actress (2002)

Halle Berry won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her performance in Monster's Ball at the 74th ceremony on March 24, 2002.  She became the first African-American actress to win the top award.  She beat out Judi Dench and Sissy Spacek.  

Denzel Washington won Best Actor, making him the second African-American actor to win the award.

Happy birthday, Dutch astronaut Lodewijk van den Berg!

Lodewijk van den Berg, born March 24, 1932 in the Netherlands, went into space aboard Challenger (STS-51-B) as payload specialist in April-May 1985.  Although he was born in the Netherlands, he had become an American citizen by the time he went into space.  

"Baby, It's Cold Outside" wins Oscar for Best Original Song 1950

The duet Baby, It's Cold Outside from the movie Neptune's Daughter won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 22nd ceremony, March 23, 1950.  It was performed twice during the movie, once with Ricardo Montalban (Kahn) and Esther Williams; then with Red Skelton and Betty Garrett (Mrs. Babish from Laverne and Shirley).  

Since then, it has been covered numerous times by artists including Dolly Parton, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, and Garth Brooks.

"La Sortie de l'Usine Lumière à Lyon" first motion picture debut 1895

The first motion picture to be shown on a screen to a paying audience, La Sortie de l'Usine Lumière à Lyon (Leaving the Factory) was shown March 22, 1895.  It was presented by Auguste and Louis Lumiere, who filmed workers leaving their own factory in Lyon for lunch.  

Louis Le Prince recorded the oldest film in existence, Roundhay Garden Scene in October 1888.

"Speedy Gonzales" wins Oscar for Best Animated Short 1956

Speedy Gonzales, the second appearance of the fastest mouse in all of Mexico, won the Academy Award for Best Short Subject - Cartoons at the 28th ceremony March 21, 1956.  It featured Mel Blanc as the voice of Speedy and was directed by Friz Freleng.

Speedy first appeared as a prototype in Cat-Tails for Two in 1953.

I could only find the short film in color without sound, or without color with sound.  I preferred to hear what was going on, so here it is.

Bee Gees' "Night Fever" reaches #1 1978

The Bee Gees' hit single Night Fever, which appeared on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, March 18, 1978 and remained there for 8 more weeks.  It finished at #2 on the year-end charts.  It is certified platinum in the US, selling 2.5M copies.

Star Trek: The Next Generation episode "Contagion" airs 1994

Contagion, the 11th episode of the second season of Star Trek: The Next Generation and one of my favorites, aired March 18, 1989.  The crew of the USS Enterprise-D encounters an ancient device with superior technology, which is responsible for the destruction of the USS Yamato.  The probe almost causes the destruction of the Enterprise and a Romulan warbird.  

Spoiler alert!

(They reboot the Enterprise.)

Happy birthday, Godzilla actor Takehiro Murata!

Takehiro Murata, born March 18, 1960 in Tokyo, Japan, has appeared in five Godzilla movies.  His first appearance was in Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth in 1992.  He then appeared Godzilla vs. Destroyah (1995), Godzilla 2000 (1999), Godzilla, Mothra and King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-Out Attack (2001), and Godzilla Against MechaGodzilla (2002).  The last two he only had cameo appearances.

He was nominated by the Japanese Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Godzilla and Mothra: The Battle for Earth.

Murder, She Wrote episode "Murder Takes the Bus" 1985

A very Agatha Christie, "the-murderer-is-one-of-us" episode of Murder, She Wrote, Murder Takes the Bus, aired March 17, 1985.  Jessica Fletcher (Angela Lansbury) and Sheriff Tupper (Tom Bosley) are stranded at a road-side diner.  Jessica finds one of the passengers stabbed to death with a screwdriver.

The episode had a stellar cast including Rue McClanahan, Linda Blair, and Larry Linville.  

Happy birthday, Star Trek actress Tanya Lemani!

Tanya Lemani, born March 17, 1945 in Iran, appeared in the original series of Star Trek.  She played Kara, the belly dancer, who is found stabbed several times in the episode Wolf In The Fold, the 14th episode of the second season.  This is one of my favorite episode.  It was written by Robert Bloch, who wrote Psycho.  

Chekov and Uhura do not appear in this episode.  

She has also appeared in the video Star Trek: Of Gods and Men.  

Billy Joel inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 1999

My man Billy Joel was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame March 15, 1999 by his idol Ray Charles, with whom he performed the duet Baby Grand on his The Bridge album.

Janet Jackson wins three Soul Train Music Awards 1990

Janet Jackson won three Soul Train Music Awards at the 4th ceremony March 14, 1990.  Her album Rhythm Nation 1814 won Best R&B/Urban Contemporary Album-Female.  Her single Miss You Much won Best R&B /Urban Contemporary Single-Female.  Her video Rhythm Nation won Best Music Video.

You go, girl!

Space Shuttle astronaut William Lenoir born 1939

William Lenoir, born March 14, 1939 in Miami, Florida, went into space aboard Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-5), considered to be the first operational shuttle mission, as mission specialist in November 1982.  He was scheduled to perform an EVA with fellow astronaut  Joseph Allen, but he succumbed to motion sickness.  Then a malfunctioning oxygen regulator caused the spacewalk to be cancelled.

He spent 5 days in space.

Lenoir passed away in August 2010 from head injuries from a bicycle accident.

"On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" wins Academy Award 1947

On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe, written by Harry Warren with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, won the Academy Award for Best Original Song at the 19th ceremony, March 13, 1947.  It is one of my favorites from this era but I had no idea it won an Oscar!

It was featured in the movie The Harvey Girls and performed by Judy Garland with Ray Bolger(!) among others as backup.

Johnny Mercer's recording with the Pied Pipers as backup last sixteen weeks on the Billboard charts, peaking at #1.  At one point in 1945, three versions of the song were on the chart simultaneously:  Mercer, Bing Crosby and Judy Garland.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Aleksandr Samokutyayev!

Aleksandr Samokutyayev, born March 13, 1970 in Penza, Russia, has been into space twice.  

His first flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-21 as commander to the International Space Station in April 2011.  He participated in Expeditions 27 and 28.  During Expedition 28, he conducted an EVA with fellow cosmonaut Sergey Volkov for 6 hours 23 minutes.  He returned to Earth in September 2011.

His second mission was aboard Soyuz TMA-14M as commander to the International Space Station in September 2014.  He participated in Expeditions 41 and 42, during which he conducted a second EVA with fellow cosmonaut Maksim Surayev. He returned to Earth in March 2015. 

The 5th Dimension wins two Grammys 1970

The 5th Dimension, a singing group from Los Angeles, won two Grammys at the 12th ceremony March 11, 1970 for their song Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In. They won the Grammy for Record of the Year for producer Bones Howe.  They also won the award for Pop, Best Contemporary Vocal Performance by a Group.  

Helen Mirren wins Screen Actors Guild Award 2002

Helen Mirren won a Screen Actors Guild award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role for her performance as Mrs. Wilson in Gosford Park at the 8th ceremony held March 10, 2002.  The movie won Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, which included Mirren, Charles Dance, Michael Gambon, Tom Hollander, Derek Jacobi, Clive Owen, and Maggie Smith.  

Sir Ian McKellan won the award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for his work as Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.  

Judi Dench was nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in The Shipping News.

"Frogs" released 1972

Frogs, released March 10, 1972, is one of the first eco-terror films and one of the best 'bad' movies ever.  A family has gathered on an island in a swamp somewhere in the south.  Animals, reptiles and insects begin killing off the humans.

 I remember seeing the trailers on television when it was released and thought it looked to be a terrifying movie.  When I saw it a few years ago, I realized it was anything but.

One high point of the movie is seeing Sam Elliott shirtless in a couple of scenes.

Frogs was released as a double feature with Godzilla vs. Hedorah.  

Star Trek episode "The Ultimate Computer" airs 1968

The 24th episode of the second season of Star Trek (TOS), The Ultimate Computer, aired March 8, 1968.  The crew of the Enterprise is ordered to test an artificial intelligence computer, the M-5 Multitronic system.  Star Fleet is considering having the M-5 computer replacing crews on star ships.

What could possibly go wrong?

The computer goes berserk and starts attacking everything.  Captain Kirk has to talk the computer down, which he did several times during the series.

The episode stands out in a couple of ways.  First, it contained most number of galaxy-class starships in one episode - five:  Enterprise, Lexington, Potemkin, Excalibur, and Hood.

Second, it was considered ground-breaking in casting an African-American actor, William Marshall (as Dr. Richard Daystrom), as the Nobel-prize-winning black cyberneticist.  During the era of Martin Luther King and Civil Rights, it was important to have a white captain deferring to a black man.  Marshall said that he, as an African-American, was referred to as "sir" throughout the episode.

"Up" wins 2 Academy Awards 2010

Up, the heartwarming masterpiece from Disney Studios and Pixar an directed by Peter Docter, won two Academy Awards at the 92nd ceremony, held March 7, 2010.  It won Best Animated Feature Film, and it also won Best Original Score for Michael Giacchino.  Up was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Sound Editing.

The reboot of Star Trek won Best Makeup.  It was nominated for Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing, and Best Visual Effects.

District 9 was nominated for four awards.

Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep were both nominated for Best Actress.

Billy Joel released "You May Be Right" 1980

My man Billy Joel released You May Be Right, a single from his album Glass Houses, March 7, 1980.  It reached #7 in the US and #6 in Canada.  It ranked #75 for the year on the Billboard Hot 100.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Loren Acton!

Loren Acton, born March 7, 1936 in Lewistown, Montana, went into space aboard Space Shuttle Challenger (STS-51-F) as payload specialist in July-August 1985.  It experienced multiple sensor failures in its engines during launch, and they had to perform an "Abort to Orbit", an emergency procedure, the only crew to have had to do this.  Because of this, the mission was carried out at a slightly lower altitude than planned.

Maybe that is why of the seven astronauts on the flight, five of them did not return to space.

The Go-Go's "Beauty and the Beat" reaches #1 1982

The Go-Go's' album Beauty and the Beat reached #1 on the Billboard 200 March 6, 1982, making them the first all-female band to have an album reach the top spot.  It went double-platinum and, in 2020, Rolling Stone magazine ranked it #400 on its list of 500 Greatest Albums of all Time.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Robert Curbeam!

Robert Curbeam, born March 5, 1962 in Baltimore, Maryland(!), has been in space three times.  After graduation from the US Naval Academy with a Master's Degree in Astronautical Engineering in 1991, he was selected by NASA in Dec 1994.  

His first mission into space was aboard Discovery (STS-85) as mission specialist in August 1997. One of the experiments was the Southwest Ultraviolet Imaging Systems from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas (I've been there!) and the University of Maryland (I've been by there!).

His second flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-98) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in February 2001.  During the mission, he performed three EVAs with fellow astronaut Thomas Jones for almost 20 hours total.

His third and final mission was aboard Discovery (STS-116) to the International Space Station in December 2006.  He conducted four spacewalks for about 25 1/2 hours total, setting the record for the most EVAs during a mission.  

"Creature from the Black Lagoon" released 1954

Another classic black & white sci-fi film, The Creature from the Black Lagoon was released March 5, 1954.  The story follows a scientific expedition in the Amazon River discovers a prehistoric creature and try to capture it for study.  

What could possibly go wrong?

It starred Richard Carlson (of Tormented in-fame) and Julie Adams.  It has been recognized by the American Film Institute in AFI's 100 years...100 Heroes & Villains.  It spawned two sequels.  

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Bonnie Dunbar!

Bonnie Dunbar, born March 3, 1949 in Sunnyside, Washington, has flown on five space shuttle missions and been to Mir twice.

Her first flight as aboard Challenger (STS-61-A) as mission specialist in October-November 1985. The mission was funded and directed by West Germany.

Her second flight was aboard Columbia (STS-32) as mission specialist in January 1990.  

Her third flight was again aboard Columbia (STS-50) as mission specialist in June-July 1992.  Its primary objective was the US Microgravity Laboratory 1.

Her fourth flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-71) as mission specialist to the space station Mir in June-July 1995.  It was the first Space Shuttle docking to the Russian space station.

Her fifth and final flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-89) as mission specialist to Mir in January 1998.  The mission swapped crew members aboard Mir. 

Babylon 5 episode "Mind War" airs 1994

The sixth episode of the first season of Babylon 5 Mind War first aired March 2, 1994.  I loved this episode because of its portrayal of the Psi Corps.  Jason Ironheart (William Allen Young), Talia Winters' (Andrea Thompson) instructor and former lover, arrives on Babylon 5.  Right behind him are Psi Cops hot on his tail.  Walter Koenig appears for the first time in his recurring role as Alfred Bester.

Endeavour (STS-67) launched 1995

STS-67 crew:

Front row (L-R): Stephen Oswald, Tamara Jernigan, William Gregory

Back row (L-R): Ronald Parise, Wendy Lawrence, John Grunsfeld, Samuel Durrance

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-67), launched March 2, 1995, was dedicated to conduct astronomical observations in the ultraviolet wavelengths.  Its crew consisted of Commander Stephen Oswald, Pilot William Gregory, John Grunsfeld, Wendy Lawrence, Tamara Jernigan, Samuel Durrance, and Ronald Parise.  

The Hopkins Ultraviolet Telescope, the Wisconsin Ultraviolet, the Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT), and the Photo-Polarimeter Experiment were the three most important instruments aboard the Endeavour.  

They returned to Earth on March 18.

"Laserblast" released 1978

The wonderfully bad movie Laserblast was inflicted...er, released into theaters March 1, 1978.  It was a science film, which the director Michael Rae hoped would cash in on the craze from Star Wars IV: A New Hope, released the year before.  Unfortunately, it has been ranked one of the worst of all time.  It featured a pretty good cast, including Ron Masak, Keenan Wynn, Roddy McDowall and Eddie Deezen. 

The lead actor Kim Milford was nominated for a Stinkers Bad Movie Award for Worst Actor. 

Mike and the bots riffed it in the 6th episode of the 8th season of Mystery Science Theater 3000. 

Sting wins three Grammy Awards 1994

Sting took home the Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male for his recording of If I Ever Lose My Faith In You, at the 36th ceremony March 1, 1994.  It was the lead single from is album Ten Summoner's Tales, which won for Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical (Hugh Padgham) and Best Music Video, Long Form.

If I Ever Lose My Faith In You was nominated for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.  Ten Summoner's Tales was nominated for Album of the Year.

Sting was also nominated for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Solo for Demolition Man.

Billy Joel was nominated for Record of the Year, Album of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male  for the River of Dreams.