"The War of the Worlds" wins Oscar 1954

 The War of the Worlds won an Academy Award at the 26th annual ceremony held March 25, 1954.  The sci-fi classic won an Oscar for Best Special Effects, when it wasn't a regular category.  It was nominated for Best Sound Editing and Best Film Editing.  The War of the Worlds lost both to From Here to Eternity which won eight Oscars that night.

War of the Worlds trailer

The Tasmanian Devil first appearance 1954

The Tasmanian Devil, Taz, beloved Looney Tunes character, made his first appearance in the short Devil May Hare, June 19, 1954. He appeared in only four more shorts before Warner Brothers Cartoons was shut down in 1964.

However, Taz had his own television series Taz-Mania in 1991, which ran for four seasons.  He was to appear in Who framed Roger Rabbit? but for some reason, he wasn't in the movie.

Taz continues to appear in television and movies.

Happy birthday, astronaut Jeffrey Ashby!

Jeffrey Ashby, born June 16, 1954 in Dallas, Texas, has been into space three times.  He served in the navy, flying combat missions in Operation Desert Storm, Operation Southern Watch, and Operation Continue Hope.

His first space flight was aboard Space Shuttle Columbia (STS-93) as pilot in July 1999. He returned to Earth after almost 4 days in space.

His second mission was aboard Endeavour (STS-100) as pilot to the International Space Station in April-May 2001. He returned to Earth after almost 12 days.

His third and final mission was aboard Atlantis (STS-112) as commander to the International Space Station in October 2002.  He returned to Earth after almost 11 days in space.

"Monster from the Ocean Floor" released 1954

In another movie in a rash of "radioactivity creates a monstrosity" films, Monster from the Ocean Floor was released into theaters May 21, 1954. It was the first time Roger Corman produced a film.  He would go on to produce almost 500 movies over his career.  Director Wyott Ordung went on to produce only one  more film in 1956.

It's a slow moving film like Monster from Green Hell, with only a few scenes that were intended to be scary.  All deaths happen off screen so there is virtually no gore or jump scares.  The actors are mostly unknowns.  Ordung and Corman each have a role in the movie.

Monster from the Ocean Floor was released to mixed reviews, mostly negative, with a rating of 3.8 on imdb.com.  

It isn't a movie to watch for horror or science fiction fans, but it can be enjoyable if you're into the B&W 1950s B-movies. 

Celebrating Asian American Heritage Month: Ervin Yen, first Asian American in Oklahoma legislature

Ervin Yen, born in Taipei, Taiwan in 1954, moved to northwest Oklahoma City in 1959, where he graduated from Putnam City High School and then a BS in zoology from University of Oklahoma.  He went on to get a medical degree from OU College of Medicine.

He changed his party affiliation to Republican in 2009 and ran for the District 40 state senate seat in 2014.  He won the election in the general election, becoming the first Asian American in the Oklahoma legislature history.

He lost his re-election bid in the primaries to an anti-vaxxer in 2018.  Yen changed his affiliation to Independent to run for governor in the 2022 election, citing the rise of COVID-19 misinformation, Trump's election lies, and the GOP's lack of response to COVID-19.

Happy birthday, Village People lead vocalist Ray Simpson!

Ray Simpson, born January 15, 1954 in New York City, is best known as the former lead singer and Cop for Village People.  He sang backup for the group in its formative years.  When the original lead singer Victor Willis left the Village People in 1979, Simpson became the front man.  He appeared with the rest of the band in the movie Can't Stop the Music in 1980.  

His sister is Valerie Simpson of the duo Ashford & Simpson.

Ray lives in New Jersey with his wife Leslie and daughter Alayna.  

Happy birthday, Denzel Washington!

One of the sexiest and talented actors in Hollywood, Denzel Washington, was born December 28, 1954 in Mount Vernon, New York.  He has won numerous awards for his acting, including two Oscars, the first African-American actor to win twice.  He is the second African-American to win an Oscar for Best Leading Actor.  

I enjoyed his work in Philadelphia and Unstoppable but my favorite movie of his is The Book of Eli.  I just found out he did all of his own stunts in the fight scenes.  The one in the video clip below shows how bad-ass he is! 

Happy birthday, Canadian astronaut Dafydd Williams!

Dafydd Williams, born May 16, 1954 in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, has been in space twice as an astronaut from the Canadian Space Agency.  He received a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Surgery from McGill University in 1983.

His first trip into space was aboard Columbia (STS-90) as mission specialist in April-May 1998.  While in orbit, Williams and fellow astronauts James Pawelczyk and Jay Buckey appeared on the Canadian television series Popular Mechanics for Kids.

His second and final flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-118) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in August 2007. He performed three EVAs with fellow astronauts Richard Mastracchio and Clayton Anderson for almost 18 hours total.

"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, 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. 

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Kevin Chilton!

Kevin Chilton, born November 3, 1954 in Los Angeles, California, has been in space three times.

His first trip into space was aboard Endeavour (STS-49) as pilot in May 1992.  It was the first time an EVA involved three astronauts.

His second trip was aboard Endeavour (STS-59) as pilot in April 1994.  The Discovery Channel chronicled the launch for a special on the Space Shuttle program.

His third and final trip was aboard Atlantis (STS-76) as commander in March 1996.  It was the third shuttle mission to dock with the space station Mir.

Happy birthday, Space Shuttle astronaut Takao Doi!

Takao Doi, born September 18, 1954 in Tokyo, Japan, is a veteran of two Space Shuttle flights.

His first flight was aboard Columbia (STS-87) as mission specialist in November-December 1997.  During the mission he conducted two EVAs with fellow astronaut Winston Scott, becoming the first Japanese astronaut to conduct a spacewalk.

His second flight was aboard Endeavour (STS-123) as mission specialist to the International Space Station in March 2008.  The mission delivered the first module of the Japanese Experiment Module.

Happy birthday, Star Trek actor Jeffrey Combs!

Jeffrey Combs, born September 9, 1954 in Oxnard, California, is a prolific actor who has starred in numerous Star Trek series.  He played Commander Shran in Star Trek: Enterprise so well that the producers said if the show had been renewed for a fifth season, he would have been made a regular.  He appeared in one episode of Star Trek: Voyager.  He played Weyoun, a liaison from the Dominion, in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

He is one of two actors to play three different characters in a single Star Trek season (Deep Space Nine).  He is one of six actors to appear in ten different seasons of Star Trek.  He is one of four to play seven different characters on Star Trek.  He is one of six actors to appear in finales of two different Star Trek series.  He is one of three actors to appear in all four seasons of Star Trek: Enterprise. 

Happy birthday, Captain Jonathan Archer!

Handsome actor Scott Bakula, born October 9, 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri, rose to fame while starring in Quantum Leap, for which he won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama. But he is more affectionately known as Captain Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise. 

He is currently starring in NCIS: New Orleans.

"Rear Window" released 1954

Alfred Hitchcock's masterpiece Rear Window, starring James Stewart, Grace Kelly and Raymond Burr, was released across the US September 1, 1954.  It premiered in Los Angeles, New York City and Atlantic City in August.  It is considered by many people to be Hitchcock's best movie.

It was nominated for four Academy Awards.  The National Film Registry of the Library of Congress was selected for preservation as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

The American Film Institute has included Rear Window as #42 in its 100 Years...100 Movies; #14 in AFI's 100 years...100 Thrills; and #3 in AFI's Top 10 Mysteries.

"Dial M for Murder" released 1954

Another of Alfred Hitchcock's masterpieces, Dial M for Murder was released May 29, 1954.  It stars Grace Kelly as the cheating wife, and Ray Milland as her scheming husband.  It's a tale of blackmail, murder and double-crossing. 

It is listed by the American Film Institute as #48 of Top 100 Thrills and #9 of its Top 10 Mysteries. 

Only Hitchcock could make waiting for a door lock to move suspenseful.

Happy birthday, cosmonaut Vasili Tsibliyev!

Vasily Tsibliyev, born February 20, 1954, is a veteran of two Soyuz missions and served as commander of Mir.  Selected as a cosmonaut in March 1987, Vasily first went into space on Soyuz TM-17, July 1993 - January 1994 as commander.  It was the 17th mission to Mir.

His second and final flight was on Soyuz TM-25, from February - August 1997.  During his command, a Progress spacecraft, an unmanned craft which ferries supplies to Mir, hit the space station, damaging Mir.

But the crew managed to save Mir.  Watch the video below:  I haven't found the continuation of it though.

"Godzilla: King of the Monsters" released 1954

I gotta celebrate the release of this movie every year, no apologies.  Godzilla: The King of the Monsters was released in 1954 by the Toho Company, who also made Seven Samurai.  Filming both movies simultaneously almost forced the company into bankruptcy.  At the time, it was the most expensive Japanese movie ever made.

It was nominated for Best Picture by the Japanese Academy Awards but lost to Seven Samurai.  It is the only Godzilla movie to receive a nomination for Best Picture.  It did win the award for Best Visual Effects.

Happy birthday, Umberto Guidoni, first European aboard the ISS!

Umberto Guidoni, born August 18, 1954 in Rome, Italy, is the veteran of two space shuttle flights and has the distinction as being the first European aboard the International Space Station.  Dr. Guidoni worked for the Italian Space Agency and the European  Space Agency.  His first mission into space was aboard Columbia (STS-75) in early 1996.

He flew on Endeavour in 2001 (STS-100) with a Canadian, a Russian and four Americans to the International Space Station.  Its primary objective was the installation of the Canadarm2 robotic arm onto the ISS.

Happy birthday, Bill Mumy!

Bill Mumy, who first appeared on film when he was three, was born February 1, 1954.  He appeared in three episodes of The Twilight Zone, and is probably best known as Will Robinson on Lost in Space.  I got to know him and become a fan in his role as Lennier on Babylon 5.