Any Updates from Wonderfest?

[typhooforme]

Anton, Have to correct you on one thing--the Dorian Gray head is not 'THE' Dick Smith head--it's a second one that Forry kept down in Grislyland (the cellar).  Joe told me it was made by an L. A. mortician!  He said the man had made several creepy props for Forry using mortician's wax and fake hair and so on, and that they always used to probe the pieces with a knife to make sure there were not any real bones inside!  lol  I got this extra Dorian head when Forry had the sad 2002 sale before his move from the big old Ackermansion to that final small place on Russell Ave. 

[Penny Dreadful]

Great pictures!  Thank you for sharing them.  I really wish we could have gone this year.

[Anton Phibes]

Anton, Have to correct you on one thing--the Dorian Gray head is not 'THE' Dick Smith head--it's a second one that Forry kept down in Grislyland (the cellar).  Joe told me it was made by an L. A. mortician!  He said the man had made several creepy props for Forry using mortician's wax and fake hair and so on, and that they always used to probe the pieces with a knife to make sure there were not any real bones inside!  lol  I got this extra Dorian head when Forry had the sad 2002 sale before his move from the big old Ackermansion to that final small place on Russell Ave. 

That head is still wonderfully macabre and awesome...you lucky stiff.    You still going to The Monster Bash/Creepy Classics thing?  Cause I am dying to mail you some Teenage Frankenstein pics to get signed for me.

[typhooforme]

Anton, Message me privately with address info and so on--my cuz Sara and friend Jill and I are all set to head to Bash in June and I'll be happy to get those signed for you.

[raycastile]

I survived the return trip from Louisville.  Now I'm back among my cats in St. Charles.  Wow.  What a weekend.  I'm beat!

The UMA Wonderfest display was a big success.  I don't think I've seen heavier traffic in front of our exhibit at any other convention since we started the toy tour in 2006.  We received lots of positive comments and attention, especially in regards to the Forry windows.  That and the Linda Miller art exhibit gave the display an added dimension, making it more than just a collection of paper and plastic bric-a-brac.

We met lots of great people and had a good time mingling with members of the CHFB, HMA and Rue Morgue.  And Louisville is home to the world's best vegetable rolls.

I want to express my deep thanks to my brothers and sisters in arms, the wonderful UMA members who helped plan, transport, assemble and watch over the toy display.  A big thanks to Terry, Jeff, Bobby, Max and Jane, Elizabeth and Dave, Robert and the Baron.  And thanks to Andy and Rob for supplying additional toys.  A big, huge thank you to Joe Moe for donating priceless Forry artifacts, and for just being a swell guy.  Thanks and obrigado to Sara Lattis aka The Saramonster for being my "translator" during the Rondo ceremony.  And thanks to Dave Conover and the Wonderfest crew for rolling out the red carpet for us.

I really think this might have been the best UMA toy tour stop ever.

[raycastile]

The Kong, you need to ask Raymond

Nobody mentioned the Kong.  I included it in the window because the prevailing wisdom, for now, is that it is an Imperial product.  Even if it is ultimately proven to have been made by a different company, it is still considered a counterpart to Imperial's big Godzilla and is of great interest to Imperial collectors.  Much like the Colorforms OSM are of interest to Matt Mason collectors and vice versa.  But most importantly, it just looked good in the window.

[Richard]

I went to Wonderfest again ( have been going since '95), and really enjoyed it, as usual. The UMA set-up was good, but honestly not different  enough to attract a huge audience. Maybe it did, but I was not overly impressed this year with the changes they had made (which seemed to be very few). Personally I think the UMA is too obsessed with being a "private" (aka Old Dark House Clubhouse) group than a more wide-spectrum group, as it was when it was on Yahoo. The friend I was with that day ( an expert on all things sci-fi and horror related) was equally not impressed. I think egotism is the major problem. There needs to be more diversity, and less of an emphaisis on certain personalities.

Brother D

Brother D~
I have some familiarity and understanding of the Universal Monster Army and the Old Dark Clubhouse, as I have helped out in varying degrees with both for some time. While the former is a group the latter is not (it's actually a "room" if you've ever seen it yourself). And while you can be a member of the UMA, you can only be an attendee of the ODCH (it's NOT exclusive, only a room that, at times, becomes too small to fit everyone who wants to get in). Both entities appreciate any help and constructive criticism. But mostly participation. Helpful participation of any kind is most welcome. If you must be critical of the efforts, don't be so ambiguous. Get to the point. By floating words like "private" and "elite" and "egotism" in describing the UMA and ODCH, it reminds me of someone with a bad case of jealousy for reasons unknown.  Do you feel "left out"? Ideas not appreciated? Surely, this isn't so?

I have not been able to attend WonderFest, the UMA Toy Tour, nor the Old Dark ClubHouse for years~much to my regret. I wish I could have been there this year. You are lucky you can take in WonderFest every year and I'm sure both the UMA and ODCH would welcome your help and attendance.
BTW, I am not a leader, officer, board member, etc, etc, of either entity so my comments to you are not official~just observational. I am but one small voice in a large community. I do, however, donate $, materials, and promotionals (an amount in excess of a President Wm McKinley federal reserve note) each year to help make the festivities (I can't attend) more fun. I get to participate from afar as do others that contribute but also can't attend.

Since I do contribute and have worked/helped on both the UMA Toy Tour display and the Old Dark ClubHouse in the past,  I feel I can take issue with your statements (which are a bit hurtful) and inquire as to why you make them, Brother D.

Best,
Richard

ps. Your statement: The friend I was with that day ( an expert on all things sci-fi and horror related) was equally not impressed intrigues me also. Many times, "expert", that's just an opinion. How has this individual determined that he/she is really an expert on everything sci-fi and horror and may we have a name? Or would this cause embarassment?

[raycastile]

And thank you Richard for your work on the membership kits and other fundraising items that help make the display possible.  You were sorely missed in Louisville.

[NekroDave]

Nobody mentioned the Kong.  I included it in the window because the prevailing wisdom, for now, is that it is an Imperial product.  Even if it is ultimately proven to have been made by a different company, it is still considered a counterpart to Imperial's big Godzilla and is of great interest to Imperial collectors.  Much like the Colorforms OSM are of interest to Matt Mason collectors and vice versa.  But most importantly, it just looked good in the window.

No doubt. In fact, I realized that that was the first time I'd actually seen it next to the big Godzilla (which I obviously don't have) and it looked great. I'm gonna have to grab one at some point.