Grant Williams

 Grant Williams was born on August 18th, 1931 in New York City.

John Joseph Williams (1931-1985)

The Incredible Shrinking Man (1957)

The Monolith Monsters (1957)

The Leech Woman (1060) 
with Gloria Talbott

Brain of Blood (1971)
with Angelo Rossitto

Also on this date:

Betsy Palmer first joined the Today Show on this date in 1958. 

Sheena: Queen of the Jungle

 Sheena: Queen of the Jungle was released in US theaters on August 17th, 1984.

Directed by John Guillermin

Sheena

Tanya Roberts

Ted Wass

Donovan Scott

Also on this date:

Richard Wagner’s Siegfried’s Funeral March debut 1876

Freaky Styley

 The Red Hot Chili Peppers released their second album on August 16th, 1985. 

Freaky Styley - August 16th, 1985
Hillel Slovak, Anthony Kiedis
Cliff Martinez and Flea
Produced by George Clinton

Freaky Styley marks the return of founding guitarist Hillel Slovak. Hillel had left the band before the recording of their debut album Red Hot Chili Peppers (1984). 

Red Hot Chili Peppers - August 10th, 1984

Also on this date:

The Ramones play their first show at CBGB

Ethel Barrymore

 Ethel Barrymore was born on August 15th, 1879 in Philadelphia, PA. 

Ethel May Blythe

With Mother Georgiana Drew
and brothers Lionel 
and John Barrymore

Father Maurice Barrymore

Robert Siodmak’s Spiral Staircase (1946)

Also on this date:

Freddy vs Jason released in 2003

Tony Moran

 Tony Moran was born on August 14th, 1957 in Burbank, California. 

Tony Moran 

Unmasked Michael Myers in Halloween (1978)

On set with John Carpenter 

Death House (2018) with Kane Hodder

Erin Moran’s brother

Also on this date:

Saturday the 14th  was released in US theaters in 1981

Relevant:

John Carpenter

Jamie Lee Curtis

P.J. Soles

Donald Pleasence

Nancy Loomis

Debra Hill

Tommy Lee Wallace

Tony Moran

Will Sandin 

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

 Fast Times at Ridgemont High was released on August 13th, 1982 in US theaters. 

Fast Times at Ridgemont High

Directed by Amy Heckerling with a screenplay by Cameron Crowe. Based on Crowes book, Fast Times at Ridgemont High: A True Story. Crowe had spent a year undercover at Clairemont High School researching for the book.

Jennifer Jason Leigh and Phoebe Cates 

Brian Backer and Robert Romanus

Eric Stoltz, Sean Penn and Anthony Edwards

Amanda Wyss and Judge Reinhold

Pamela Springsteen and Kelli Maroney 

Forest Whitaker

Vincent Schiavelli 

Taylor Negron 

Crowe’s future wife Nancy Wilson of Heart 

Backer and Negron had cameos as
Sigourney Weaver’s victims in
Amy Heckerling’s Vamps (2012)
with Alicia Silverstone 

Matthew Broderick was originally offered the role of Jeff Spicoli, but turned it down. Let’s all take a moment to consider this alternate reality.

Matthew Broderick?

Porter Wagoner

 Porter Wagoner was born on August 12th, 1927 in West Plains, Missouri.

Porter Wayne Wagoner (1927-2007)

When I was a kid my family went to see Porter Wagoner at Silver Mine Park in Conestoga, PA. They would host gospel and country shows every Sunday afternoon. I was very young but I still remember the meet and greet. A very loud and happy man in a bright purple suit. It was probably shorty after his television show stopped airing in 1981. That was technically my first concert. 

Years later I moved into that area and the stage was still in the park but falling apart. A neighbor kid tried to tell me that Metallica played there in the early 80’s but I didn’t believe him. 

The Porter Wagoner Show (1960-1981)

With Dolly Parton (from 1967-1974)

Early in Dolly Parton’s career she joined The Porter Wagoner show. When her career began to blossom, partly from the exposure she received on the show, she hesitated to leave out of loyalty. This created a friction on the set. Two years after intended she did leave, writing a hit song in honor of Wagoner and all that he had done for her career. 

I Will Always Love You (1974)

Also on this date:

Joe Besser was born in 1907

Buck Owens was born in 1929

The Life of Emile Zola

 The Life of Emile Zola premiered in New York City on August 11th, 1937. 

The Life of Emile Zola

The biographical feature is directed by William Dieterle and stars Paul Muni and Gloria Holden. 

It won Best Picture of 1938. 

William Dieterle (1893-1972)

Paul Muni and Gloria Holden 

Relevant:

The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1936)

Dracula’s Daughter (1936)

Also on this date in 1980, Lucio Fulci’s City of the Living Dead was released