Today in Nerd History | September 8

Nerd culture is a vibrant tapestry of events, releases, and milestones that have shaped the entertainment landscape. From iconic movies to groundbreaking games and significant literary contributions, this article takes a trip down memory lane to explore the notable nerd culture events that occurred on September 8th in history. Let’s celebrate these cherished moments that have left an indelible mark on the hearts of fans around the world.

Photo Credit: Arc Studio

Psycho

On September 8, 1960, Psycho released. This is a classic horror film by Alfred Hitchcock, in which a woman who steals money from her employer is murdered by a motel owner with a split personality and a twisted mother-son relationship.

Nerdy Fact: Psycho was the first American film to show a toilet on screen and to have a flushing sound effect. This was done for realism and to create suspense in the scene where Marion disposes of the paper that has the stolen money.

Photo Credit: CBS News

Where No Man Has Gone Before

On September 8, 1966, Star Trek: The Original Series premiered. This classic science fiction television series follows the adventures of the starship Enterprise and its crew as they explore the galaxy and defend the United Federation of Planets.

Nerdy Fact: There were animal attacks during the filming of the show. Bees took up residence in the studio during the filming of “Where No Man Has Gone Before” and stung William Shatner and guest star Sally Kellerman. A tiger escaped from its cage during the filming of “Shore Leave” and chased Nichelle Nichols (Uhura) around the set.

Photo Credit: Major Spoilers

Where No Animated Man Has Gone Before

On September 8, 1973, Star Trek: The Animated Series premiered. This American animated science fiction television series continues the adventures of the USS Enterprise and its crew, featuring the same characters and voice actors as Star Trek: The Original Series. It aired for two seasons and won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Entertainment in a Children’s Series.

Nerdy Fact: Chekov, the navigator played by Walter Koenig in The Original Series, was cut from the animated series due to budget restrictions. However, Koenig wrote an episode for the series called “The Infinite Vulcan”, which featured a giant clone of Spock.

Photo Credit: The Daily Beast

Grab Your Handy Dandy Notebook

On September 8, 1996, Blue’s Clues premiered. This long-running and award-winning children’s TV show features an interactive format, where the child viewers are encouraged to participate in solving mysteries and explore various topics with the help of the friendly host and his loyal animated dog Blue, who leaves behind paw prints as clues.

Nerdy Fact: The original host of the show was Steve Burns, who left in 2002 and was replaced by Donovan Patton (as “Joe”) for the rest of the original series. Both characters have returned as recurring guests in the revival, Blues Clues & You.

Today in Nerd History is produced by Radio Matt & Deidra for Rise & Shine, Nerds, LTN’s official Nerdy Morning News Show.