Got back today from Louisville where my cuz Sara and I spent the weekend at FandomFest. Hot as Hades, of course, but a.c. did its best and electric fans beyond counting filled in the gaps. Ran into three friends there--one being fellow UMA member Radioactive Rod Whitenack, and enjoyed a too-brief talk with him. He was working the convention, so was kept plenty busy all weekend!
My main interest at this one was meeting Robert Carradine. He was great--and his wife, who was with him, was just as nice (and beautiful, for that matter!). I had wanted to tell him about my having met his dad, John Carradine, around 1981, and he got a laugh out of my story of "doing" the voice of his dad's severed head in the Astro Zombies sequel Ted Mikels did in 2000. I had him sign a photo I had of him in the John Wayne movie THE COWBOYS, and he had me choose a pic from his own array of photos--I took one of him with brother Keith and Tom Selleck in THE LONG RIDERS--which he also signed for me. He would accept no money--his wife said, "You're the first customer of the day--let's say you get a free one!" All in all, couldn't have asked for a better Carradine experience!
Also talked to Brian Tochi (REVENGE OF THE NERDS) who was incredibly outgoing and friendly; to Susan Backlinie (JAWS--she's the first victim!); and to Larry Drake (DARKMAN, DR. GIGGLES, DARK NIGHT OF THE SCARECROW), who was very happy to talk about a variety of topics--including the dearth of good character actors in today's movies. Saw lots of other celebs--Henry Winkler, Edward Furlong, Martin Kove, more of the REVENGE OF THE NERDS cast--and had an excellent time at the con in general, barring the misery of the heat wave!
MissDrac and I were there too, though we were unsuccessful in finding each other.
http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=18457.0 (http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=18457.0)