Science Fiction Theatre: The Legend of Crater Mountain

Science Fiction TheatreThe 55th episode of the syndicated science fiction Science Fiction Theatre airs on stations across the U.S. Hosted by Truman Bradley, the episode stars Marilyn Erskine and Bradford Jackson.

This series is not fully chronicled in the LogBook. You could join theLogBook team and write this guide or support the webmaster’s efforts to expand the site.

Wrangler: Affair At The Trading Post

WranglerThe third episode of the western series Wrangler is broadcast on NBC in the United States, starring Jason Evers as Pitcairn. James Anderson guest stars in an episode written by George F. Slavin. Wrangler is produced by future Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, who also created the series, his first to get past the pilot stage. Hear more about it on the Gene-ology podcast

Out Of This World: Vanishing Act

Out Of This WorldBritish broadcaster ABC airs the eighth episode of science fiction anthology series Out Of This World. Written by Richard Waring, this is one of only two of the series’ scripts not based upon a prior literary work, and is introduced by Boris Karloff (in much the same way that Rod Serling introduced episodes of The Twilight Zone). This episode no longer exists in the archives.

More about Out Of This World and Out Of The Unknown in the LogBook

Math Gran Prix (Atari 2600)

Math Gran PrixAtari releases its “edutainment” cartridge Math Gran Prix for the Atari VCS, a title designed to stave off critics of video games’ negative effects on kids’ schoolwork. Perhaps predictably, Math Gran Prix fails to cross the retail finish line – the same parents complaining that the Atari is keeping homework from getting done aren’t buying educational games for it. Read more

Colecovision

ColecovisionThe video game wars officially enter a new generation of hardware as Connecticut-based toymaker Coleco unveils the Colecovision home video game system. Packaged with an almost-but-not-quite-arcade-accurate port of the hit game Donkey Kong, and pushed by an advertising campaign focusing on the message of “bringing the arcade experience home,” Colecovision’s best opening gambit may be an “Expansion Module” allowing the use of Atari VCS games on the console, making it possible for Atari owners to step up without having to rebuild their game libraries from scratch. Read more

Elmer Bernstein, movie composer, dies

Airplane!Renowned composer Elmer Bernstein dies at the age of 82. Best known for his non-genre work on such classic films as The Ten Commandments, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Magnificent Seven (and its numerous sequels), Animal House, True Grit and Airplane!, he also racked up quite a few genre credits, ranging from Ghostbusters to Heavy Metal to Saturn 3 and beyond. He also scored numerous specials and documentaries for National Geographic, IBM, and even the United Nations. He was nominated for 11 Oscars with one win (for Thoroughly Modern Millie), and was instrumental in the formation of the Varese Sarabande label, which deals almost exclusively in soundtrack releases.

NASA, SpaceX sign cargo launch agreement

Dragon at the ISSImpressed with the progress shown by the commercial spaceflight industry, NASA signs agreements with SpaceX, a venture started by PayPal founder Elon Musk, and Oklahoma-based Rocketplane Kistler (RPK) to begin developing spacecraft that can deliver cargo and, later, astronauts to the International Space Station. RPK’s bid eventually collapses in financial scandal, though SpaceX goes on to create Dragon, the first privately-funded vehicle to visit the ISS in 2012.

Stargate SG-1: 200

Stargate SG-1The 199th episode of Stargate SG-1 airs on the Sci-Fi Channel, starring Ben Browder, Amanda Tapping, Christopher Judge, Claudia Black, Beau Bridges, and Michael Shanks. (The numbering works only in syndication and reruns, where Children Of The Gods is broken into two episodes.) Read more

Masters Of Science Fiction: Jerry Was A Man

Masters Of Science FictionThe third episode of ABC’s science fiction anthology series Masters Of Science Fiction, drawing on the genre’s literary greats and hosted by Professor Stephen Hawking, is broadcast. Malcolm McDowell (A Clockwork Orange, Star Trek: Generations) and Anne Heche (Wag The Dog) star in an adaptation of a Robert A. Heinlein short story.

This series is not yet chronicled in the LogBook. You could join theLogBook team and write this guide or support the webmaster’s efforts to expand the site.

The Tick: Pilot

The TickStreaming service Amazon Prime Video premieres the pilot episode of a 21st century live-action remake of The Tick. Written and produced by Tick creator Ben Edlund, and starring Peter Serafinowicz in the title role, this pilot is part of Amazon’s annual Pilot Season event, and receives enough favorable votes for Amazon to order production of a full season of episodes to premiere in 2017. Read more

What If…?: What If…T’Challa Became A Star Lord?

What If...?Disney+ streams the second episode of the Marvel animated series What If…?, featuring the voices of Jeffrey Wright (Westworld), Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), and Karen Gillan (Guardians Of The Galaxy, Doctor Who).

This series is not yet chronicled in the LogBook. You could join theLogBook team and write this guide or support the webmaster’s efforts to expand the site.

Go Figure

Go FigureRoundel Books publishes the non-fiction book Go Figure by Richard Lloyd, a detailed chronicle of every figure released in Character Options’ two decades of producing Doctor Who action figures, initially for the BBC’s 21st century revival of the TV series but eventually adding many characters from the 20th century run as well. Read more