Chiller Theater in Parsippany, NJ is Next Month! Anyone Going?

DLers should be lining up for selfies with Blair and Natalie. And have Melissa Gilbert sign one of her shitbra's.

I have to say though, an underwhelming line up overall. I'm sure some are still wary about being somewhere with so many people are with covid still being a thing. Some of these older people attending are high risk too like Terry Moore (age 93!), Christopher Lloyd and the Mash cast.

Has it really come to this, Christina Ricci?

I'm glad to read Chryl Ladd's mellowed out and is no longer the cunt she was when she lived on Nana's cul de sac.

The Land of the Lost reunion is certainly tempting. If they throw in a Sleestak I'm there!

I feel like the Land of the Lost cast is there every time.

At the last show, Loretta Swit came over to say hi to Ronny Cox. After she left, he asked the person with him who she was, lol

Russ Tamblyn!!! Dr. Jacoby/Riff!!!

That’s actually an amazing lineup. Half awful, half wonderful.

Oh my...

Who could resist?

R2 You beat me to it! She seems to have a decent career.

Who wouldn't want to meet Johnny Green, Scooter kid #1 from Back to the Future, in his FIRST CONVENTION APPARANCE EVER!!

R2 R10 and she'll be there all three days! Doesn't she have anything else to do that weekend?

[quote]I feel like the Land of the Lost cast is there every time.

Well, they live in a van in the parking lot.

R2 and R12 Maybe she has family in NJ?

Ricci just got divorced and probably needs extra cash for alimony.

And maybe she's just doing it for shits and giggles.

Loserama. Both those appearing and attending. I'll pass.

You won't be missed, r17.

[quote]Finally, I wound up sitting next to Cheryl Ladd's table

If she's there this year, be sure to ask her about Ricardo's gimp leg and if she ever attended any of Nana's block parties.

[quote]Well, they live in a van in the parking lot.

I would've thought down by the river.

This is all very sad.

I went to one in highschool years ago and got Linda Blair's autograph.

When the exception of Ricci, Lloyd and Thompson, that's a pretty sad lineup. It's definitely easy money for the big names though.

You can make good money, so why not. Fans kiss your ass and you can leave with $5k plus

oooh Amy Steel!

R24 the big names get a lot more than that usually.

The little names might clear that much

Whoopi in Soapdish told Sally Field she needed a "mall" trip. She took the soap star to the mall. screamed her name, and everyone ran up to ask Sally for an autograph. Personally, I think we all need some version of this on a dark day (They call it selfies on instagram now). But to be honest , I would be very happy to meet a lot of these people! I was a teen tv addict. I wish it was closer.

Deborah Foreman! I wouldn’t mind meeting her to be honest.

I think this is mostly for nostalgia junkies? Not always, but at least 50%

Is there anything like this in southern Florida?

Christina Ricci is not a loser, I will have you know.

Does Amy Steel need the money? She married a Pulitzer and is loaded.

Actors say horror fans are always the nicest fans.

R32 We are the nicest but don't mistake that for weakness.

Melissa Gilbert used to owe the IRS a bunch of money. Not sure if she's paid up yet. Timothy Busfield is her husband now I think.

Seems sad they have to do this. They were once respected.

I wouldn’t feel too sorry for them. It’s easy money and the people who attend are thrilled to meet them.

Strange, I'm looking at the web site and most of the guests attending have nothing to do with horror movies.

I'm sure Christina has had offer to appear at conventions before. Probably she also had friends tell her how it's easy money too. It's not just washed up actors who do these shows, some people from with current tv series and popular recent movies. Actors with sci Fi, fantasy/super hero and horror credits in particular can really rake it in and do these type of shows frequently since the fanbases tends to be very devoted.

In recent years Chiller will take anyone who they think will attract people to attend shows. They like doing 'reunions' when they can too, even with lesser known actors without much other credits.

I can't imagine Amy Steel being broke, but she does lots of conventions and has for years now. She actually seems to enjoy meeting fans and interacting with them. Although I'm sure she enjoys the cash she takes home after each one too.

A few years ago, I quite literally bumped into Pamela Sue Martin at Chiller. Well, actually, she bumped into me. She was very gracious and polite, and we talked for a bit since we were headed in the same direction. She told me it was her first Chiller because her sister had moved to the area, so she got to hang out with her.

That made perfect sense to me. A quick trip east to see family and get some pretty decent cash.

There have been times it has been very sad to see people you grew up watching deteriorate. Rip Torn was there a few years ago. His minder was his son who had to keep reminding him where he was and what he was doing. Shirley Jones (who I was very excited to see) also seemed sort of in and out of awareness.

I've been twice. Once as a teen in 2002 or 03, and once as an adult a couple years ago. The first one was really big with a lot of rooms full of vendors selling/displaying all kinds of cool horror and sci-fi memorabilia, with little rooms where some people signed autographs (David Prowse, Caroline Munro, etc.) and a big tent outside where the rest of the special guests signed autographs.

A couple years ago I went back and it was mostly just rooms of people signing autographs and only 1.5 rooms with cool stuff to look at. But the internet makes it so easy to buy memorabilia, in-person vendors are probably a dying breed. But there will *always* be has-beens and slummers to meet!

I don’t look down on people who do these events because a gig’s a gig and at least the people who come to see them are enjoying it.

Extra Special Goest Lindsay Lohan and a Kidnapped/Rescued Slave Boy

If the truck from Sanford & Son's not gonna be there, neither will I!

I have been to similar events but never Chiller Theater, but this year's lineup looks like a bummer for the most part. Like someone said upthread, maybe Covid still has some people spooked. I used to be a big poster/monster magazine collector but like someone also said upthread you can find all this shit on the internet and there are probably a lot less vendors lugging their collections to hotels when they can just sell it online.

It doesn’t say whether Melissa Gilbert will bring the shitbra. I’d hate to schlep all the way to Parsippany and be disappointed.

[quote]Seems sad they have to do this. They were once respected.

Actually you seem sad if you think these are anything but working people. They get to meet their fans and talk about their work. Been to many and have never had bad time. I am a pop culture fan and met many of the casts of my favorite movies and TV shows. Have Laverne & Shirley Season 1 signed by Penny & Cindy and they added "Betty Please!" when I told them how hilarious the episode was, "Marty" signed by Oscar winner Ernest Borgnine, "The Miracle Worker and VOTD signed by Patty Duke who gave my friend and I huge hugs. I have almost 200 DVDs signed by the stars or director and got to talk to them about the work. Will be missing this one but Oct I'll be there.

[quote]My favorite Chiller interaction? Listening to Billy Zane berate a Chiller employee because he and his sister Lisa were placed in a tiny conference room, and none of their "fans" could find them and they weren't earning money. It was really a nasty interaction. He had the woman in tears.

Has anyone with a such a promising film career ever imploded so badly? And do we know what happened? Was the reason because his performance in TITANIC was so godawful that he never really recovered from that?

Carrie Fisher -- who certainly didn't need the money -- was blunt about why she would do the occasional fan con: because she needed the occasional ego boost.

OMG! I live about 20 minutes away from Parsippany and I've never heard of this convention. I haven't seen any signs anywhere either.

Do you have to pay for each photo/autograph?

Here’s a link to the main page.

Im gping and will probably shit myself when I meet Lisa Welchel.

I went to one once and they had Carroll Baker right across the aisle from Carol Lynley.

We were all excited and hoping for a rock 'em sock 'em Harlow fight - but they were actually friendly with each other - and the fans.

Carol Lynley was always fun and accepted dinner and breakfast invitations from fans and actually remembered some folks she had seen at other shows.

Carroll Baker was a bit cooler to everyone, but she also talked to everyone and signed all kinds of pictures and books and DVDs.

The only Chiller Theater I'll acknowledge......

Sad news.

Anyone else catch the notice about celebs telling people that they are required to charge for autographs?

[quote] Anyone else catch the notice about celebs telling people that they are required to charge for autographs?

Yeah, it says they will "confront" any celeb who tells a fan he is required to pay for an autograph. There must be some celebs who are ashamed to be there if they have to lie about what why they charge for autographs.

They have links to fans' pictures from prior Chiller Theaters and it's fun to bounce around and look. Juliette Mills looks good here!

If I lived in the area I would be in for the Zoom reunion

[quote]Yeah, it says they will "confront" any celeb who tells a fan he is required to pay for an autograph. There must be some celebs who are ashamed to be there if they have to lie about what why they charge for autographs.

Supposedly celebs are to sign the Chiller Program free that hand out, but nobody I know wants them signed.

[quote] Juliette Mills looks good here!

Told this here before. Met Juliette there. My friend got "Beyond The Door" signed and I got "Avanti". I asked her what was it like working with two legends, director Billy Wilder and co-star Jack Lemmon. Her character was supposed to be a little chubby. She said "They paid me to get fat in Italy, ITALY!" And then I asked who has her dad's Oscar and she says "He left to ME!" She was hilarious and had everyone laughing. Her sister was there too and just as lovely and I got "Pollyanna" signed.

Ricci is in a big hit new show with a lot of buzz—YELLOWJACKETS— so why was she going to do this??

If I lived there, I would attend to meet Deborah Goodrich, and tell her how she got me hooked on soaps when she was Silver (well, not really) on All My Children, and also Deborah “Valley Girl” Foreman! They starred together in a fun horror movie called April Fool’s Day. A huge group of schoolmates and I went to see it in high school, and then it became a vhs mainstay at sleepovers and parties.

And of course, Lisa Welchel and Mindy Cohn. It may also be fun to see how scary Loretta Swit looks now.

[quote] Ricci is in a big hit new show with a lot of buzz—YELLOWJACKETS— so why was she going to do this??

I don't understand questions like this. You think doing a 10 episode Showtime series sets you up for life? She's a working actress.

I want to see the Zoom cast!

While I'm a bit surprised Ricci would sign up for Chiller, conventions are easy money if you have an open weekend and a good poker face. Sit there, smile at fans as they tell you how much they love you, repeat. Between her divorce and new baby, welcome cash

r63, I did a mini-Zoom dive after seeing that and rediscovered my preschool crush David Alberico. Almost 50 years later and I still go for guys with dark hair and dark eyes.

[quote] You think doing a 10 episode Showtime series sets you up for life? She's a working actress.

Didn't she inherit the family mansion and gold doubloons?

No.

So I went. If was very weird. First of all, if they're still a thing, likely a super spreader event. Hardly any masks at all, but they were not required. I didnt see any celebs in masks except for Joathan Silverman, who also had a screen up in front of him. Christopher Lloyds line was the longest, by far, and I got Lisa Whelchel to autograph her album for me. I.was very disappointed because I was really excited to meet her, but when I did, it seemed she couldnt get rid of me fast enough. All she did was ask if I wanted a name along with the autograph and then it was "see ya fuckhead, thanks for tne $60" . Maybe seeing the record triggered her, but she could have acted a little more enthused. Timothy Busfield.looked 1,000 years old, the Soup Nazi was popular, Michael Nouri could still get it , and Mindy Cohn looked like she was charming, but her bob hairstyle has got to go.

I'm an adult.

I don't attend such things.

Thanks for sharing, R68. Anymore more tidbits? Was Busfield’s wife Melissa Gilbert there, too?

Kudos to Chiller for still being able to build a website using GeoCities

Melissa Gilbert was there, R70. Her table was right next to Busfield's. She looked alright, long grey hair, no more red. A friend who went with me and didn't know that they were married stated that "MG is all over Timoth Busfield" so I guess that's still going strong. I thought it was strange and a little sad that Mindy's table was not next to Lisa's. Lisa's was in a main area right near the bar and Mindy was in a hallway about 2 tables down from "Fake Jan". who has added a few pounds. It was really crowded, but I didn't see a lot of people in costumes. It is weird going into the different rooms to kill time and see these "celebrities" who no one is all that interested in, and looking at the 8x 10's on their table and just , basically, turning your nose up at them and walking away. My heart broke a little (for myself) , in the "Land of The Lost" room when I saw Wesley Ure-not that he didn't still look good, he does, but the last time I had seen him was "LotL" and it just hit me that I am 53 years old. It also surprised me to see how popular some of the people were who I had never even heard of.

Lisa Welchel is pretty shy and that might be why she seemed to be rushing you. Did she have a long line as well? If so, it could be a combination of both her being shy and assuring everyone got an autograph.

Lisa's line was pretty long, but Peter Weller's (Robocop) was longer (the lines were right next to each other, as were the tables for both of them. It was kinda funny too, that Lisa ( and , I THINK, Weller) had those round makeup mirrors with the bright flourescent light on their tables shining right at their faces. I know it's to drown out wrinkles, but I think the natural lighting would have been more flattering, Another memory was the incredibly bad home dye job that the soup nazi had. Shy or not, R73, she could have at least written something besides my name and hers, especially for $60, tickets to get in, travel time, money etc. I'm still glad I got the autograph and everything, and maybe I'm not sure what I expected, but that wasn't it. The day was saved by a later trip to NYC (where we weren't murdered the minute we got off the Path train. NYC haters) to see 3 episodes of "The Golden Girls" performed by puppets.

Thanks for the extra details, R68!

Robert Altman could make a sensational movie about this. But NO! His mortal coil HAD to expire.

Thank you for updating, r68! For some reason I find all this fascinating.

I guess you're lucky Lisa just snubbed you and didn't hot-sauce you.

[quote]Shy or not, [R73], she could have at least written something besides my name and hers, especially for $60, tickets to get in, travel time, money etc. I'm still glad I got the autograph and everything, and maybe I'm not sure what I expected, but that wasn't it.

Did you ask her to write something? I have gone for years and never had a bad interaction. How does she know you wanted something written? Lots of autograph pros go and don't want anything but the signature so she might have thought you were one.

She didn't ask me if I wanted anything, R78-all she asked is if I wanted my name. I am no autograph pro, but I always thought that a "personalized with name" autograph is worth less, so that would have been a tip off that I wasn't looking to make a profit off this. It sort of pissed me off because I was gonna give her a choice of 3 of my favorite Blair quotes to choose from but I got semi-bupkiss.

Christina Ricci pulled out. I’m wondering if she was ever really booked. Perhaps they just said she was to drum up business.

I'd imagine they could sue if she did-why risk it?

[quote]She didn't ask me if I wanted anything, [R78]-all she asked is if I wanted my name. I am no autograph pro, but I always thought that a "personalized with name" autograph is worth less, so that would have been a tip off that I wasn't looking to make a profit off this. It sort of pissed me off because I was gonna give her a choice of 3 of my favorite Blair quotes to choose from but I got semi-bupkiss.

So, when she asked if you wanted your name, did you even bother to ask if she could have added one of those quotes? Or did you think she was supposed to read your mind and suggest it herself?

I don't think I like your attitude, little miss.

Ricci probably realized how pathetic an event like this ends up being and ran for the hills

[quote]Robert Altman could make a sensational movie about this. But NO! His mortal coil HAD to expire.

It actually would be perfect for Christopher Guest and his mockumentary troupe. They could go meta with Jennifer Coolidge playing herself to take advantage of guys obsessed with Stifler’s mom and the gays and lesbians who love her Best In Show character.

At events like this, the celebrities are still stars, at least for the weekend.

I spoke to three dancers from the original West side story movie, Michael Nouri, Lisa Whelchel, Mindy Cohn, Jamie Farr, Loretta Swit, the guy who produced Boris Karloff documentary, and Saundra Santiago from Miami Vice, who still looks terrific.

I also met a cute guy named Andy, celebrating his 33rd birthday, in from Allentown Pennsylvania. I think we had a moment, and I wish we had exchanged numbers. Hi AJ…

If there is alcohol at this soiree` then that's where you'll find Mickey Dolenz.

R86. what was Michael Nouri like?

I went about five years ago and had a blast. There were a ton of people there. Met Lou Diamond Phillips, Kari Michaelsen, Alan Kayser (Bubba from Mama's Family), Tim Capello (buff Tina Turner saxman), some of the Nightmare on Elm Street cast, Robert Fuller from Laramie and Emergency!, Barry Williams and a ton more people. Loved the lobby/bar/restaurant area.

Michael Nouri was polite, self effacing, and very handsome. Firm handshake, nice smile and friendly demeanor. As a poster upthread mentioned, I’m sure he has no trouble getting it despite his age. And he still looks like himself, which isn’t necessarily true for some of the others.

[quote]all she asked is if I wanted my name

Hey, it was your first time, but when she asked if you wanted your name, that was your cue to ask her to add the Blair quote you wanted. Met Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams and have "Laverne & Shirley Season One signed, Told Cindy how hilarious "Betty Please" episode was and she told me she had been a waitress and knew how ho carry the dishes up her arm, it was her idea. I asked her add "Betty Please" and she said "of course!".

Thanks, R90! Michael Nouri is still so handsome. Hard to imagine he had a long-time affair with Roma Downey.

[quote]Robert Fuller from Laramie and Emergency!

Were his buttocks still magnificent, r89?

I think I was a little star struck, R91. It was my first time and I guess when she asked about the name, I thought that would be all you could get. I didn't want to look pushy, didn't know what to expect or what the protocols are. I'll live though. I guess.

Cindy Williams is always a lot of fun and loves to talk about the show and her movies.......and her favorite line: "Your stunt cock is here!"

[quote]I think I was a little star struck, [R91]. It was my first time and I guess when she asked about the name, I thought that would be all you could get. I didn't want to look pushy, didn't know what to expect or what the protocols are. I'll live though. I guess.

It's cool, you got to meet her and she'll probably be back in a few years.

[quote]Were his buttocks still magnificent, [R89]?

He's in his late 80s now, so no, lol. I've met him many times at different conventions and I love the guy. He's very gregarious and approachable. He even invited me to join him and the people who run his FB fanclub for a drink, not at Chiller, but at the first convention where I met him.

I'm so fascinated by these events and would love to go to one someday. I'm even more interested in the actors who appear on cult TV shows with passionate followings, like Supernatural, Smallville, or Buffy. Some of them go to these conventions several times per month around the world and do panels and meet-and-greets where they tell the same stories over and over. It seems to me they have the worst kind of fame: obsessive, neurotic fans who stalk their houses and burst into tears meeting them in the supermarket, yet they don't get the paychecks to compensate for it. It's like having movie star fame on a CW salary budget.

Any documentary filmmakers out there looking for a subject, please consider this one.

[quote]Her sister was there too and just as lovely and I got "Pollyanna" signed.

I have a fucking name.

Yikes. Heather Thomas has aged badly.

If there was one in my city, I would maybe go just out of curiosity. I’d want to get a photo with the most random person in attendance, like “Fake Jan” or something.

If I’d gone to this one, I’d most have wanted to meet Deborah Goodrich. I wonder how she looks now. It just hit me that she debuted on All My Children FORTY years ago.

[quote] Yikes. Heather Thomas has aged badly

Not a great shot looking down. There are other shots where she looked fine for a grandmother. Follow her on Twitter, she's funny.

I like Heather. She beat cocaine back, which isn’t easy.

I like when the ones who need zero money do this, like Lea Thompson.

My friend was at Texas Frightmare in Dallas. She said Neve Campbell's autograph line maxed out at 10a all weekend. Sidney made BANK

Robert Englund and Bruce Campbell always have enormous lines too. They make so much money.

Was Peter Weller with Big Event NY, too?

If so then it explains why they were in their own room and Lisa was away from Mindy and seemed to rush her line.

I do small time bookings (wrestlers) and do these events all the time (I posted before about asking Daphne Zuniga if she invented Blu Ray tech and got Colto to sign his action figure with "Love Datalounge").

Places like Big Event just want a cattle line to get as many signatures as quickly as possible since they take a percentage of the sales. They are very demanding.

[quote]The Land of the Lost reunion is certainly tempting. If they throw in a Sleestak I'm there!

I don't see why Erika couldn't attend.

Isn't she based in NY and OLTL has been off the air for years now.

r98 “Any documentary filmmakers out there looking for a subject, please consider this one.”

In this place? You flatter. DL is critics, not creators.

Shitbra rides the Land of the Lost raft! Ahhhh!!

Johnny Whitaker (Family Affair) is a very rough looking 62 (with Charo, 71).

I have an acquaintance/friend who is a horror icon and go to stuff like this pretty regularly. Pre Covid, she would make $10,000 cash.

^^Who is she?

Horror fans are very devoted and big names or even ones that really only appeared in the more popular titles and franchises (Friday the 13th, Nightmare on Elm Street, Halloween, ect) can really rake in the cash at conventions. A lot of those people distanced themselves or even trashed the movies prior to conventions becoming so big really changed their tunes once they have seen how much money they can make.

If I met Cheryl Ladd I’d die. I’d simply die! I loved her as Kris Munroe on Charlie’s Angels and I had 3 of her Capitol Records releases. Cheryl Ladd from 1978, Dance Forever from 1979 and one I didn’t care for from 1981.

Alison Arngrim will be appearing at the Hollywood Show in July, along with Melissa Gilbert, Karen Grassle, Hersha Parady, Charlotte Stewart, Dean Butler, Ketty Lester, the Greenbush Twins, and Patrick Labyorteaux.

[quote]Any documentary filmmakers out there looking for a subject, please consider this one.

I would also like to see that. Like the flip side of Trekkies.

Life After Flash and Scream, Queen go there a bit

I remember Kim Richards appeared at one of these things on an episode of Real Housewives of BH. She was unsure about going, but wound up loving all the fan adoration. Reminded me of the Soap Dish moment at the mall.

Kim was at Chiller in 2015 and she looked good.

A fan posted a better shot of Heather

r113, her character appears to be part of the clergy.

Thanks for the link, r116. DL icon Barbara Thorndyke is gonna be at the Hollywood Show!

I have been going to autograph shows for 25 years, and they are always a good time. I'm a big Star Wars fan, so when i started I'd go to conventions and get autographs. Then I found out about the Hollywood Show that theyd'd have in Chicago. I loved it so many old Hollywood stars would come to them, I always went for the older ones, cause figured they wouldn't be around much longer. But the two that were my favorite were Ernie Hudson and Ernest Borgenine. Ernie Hudson is such a nice man, and actually takes time to talk to his fans. Ernest Borgenine was the same way, Angie Dickinson is really a sweet lady also. Only had one bad experience with a celebrity and that was with Loretta Swit, not a nice person.