Happy birthday, astronaut Barry Wilmore!

Barry Wilmore, born December 29, 1962 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, has been in space twice, and will return in 2021.

His first trip into space was aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis (STS-129) as pilot to the International Space Station in November 2009. He celebrated Thanksgiving with the other crew members and the residents of the International Space Station.

His second flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-10M to the International Space Station in September 2014.  He participated in Expeditions 41 and 42.  He returned to Earth in March 2015 after more than 167 days in space.

He is scheduled to be commander of the Boeing Crewed Flight Test (Boe-CFT), the first crewed mission of the Boeing Starliner to the International Space Station, expected to launch in July 2021.

Happy birthday, astronaut Michael Hopkins!

Michael Hopkins, born December 28, 1968 in Lebanon, Missouri, has been in space twice.  

His first flight was aboard Soyuz TMA-10M in September 2013 to the International Space Station.  He participated in Expeditions 37 and 38.  He remained on board for over 166 days and returned to Earth in March 2014.

His second and current trip started in November 2020 aboard SpaceX Crew-1 as commander to the International Space Station.  He is participating in Expedition 64 and will participate in Expedition 65 before returning to Earth in May 2021.

Happy birthday, British actress Jane Lapotaire!

Jane Lapotaire, born January 26, 1944 in Suffolk, England, is an actress who I first saw in the miniseries Marie Curie in 1977.  More recently, she appeared in Downton Abbey as Princess Irina, appearing with Dame Maggie Smith.  I found out she was in another favorite movie, One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing in 1975 with Helen Hayes.  In 2006, she starred with Sir Patrick Stewart in the mini-series thriller Eleventh Hour.  In 2020, she appeared in the remake of Daphne du Maurier's Rebecca.

It's interesting to note that she was born on the anniversary of Marie Curie's discovery of radium in 1898. 

Soyuz TMA-03M launched 2011

Soyuz TMA-03M crew (L-R): Donald Pettit, Oleg Kononenko, Andre Kuipers

Mission patch

Soyuz TMA-03M, launched December 21, 2011, carried members of Expedition 30 to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Oleg Kononenko (Roscosmos), Andre Kuipers (ESA), and Donald Pettit (NASA).  They returned to Earth July 2012, which marked the end of Expedition 31 and the beginning of Expedition 32.

"TRON: Legacy" released 2010

The long-awaited sequel to Tron, TRON: Legacy, was released December 17, 2010.  I enjoyed Tron and I was not disappointed by its sequel.  Jeff Bridges and Bruce Boxleitner reprise their roles as Kevin Flynn and Alan Bradley, respectively.  

Although it opened to mixed reviews, it was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Sound Editing.  It won two Saturn Awards:  Best Production Design and Jeff Bridges won for Best Actor.

Daft Punk, the French duo who composed the score, won an Austin Film Critics Association award for Best Original Score. 

"Son of Godzilla" released 1967

Son of Godzilla, released December 16, 1967 in Japan, is the eighth movie in the Godzilla franchise.  It was released to television in the United States in 1969.  Scientists on an island are trying to create a weather-controlling system, but discover a group of gigantic praying mantises (Kamacuras).  The mantises dig up an enormous egg, which hatches, revealing a baby Godzilla.  The mantises attack the baby Godzilla called Minilla, but Godzilla comes to the rescue.  

Godzilla and Minilla work together to defeat Kumonga (Spiga), a giant spider.  

It starred frequent Godzilla actors Akira Kubo, Akihiko Hirata, Kenji Sahara and Haruo Nakajima as Godzilla.

Arthur C Clarke, science fiction author, born 1917

Arthur C. Clarke, born December 16, 1917 in Somerset, England, was a science writer, inventor, undersea explorer, and one of the most influential science fiction writers of all time.  He wrote the screenplay for 2001: A Space Odyssey, one of the best science fiction films ever, for which he garnered an Academy Award nomination.  He won three Hugo Awards and three Nebula Awards for his works. 

He was nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize in 1994 and was knighted in 2000.  By that time, his health had deteriorated to the point that he could not travel to London from Sri Lanka where he resided until his death in 2008.

The Arthur C. Clarke Award for science fiction writing is an annual award in England.

"Godzilla 1985" released 1984

Godzilla 1985, released December 15, 1984 in Japan, was a reboot of the series starring Raymond Burr, who appeared in the Americanized version of the original in 1954.  He reprises his role as Steve Martin from the 1956 version. Akihiko Hirata, who had appeared in many Godzilla movies, wanted to have at least a cameo in the movie, but passed away before he could. 

I haven't seen this one, but it is on my bucket list.  

"Superman" released 1978

Superman, released December 15, 1978, was a triumphant return for the Man of Steel on the silver screen.  Christopher Reeve starred as Superman with Margot Kidder as Lois Lane.  

Superman won a Special Achievement Academy Award for Visual Effects.  I remember the tagline being "You will believe a man can fly." It won five Saturn Awards: Best Science Fiction Film, Best Actress, Best Special Effects, Best Music for John Williams, and Best Production Design.

John Williams won a Grammy for Best Instrumental Composition.  

"Close Encounters of the Third Kind" released 1977

A Steven Spielberg classic, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, was released December 14, 1977.  Spielberg was writer and director of the story about an electric lineman (Richard Dreyfuss), who encounters a UFO.  

It also starred Terri Garr.  I don't remember Lance Henriksen, but he was in the film, too.  

It won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography and one for Special Achievement (Frank Warner for Sound Effects Editing).  It was nominated for 7 more, including John Williams for Best Original Score and Spielberg for Best Director.  

Spielberg and Williams won Saturn Awards for their accomplishments. John Williams won a Grammy for Best Original Score.  

Happy birthday, Canadian astronaut Steve MacLean!

Steve MacLean, born December 14, 1954 in Ottawa, Canada, is a veteran of two space shuttle flights. 

His first flight was aboard Columbia (STS-52) as payload specialist for the Canadian Space Agency in October-November 1992.  

His second and final flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-115) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in September 2006.  He was the first Canadian to operate the Canadarm2.  He was the second Canadian to perform a space walk.  Chris Hadfield was the first. 

Pioneer 8 launched 1967

Pioneer 8, launched December 13, 1967, was the third of four satellites NASA launched to study the sun.  They were designed to make the first detailed, comprehensive measurements of the solar wind, magnetic field and cosmic rays.

Contact was made with Pioneer 8 in August 1996.  As recently as 2000, NASA made contact with Pioneer 6, launched the December before.  Although that was the last time, NASA believes contact can be made with Pioneers 6-8.  Pioneer 9 is definitely not working. 

The Secrets of Isis episode "Dreams of Flight" debuts 1975

The fifteenth episode of the first season of The Secrets of Isis, Dreams of Flight, aired December 13, 1975.  It features the story of a Hispanic girl, who designs model airplanes.  She wants to enter a contest at the school but the favorite to win and her brother both try to discourage her from trying.

It is a good lesson against arrogance, bigotry and racism.   

Joanna Cameron starred as Andrea Thomas and Isis.  Brian Cutler as Rick Mason and Joanna Pang as Cindy Lee were the rest of the regular cast.  Cynthia Avila appeared as Chela Montoya.

"Star Trek: Nemesis" released 2002

Star Trek: Nemesis, the fourth and final movie to feature the Next Generation cast, debuted in US theaters December 13, 2002.  The film was the first to feature the Romulans primarily.  Unfortunately, it was not the box-office success as the previous Star Trek movies.  It was the first film that did not open at #1 its first weekend.  Due to its poorer than expected performance, subsequent movies featuring the Next Generation cast were cancelled. 

The original crew of Patrick Stewart, Jonathan Frakes, LeVar Burton, Brent Spiner, Gates McFadden, Michael Dorn and Marina Sirtis, appeared.  Tom Hardy and Ron Perlman played antagonists.  There were cameos by Kate Mulgrew as Admiral Kathryn Janeway, Wil Wheaton as Wesley Crusher, Majel Barrett as the computer's voice and Whoopi Goldberg as Guinan.  

Tom Hardy was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor. 

Remembering Charley Pride (1934-2020)

Country music legend, singer, baseball player and groundbreaker Charley Pride passed away today at 86 from COVID-19.  He was born in Sledge, Mississippi March 18, 1934, the fourth of eleven children born to poor sharecroppers.

He got his first guitar at 14 and taught himself to play.  In 1952, he pitched for the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League, and then signed with the Boise Yankees, the farm team of the New York Yankees. An injury caused him to be traded (with another player) to the Birmingham Black Barons.

He was pitching for a semipro team in Helena, Montana when his singing ability became known. He released his first single The Snakes Crawl at Night in 1966.  It did not chart and neither did the second single.  But his third Just Between You and Me reached #9 on the US Country Chart. He was nominated for a Grammy Award for it the next year.

He won four Grammys over his career including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017.

He is one of only three African-Americans to become a member of the Grand Ol' Opry and was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2000.  He's had 30 #1 country hits.

"Star Trek: Insurrection" debuts 1998

Star Trek: Insurrection, released December 11, 1998, is the third in the Star Trek movies featuring the Next Generation cast. 

The movie is about a planet with regenerative radiation, where the people never grow old.  The radiation  regenerates their bodies, making them immortal.  

Jonathan Frakes, who plays Commander Riker, directed.  The entire cast of the Next Generation appeared in the movie.  Patrick Stewart, Brent Spiner, Michael Dorn, Gates McFadden, and Marina Sirtis.  F. Murray Abraham played the main antagonist. 

"Invasion, USA" released 1952

Invasion, U.S.A, released December 10, 1952, is a kinda creepy movie, as people in a bar watching TV observe an invasion by the Soviet Union.  I was introduced to this movie via Mystery Science Theater 3000.  A lot of the movie is stock footage of airplanes, and the ending is an interesting twist, although a bit of a cop-out.

One scene has Phyllis Coates and Noel Neill working as airline ticket agents.  Both women played Lois Lane opposite George Reeve as Superman.  

The film is considered a success, bringing in a profit of over $1.2M.

Pioneer Venus Multiprobe releases 4 probes into Venusian atmosphere 1978

The Pioneer Venus Multiprobe, Pioneer Venus 2 or Pioneer 13, launched in 1978, released one large and three smaller probes into the Venusian atmosphere, December 9, 1978.  The probes collected data as they descended toward the surface.  They did not carry photographic instruments and were not designed to survive landing.  However, one did survive and continued transmitting for an hour after impact.  

The probes found temperatures between 448 °C and 459 °C at the surface.  Pressure on the ground is between 86.2 bar and 94.5 bar.   

Margaret Hamilton, aka the Wicked Witch of the West, born 1902

Margaret Hamilton, born December 9, 1902 in Cleveland, Ohio, is fondly remembered for her role as the Wicked Witch of the West in the Wizard of Oz.  Although she played a mean witch, Hamilton was known to love children, an advocate for animal rights, and generally loved by casts and crews.  

Her role as the Wicked Witch of the West was ranked as #4 on the American Film Institute's list of 100 years of the Greatest Screen Heroes and Villains.

She passed away in May 1985 of a heart attack. 

Chic's "Le Freak" reaches #1 1978

R&B band Chic, third single from their album C'est Chic, Le Freak, reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 December 9, 1978.  It reached #1 on the Disco charts for seven weeks.  Billboard magazine ranked it as the number 3 song for 1979.  Le Freak is certified 4 x platinum.

It was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress in 2018, for being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant." 

Happy birthday, "X-Men actor Tyler Mane!

Tyler Mane, born December 8, 1966 in Saskatchewan, Canada, played Sabretooth in the first X-Men movie.  The incredibly handsome actor has also played Mike Myers in the rebooted Halloween series of movies.

Billy Joel receives Billboard Music Century Award 1994

At the Billboard Music Awards December 7, 1994, Billy Joel won the Century Award.  I can't find a description of the Century Award, but it was only awarded from 1992 to 2006.  I'm glad my man Billy and my man Sting (2003) won the award.

Glenn Miller's "Chattanooga Choo Choo" reaches #1 1941

Glenn Miller and his orchestra's recording of Chattanooga Choo Choo reached #1 December 7, 1941, a day that will live in infamy, and remained there for 9 weeks.  It was the first song to receive a gold record for sales of 1.2 million copies.  

It was featured in the movie Sun Valley Serenade.  It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Song.  In 1996, Miller's recording of Chattanooga Choo Choo was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame. 

"Young Sherlock Holmes" released 1985

Young Sherlock Holmes, produced by Steven Spielberg and directed by Barry Levinson, was released December 4, 1985.  It is a story about Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, meeting as boys in a English boarding school.  

It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects. It won a Saturn award for Best Music. The stained glass knight scene was my favorite. 

Endeavour (STS-88) launched 1998

STS-88 crew

Front row (L-R): Sergei Krikalev, Nancy Currie-Gregg

Back row (L-R): Jerry Ross, Robert Cabana, Frederick Sturckow, James Newman

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Endeavour (STS-88), launched December 4, 1998, carried the first American module, Unity node, to the International Space Station.  Its crew consisted of Commander Robert Cabana, Pilot Frederick Sturckow, Jerry Ross, Nancy Currie-Gregg, James Newman, and Sergei Krikalev (Roscosmos).

Ross and Newman performed three EVAs for a total of over 21 hours, to complete the Unity node installation.

They returned to Earth December 13.  

Soyuz TM-11 launched 1990

Soyuz TM-11 crew (L-R): Toyohiro Akiyama, Viktor Afanasyev, Musa Manarov

Mission patch

Soyuz TM-11, launched December 2, 1990, was the 11th expedition to the space station Mir.  Its crew consisted of Commander Viktor Afanasyev, Musa Manarov, and Toyohiro Akiyama (a Japanese reporter).  

The cosmonauts remained on board until May 26, 1991, when they returned to Earth with Helen Sharman, a British astronaut.  Akiyama returned to Earth December 10, 1990 aboard Soyuz TM-10.

Jonathan Frid "Barnabas Collins" born 1924

Jonathan Frid, born December 2, 1924 in Ontario, Canada, is best known as Barnabas Collins in the daytime horror show Dark Shadows.  Frid served as a seaman in the Royal Canadian Navy during WWII.  

He starred in almost 600 episodes of Dark Shadows and even had an appearance in the 2012 movie version, starring Johnny Depp.

He passed away in April 2012 just a few weeks before the movie was released, making it his final acting role.

Chang'e 5 probe lands on the moon today!

China's lunar probe Chang'e 5, launched November 23, landed on the moon today.  Its mission is to sample the lunar soil (about 4.4 lb or 2 kg) and return to Earth about December 16-17.  It will make China the third nation to send a probe to the moon and return with samples.

Happy birthday, NASA astronaut Terry Virts!

Terry Virts, born December 1, 1967 in Baltimore, Maryland, has been in space twice.

His first mission was aboard Endeavour (STS-130) as pilot to the International Space Station in February 2010.  Its primary payloads were the Tranquility module and the Cupola, a control station that provided a 360° view of the station.

His second trip was aboard Soyuz TMA-15M, launched in November 2014.  He participated in Expedition 42 and served as commander of Expedition 43.  

He has performed 3 EVAs for just over 19 hours.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Ernest Childers, first Creek to win Medal of Honor

Ernest Childers, born February 1, 1918 in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, is the first Creek (Muscogee) to win the Medal of Honor for his actions during WWII.  

He joined the Oklahoma Army National Guard in 1937 and was assigned to the 180th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Division.  In September 1943 in Italy, he single-handedly killed two enemy snipers, attacked two machine gun nests, and captured an artillery observer.  For these actions he was awarded the Medal of Honor in April 1944.  

He attained the rank of lieutenant colonel before retiring from the US Army.  He passed away in March 2005.

Michael Jackson releases "Thriller" 1984

Michael Jackson released his sixth studio album Thriller, November 30, 1982.  It became Jackson's first #1 album on the Billboard Top LPs and Tapes chart, spending a record 37 weeks.  It produced seven singles that reached the top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100.  

It won a record eight Grammys in February 1984: Album of the Year; Best Pop Vocal Performance, Male; Best Engineered Recording, Non-classical; Producer of the Year (Non-classical).  

Beat It won Record of the Year. Billie Jean won Best R&B Vocal Performance, Male; and Best Rhythm & Blues Song.

Thriller is the best-selling album of all time, with 66 million copies world-wide and has been certified 33x platinum in the US.  The album has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and into the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry for being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant recordings." 

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Clarence Tinker, first Native American major general in the US Air Force

Clarence Tinker, born November 21, 1887 in Indian Territory, near Pawhuska, Oklahoma, was a member of the Osage Nation and the first Native American to achieve the rank of major general in the United States Air Force.

He was raised Osage and spoke the language.  Tinker received his commission as a lieutenant in the US Army in 1912 and was transferred to the Army Air Service in 1922. In 1940, he became a brigadier general.  After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he was named Commander of the Seventh Air Force in Hawaii to reorganize the air defenses.  He was promoted to major general in January 1942.

In June 1942, he led a force against the Japanese Naval forces.  His died when his plane crashed into the sea.  

In October 1942, the Oklahoma City Air Depot was renamed Tinker Field in his honor.  It is now known as Tinker Air Force Base.

Godzilla receives his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame 2004

Godzilla, "The King of the Monsters", got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, November 29, 2004, fifty years before he stomped onto movie screens and all over Tokyo.  The unveiling came just before the premiere of Godzilla: Final Wars.  Godzilla was created by nuclear testing and has been protecting the Earth from aliens and King Ghidorah ever since.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Wes Studi, first Native American to win an Academy Award

Wesley Studi, born December 17, 1947 in Nofire Hollow, Oklahoma (near Tahlequah), is the first Native American to be honored with an Academy Award.  He was born into the Cherokee tribe and enlisted in the Oklahoma National Guard at the age of 17.  He volunteered for active service and served in the Vietnam War for a year. 

He has won critical acclaim for his portrayal of Native Americans in film, such as Dances With Wolves and The Last of the Mohicans.  

In 2019, he received an Academy Honorary Award, becoming the first Native American actor to receive an Oscar for acting.  

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Ben Reifel, first Native American elected to US Congress

Benjamin Reifel, or "Lone Feather" born September 19, 1906 in a log cabin on the Rosebud Indian Reservation, near Parmelee, South Dakota, was the first Native American  to be elected to the US Congress.  His mother was a Lakota Sioux and he became a public administrator and politician for the Lakota Sioux tribe.

He worked for the Department of the Interior starting in 1933 and served during WWII, achieving the rank of lieutenant colonel.  He retired from the South Dakota area administrator of the Bureau of Indian Affairs in March 1960 and ran for Congress.  He was elected to the 87th Congress and served four more turns, from January 1961-January 1971. 

He passed away from cancer in January 1990.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut James Wetherbee!

James Wetherbee, born November 27, 1952 in Flushing, New York, has been in space six times.

His first mission was aboard Columbia (STS-32) as pilot in January 1990.  It was the third night landing of the space shuttle program.

His second flight was aboard Columbia (STS-52) as commander in October-November 1992.  The mission involved projects with the Italian Space Agency and National Centre for Space Studies (France).   

His third flight was aboard Discovery (STS-63) as commander in February 1995.  It was the second mission of the Space Shuttle/Mir program.  It was the first rendezvous of NASA's shuttle and the Mir space station.

His fourth flight was aboard Atlantis (STS-86) as commander to Mir in September-October 1997. It was the seventh Mir docking mission.

His fifth flight was aboard Discovery (STS-102) as commander to the International Space Station in March 2001.  The flight rotated Expeditions 1 and 2 and resupplied the ISS.

His sixth and final flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-113) as commander to the ISS in November-December 2002.  The mission rotated Expeditions 5 and 6. 

He left NASA in 2005.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: John Herrington, first Native American astronaut

John Herrington, born September 14, 1958 Wetumka, Oklahoma in the Chickasaw Nation, is the first enrolled member of a Native American tribe to fly into space.  He flew aboard Endeavour (STS-113) as mission specialist in November-December 2002.  During the mission, he performed three EVAs with fellow astronaut with fellow astronaut Michael Lopez-Alegria for a total of almost 20 hours. 

He was commander of the NEEMO 6 mission of NASA's Aquarius underwater laboratory in July 2004.

On November 21, 2019, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Jessie Elizabeth Moore, first Native American woman to hold state office in Oklahoma

Jessie Elizabeth Moore, born 1871 in Panola County, Indian Territory in the Chickasaw Nation, in what is now southeastern Oklahoma, is the first Native American woman to hold state office in Oklahoma.  

She was appointed Deputy Supreme Court Clerk in Oklahoma City in 1914, and admitted to the bar in 1923.  In 1924, she was appointed Assistant Commission of Charities and Corrections for Oklahoma.  During the Great Depression, she served as director of the Women's Division of Emergency Relief in Oklahoma County. 

She was elected to serve as a law clerk of the Oklahoma Supreme Court and Criminal Court of Appeals in 1926.

She passed away in 1956.

Happy birthday, Star Trek actors Beverly Washburn, Jeffrey Hunter, John Larroquette, and Ricardo Montalban

 

Four actors, all born on November 25, appeared in Star Trek episodes and movies.  

Beverly Washburn, born in 1943, appeared in the Star Trek episode The Deadly Years. She played Lt. Arlene Galway, who mysteriously ages rapidly, as several other members of the Enterprise crew including Captain Kirk, Mr. Spock and Dr. McCoy.  But not Chekov.

Jeffrey Hunter, born in 1926, appeared in the Star Trek pilot episode The Cage as Captain Christopher Pike.  He is held prisoner by aliens with telepathic powers.  It was the first episode to the original series.

John Larroquette, born 1947, played the Klingon Maltz in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.  He was the lone Klingon left on the Bird-of-Prey when Kirk and his crew commandeer the Klingon's vessel.  

Ricardo Montalban, born 1920, appeared in the Star Trek episode Space Seed in 1967 as Khan, the leader of a group of genetically engineered humans in suspended animation.  He reprised the role in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan in 1982.

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Jim Thorpe: the world's greatest athlete

Jim Thorpe, born May 1887 in Prague, Indian Territory (east of Oklahoma City), has been named the world's greatest athlete.  He was a member of the Sac and Fox nations, and became the first Native American to win a gold medal at the Olympics in 1912, for the pentathlon and decathlon.  His Olympic medals were lost when it was found he had been playing semi-professional baseball, which violated the amateur rules in place.  In 1983, the International Olympic Committee restored his medals, thirty years after his death.  

He was a two-time All-American in football.  He played six seasons in the Major League Baseball from 1913-1919.  He played for the Canton Bulldogs in 1915 and helped them win three professional championships.  He played for six teams in the NFL.  

From 1920-1921, he was the first president of the American Professional Football Association, which became the NFL in 1922

He passed away in March 1953. 

"Murder on the Orient Express" released 1974

Agatha Christie's classic novel, Murder on the Orient Express, published in 1934 was brought to the screen November 24, 1974.  It boasted an all-star cast that had 58 Academy Award nominations and 14 wins.  The movie itself won an Oscar.  Ingrid Bergman won for Best Actress in a Supporting Role, beating Madeline Kahn for her performance in Blazing Saddles.  It had been nominated for five other categories.  

Murder on the Orient Express starred Albert Finney (as Hercule Poirot), Sean Connery, Lauren Bacall, Anthony Perkins and Michael York.

It was nominated for a Grammy for Best Original Score.  It was the 11th highest grossing movie of 1974 and received a 90% fresh rating from Rotten Tomatoes. 

Celebrating Native American Heritage Month: Alice Brown Davis, first female Chief of the Seminole tribe

Alice Brown Davis, born September 10, 1852 in Park Hill, Indian Territory, near what is now Tahlequah, Oklahoma, became the first female Principal Chief of the Seminole Tribe of Oklahoma.

She was appointed at 70 in 1922 by President Warren G. Harding.  She served until her death in June 1935 in Wewoka, Oklahoma.  

Happy birthday, Godzilla actor Don Frye!

Don Frye, born November 23, 1965 in Sierra Vista, Arizona, made his film debut in Godzilla: Final Wars in 2004.  He began as a wrestler, wrestling for Arizona State University and Oklahoma State University.  He gained success in Mixed Martial Arts and competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.

"Song of the South" released 1946

Disney's movie, Song of the South, released in the US November 20, 1946, has become a subject of controversy for its portrayal of African-Americans.  The film, a mix of live-action and animation, is based on a collection of Uncle Remus stories adapted by Joel Chandler Harris.

James Baskett starred as Uncle Remus and provided the voice of Br'er Fox.  Baskett won an Academy Honorary Award for his performance.

The movie won an Academy Award for Best Original Song for Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah.  It was also nominated for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture.  It was one of the top-grossing movies of 1946. 

Oklahoma Governor Jack Walton impeached for anti-KKK policies 1923

Jack Walton, the fifth governor of Oklahoma, was the first governor to be impeached and removed from office.  He was elected in January 1923, when the state was still reeling from the Tulsa Race Riots in 1921.  In an effort to crack down on the Ku Klux Klan, he declared martial law in Okmulgee and Tulsa counties.  

Of course, Okies were having none of that, because they love their hate.  The populace voted to have the State Legislature call their own special session.  

Granted, Walton did make a lot of poor decisions, but it was his attempt to subdue the KKK that led to his impeachment.  He was convicted and removed from office November 19, 1923.

Columbia (STS-87) launched 1997

STS-87 crew

Front row (L-R): Kalpana Chawla, Steve Lindsey, Kevin Kregel, Leonid Kadeniuk

Back row (L-R): Winston Scott, Takao Doi

Mission patch

Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-87), launched November 19, 1997, was the first EVA conducted by a Japanese astronaut.  Its crew consisted of Commander Kevin Kregel, Pilot Steve Lindsey, Kalpana Chawla, Winston Scott, Takao Doi (JAXA), and Leonid Kadeniuk (first Ukrainian astronaut).  

Scott and Doi conducted two EVAs, which lasted almost 13 hours total.

They returned to Earth December 5.