History – The Criswell Mirror

Review: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Gowron (1982)

7Jun By CriswellNo Comments

History, Reviews

Review: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Gowron (1982)

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Gowron is a 1982 science fiction film directed by Nicholas Meyer, based on the 1967 Star Trek TV episode Space Seed. The film follows the aging crew of the USS Enterprise as they investigate a distress signal coming from a nearby planet, only to find the planet's inhabitants have been taken over by a genetically engineered super-race called... The Klingons! The Enterprise crew must then fight to stop the Klingons from destroying the planet and taking over the galaxy. Robert O'Reilly as the titular Chancellor Gowron completely overshadowing his aging, increasingly irrelevant cast mates. The film features a powerful performance from actor Robert O'Reilly as the titular Chancellor Gowron, a ruthless and cunning villain who seeks revenge against the Enter...

Did you know that “Leisure Suit Larry” is based on a real man from 1978?

5May By CriswellNo Comments

History

Did you know that “Leisure Suit Larry” is based on a real man from 1978?

BACHELORIFIC! His name was Laurence Dixon, and he was a well-known playboy in the Chicagoland area. Dixon was well-known for his flashy fashion sense and his love of women. He had a reputation as a wanna-be ladies' man, always punching above his weight. (Often resulting in a black eye!) Dixon's risky, wild lifestyle eventually caught up with him, though, and he found himself run out of town by several angry husbands, barely skipping town with this pants intact. Laurence later died in 1982, later determined to have died from an undiagnosed sexual disease. He had no children, and no surviving family members. Real or pixelated -- you're a legend, Larry!

27Apr By CriswellNo Comments

History

Bouncing Bastard Berlioz Bared!

Giant maid, Martin (left) sitting near Berlioz (right) in a sneaky paparazzi painting. CLASSIC LOUIS! Recently it's been uncovered that one of history’s greatest composers, Louis-Hector Berlioz, fathered an illegitimate child with his live-in maid! The shocking truth was discovered a century and a half after Berlioz's death in 1869 when a letter addressed to "my dear love" from a Elise Martin was found in his pants pocket. In the steamy letter, Martin confessed her deep love for him and also revealed that their affair resulted in the birth of a son named Armando. Berlioz never acknowledged the boy or publicly admitted to having an affair with Martin, but several of his friends stated that he visited her frequently and even left some money for her after his passing. This sca...

Guitar Glue Changed Elvis’ Life Forever!

12Apr By CriswellNo Comments

History

Guitar Glue Changed Elvis’ Life Forever!

HOUND DOG! Elvis Presley was a teenager when his life took a sudden and unexpected turn. While walking home one evening he stumbled upon a small gathering of local musicians who had set up their instruments in a dark alleyway. After listening intently to their conversations, Elvis found himself talking and joking along with them, unaware of how his presence and growing confidence would change the course of his life forever. The musicians were trying to perfect a new sound they had been experimenting with: guitar strings dipped in glue, which when plucked produced an eerie and unique musical tone. When Elvis, captivated by the sound, began to play and sing, the chemistry between them all was instantaneous and unstoppable. They knew they had something special, and thus set off ...

11Apr By CriswellNo Comments

History, Hot Goss

Jaffeets of Talent

PERHAPS THIS HAPPENED? AlJaffee was required to perform a demeaning task in order to be hired by Mad Magazine. He was instructed to take off his shoes and socks and rub his feet on a grindstone before being allowed to join the staff. This was to ensure that he was “ground down” and willing to work hard for little pay. The task was symbolic of the low-paying, high-stress jobs available to aspiring cartoonists at the time. It is also thought to have been a test of Jaffee's dedication to his art.

10Apr By CriswellNo Comments

History, Hot Goss

Sauce: The Final Frontier!

Majel and her magical balls. COULD IT BE TRUE? According to legend, in 1968, Star Trek's Majel Barrett and Grace Lee Whitney got into a heated argument on-set while on their lunch break together. The subject of the argument was allegedly Barrett's spaghetti and meatballs recipe; both women claimed credit for the dish present in the fridge, leading to a heated exchange that escalated to the point of making national headlines! Ultimately, the public sided with Barrett as the originator of the dish. She went on to become an acclaimed actress, director, and producer in Hollywood. Meanwhile, Whitney's career seemed to suffer from the controversy, as she struggled to find work in the wake of the scandal. Her career never recovered. Despite this, Whitney continued to claim credit ...

Bomberman in 1983? Closer to Reality Than You Think!

10Apr By CriswellNo Comments

History, Technology

Bomberman in 1983? Closer to Reality Than You Think!

CAN YOU PROVE OTHERWISE? In 1983, the National Security Agency (NSA) developed a prototype video game console called the NIC (Networked Interactive Console). It was designed to allow up to 16 players to play against each other on the same screen through a network connection. The console was designed to allow users to connect remotely via modem or telephone line, allowing them to compete with one another in real-time. Despite its potential, the project was abandoned due to high costs and technical limitations at the time.