Welcoem to posts!!
in the future - u will be able to do some more stuff here,,,!! like pat catgirl- i mean um yeah... for now u can only see others's posts :c
Raquel Welch was born on this day - September 5th 1940.
After guset starring on several popular TV Shows in the early 1960s (including 'Bewitched' and 'The Virginian'), she was put under contact with 20th Century Fox. Fox weren't quite sure how to best cast her, and during this fallow period, she was loaned out to British film company 'Hammer, who were well known for low budget thrillers and colourful Horror films. They were branching out into different genres of film and bigger budgets. Raquel was cast as the female lead in 'One Million Years B.C.', with special effects by stop-motion maestro Ray Harryhausen. Her role in this film, and the iconic image on the film's poster, made her an instant star. Later the same year, she completed 'Fantatsic Voyage' back at 20th Century Fox.
She went on to star in over a dozen films in the 1960s and 70s, often playing strong, independent characters. During the 1970s everyone knew who she was.
Raquel Welch died on February 15th 2023.
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I was sad to read this morning that actor and singer James Darren died yesterday. He was 88. I grew up watching repeats (re-runs) of the Irwin Allen TV shows, including 'The Time Tunnell'. Darren played Dr. Tony Newman, alongside Robert Colbert as Doug Phillips who each week would land in a new time and place. Observed by the team in the enormous Tic Tic complex - John Zaremba, Lee Merriwether and the great Whit Bissel. As kids during the school holidays we would play 'The Time Tunnel' with an old TV and using the dial, would tune through the largely empty channels... although it was the school holidays a lot of rhe regular programming was unchanged, so there was a handful of historical TV shows showing footage of the past. When we hit one of these shows 'we'd get a fix' just like in the show and rush outside and pretend to be Tony and Doug in some sort of adventure.
I recall fondly seeing Tony Newman alongside Captain Kirk in the TV Series 'TJ Hooker' and later he played the holodeck's favourite crooner Vic Fontaine in 'Deep Space Nine'.
James Darren was always very natural on screen and had an effortless charm, but always seemed to give 100%.
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Happy Birthday to MIKE TRIM - August 26th.
Mr Trim.is responsible.for.the iconic artwork and designs.for the Martian machines featured in Jeff Wayne's 'The War of the Worlds' album. He worked on the Gerry Anderson show of the 1960s. Working closely with Derek Meddings' visual effects unit. He contributed models and designs for numerous vehicles and aircraft in 'Thunderbirds', 'Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons', 'Joe 90' and 'UFO'. His work continues to be hugely inspirational to futuristic s
Sci-Fi worlds.
Pictures -
Gray & Houseman Explosives Tractor (Thunderbirds)
Spectrum Patrol Car and Maximum Security Vehicle (Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons)
Sam Loover's car (Joe 90)
Shado Mobiles (UFO)
Martian Fighting Machine (Jeff Wayne's The War of the Worlds)
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Happy Birthday to JAMES CAMERON - born August 16th 1954.
A Director, Writer and Producer who has had a huge impact on the cinema and pop culture.
'The Terminator', 'Aliens', 'The Abyss,' 'Terminator 2:Judgment Day' - all of which feature strong, memorable leading characters played by women; played by Linda Hamilton, Sigourney Weaver and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio.
His unique vision and style and rigour has brought some of the most visually stunning films and imagery to the screen.
His films are always cinematic and hugley entertanining.... and much imitated... and quotable.
'I'll Be Back', 'Game Over Man, Game Over!'
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Composer James Horner was born on this day - August 14th 1953. Sadly he was killed in a plane crash in 2015. He was a composer of so much wonderful film music. I first became of hia name when watching 'Star Trek II The Wrath of Khan' in 1982. What a movie. And what a great score including wall to wall music in the last 30 minues! 'Krull' - a visually beautiful, but somewhat limp fanatsy movie with a sensational score. 'Brainstorm' - a neglected gem of a film. the music is stirring and awe inspiring. 'Star Trek III The Search for Spock' - an excellent score. Horner's music for the sequence where Kirk and his team steal the Enterprise from the spacedock is second to none. 'Cocoon' - such a beautiful score. 'Aliens', 'An American Tail', '*batteries not included' and many other Sci-Fi/Fanatsy films of the 1980s.
The films that combine James Horner's wonderful scores with magnificent visual effects created by ILM are a part of my childhood and teenage years that I cherish.
'Apollo 13', 'Braveheart', 'Titanic' and his final score for 'Avatar' are all triumphs of different styles.
James Horner has a distinct style which is immediately recognisable. Like a singer with a great voice, or an actor with striking good looks. A rare talent whose music lives on.
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Happy Birthday to Walter 'Matt' Jeffries (August 12th 1921). A celebrated aviation artist, Jeffries is best remembered for designing the Starship Enterprise in 'Star Trek'.
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I joined a local art group earlier this year and starting on Saturday, for 2 weeks, there is a small Art Show at the beautiful Capel Manor college and Gardens (North/East London). The Enfield Art Group is mostly enthusiastic amateurs but this is an annual event to sell work. I have one piece in the show and I am looking forward to seeing all of the pictures.
If you in the area in the next couple of weeks it is worth a visit.
Here is the flyer for the event.
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Happy Birthday to JIM DANFORTH (July 13th 1940) Stop-Motion Animator, Visual Effects Supervisor and Matte Painter. He worked mainly in the 1960s and 70s, with memorable vfx work on 'The Outer Limits' TV series - who can forget 'the Zanti'? The enjoyable - and really quite scary - 'Jack the Giant Killer', George Pal's highly underrated 'The 7 Faces of Dr Lao', 'When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth' - a film form Hammer following up on the success of 'One Million Years BC'. The VFX stunning dinosaur sequences were nominated for an Oscar for Best Visual Effects (1971) (it lost out to 'Benknobs and broomsticks'). And he assisted Ray Harryhausen with the titanic workload on 'Clash of the Titans'. These are just a handful of highlights.
There is a Facebook page celebrating his work.
www.facebook.com/groups/330554137004652
Images from -
The Outer Limits
Jack the Giant Killer
The 7 Faces of Dr Lau
When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth
Clash of the Titans - assisting Ray Harryhausen with the Pegasus scenes
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Happy Birthday HARRISON FORD - July 13th 1942.
Actor, Carpenter, Pilot, Legend
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Born on this day - July 7th 1901 - Eiji Tsuburaya created incredible visual effects on over 250 films and television shows. He is probably best known for the Godzilla films starting with the 1954 classic (Gojira).
One of the most respected figures in Japanese cinema. He lead Japan's special visual effects industry starting in the 1940s and continuing for the next 4 decades. The miniatures and optical effects, not to mention the elaborate 'Kaiju's stunts' are still tremendous to watch. So many beautiful and spectacular scenes!
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Lots of cool Sci-Fi, Artwork, Model Kits, Films, TV and Visual.Effects. Nostalgia.