Time Tunnel Monster Movie Show

[Barlow]

Just found out that the Portage Theater here in Chicago (4050 N. Milwaukee Chicago, IL) is having a super cool horror show/collectible event on April 3rd - 5th, sponsored  by Time Tunnel Toys. There are 3 days of convention and two movies every night. Cost for the entire 3 day affair (all 6 movies plus entry to the convention all 3 days) = $25! Not bad at all! Single days are $10. Kids under 12 are $5.

So there's a double feature each night, with the titles TBA. Usually they pick good ones. In March they had Seventh Voyage of Sinbad, The Mummy (1959) and Attack of the Giant Leeches triple feature. So I'm hoping this is going to be good. There's also a monster model contest, tons of DVDs, comics, magazines, and other monster material for sale.

If anyone else here wants to go, let me know so we can meet up and say hello. As soon as I find out which movies they're playing, I'll post it here.

[Barlow]

Just visited the store of the sponsor this weekend, and this sounds great! He has 50 dealers (so far!) from all over the states coming to the show. Also, this is the new flier for the show, with the movies being played each night, etc.

[preyer]

'clash of the titans' is a horror classic? lol. sounds fun, wish i could go.

[michblk]

I'd go too if I had the money and time!  Please tell us how the show was!

BK

[Barlow]

Yeah, Clash of the Titans is the odd one out, but it's worth it just to see that cool Medusa monster! 

I hope at least a few other UMA members can make it. Either way, I'll take pics and report on how it went.

[Barlow]

Good lord, the show was incredible!!! 

I have several dozen pics I took, and for those who didn't make it, you won't believe what you missed! Wait till you see it! I gotta re-size the pics in Photoshop, so I'll post them on Sunday or Monday. But wow, it was one hell of a fun horror show!


There is another one in May, and for anyone who can make it, I can't recommend it highly enough. Great movies, tons of great collectibles, it was just a great time!

[Barlow]

Ok, here are the pics from the convention! 

This is the outside of the Portage Theater where it was held, taken Saturday night:



And the front doors:



As soon as I walked in, I was greeted by a life-sized Phantom of the Opera, complete with vintage organ!





Notice what's prowling behind the organ? Not on my list of good werewolf movies, but nonetheless it was impressive in person:







Wow!!!

Here is the area just past the lobby where most of the dealers were, going into the concession stand area:





Here are some shots of the awesome goods on sale by the many dealers who were there (great people, all willing to make a fair deal, and very informative):













Here is an awesome King Kong diorama that I was told took over 60 man-hours to complete!  I took two different shots from the front, to adjust for lighting:











And this was a display near the stage itself. Nice scary life-sized figures!








There were also a few dealers in front of the stage, though I didn't get a shot of them. LOTS of dealers here!

Finally, these shots blurred for some reason, but one dealer had a ton of resin statues, some of which were remakes of the original Aurora plastic monster models. These are smaller, but beautiful! Note the Dark Shadows/Barnabas Collins/Quentin Collins diorama (available as a kit, and also comes with a Quentin werewolf head!), and the larger Barnabas bust. How I wish they were in my budget!





The dealers were friendly, informative and knowledgeable, and they were all very fair when it came to striking a deal. Lots of great people there! I was only able to attend Saturday due to work and other issues, but it was a blast! They played the full-length Kino restored version of Nosferatu, and Brides of Dracula. What a double feature! Plus, two short independent films. A great night for sure!

I couldn't believe all the stuff that was there! Comics, magazines, action figures, dioramas, model kits, busts, lobby cards, posters, trading cards, and all sorts of other monster-related goodies from the 60's, 70's, and even earlier! I saw a vintage Strange Change Machine, a Six Million Dollar Man Bionic Bigfoot, Mego original Mad Monsters as well as the more recent remakes, records such as Monster Mash and Monsters Speak...I could go on and on!

Plus newer stuff as well. Just mind-boggling for the monster fans!

There's another being held here in May, and for anyone who hesitated to attend April's, I can only strongly suggest you check it out. I almost ended up not making it on Saturday, and after having gone, I'd be kicking myself in the backside if I hadn't gone, now that I saw what it was like.

[monsterphile]

Barlow--

Wow, it looks like it was a great time.  Looks like they were selling some pretty cool stuff.  I like that Yeti bust in particular.  Maybe for the May show, the UMA can get some fliers or something to drum up some membership.

Rob

[toysoldierman2001]

Wow! Great stuff! Thanks for posting photos.

[hammett1]

Fantastic pics.  Thanks for sharing.  Looks like lots of fun and plenty to see and do.   

[Elizabeth]

*Prefacing this by saying I hope I have a reputation as a pretty upbeat gal around here, when I do post... * 

I attended this show this weekend, all three days... friends of mine were there with one booth professionally (kit sales) and another friend had a booth for his indie film that was screening this weekend.  (They were tucked in the theater, where it was, unfortunately, more difficult for folks to find them.)

As far as vendors, folks there selling... did they really tell you 50? (?!?!?!!!) there were (counting from memory here) maybe 14 dealers.  (There were certainly more than 14 tables, but some dealers had multiple tables in one area.)  There were three tables representing organizations/indie movies. 

Barlow, I am sorry I did not see your post that you were heading here this weekend, or I would have made arrangements to say hello.

Minion got to attend this weekend, Sunday, and we did meet up and visit.  (Hello, Minion! )

Dennis Druktenis was there, from Scary Monsters-- it was great to see him (and nab an advance copy of the wonderful Forry Tribute issue).

The Portage Theater is a beautiful venue-- there is always something magical about being in a historic theater.  (www.portagetheater.org)  I can't say enough good about folks like Dennis and Linda (the managers) who work to keep these glorious barns of buildings going, fighting the ravages of time and neglect.

It was a nice little convention... and I had fun, but my enthusiasm was not as warm.  We can agree it's always fun to meet and gather with fans.  And it's always nice when things happen close to home, and can help support a historic site like this.

Barlow, based how much you enjoyed this event, I think you need to get thee to Wonderfest, my friend... although your head might explode a la Scanners from sheer joy!

[Minion]

Minion got to attend this weekend, Sunday, and we did meet up and visit.  (Hello, Minion! Smiley)

Hi Elizibeth!

Dennis Druktenis was there, from Scary Monsters-- it was great to see him (and nab an advance copy of the wonderful Forry Tribute issue).

If you flip to the very back page of that issue there's a full page ad for Monsterpalooza in Burbank, CA, that has my name listed as an attending artist. Woo hoo!

Had a great time at the show. I'll try to check out the next one too.

[hammerfan]

THe TIme Tunnel show was great. I attended it too. Lot so dealers. I don't know what Elizabeth is talking about. Maybe she was too busy "necking" in the theater, LOL. THere was a nice selection of garage kits, toys, DVD's, posters and more. Kitbuilders Magazine was there! Selling thier great airbrush paints. The movies were fun and family friendly. This show was affordable and close unlike Wonderfest which is too far and WAY too expensive.

[Jscareshock]

That looked like an awesome show.

[ICEMANN333]

THE SHOW WAS GREAT.....THE ITEMS IN THE LOBBY YOU JUST CAN FIND LIKE THIS IN ONE PLACE...THE DEALERS ALL SUPER COOL AND THEY TAKE TIME TO TALK TO YOU...THEY HAVE A ONE DAY SHOW ONCE A MONTH WITH DEALERS AND THREE GREAT OLD MONSTER MOVIES..I ALWAYS HAVE A GREAT TIME THERE..IF YOU LOVE MONSTERS THIS IS FOR YOU........AND ONLY TEN BUCKS..THE BEST DEAL IN TOWN....MAYBE WELL SEE YOU MAY 30TH.......GHOUL BYE..