Brenda Starr, Archoe Comics, MLJ Comics, The Hangman, When Worlds Collide, Chiun, Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins, War of the Worlds, Bomba, Boy.

Even Tarzan had a side kick other than Cheetah. Today is the birthday of Johnny Sheffield who fisrt played "Boy" in the 1939, Tarzan Finds a Son. Johnny went on to star as Bomba in the late 40's.


Enjoy !!!


Birthdays

Dale Messick 1906, was the first woman syndicated comic strip artist in the United States. She was the creator of Brenda Starr, which at its peak during the 1950s ran in 250 newspapers. Messick went on to create a number of other comic strips but none achieved the success of Brenda Starr. The only other strip which she worked on which is generally remembered was Perry Mason, which she illustrated.


Irv Novick 1916, From about 1939 to 1946, Novick was working for MLJ Comics, the company that would later be known as Archie Comics. He became the primary artist for their superhero comics, including the characters The Shield (the first patriotic superhero), Bob Phantom, The Hangman, and Steel Sterling, until MLJ cut back on these titles to focus more on their Archie comics. From 1946 to 1951, Novick worked in advertising and for the largely unsuccessful comic strips Cynthia and The Scarlet Avenger. Novick left DC for the Johnstone-Cushing advertising agency in the 1960s, but was unhappy in advertising and was lured back to DC. In 1968, Novick began drawing superhero titles like Batman, Lois Lane, and The Flash. He continued to work, still under contract, until failing eyesight prompted his retirement in the late 1990s.


Leonard Mudie 1883, actor, Fred Jones - A Message from Mars (1921), British U.N. Representative - When Worlds Collide (1951), Howard Denker - The Magnetic Monster (1953), Leland Masters / Brockhurst the Magician / Prof. Jody / Capt. Blood - Adventures of Superman (4 episodes, 1953-1956), Dr. John Bellow - Science Fiction Theatre (1 episode, "Beam of Fire", 1956), Chief Inquisitor - The Story of Mankind (1957), Second Survivor - Star Trek (1 episode, "The Cage", 1966). At 82, he was the oldest actor to ever appear in "Star Trek" (1966). He played an illusory survivor of the S.S. Columbia in the first pilot "The Cage".


Joel Grey 1932, actor, Chiun - Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985), Caylem - Star Trek: Voyager (1 episode, "Resistance", 1995), Dr. Nathan Seward / Gideon Banks - The Outer Limits (2 episodes, 1999-2000).



Michele Scarabelli 1955, actress, Elise Conway - War of the Worlds (1 episode, "A Multitude of Idols", 1988), Susan Francisco - Alien Nation (22 episodes, 1989-1990), Lt. Jenna D'Sora - Star Trek: The Next Generation (1 episode, 1991), Susan Francisco - Alien Nation: Dark Horizon (1994) (TV), Susan Francisco - Alien Nation: Body and Soul (1995) (TV), Susan Francisco - Alien Nation: Millennium (1996) (TV), Susan Francisco - Alien Nation: The Enemy Within (1996) (TV), Susan Francisco - Alien Nation: The Udara Legacy (1997) (TV), Opera House Security Guard - 2001: A Space Travesty (2000).


Paul Douglas 1907, actor, Mike Wilson - The Gamma People (1956)


Carl Franklin 1949, actor, Dr. Fred Walters - The Fantastic Journey (10 episodes, 1977), Crosby - The Incredible Hulk (1 episode, "Life and Death", 1978), Dr. Willoughby - Alf (2 episodes, "ALF's Special Christmas: Part 1 & 2", 1987).


Johnny Sheffield 1931, actor, Boy - Tarzan Finds a Son! (1939), Tarzan's Secret Treasure (1941), Tarzan's New York Adventure (1942), Tarzan Triumphs (1943), Tarzan's Desert Mystery (1943), Tarzan and the Amazons (1945), Tarzan and the Leopard Woman (1946), Tarzan and the Huntress (1947), Bomba - Bomba, the Jungle Boy (1949), Bomba on Panther Island (1949), The Lost Volcano (1950), Bomba and the Hidden City (1950), The Lion Hunters (1951), Elephant Stampede (1951), African Treasure (1952), Bomba and the Jungle Girl (1952), Safari Drums (1953), The Golden Idol (1954), Killer Leopard (1954), Lord of the Jungle (1955). When Maureen O'Sullivan wanted out of her Jane role in the Johnny Weissmuller Tarzan series, it was decided that she and Tarzan would adopt a son (they had to adopt, according to the Legion of Decency, because they weren't married) before she died. Weissmuller personally chose Sheffield for the part of Boy, a part inspired by Bobby Nelson's portrayal in Tarzan the Mighty (1928); athletic by nature, he was taught to swim by swimming Olympian Weissmuller. Tarzan Finds a Son! (1939) was such a success that MGM signed Sheffield to six more films as Tarzan's Boy. By the time of Tarzan and the Mermaids (1948), he was too big for the part; the film merely said he was away at school. When Monogram Studios learned he had been dropped, they picked him up for the series of movies based on the Roy Rockwood Bomba, the Jungle Boy (1949) movies. He made twelve of these between 1949 and 1955.


Pierre Kartner 1935, Dutch musician who sings under the alias Father Abraham. In May 1977, Kartner was asked to make a promotional song for an animated movie, which turned out to be about The Smurfs. The record company pressed 1,000 copies, since they were unsure about the success of the single. However, they were all sold within one day at a Schlager festival. After a repress, 400,000 singles were quickly sold. A full Smurfs album was then created, which also climbed the charts, with 500,000 copies sold. It was released in several dozen countries, including Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and Japan, all sung by Kartner. He scored a number one hit in 16 countries. His Smurf works have sold around 25 million copies. He also wrote the music for the opening and closing credits on the Japanese cartoon adaption of Moomin (1990 TV series).


Peter Riegert 1947, actor, Adult Gus Rosenthal - The Twilight Zone (segment "One Life, Furnished in Early Poverty") (1 episode, 1985), Lt. Mitch Kellaway - The Mask (1994), Max Weinstein - Family Guy (1 episode, "When You Wish Upon a Weinstein", 2003). Bill Irwin 1950, actor, Ham Gravy - the Old Boyfriend - Popeye (1980), Pickles - 3rd Rock from the Sun (1 episode, "Pickles and Ice Cream", 1998), Lou Lou Who - How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000).


John Castellanos 1957, actor, Tafiq Azir - Babylon 5 (1 episode, "The Ragged Edge", 1998).



Events

1921, "A Message from Mars" movie is released.


1988, Star Trek:TNG, "The Arsenal of Freedom" airs.


2001, Star Trek:Voyager, "Q2" airs.