Sci Fi History: Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948)

Comedy legends met horror legends in 1948. Abbott and Costello have run-ins with the Wolf Man (Lon Chaney), Dracula (Bela Lugosi), and Frankenstein’s monster (Glenn Strange). The movie marked the end of the golden age of monster films and reinvigorated Abbott and Costello. The movie is considered one of the funniest in history and the duo’s finest.  Boris Karloff declined the role of the monster leaving the spot to Strange. Strange found the duo hilarious and laughed throughout filming leading to excess retakes.  At the very end, Vincent Price makes a cameo as the Invisible Man.  This is the movie to watch during Halloween season.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg5N9FJc__Q

Montgomery Scott timeline

Montgomery Scott aka Scotty

"The Miracle Worker"

Born: 2222

2238: Developed Perera theory about detonating photon torpedoes

2241: Joined Starfleet. He would serve on 11 ships over 51 years. At the academy, he almost stalemates the Kobayashi Maru using an engineering trick.

2253: Junior engineer aboard the Enterprise

2258: By this point, Scotty is a Lt. Commander serving on Delta Vega for beaming Admiral Archer’s dog into oblivion. He would later invent transwarp beaming.

2265: Became chief engineer aboard USS Enterprise

2266: Changes the laws of physics and saves the ship.

2267: Accused of murder on Argelius. Is acquitted when the murderer turns out to be Jack the Ripper.

2267: Engages in a bar room brawl aboard Deep Space K-7

2268: Earned citation for helping save landing party without violating the Prime Directive.

2268: Outdrinks a Kelvan and helps recapture Enterprise after aliens put it on course for Andromeda.

2268: Scotty is almost killed when a faulty magnetic probe nearly doomed the ship.

2270: Promoted to full commander and oversees refit of USS Enterprise

2273: V’Ger Crisis

2285: Nephew killed in surprise attack by Khan.

2285: Promoted to captain and assigned to Excelsior.  Sabotages Excelsior and helps steal the Enterprise in order to rescue Spock.

2286: Travels to 20^th century Earth and divulges secret of transparent aluminum. After returning, he refits the new Enterprise.

2287: The Final Frontier

2293: The Undiscovered Country

2293: Appears at maiden voyage  of Enterprise-B and helps save El-Aurian refugees. James T Kirk is apparently killed.

2294: On the way to retirement, his ship crashed into a Dyson’s Sphere. He juryrigged a transporter to allow his survival until rescue.

2369: Rescued by USS Enterprise-D

2371: Steals the Yorktown to rescue Spock on Romulus.

2375: Becomes head of the Starfleet Corps of Engineers.

2377: Travels to Wataii homeworld to rescue Chekov

2383: Assumes command of USS Challenger. However, his heart began to give out due to being stuck in transporter stasis for so long.

2383: Dies sealing a transwarp rift. Spock later speculated that Scotty was one of the few people capable of discovering a way to survive such a mess.

History Shorts: Alaric Sacks Rome (410 A.D.)

The Roman Empire weakened considerably after Constantine moved the capitol to Constantinople in 325. In 378, a barbarian army wiped out the cream of a Roman generation at Adrianople leaving the west exposed to incursions. In 410, the unthinkable happened. The Visigoths sacked Rome. They simply wanted land and a place in Roman society. Arrogant politicians enslaved Visigoth children and fed the people meager rations. In response, Alaric led his people on a punitive expedition against the Romans. It culminated in the sack of the city. For Romans, it must have seemed like the end times.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JzqvUnHLwSg

Sci-Fi History: Wonder Woman (1941)

In 1940, William Moulton Marston kicked around the idea of a female comic book hero. Published Max Gaines picked up the idea and gave Marston a platform. Wonder Woman represented a new type of woman. To some, she represented female empowerment. Others viewed her as a male fantasy complete with an outfit and bondage kit. The next generation reinvented Wonder Woman providing her mythological roots. In the seventies, the women’s movement embraced her raising her profile and leading to a stint in the Justice League.  In 2011, DC Comics rebooted the character once more making her a demigod and thrusting her into a relationship with Superman.

Dr. McCoy timeline

Born: 2227

2240s: Attended University of Mississippi

2245: Studying medicine by this point

2249: McCoy’s daughter is born

2251: Leads inoculation program on Dramia II

2253: Earns MD by this point

2253: Developed advanced brain grafting procedure

2254: Becomes involved with Nancy Crater.

2255: Divorced his wife. She took everything but his “Bones” Sometime during this period, meets James T. Kirk and witnesses the Kobayashi Maru incident.

2266: Joins USS Enterprise

2266: Reconnects with his old flame, Nancy Crater, who turns out to be a salt vampire

2267: Seemingly dies during Shore Leave

2267: Travels to 1930 Earth and changes history. Kirk and Spock follow to correct the mistake.

2267: Returns to Capella IV, where he had visited on a survey years before. He delivers the child of the High Tier, who is subsequently named Leonard James Akaar.

2267: Spock’s brain

2268: Diagnosed with a terminal disease and chooses to live his life  on a planet-ship. He discovers a cure there. He married Natira during this period.

2269: Promoted to commander

2270: Arrested for murder, but acquitted

2270: Retires and goes into private practice

2273: Drafted back into the service. V’Ger crisis.

2285: The Wrath of Khan

2285: Spock places his Katra in McCoy’s head causing severe problems.

2285: The Search for Spock: McCoy is taken to Vulcan and the Katra placed back into Spock’s body. Along the way, he helps steal the Enterprise.

2287: The Final Frontier: It is revealed McCoy felt extreme guilt for taking his father off life support. A cure was found shortly thereafter.

2293: Convicted for murdering the Klingon High Chancellor and sentenced to Rura Pente. He escaped and helped break a Section 31 conspiracy.

2364: Inspects Enterprise-E

Sci-Fi History: Captain America punches Hitler (1941)

America enters World War II with Captain America fighting for the Allies. Naturally, he meets Adolf Hitler and punches him out. The recent film paid homage to this moment with Chris Evans decking an actor portraying Hitler for the USO.

http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fsearch.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%3Fei%3DUTF-8%26p%3Dcaptain%2Bamerica%2Bpunches%2Bhitler&w=160&h=106&imgurl=www.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dcaptain%2Bamerica%2Bpunches%2Bhitler%26id%3DBF584255D0D456BD57F6E4EDB302D139D75ECFF8%23focal%3Dbb2f42234a70bc98ff32c10d855b988c%26amp%3Bfurl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fthreatqualitypress.files.wordpress.com%252f2009%252f12%252fcaptain-america-hitler.jpg&size=&name=search&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dcaptain%2Bamerica%2Bpunches%2Bhitler%26id%3DBF584255D0D456BD57F6E4EDB302D139D75ECFF8%23focal%3Dbb2f42234a70bc98ff32c10d855b988c%26amp%3Bfurl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fthreatqualitypress.files.wordpress.com%252f2009%252f12%252fcaptain-america-hitler.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bing.com%2Fimages%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Dcaptain%2Bamerica%2Bpunches%2Bhitler%26id%3DBF584255D0D456BD57F6E4EDB302D139D75ECFF8%23focal%3Dbb2f42234a70bc98ff32c10d855b988c%26amp%3Bfurl%3Dhttp%253a%252f%252fthreatqualitypress.files.wordpress.com%252f2009%252f12%252fcaptain-america-hitler.jpg&p=captain+america+punches+hitler&type=&no=2&tt=115&oid=http%3A%2F%2Fts2.mm.bing.net%2Fth%3Fid%3DH.4897088108692585%26pid%3D15.1&tit=captain+america+hitler&sigr=17r4c1mh7&sigi=17kspi33o&sigb=1282dn5r7&fr=yfp-t-701

Dazzy Vance: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1955

Born: March 4, 1891

1915: Purchased by Pirates

1915: Purchased by Yankees

1922: Purchased by Dodgers

1924: Struck out 15 Cubs

1924: Struck out side on 9 pitches (also Cubs)

1924: MVP

1924: won Triple Crown

1925: Struck out 17

1925: No hitter

1926: Three Men on Third incident

1933: Traded to the Cardinals

1934: Cardinals win World Series

1935: Signed by Dodgers

1955: Elected to Hall of Fame

Died: 1961

Accomplishments:

1934 World Champion

No hitter

1924 NL MVP

1924 Triple Crown (28-6, 2.16 ERA, 262 Strikeouts)

197-140 Record

3.24 ERA

216 CG

29 SHO

2966.2 IP

2045 Strikeouts

1.230 WHIP

15+ wins: 7x

20+ wins: 3x

Led league in wins: 2x

ERA 3.50 or less: 6x

Sub 3 ERA: 4x

Led league in ERA: 3x

10+ CG: 10x

15+ CG: 8x

20+ CG: 6x

25+ CG: 3x

30 CG (1924)

Led league CG: 2x

Led league SHO: 4x

200+ IP: 9x

250+ IP: 6x

308.1 IP (1924)

Led league in strikeouts: 7x

200+ Strikeouts: 3x

Led league HBP: 2x

Led league WHIP: 3x

Postseason: 1 game, no record, 1.1 IP, 3 Ks

Home Run Baker: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1955

Born: March 13, 1886

Debut: September 21, 1908 (A’s)

1910-11: A’s win World Series

1911: Earned nickname “Home Run” by hitting key home runs off Christy Mathewson and Rube Marquard in the World Series.

1913: A’s win World Series

1914: A’s lose World Series to Braves

1915: Sat out season in salary dispute

1916: Purchased by Yankees

1920: Retired, but came back

1921-22: Yankees win Pennant

1924: Released by Yankees

1924-25: Managed in minors. Baker discovered Jimmie Foxx.

1955: Elected to Hall of Fame

1963: Died

Accomplishments:

3x World Champ

4x Home Run Champ

.307 hitter

 Hit .300: 6x

887 runs

100+ runs: 2x

Led league in games (141): 1919

1838 hits

200 hits (1912)

315 doubles

30+ doubles: 3x

40+ doubles: 2x

103 triples

10+ triples: 5x

15+ triples: 3x

Led league in triples (19): 1909

96 home runs

10+ HR: 5x

Led league in HR: 4x

987 RBI

100+ RBI: 3x

Led league in RBI: 2x

235 SB

20+ SB: 5x

30+ SB: 3x

40 SB (1912)

473 walks-346 strikeouts

.400 OBP: 2x

.500 slugging: 2x

300 TB: 2x

Postseason: .363, 3 HR, 18 RBI .952 OPS (6 World Series)               

Joe DiMaggio: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1955

Born: November 25, 1914

1932: Made professional debut

1933: 61-game hit streak in PCL

1934: Tore knee ligaments stepping out of a taxi

1934: Traded by San Francisco Seals to Yankees

1935: DiMaggio remained with Seals for one season as part of the trade. Seals win PCL & DiMaggio is MVP.

Debut: May 3, 1936 (Yankees)

1936-39: Yankees win World Series

1937: Married actress Dorothy Arnold (later divorced)

1939: Dubbed “The Yankee Clipper” for the first time

1939: Lou Gehrig retires

1939: Won Batting Title (.381)

1939: AL MVP

1940: Won Batting Title (.352)

1941: 56-game hitting streak

1941: Yankees win World Series

1941: AL MVP

1942: Yankees lose World Series to Cardinals

1943-45: Military service in World War II

1947: Yankees almost trade DiMaggio to Red Sox for Ted Williams. Yanks bow out when Sox demanded Yogi Berra as well.

1947: Yankees win World Series

1947: AL MVP

1949: Becomes the first player to earn $100,000 (under $1 million in today’s dollars)

1949-51: Yankees win World Series

1951: DiMaggio is blamed for a career-threatening knee injury to Mickey Mantle.

1951: Retired

1954: Married Marilyn Monroe (they divorced 274 days later)

1955: Elected to Hall of Fame

1962: Monroe died and DiMaggio handled the funeral arrangements

1968: Dubbed “The Greatest Living Ballplayer” by writers

1968: Simon & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” asks “Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio?”

1968-70: A’s coach (worked with Reggie Jackson)

1970s-90s: Mr. Coffee spokesman

1999: Died

1999: Elected to All Century Team

2011: USPS unveils DiMaggio stamp

Accomplishments

9x World Champion

13x All Star

3x MVP

2x batting champ

.325 career hitter

Hit .300: 11x

Hit .350+: 3x

1390 runs

100+ runs: 8x

Led league w/151 runs (1937)

2214 hits

200+ hits: 2x

389 doubles

30+ doubles: 7x

40+ doubles: 2x

131 triples

10+ triples: 8x

15+ triples: 2x

Led league w/15 triples (1936)

361 home runs

Led league in HR: 2x

30+ HR: 7x

46 HR (1937)

1537 RBI

100+ RBI: 9x

150+ RBI: 2x

Led league in RBI: 2x

790 walks-369 strikeouts

.398 OBP

.400 OBP: 5x

.579 slugging

.500 slugging: 11x

.600 slugging: 4x

Led league in slugging: 2x

.977 OPS

OPS 1.000+:  5x

3948 TB

300+ TB: 9x

418 TB (1937)

Led league in TB: 3x

Postseason: .338, 8 HR, 30 RBI, .760 OPS (10 World Series-Won 9)

Ted Lyons: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1955

Born: December 28, 1900

Played at Baylor University

1923: Signed by White Sox

Debut: July 2, 1923 (White Sox)

1926: Threw No-Hitter

1931: Arm injury

1939: All Star

1946-48: Managed White Sox (185-245)

1949-52: Tigers coach

1954: Dodgers coach

1955: Elected to Hall of Fame

1986: Died

1987: White Sox retired his number 16

Accomplishments:

260-230 record

No Hitter (1926)

1939 All Star

Won 15+ Games: 6x

Won 20+ Games: 3x

Led league in wins: 2x

3.67 ERA

Sub 3.50 ERA: 8x

Sub 3 ERA: 3x

Led league in ERA (2.10): 1942

356 CG

10+ CG: 18x

15+ CG: 15x

20+ CG: 7x

30 CG (1927)

Led league CG: 2x

27 Shutouts

Led league SHO: 2x

200+ IP: 10x

250+ IP: 6x

307.2 IP (1927)

Led league IP: 2x

4161 IP

1073 Strikeouts

Led league 1.089 WHIP (1939)

As a manager: 185-245 (.430)

Gabby Hartnett: Baseball Hall of Fame Class of 1955

Born: 12-20-00

1922: Purchased by Cubs

Debut: April 12, 1922 (Cubs)

1924: Caught Grover Cleveland Alexander’s 300^th win

1925: Set season HR record for catchers (25)

1929: Mysterious arm ailment

1929: Cubs lose World Series to A’s

1931: Photographed with Al Capone

1932: Cubs lose World Series to Yankees

1935: NL MVP

1935: Cubs lose World Series to Tigers

1938-40: Managed Cubs (203-176 record)

1938: The Homer in the Gloamin’

1938: Cubs lose World Series to Yankees

1940: Signed with Giants

1941: Released by Giants

1941-46: Minor League Manager

1955: Elected to Hall of Fame

1960s: Scouted

1972: Died

1999: Nominee for All Century Team

Accomplishments:

1935 NL MVP

6x All Star

.297 Average

Hit .300: 5x

867 runs

1912 hits

396 doubles

30+ doubles: 4x

236 HR

20+ HR: 3x

37 HR (1930)

1179 RBI

122 RBI (1930)

703 walks-697 Ks

.370 OBP

.400 OBP: 4x

.489 slugging

.500 slugging: 7x

.630 slugging (1930)

.858 OPS

1.034 OPS (1930)

3144 TB

Postseason: .241, 2 HR, 3 RBI, .680 OPS (4 World Series)

As a manager: 203-176 (.536) 1 pennant