Who's going to Wonderfest

[Nicole]

I went, but was not impressed this year with the UMA exhibit. A few changes, but honestly not for the best. I think the UMA has become  focused on certain "personalities" (cerain members), and has become very elitist, and thus has resulted in an every increasing decline in the interest of the UMA display. A good idea would probably be to focus less on these personalities and more on actually generating interest and completely equal discussion of the classic Univeral Monsters topic. This group was MUCH better when it was a Yahoo group.

Brother D

I went last year and I didn't witness any kind of egotism or elitism taking place. On the contrary, as a newcomer to the UMA and to Wonderfest, they made me feel quite welcome. Brother D, you mentioned an emphasis being placed on "certain personalities" but still have not given us any names. If you are referring to those who make the display possible each year, I believe they do deserve attention and recognition for all their hard work and effort. That is not elitism, it is respect and gratitude.

[Nicole]

Okay. I just posted some pictures from Wonderfest on my website.

Thanks for sharing those awesome photos!

[mike c]

Okay. I just posted some pictures from Wonderfest on my website. If you appear in an image or have a model depicted and wish to have it removed just let me know through a PM. I did not include pics from the Old Dark Clubhouse though I have some of those as well.
It was very nice meeting everyone and hope to see you again soon!
http://monstermoviebooks.homestead.com/untitled1.html

Great pics, thanks so much for sharing them with those of us who couldn't make it.

Mike C.

[Elizabeth]

There was only a VERY small section devoted to Uncle Forry, if we are going to be accurate. A much larger section was devoted to Big Foot and Loch Ness Monster toys. In any event, you have proven my point, thanyou. The UMA does not take objective critisism lightly. I posted (by the way) more as a LONGtime Wonderfest attendee than a former UMA member.

Brother D

Wow.

I just returned home from my weekend away to WonderFest.  My 46 year old body (with certain parts that no longer function at optimum capacity) is aching from this weekend's activity of participating in this year's exhibit.  However, my heart was warm and full reflecting on what had been accomplished.  I made a cup of tea, and sat down to check email, and to pop over here to post I made it home, and to read whether or not the sleep-deprived and overworked men who I spent my weekend with arrived home safely.  They have not had a chance to post yet it seems.  Perhaps because-- Terry and Jeff had to drive the rental truck back to Illinois, unload the many hundred pounds of lumber and materials that form the display cases, as well as their own boxes, pick up Jeff's vehicle, return the rental, and get Terry to the airport, after which Jeff could go home.  Raymond, meanwhile is driving back with an over-packed car to St. Louis, and Bobby is heading back to Texas.  That is a lot of driving.  Especially after a lot of lifting, carrying and bending.  These guys are pretty darn tired.  May they be safe and sound wherever they are.  May their packages of toys, those en route being shipped out there, be safe as well.

And then I read this.  It feels like someone just kicked me in the aching knee. 

Wow.  Or more accurately... ow.

But, before I let that knee jerk... *deep breath*

[Note: I am exhausted, sleep deprived and hurting... so no points off for bad spelling or grammar.]

As for the current display...

There were two displays "cases" connected to our dear, wonderful Uncle Forry.  One window was more streamlined and elegant, in the central anchor exhibit wall, the simplicity highlighting the two truly exceptional pieces featured in that window, artifacts that could be said to form the foundation of the man who became 4E.   Another window was jam-packed, filled with an amazing abundance and variety of pieces (thanks to Robert Taylor and Joe Moe).  The one window to which I assume you refer to was probably filled with more "things" than were in any other window there... and the variety and abundance represented a slice of life as it had been at the Ackermansion. 

So... there was the tribute to Forry, the gorgeous art display honoring Meek... and then another theme window special to the show featuring toys produced for the 1979 release of ALIEN, in keeping with the WonderFest theme this year.  (He can hit me for sharing this but... when Raymond's request for toys for that theme window did not garner much response, he sought and purchased toys for the display, at his own expense, even though the movie is not a favorite or a focus of his.  Thank you for all that special effort, Raymond-- the Alien fanatics were loving that window.)

The Bigfoot/Nessie display was anchored front and center with a copy of the book, The Mysterious Monsters... said book from the collection of Forry Ackerman, so, another nod there to Forry.

Shifting gears... regarding the format change from Yahoo to message board...

Brother D, I too preferred the Yahoo group style.  I was sorry when the group moved to this message board format.  It's not as comfortable for me.  However, the UMA can't function solely on my opinion, for my convenience.  There are a LOT of people here, and the success of this forum is clearly visible and undeniable... no matter how little you and I post.  (We both have low post numbers in our profile.)  There are an amazing number of people here, and that membership count that grows daily.  Clearly, there are a number of people who love this new format, and the convenience it affords the majority of folks here is unarguable.  We are in the minority.

However, ultimately it's not a "majority rules" or democracy issue at all.  It's my choice to elect to spend time here interacting with people and reading posts, how much of that time I will spend, whether or not I will come, and I can share my opinions... and get frustrated... but in the end, I remember this group was created by Terry Ingram-- and the stewardship of this group rests ultimately (and I imagine at times heavily) in his hands.  It was his spark, creativity and ingenuity that got this started-- without Terry there would be no UMA, and I think the Monsterkid World would be a sadder place without it. 

This house is a club house that Terry built.  He built it for us, and inspired other people along the way to join in the work of building a home and creating a community.  Ultimately, though, Terry is our host, and we are guests here.

You are welcome to have an opinion... and I hope you will feel that I too am welcome to have one.  As I said earlier, you and I share in common a frustration with this mode of communication-- the message board.  It limits my posting on line, but it does not conflict with my participation "IRL." (In Real Life = as in, when it comes time to build the exhibit.)  It's a big group.  One size won't fit all, but we can find niches and activities within this large community that 'fit' for us.

Where I differ with you is in when and how you delivered this message.  So, my opinion: there are times and places and ways of communicating our opinion.  If I go to a party at my relative's home, dessert is not the best time to tell her I think her decorating style stinks and I don't care for her cooking.

In the days and weeks to come, I am sure there will be posts discussing the exhibit, how it could be improved, if it should continue, what happened at WonderFest, etc.

What I also hope to see are posts discussing how we can involve more people with the UMA exhibit. 

Driving home (rubbing my sore knees and counting the miles until I'd be home and could get a heating pad on my back), it struck me what this group needs is a serious enlistment drive. 

THE UMA NEEDS YOU!

The UMA exhibit needs people to HELP... help with loading, moving and building.  It needs ideas and innovations, imagination and creativity to help it continue... and to become even more amazing than it was this year (and frankly I thought it was the best yet this year).

Brother D, if you are able to attend WonderFest, then you are exactly the kind of candidate we need.  Grab your mess kit and pack your napsack for field duty opportunities abounding! 

There are many ways to get involved! Ideas for window displays, donations of toys for the exhibit, help transporting the exhibit to the hotel, help unloading the exhibit, the hours and hours and hours it takes to set the exhibit, financial assistance to purchase the gas to fuel the truck... and then there are still more ways to help!  During the show, the exhibit needs to be attended... people have to be there when the room opens to check for any changes within the display, to turn on lights and audio/video equipment, be there to greet guests and answer questions.  But wait... there's still more opportunity here!!! When the show is over, then  it's time to carefully unpack the cases, dismantle the displays, load them into the truck, pack all the hardware, lights and materials that are in the display, wrap the Plexiglas and then there are the toys which need to be carefully wrapped and packed, being certain the loaned toys are prepared to ship back to the folks who lent them.

So, your voice has been heard. Help is needed.  We are glad to know you are one of the folks fortunate enough to attend WonderFest.  It would be great to know we could count on your help and support next year, and have your assistance in the yearly battle against the clock that ticks too quickly.

And hopefully other folks out there will be inspired to join in as well-- it's truly a case of 'many hands make light work.'

And next to finally.... ;-)

I am not a collector, which makes my presence here always rather odd.  I am, however, a fan of classic horror, especially the Universal monsters.  I don't operate with a lot of knowledge or authority when it comes to the toys in the display.

Although I am not a collector, there is one area in this where I can speak with some authority.  As a former archaeology/museum studies major, at a college with an outstanding museum program, I was (and I cannot say this strongly enough) BLOWN AWAY the first time I saw the display, by it's professionalism, it's brilliant design, and the engineering ingenuity.  Chatting with John Mitchell, I was sold, and determined to become a more active and participating member of the group I had mostly lurked in up to that point.  Every time I work with the display, I am still stunned by the spot-on brilliance of it all, from how it fits in the truck, to how it goes up, to how it appears.

I am also always impressed and humbled by the dedicated scholarship Raymond brings to the window displays, the themes, periods and materials displayed, the labels and illuminating touches he is dedicated to adding to the exhibit.  His attention to detail is unparalleled and an important part of what elevates this display to museum quality work.

This was my third time participating in the building and dismantling of the exhibit.  I cannot say enough about the wonderful, hard-hard-working people I've worked alongside-- Terry, Raymond, Jeff, Bobby, and others who have worked in amazing and sometimes brutal circumstances.  So much work is involved ahead of time, researching materials for the display, laying out what will go in the cases, getting commitments to loan toys, ascertaining that the toys can arrive at the destination in time to be installed in the exhibit... on top of safely packing those toys, getting all the little odds and ends needed (tape for the exhibit, sticky putty, risers, picture frames, tape to repack boxes), and then the loading and moving of the cases themselves.  The process of making this all happen is one that pretty much guarantees one a hefty measure of stress, out-of-pocket expenditures for supplies and such, and all culminates in a sleep-deprived weekend (which frankly is expensive, with hotel bills, meals out, and such) and unparalleled levels of mental and physical exhaustion at the end.  Each time we figure it out a little more, do it a little fast, get it working better and things going better.  But, it has been and always will be a Harryhausen-level Homeric feat to get that exhibit there, put up and taken down.

Do tempers get short at times when in the heat of display building battle? You betcha.  We get tired and cranky.  When it's done, we are plum worn out.  That may perhaps make someone seem cold and distant when they are standing in front of the display at 4:30 on Saturday, having had little sleep the last couple days, nursing a sore back and wondering if they dug all of that wood splinter out of their hand.

Sure, when you are working under such stress with looming deadlines personalities can tangle and we can ALL drive one another nuts, but at the beginning of the whole thing, when we arrive there, to the last time that we head out to go home... these are guys that I am damn happy to see, to hug, and to work beside.  We are an Army of one... it's the only way to get the job done in the end; so you can't have a problem with one of the construction platoon's personalities without it being about the whole platoon, if you will.  

Having done with difficulties, on to the delights.  So why do it?

Well, Brother D... I can testify, as a battle-tested private (who has a low post count here just like you), that the soldier in the UMA has amazing benefits, benefits you won't find at another group, or another board, or anywhere else.

Such as? The satisfaction of seeing a job well done.  The stunning level of professionalism in the display.  Sharing knowledge.  Educating people.  Spreading the love of the wonderful world of monsters.  Being part of something that is bigger than one person.  Could it get any better?  Bringing people together through the celebration of our beloved monsters... it is absolutely the PERFECT way to keep the torch burning, to keep the spirit of Forrest J Ackerman alive!

This group represents the absolute BEST in fandom.  The UMA is the ultimate "plays well with others" group.  Guys like Terry, Raymond, Bobby, Jeff... members like Robert Taylor and Dan Roebuck... they pack up insanely valuable, highly coveted and long sought collectibles into shipping boxes and mail them across the country.  This is not showing off.  This is unbelievably generous and selfless.  Little things happen here and there-- dings, rips, and such.  So far  no huge losses.  But it's a risk they take each and every time.  Ultimately, though, these guys know the joy of these items is not having stacked in closets or on shelves... it's having them out, where folks can see them, where the positive energy attached to them can generate happy memories and spark more love and appreciation for these monsters.

The UMA exhibit is visible testimony that whenever we fans gather to work together--

Forrest J Ackerman shall not die!

[Bogey]

The UMA is the most open, welcoming, least confrontational, least argumentative forum about classic horror around.

Hear!  Hear!  Folks here have gone WAY out of their way to answer any questions I have in the friendliest of tones.  What impresses me most about this forum is the kindness shown to all.

[monsterphile]

Elizabeth,

That was fantastic.  You said so much while weak and weary, and so much better than I did fully rested.  I thank you for all you did this weekend and in times past.  What you and the others have contributed was effort.  Effort means actually doing something, and not just sitting back thinking that someone else will take care of everything.  I salute our UMA team and their major achievement.  Thank you.

Rob

[typhooforme]

That was beautifully said, Elizabeth.  It was wonderful to have the pleasure of working with you this past weekend for the first time--far more than that, to have you create the display designs for my Forry artifacts.  I was very pleased--Joe Moe was very pleased--and we both thought that, were he there with us (and we always feel he is in some ways), Forry would have smile his big Forry grin of approval.   Thank you so much, dear friend E!

[raycastile]

Forrest J Ackerman shall not die!

Thank you Elizabeth.  I think the above sentence sums it up.  Forry is the example I try to follow as a collector, and the inspiration behind the display.

[Crazy1van]

Sure wish I could have been there.  Silly Navy.  Well, by this time next year, I will have retired, so there's no reason I can't get there next year.

Where is the thread with the pix from this year?

[mike c]

Sure wish I could have been there.  Silly Navy.  Well, by this time next year, I will have retired, so there's no reason I can't get there next year.

Where is the thread with the pix from this year?

Ask and ye shall receive:
http://www.universalmonsterarmy.com/forum/index.php?topic=4449.0
(Actually it's only a few threads below this one!)... Chuck posted his Flickr url, wonderful pics!

Mike C.

[Crazy1van]

Wow, that's a LOT of pix to wade through!  I may have to wait till I'm home to see them all; the network at work doesn't interface with Flickr all that well.

[EDITOR MFTV]

Unfortunately, Marian and I are back at work and Wonderfest is now just a wonderful memory, and I do mean WONDERFUL! This was our fourth Wonderfest in the past five years (we missed last year's), and truly one of the best. While the programming and dealers' room were top-notch, as always, the Old Dark Clubhouse (and everyone in it) was a focal point of this year's Wonderfest for us. But first, back to the programming: the Rondo Awards was the true highlight of the show for us, and not just because we were inducted into the Monster Kid Hall of Fame, an honor we appreciate so much! Two particularly heartwarming moments were, first, the speech by Elizabeth Haney, who accepted the Best Horror Host award for Rich Koz (Svengoolie). She related her experience of being told by a fan how much Rich's show had meant to her and her family and how everyone had gathered to watch the show each week. The second was Joe Moe's (Monster Kid of the Year) acceptance speech, in which he spoke of Forry's last days and the aftermath of his death. Both speeches were heartfelt, and many eyes welled up with tears. A big congratulations to David and Eileen Colton for a fabulous presentation of an equally fabulous award---long live the Rondos! Another very memorable event we attended was the Saturday night screening of The Lost Skeleton Returns Again ("slowly, slowly..."). This sequel to The Lost Skeleton of Cadavra is just as funny, if not funnier, than the original. And seeing it with a crowd that "got it" was even better. On the subject of Lost Skeleton, meeting Larry Blamire and wife Jennifer ("rawrh...") Blaire was a real treat. Larry and Jennifer lived up to all the great comments we'd heard about them; they're both terrific, just like their movies. What fun it must be to work with them on a film; Frank Dietz is one lucky guy! Also, after seeing the preview for Dark and Stormy Night, we're chomping at the bit to see that film as well.

Now, to the Old Dark Clubhouse: This year's theme was Captain Company, and walking through the door was like entering a live version of the back pages of a vintage copy of Famous Monsters of Filmland---it was spectacular, the best Clubhouse ever in our (and many others') opinion. Gary Prange (with some help from Joe "Sorko" Schovitz, who really needs to make the trip to Wonderfest) outdid himself this year. And, take it from someone who's been in a lot of Old Dark Clubhouses over the years (both at Monster Bash and Wonderfest): that's not an easy task, as each year Gary raises the bar. These days, for Marian and me it's not so much about the convention and its activities anymore; it's all about the friendship and camaraderie of the ODCH. It just feels like home, and every year we feel more love and kinship than the year before. It truly is like a family reunion, and all I can say is, man, do I LOVE that place! While sitting in there I thought, How cool would it have been to have had a place like that to hang out in when I was 12 years old?! But, truthfully, it's cool now at 48, because inside (like most of the people who stopped by the ODCH) I'm still a kid, a Monster Kid, and the Old Dark Clubhouse brings out the best in me and everyone who walks through the door. This year a ton of people walked through, maybe more than ever, as the room was constantly packed. Tim and Donna Lucas were almost always present to keep the party hopping. I have to say, Donna Lucas---and Richard Olsen, who, unfortunately, couldn't make it this year---are two of the nicest, kindest, sweetest, and most caring people I've ever met in my life. Both of them light up any room they enter, and Donna's light was burning bright all weekend long! (Congratulations on the first---and only---Dondo Award, Donna!) Along with Gary, Tim, and Donna, many other longtime friends were there, including Joe Busam, Chris and Lisa Herzog, David and Eileen Colton, Donnie Waddell, Linda "Nurse Moan-Eek" Wylie, Bob and Kathy Burns, Harry Hatter, Frank Dietz, Tim Keegan, Kerry Gammill (briefly on Sunday), Terry and Anita Pace (and kids), Dave Conover, Rod Barnett, Troy Guinn, Tim Herron, Max Cheney and Jane Considine, Elizabeth Haney, Terry, Creepy Jeff, Ray, Bobby, and everyone else from the Universal Monster Army (who again had a fabulous toy display, along with a touching tribute to the late Linda Miller), Robert Taylor, Cortlandt Hull, Dennis Vincent, David Schow, Joe Moe, Dick Dyszel (Count Gore De Vol) and wife, and many more. There were also many faces that were new to me, including Larry Thomas (longtime friend of Joe Busam), Mike (Precode) Schlesinger, Larry Blamire and Jennifer Blaire, Cameron McCasland, Jovanka Vuckovic (Editor of Rue Morgue magazine), artists Ken Kelly and Ethan Black, and many others. True to form, our newfound friends are just as wonderful as our longtime buddies! It's hard to put into words the vibe that's always present in the Old Dark Clubhouse, but it's something special that I'll treasure for the rest of my life. I'd also like to mention what a wonderful time we had Friday night when about 22 of us went to a local sushi bar (Sapporo) for dinner. Good food, beer, saki, and conversation flowed freely all night. I've never seen so much sushi pass before my eyes. I think I can speak for all of us when I say we left the restaurant stuffed and happy!

As always, this magical weekend ended too soon; unfortunately, we had to leave late Sunday afternoon. It was hard to say goodbye to everyone, knowing that it may be a whole year before our paths cross again (although we're determined to try our hardest to attend the Wonderfest Reunion in November). Everything about the weekend was perfect, and being inducted into the Monster Kid Hall of Fame was the icing on the cake! If only we could all pile into Bob Burns' Time Machine, journey back to May 15th, and do it all again, maybe even going back far enough to bring Lugosi, Karloff, Chaney Jr, Price, and many others along to share in the joy and pleasure the Old Dark Clubhouse brings. To everyone whose path crossed ours this past Wonderfest weekend, we raise our glasses and toast you, our dearest friends!

Love and Friendship Always,

Jim & Marian Clatterbaugh

[Toy Ranch]

Brother D~

I wish I had the opportunity to meet you in person at Wonderfest, and am sorry to have missed out on that.  It seems that many of our members were shy about approaching us at the convention, and this and your comments gives me pause to think that something about the way we are dealing with things could be improved to be more welcoming.  I think your comments and feelings are based on your experience, and I'd love to hear more about why you feel that way and possibly what we could do to improve in the future.  If you don't feel comfortable posting in the forum (the Brother D criticism is ramping up, and I think he has something valuable to share), through email, private message, or phone would especially be most welcome.  I have to run out right now but I'll PM you in a bit. 



Everyone, please go easy on him.  It's rare that people share their real feelings when they are along the lines of what Brother D shared, and it's from that we are able to learn and improve.   Congratulations are always nice, but from them we learn nothing..

[ramsey37]

I posted this in another thread, but it seems to pertain here:
"I was at Wonderfest, but I think I only actually ever spoke to Raymond Castile and DrMonster from the UMA. I saw Terry making a deal for a Formex set, and believe I spotted Mr. and Mrs. Severed Head and a few other folks. My own natural shyness and lack of social skills always make me a bit unsure of approaching people I only know from online. The display looked very nice this year. I spent too much money on odds and ends in the dealer's room. I'll post a pic of my swag once I get a chance to edit my pics."
I saw quite a few familiar faces from the UMA over the course of Saturday, but I felt kinda weird about following them around, knowing they wouldn't have a clue as to who I was.
George

[typhooforme]

George, Your post fills me with regret!  Every one of the UMA folks you name is so very warm and welcoming--just coming forth and introducing yourself would have brought forth a volley of handshakes and hugs and smiles, and your initial shyness would have been evaporated like a skim of dew under the bright morning sun!  Next time, my friend, next time--we want to meet you and greet you!