I just went to the IMDB and going by them the youngest actor or crew member that was at the fest, from the original show, was a very young 63. The oldest, and there were two this age was 84, or will be this year. The idea that any of these people would want to even show up for a fest, for a show that they get paid nothing for the sale of is a credit to them. IMHO every fan should be extremely greatful that anyone from a show that ended 37 years ago, and pays no royalities, were ever care if they watched or not. And I know many fans are extemely greatful but...
There were many people that that seemed to enjoy complaining about every aspect of the fest. From the lines, to the content of the shows, to an actor charging for his autograph ( the money went to help animals ), to fans that wanted to take a few minutes to talk with an actor while getting an autograph. If you can think of it, I heard someone complain about it.
David Selby does an except from a show about Lincoln and fans complain that today's politics go included in it. Keep in mind that this is a subject he cares so much about that he took the time to write a book about it, a book that has received some very good reviews. I'm glad that David wanted to share something that is this important to him with us even if I don't agree with his politics. I stood in line for hours to get his autograph, I'm happy to have done it, with a guy that claimed to have been to over twenty fest. Everytime someone would take the time to try and connect with David for just a few minutes he would start complaining. He would say that we should have to just hand David something, have him sign and move on. If that's all the actors were allowed to do I don't think they'd go to many of this things. What would be the point? If that's all they're going to do then why not just give them a stack of photos to sign, then have the fans walk by as the photos are handed out? As a fan I want to be able to connect with the actors, I want to be able to look into their eyes and tell them what I know they have heard a thousand times before, "I'd run home from school..., you're my favorite, etc. Everyone that stands in line for any of these actors should be able to do that without having to listen to someone complain about it.
This fest is my second but I've wanted to attend for many years. I'm the kind of fan that has not only bought even DS dvd but I also buy every movie and TV show that a cast or crew member has worked on, good or bad, movies like "Blood Bath" with Jerry Lacy and "Satan In High-Heels" with Grayson Hall. Even the actors in these movies want to forget them. Knowing how big of a DS fan that I am and that this is just my second fest I know that for every one of us that attends there are thousands that don't get to. We are lucky to be able to go to these fest. We are lucky that actors want to attend a fest for a show that ended 37 years ago. If an actor, that hasn't acted in years is asked "what have you been doing the last few years" tells us about the new business that they are involved in, we should be happy that they tells us anything. They would be justified in says that they don't act anymore and that part of their life is private. Maybe it's because this is only my second fest but when Lara Parker tells me about her new grandchild or when Roger Davis tells me about his land devolopement business I feel like I have been let behind the charaters and into the real person and I'm greatful for it. It makes me feel like they care about us and what we think on some level.
Now maybe none of the people that I heard complain at the fest come here, I really don't know, but if they do, and if they read this, I hope that if they go to another fest, of anykind, that they might think before they complain and just maybe they will understand they are very lucky to be there at all.
If you went and then after you returned home, you came to this site or some other site and complained about this thing or that thing that the actors did, understand that all of these people could be retired. I'm thinking they don't need the money or sore hands from signing for hours on end. If I set down and signed my name for one hour I'd be tired of it. I'm sure they could spend this part of their lives with their kids and grandkids and never feel bad about it. So if you write on any web-site what this or that actor said or did, write it with the understanding that they could come here and read it, and that enough complaining and one day the only ones attending a DS fest could be the fans.
OK, I'm off my soap box. I hope I didn't offend anyone. I just want every new fan or old fan that gets to that first fest to enjoy it as much as I did my first. I want the actors to know how greatful we are and for them to come back for as long as they can. I'd be happy to attend a fest with the Dorrie Kavanaugh, David Jay, James Hall, Florence Stanley, Carolyn Groves, or Rosemary McNamara or anyone else that worked on the show, and I'd be just s greatful to them.
That's all I have to say about that.
