GODZILLA TO TURN 45 TOMORROW

GODZILLA TO TURN 45 TOMORROW

TOKYO, Japan (Wireless Flash) -- Leapin' Lizards! Japanese film star Godzilla turns 45 tomorrow (Nov. 3). On November 3, 1954, the monster made his screen debut in a Japanese film entitled "Gojira," which is Godzilla's real name in Japanese. Many Japanese believe Godzilla was inspired by a legendary creature named "Issie," a 90-foot-long eel that supposedly lives in a lake near Nagasaki and was first "sighted" three years after the Atomic bomb blast. Other facts about the large lizard... -- The beast's named was changed from Gojira to Godzilla in 1956 when the film was dubbed into English for American audiences. -- "Odd Couple" star Tony Randall actually worked on the script of "Godzilla 1985. " -- And, finally, Godzilla's only lines of real dialogue occurred in 1972's "Godzilla Vs. Gigan" where he lectures filmgoers about the importance of being nice to others in an odd and squeaky voice.