Explorer 1 became America's first satellite on January 31, 1958. Following the Soviet success with Sputnik and the embarrassing failure in December 1957 of the first American attempt to launch a satellite, the U.S. Army launched a scientific satellite using a rocket that had been developed to test guided missile components.
2008 marks the 50th anniversary of American space exploration. Pictured above are the original Mercury astronauts assigned to flight the first test flights for the young agency call NASA. Sadly there are only two surviving astronauts from this first group, Scott Carpenter and John Glenn.
It would be less than ten years later when man first travels to the moon in Apollo 8 in December 1968 and history would change for ever. God speed and congratulations to the men and women of NASA.
Well southern California survived the writer’s strike that lasted all too long. Hollywood didn’t waste anytime getting back to speed with the short time to get the academy awards show on the air and to attempt to salvage what is left of the current television season. There were shows that did not survive the strike, Vegas, The Bionic Woman, Jericho and most likely the Sarah Conner Chronicles, just to name a few. The jury is still out on what effects the strike will have on the movie business but if the actors go out on strike which is becoming more likely, it will no doubt hurt us. Stay tuned.
This years Grand Slam is just a few weeks away and like last year it will be held in Burbank since the Pasadena center is still going through a major overhaul time will tell whether or not the will return to Pasadena once the upgrades are completed.
The convention will be held April 11-13, 2008 at the Burbank airport Marriott Hotel. Some of the stars attending will be: Leonard Nimoy, Brent Spiner, James Marsters, Zachary Quinto, Roxann Dawson, Nichelle Nichols, Salome Jens, Elisabeth Rohm, Grace Parks, Tim Russ and Suzie Plakson just to name a few. One of the highlights of the convention should be Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto on stage together Sunday. I hope to see you there.
Our good friend Don Pealer who recently returned to the states from a tour in Iraq attended the Creation convention in Secaucus, New Jersey, March 7-9. He sent along a few pictures including an appearance by our own Chase and a rare appearance by Patrick Stewart. Also attending were Dominic Keating, JG Hertzler, Rene Auberjonois , Armin Shimerman, Max Grodenchik and Robin Curtis.
I attended a gathering last month and ran across a face from the past and on this note I will close this months letter. How many of you out there remember the Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew mysteries? They ran on TV from 1977-79, OK I know a lot of you are too young to remember but there may be a few of you that remember Pamela Sue Martin played the role on Nancy Drew.
See you next time with pictures and a convention report from Burbank, I only wish that Chase was to be in attendance. For now, The Dabo Wheel is Closed.
