Checkmate!, Perry White, Adv. of Superman, Berry's World, Southern Squadron, Dennis the Menace, Witchblade, Gorgo vs. Godzilla, Highlander, Tarzan.

On this day in 1939 the Superman daily strip began and continued to flourish until May 1966. At its peak, the strip was in over 300 daily newspapers. The strips contained the first appearance of a bald Lex Luthor, the first appearance of Mr. Mxyzptlk and the first telephone booth costume change in comics. Other stories of note include Superman saving Santa Claus from the Nazis, WWII-era stories of Superman protecting the American home front and Clark Kent marrying Lois Lane (and they lived together for years without her figuring out that he's Superman).

Enjoy !!!



Birthdays

Steve Erwin 1960, comic book artist. During the 1980s and 1990s, he worked primarily for DC Comics, co-creating the titles Checkmate! and Gunfire. While at DC, he also contributed to Deathstroke the Terminator, Batman Returns, Superman: The Man of Steel, Shadowheart, and the graphic novel adaptation of The Ashes of Eden.

John Hamilton 1887, actor, best remembered for his role as the blustery newspaper editor Perry White on the 1950s television program Adventures of Superman.

Harry Basch 1926, actor, Dr. Brown-Star Trek: The Original Series episode "What Are Little Girls Made Of?".

Jim Berry 1932, comic strip artist, His most notable work may well be the comic strip, Berry's World, which ran for more than 40 years beginning in 1963. He also produced the comic strip Benjy in 1974 and 1975.

David de Vries 1966, comic book writer and artist, In 1983, he began writing Southern Squadron, an Australian superhero team, and in the early 1990s, he made the jump to the American comic book industry. In 1992, he wrote one issue of the DC Comics Star Trek title, issue #34, "The Tree of Life, The Branches of Heaven".

Mason Gamble 1986, actor, Dennis Mitchell - Dennis the Menace (1993), Vincent Freeman as a Boy - Gattaca (1997).

David Chokachi 1986, Det. Jake McCartey - Witchblade (23 eps. 2002-2003), Witchblade (2000, TV movie).

Debbie Allen 1950, dancer/actress/director, Directed - The Twilight Zone (1 episode, 2003), Quantum Leap (2 episodes, 1991-1993), Actress - Joanna Chapman - Quantum Leap (1 episode, 1991).

John Carpenter 1948, director, writer, actor, Directed - Revenge of the Colossal Beasts (1962), Terror from Space (1963), Gorgo Versus Godzilla (1969), Gorgon, the Space Monster (1969), Sorceror from Outer Space (1969), Dark Star (1974), The Fog (1980), Escape from New York (1981), The Thing (1982), Starman (1984), Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992), Ghosts of Mars (2001).

Kabir Bedi 1945, actor, Kamir - Highlander (1 episode, 1995)

Peter Brocco 1903, actor, Claymare in the Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Errand of Mercy", Mr. Mute-Twilight Zone:The Movie, Retainer & Kashi-The Time Tunnel, Alien Leader-Lost in Space, Curator-My Favorite Martian, Dr. Charles Link-The Outer Limit "I, Robot", Xanthos-Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Adv. of Superman (3 eps.), Dr. Varney-Commando Cody:Sky Marshal of the Universe, Captain Midnight (2 Eps.), Brainard-Invaders from Mars (1953)

Michael Pataki 1938, actor, Korax-Star Trek:TOS "The Trouble with Tribbles", Karnas-Star Trek:Next Generation, Jim Wilson-Remo Williams:The Adventure Begins, Ortiz-Beyond Westworld, Tandi-The Invisible Man, Amenophis Tewfik-Batman (1966), Johnny-My Favorite Martian.

Ethel Merman 1908, actress / singer, Lola Lasagne - Batman (3 episodes, 1967), Rosanna McCloud - Tarzan (2 episodes, 1967), Mombi, the Bad Witch - Journey Back to Oz (1974) (voice), Lilly Loraine - Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July (1979) (TV) (voice).

Steve Conte 1920, actor, Thug #2 - Adventures of Superman (1 episode, "Jimmy the Kid", 1956), Bruno - The Wild World of Batwoman (1966), Henchman #2 - Batman (3 episodes, 1967).

Allen Swift 1924, actor/voice actor, known for playing characters including Simon Bar Sinister and Riff-Raff on the Underdog cartoon show. He provided the voices of many of the characters in The Bluffers, most of the voices for the 1960s underwater puppet show Diver Dan, and the voices in Gene Deitch's 1960–1962 group of Tom and Jerry cartoons. Swift was a children's television show host on WPIX in New York City as "Captain Allen". He took his professional name from radio comedian Fred Allen and 18th century satirist Jonathan Swift. Swift was an early television star who hosted The Popeye Show from September 10, 1956 to September 23, 1960, until he was forced to leave the program. The reason for his dismissal from "The Popeye Show" was creative differences with station management. Swift did the majority of the voices in Rankin/Bass's Mad Monster Party?, credited as Alan Swift in the movie's credits. He supplied most of the character voices for the NBC Howdy Doody Show, and when Buffalo Bob Smith, who himself did the voice of the lead puppet character Howdy Doody and had many times proclaimed that "nobody else could do Howdy" suffered a heart attack, Swift took home some recordings over the weekend, came back on Monday and did Howdy's voice for more than a year. Before taking his stage name he was born Ira Stadlen.

Events

1939, Superman daily newspaper comic strip begins.

1962, Shooting begins on "Dr. No"

1965, "Outer Limits" last airs on ABC-TV

1978, Blake 7, 1st.series Episode 3. "Cygnus Alpha"

1979, Blakes 7, 2nd series Episode 2. "Shadow"

1995, Star Trek:Voyager "Caretaker" airs. Series premiere.

2002, Star Trek:Enterprise "Silent Enemy" airs.