Fest Report / was Re: Time to "sign in".

Thanks for the great Fest reports, Profstokes!  You refreshed my memory of so many details I've forgotten already!  And thanks for the compliment about our performance in the Costume Gala!  LOL!

I wanted to add my comments about the fest, especially to the general remarks about the location. Obviously, Profstokes has detailed the events better and more thoroughly than I ever could, including the details of my own presentation on time travel.

I thought within the friendly confines of the hotel it was a wonderful festival. Outside was another story. Newark was an awful location. I parked my car in the parking lot on Thursday afternoon and didn’t leave the hotel once during the entire weekend. There was absolutely nowhere to go and nothing to do in that neighborhood. Jim Pierson probably got a good price; I can’t imagine any other reason for having it there.

I live in New York City, and like Jimbo, I also took a wrong turn trying to find the place. But other people had far worse horror stories. Two people got lost for more than an hour trying to find the hotel and one of those needed an escort from a good Samaritan local resident. I heard similar stories all weekend. It seems the only people who arrived easily were those who flew in and took the shuttle from the airport.

As Profstokes said, I was the first speaker on Saturday. Jim Pierson had asked me months ago if I would give the time travel presentation again. He wanted it twice – once for each of the different audiences on each coast. Before I began, I asked the audience to raise their hands if they had not seen my presentation last year in Burbank. About 90 percent of the hands went up, so I was happy about that. My talk was slightly updated. The man I refer to as the “real life Professor Stokes”, Dr. Ronald Mallett, is now having a major motion picture done on his life for his work on building a time machine to send particles to the past.

This year, I had one of my students, the lovely Ashley, work my dealer table selling my books because I wanted to enjoy the fest as a fan, the way I always do.

I was happy that the program listed next year’s fest already in Burbank. I heard an unconfirmed rumor that in fact the next two fests will be in Burbank, so as to accommodate the production and release of the Depp movie. My favorite fest location was Hollywood, but Burbank is just a short ride away.

After the fest, beginning Monday morning, about 20 of us went on a planned Dark Shadows road trip, where we visited DS locations including the Lockwood Mathews mansion (from House of Dark Shadows) in Norwalk, CT; in Essex, CT, we went to the Evans cottage, the police station (which is the Essex post office) and the Griswold Inn (Collinsport Inn). We also saw the warehouse that was the cannery in the pre-Barnabas episodes. Finally, we spent Tuesday and Wednesday at the Seaview Terrace (Collinwood) courtesy of the Carey family, the current owners. We ate dinner at both Griswold and the Black Pearl (which was the Blue Whale in the show). The entire trip was organized by Bobubas.

All in all, a great festival. I cannot adequately express my affection and respect for Jonathan Frid, who seemed especially chipper and exuberant. He seemed to be having such a great time that it wouldn’t surprise me if he came back next year.

Frank Borzellieri

Thank you all for the kind comments on my report!  I'm glad that so many people are enjoying it. 

As a matter of fact, Josette, I do write these reports from memory rather than from notes(though I occasionally get help; I referred to imdb for the title of the movie where Joan Bennett went brunette), so I take responsibility for any inaccuracies or omissions I may have committed.

As a matter of fact, after I posted my write-up, I remembered another amusing incident.  Jonathan Frid's niece and great-nephew were present during the first auction and were on-stage displaying some of the memorabilia.  Jim Pierson asked Frid's great-nephew if he ws proud of his Uncle Jonathan, and he said yes.  Then he asked the boy if he's ever seen Jonathan during the day.  "No," he  replied.

I concur with Frank; Frid was particularly witty and personable during the convention.  I actually rode down the elevator with him on Sunday.  Another woman, Alice-Faye, who performs in the costume gala in beautiful, elaborate period dresses, was also with us.  Frid complimented her on her dress and told her that she reminded him of his grandmother.  They chatted all the way down from the seventh floor.

ProfStokes

I would be absolutely delirious if the fest was in Burbank the next two years!  Selfish of me of course but still....

YESSSSSSSSS

And it's a short walk across a walkable street to other restaurants from the Marriott.

And it's a short walk across a walkable street to other restaurants from the Marriott.

There's a concept!

A few pages back I mentioned a disc of Fest footage being sold on eBay. Well, I received it yesterday &, share & share alike being my mot-to, I've recorded & uploaded it onto youtube:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=41EFAA95C200E6E5

It's about 2 hours long, covering John Karlen & Marie Wallace's on stage, Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott & Jerry Lacy together, Jonathan's solo Q/A  & the cast reunion.

Wonderful summary of the Fest-thanks Prof. Stokes! And Sara Monster, the videos are great! What a treat! Would LOVE to go to a Fest someday--maybe since it is in CA. there might be a chance. **crosses fingers**

thats great that u posted that footage but i hope the person who taped it does not get angry and have it removed or did you get permission?

I did considered that, but nothing was mentioned in the auction. I doubt the person will be selling it too much longer anyways (quick profit thing).

Anticipation. I am always on edge awaiting your Fest reports, ProfStokes, because they are so detailed. I can't believe you don't take notes, but you are young and have many brain cells, unlike myself, who turned 50 this year with the Twilight Zone.
Thank you again for your in-depth reports, Sweetie. Much appreciated. Very much.
Did you sing this year?

A few pages back I mentioned a disc of Fest footage being sold on eBay.

Well, I have been waiting for this. I hope you don't get into any copyright issues posting these films. I am watching them now, first chance, before you are carted off to jail...

Loved the fest report Professor as always. I couldn't make the fest this year. Even when I do attend the fests I still read your reports to see what I may have missed.  Thanks again, Elmont...

Thank you so much for posting that!  I was not able to get to the Festival this year.  I managed to go to the 2006 and 2008, but it gets expensive travelling from Texas to one coast or the other.  I was on the East Coast the weekend before the Fest, so it was a tad disappointing that I couldn't go to Jersey.  We had to start school the day after the Fest and we were driving back, not flying.  I can't complain too much about missing it this year though.  I'm taking my family to Disney World in October.  I've never been there and want to go before I'm too old to really enjoy it.  They say you're never to old to have fun there, but you get more out of it when you are able bodied. 

I did considered that, but nothing was mentioned in the auction. I doubt the person will be selling it too much longer anyways (quick profit thing).

Actually, copies are still listed for sale.  And btw, any material that an individual creates him/herself is copyrighted, and you'd most likely need to obtain permission from the copyright holder to upload it.

Ooh, Fest reports! I love to hear about everyone's experiences, as usually I'm missing half the fest doing god knows what- running to New York, chatting with friends, rehearsing skits... sigh.  It's almost like a busy schedule and I never have time to actually go to the festival. LOL!!
Newark was the pits like everyone else has stated.  It literally is just a gross area. What is to be said? It probably wouldn't be safe to take your dog for a walk in the park there. haha!
 
We drove all night from little ol' Tennessee, and didn't arrive to New Jersey until 6AM.  We went to the pool instead of sleeping, because, well? Why not?  And then we went eat at iHop even though our GPS gave us directions, we didn't turn in time but ended up facing an iHop anyway.  Go figure. 
We went back to the hotel to get some shut eye before the fest.  We went down there at about four in the afternoon and got our booklets and fest tags or licence plates or jail tags- whatever you want to call them.  Marie Wallace was speaking with John Karlen, so we somehow managed to get a seat near the front of the auditorium, second row on the left side.  They played a Dark Shadows episode, and the speakers were WAY too loud to be sitting next to.  Most of the front rows had their hands over their ears. 

Marie Wallace came onstage and spoke for a bit.  I was wondering where Johnnie was, and here he came waltzing down our side of the aisle.  He stopped when he saw us, a grin splitting on his face as he kissed me, my sister and my mom's hands before going up onstage.  OK, So you're probably like, "what is she talking about?  She must have been more tired than we thought." no, that's not the case.  The thing is, my first festival in 2006, somehow John Karlen took an enormous liking to us for reasons which are rather unknown (to me, anyway).  Since then, he's been our buddy, every festival and in-between.  So after their talk ended, in which even Johnnie remarked that if you were going to Newark, you might as well not have gotten off the plane, "cause you're not going anywhere." and he's absolutely correct. 

So he came off the stage and I saw him shoo Marie Wallace and Jim Pierson who was trying to beckon him through the back stage door.  "Just a minute." he said to Jim, "I'll be there in a minute."  And he came back over to us to give us a hug.  "I knew you'd be here!" He said.  He then, apparently had to go, so he went through the stage door where Jim and Marie had disappeared. 

My mom and me went to the restroom, and my sister came with news that Johnnie wanted us to go outside for a chat.  So we went out there, and he was surrounded by many people who were talking to him and taking pictures.  "There's my wife and two girls." He said to the crowd as we walked out.  If this was surprising, the next phase was worse...  The people had bought his word and were asking us a multitude of questions.  "Oh! Where do you live?" A nice woman asked.  "Tennessee." Johnnie answered promptly.  Which there is a give-a-way of his great lie, as he lives in California.  "What a beautiful family!" The woman gushed with admiration.  How embarrassing! lol!  It was funny though. 

We then went for a walk with him around the parking lot.  "Let's just keep walking and not come back." He said.  He confessed that Jonathan wanted him to do a skit with him, "It doesn't even make sense! It was all his idea." he exclaimed. 
Then he went on to tell us more details about his criminal past and his time in Korea, and the girl he was going to elope with.  It was all very interesting.  He had to go back inside for autographs, so we walked with him indoors. 

....

We then met a guy named Dave, who was extremely friendly, enthusiastic and very nice.  We practiced our skit with Bob, Angela, and Ryan, and Dave came to watch as we rehearsed giving out suggestions.  It was getting late, so we returned up to the room and finally got some sleep!!

....

Day 2-

We went and practiced our skit with Suzanne in her room and we showed the Barnabas portrait my mom painted to her.  She liked it a lot. 
I met DJ that day, though regretfully didn't have time to talk to her too much.  She exclaimed, "Wow, you're tall!" when she saw me. Hahaha!  Well, I'm 5.7"... I'm average to the shortest tall you can get.

We sat down on the floor next to the stage because there was no chairs and floor space is better than standing.
It was evident when the cast reunion came on that Johnnie was in a horrible mood.  He sat down in the furthest chair away from everyone, looking quite huffy, drinking a cup of coffee.  I was thinking about the play we were doing later and how I had to get ready, and how hungry I was, when Johnnie threw a mint at me that landed perfectly in my lap.  I was wondering if the sky was falling as I was kind of zoned out at that point when it fell.  But then I realized that he had thrown it.  He asked us, from behind his microphone, "What time is your show tonight?" as he had known that we were going to do the festival gala thing.
 "7." Chelsy replied.

We didn't see him again until later that night as me and my mom left in the middle of the cast reunion panel because it was going over schedule as Jonathan Frid seemed to be on a roll that day, taking more fan questions-- he's lovable, but a little gabby.  LOL!  But the reason we left was because we still had to sign up for the gala, get our make up on, and my costume and wig for Carolyn Stoddard. 

Johnnie wanted us to come outside before the gala thing, and so we did, and he pulled out all these chairs! Hahaha!!  He's so funny.  Then our pal Dave came out, in delight talking to John Karlen.  They ended up getting into a heated discussion/argument about what it was to be a Polack.  LOL.  He tried to get rid of Dave, but he was unsuccessful.  We had to go in at that point and we did our skit, though there were some technical difficulties (grr, always is) it went alright.  It was funny.

Johnnie told us we did good, but he still seemed grumpy and moody, so it's best not to cross him too much when he's in that sort of mood.  We went in for our bow and that was about all I remember of that night,  I rode the elevator with Kathryn Leigh Scott and she's always nice.  She asked how the gala went. She was on level 9. Then my parents had the bright idea to go drive to New York in the middle of the night.  We sat in traffic at the Holland Tunnel for like an hour.  It was ridiculous and stupid. 

We got home around 4, because we walked around Times Square. 

Day 3-

We went downstairs and got some jewelry at the dealers room, they were really cute little charms with Dark Shadows characters on them.  We went to get Kathryn's autograph, and Marie Wallace-  we talked to her for a bit, because she's really nice.  Also got Lara Parker who has always been cold and unwelcoming, but oh well.   I didn't get to see Jerry Lacy which disappointed me.  I love him!   

For some reason, we ended up going to New York again, I guess because we didn't have banquet tickets or something.  We went to eat at the most gourmet restaurant ever-- McDonalds!! woooh!  LOL, Sorry.  Couldn't resist. 
How's this? You don't even get refills on your coke in NYC. What's up with that?

We were driving around endlessly, I thought we were supposed to go to Central Park... I don't know how we ended up in China Town...

Uh...

Friend Angela thankfully called, and said, "Where are you?" and told us she wanted us to come back to hang out later after the feast was over (probably even that disaster of a meal at last year's banquet was better than what we had at that smelly fast-food joint where the population of flies seemed a more numerous number than the customers--YUCK!)
   
So we could go back to the hotel. 

The banquet seemed to be still going on as far as I could tell when we arrived around 9:30 (traffic again).  I walked down the hall with mom and came back up it.  Wondering when it would be over. "Pssst. Hey."  A voice said from the shadows near the empty bar table.  I turned around, it was Johnnie.  "Hello darling." He gave me a hug and a kiss as he did with my mom.  He asked us where we had been and we explained that we went to New York but that it had been sort of a mistake.  lol.  The crowd began to filter out of the banquet room and a line started forming to get a last minute autograph from Johnnie.  I stepped aside with my sister who had also come up, and he says, "Hey, where you going? Stick around a minute."  So we lingered outside the line, trying to be inconspicuous.  Dave came up thankfully and had a ready conversation about how he had beaten Johnnie with "who was a better pole" with the fact that he could actually speak the language, Johnnie apologized that day though he explained that he kept running into him.  He then went on about someone who ended up being on TV who he knew.  Johnnie came up as Dave was still continuing his story.  Johnnie put his arms around me and my sister and said, "Shut up Dave." Dave continued as if he hadn't heard.  "Shut up, shut up, shut up." Johnnie said as Dave rattled on.  "This guy just doesn't know when to stop."  He then went past Dave and dove his hands into a bucket of ice sitting there and rubbed it over his face.  To which we started to laugh.  This stopped Dave's conversation.  "haha, Johnnie, you're so funny." Dave exclaimed.  "What? I'm not crazy, this feels good."

My mom came back up with Suzanne and he invited us to sit down at the now empty banquet room table, flashing some cash at the hotel worker telling him to leave us alone.  He barked at Dave to go sit at the other side of the table which was quite mean. lol.
Johnnie then told us that we should go to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and that we were good.  "Very relaxed on stage." He said we were sincere and "real" people (...ok    I'm cool with that.).  Then he went on to tell us how he had gotten his agent, who had seen him in the play Winterset.  He confessed to us yesterday that he didn't remember any of those scenes he had to do on Dark Shadows, but he seemed to have remembered every line from this play.  "Shut up Dave." He suddenly interjected. This made the forgotten Dave laugh on the other side of the table, he apparently didn't mind that Johnnie calls him all sorts of rude names.    So anyway, after we chatted for a long while and he showed us his pant pocket which had gotten stained with the sharpie he had forgotten to put the top on.  We also took a picture of him and Dave, the two Polacks (as they call themselves).  We started teasing him that he looked happier in the picture with Dave than he had with my mom.  He looked at it for a moment.  "Yeah, I do look kind of gay there."  lol.
Chelsy and I also teased him about how he said "Ebay" in one of those audio dramas of Dark Shadows-- he said it so disconnected as if he had no idea what "E...Bay" was.  lol!!  After our chat on random things,   He said he was still on California time and he seemed a little weary.  We hugged and all kissed, telling him goodnight.  Suzanne also had to go to bed.  So we said goodnight to her.  Dave also left after that.  And Ryan came in looking for us, We then went into the hotel restaurant with our other Fest friends.  It was a fun night and we had fun decorating an old picture of Angelique on the back of an old program.

I also had all my friends sign the program so I'd have something to remember them by.

The next day, we were leaving.  I had packed up my pet rats who we kind of snuck in (lol.  They probably got em anyway) and we were going out to the car, when Johnnie was sitting outside on the bench. "Hey you girls."  Not expecting to see him, we came over and set our things down, talking with him for several minutes as he discussed the American Academy of Dramatic Arts some more and told us to look into it.  My mom also came out at that point and we showed him our rats.  My mom told me to get "the grey one out" (she's actually a blue rat, but whatev) and I took out 'Naomi'.  My mom put Naomi on Johnnie and he watched with interest as she crawled over him. lol!!

We had to go shortly after, but we got to bid him another goodbye. 

So that was my festival.  Haha!