This Week in Sci-Fi History
No matter where you turn, science fiction surrounds us. So it’s time once more to take a look back at some of the peoples, places, and events that continually inspire us to go where no one has gone before!
June 11
The galaxy’s most unlikely botanist appeared on the silver screen on this day back in 1982, and E.T. THE EXTRATERRESTRIAL quickly became one of Steven Spielberg’s biggest hits. Even Neil Diamond was moved to turn on his ‘Heartlight’ in the middle of young boy’s dream. (Boy, that doesn’t sound so innocent 30 years later, does it?) And, in 2004, THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK launched in theatres.
June 12
On this day in 1944, Germany saw to it that the first V-1 rocket reached London. Auspicious birthdays include the legendary Irwin Allen – the creator of such programs as “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea” and “Lost in Space” – born on this day in 1916. In 1987, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s PREDATOR graced silver screens.
June 13
And from Irwin Allen we go to Tim Allen. He’s the voice of astronaut ‘Buzz Lightyear’ and the star of wonderful GALAXY QUEST, and he was born on this day in 1953. All the way back in 1983, Pioneer 10 became the first manmade object to leave the solar system. Gotta love the 80’s!
June 14
Back in 1938, Action Comics issue the first Superman comic. Auspicious birthdays include actor Gene Barry (1919). Barry played Dr. Clayton Forrester in the original 1953 sci-fi classic, THE WAR OF THE WORLDS.
June 15
Talk about a buzzkill: on this day in 1955, the Eisenhower administration staged its first annual ‘Operation Alert’ (OPAL) exercise, an attempt to assess the US’s preparedness for a nuclear attack. Auspicious birthdays? How about a STARSHIP TROOPERS two-fer! Neil Patrick Harris (1973) and Jake Busey (1971).
June 16
In 1990, the STAR TREK: TNG episode that changed it all – “The Best of Both Worlds: Part 1” – set up the ultimate cliffhanger in syndication. TITAN A.E. – the film that killed Fox Animation Studios – premiered on this day in 2000. Auspicious birthdays include John Cho (1972) – the new Sulu from JJ Abrams’ STAR TREK – and Faith Domergue (1924), who played Dr. Ruth Adams in THIS ISLAND EARTH.
June 17
In 1946, SW Bell inaugurates mobile telephone commercial service in St. Louis. Wonder how big THAT first cell phone was? GREEN LANTERN premiered on screens in 2011, and Lantern fans are still waiting for an apology. Auspicious birthdays include director Louis Leterrier (1973), who directed 2008’s THE INCREDIBLE HULK and 2010’s CLASH OF THE TITANS.
When you list real life events, those don’t qualify as science fiction because they aren’t fiction they are fact. So you may want to reconsider calling these posts Sci-fi history.