Gilligan, The Invaders, JEM...What an eclectic group...

Hello Con Maniacs,

This is quite a unique weekend. There is an event in Manchester, New Hampshire at the Comfort Inn which is Jem Con 2010. Now for those of you who don't know, Jem was a competitor for Barbie during the 80's. She was a rock star and had a dual identity. Kind of like Superman except without the superpowers. Although she did have her holographic computer Synergy that transformed her from Jerrica to Jem...Ok you get the idea...They have a great guest lineup for all you Jem fans:

Samantha Newark-The speaking voice of both Jem and Jerrica.

Britta Phillips-The singing voice of Jem.

Plus so much more...

Another great event this weekend is the 5th Annual Mid Atlantic Nostalgia Convention at The Marriott Hotel, Hunt Valley, Maryland.

Their lineup comes from yesteryear.

Attending is the lovely Dawn Wells-Mary Ann from Gilligan's Island.

Roy Thinnes-Star of that great old Sci Fi series The Invader's. (I loved that show)

Mark Goddard whom we all know from Lost in Space..."Oh the pain..."

as well as Fran Striker Jr. who's father created The Lone Ranger and The Green Hornet...

Both these events sound like alot of fun. Too be honest I not only have collectibles from Lost in Space and The Green Hornet but I also loved Jem...She is truly outrageous...

Have fun and remember I always love to hear from you, how the event's were and any great pic's too...You can contact me at Magid@raybin.com

Until next time....

Synergy

Mag

The Cast of Basket Case at Horror Realm in PA!

Well Con Maniacs, here is a real treat. Thanks to Ryan Clark for taking this great Photo of the cast of Basket Case at the Horror Realm event in PA. Beverly Bonner, Kevin Van Hentenryck and Frank Henenlotter all in one place..

Now where is my Basket???

Dont forget you can reach me at Magid@raybin.com

Mag

Basket Case at the Drive In.

Hello Con Maniacs,

With this past weekend having been the reunion of the cast and director of Basket Case I began to reminisce about the Drive In. Now I know this is a bit off topic, but in some ways the Drive In shared the communal aspect of conventions. I can still remember the excitement of getting close to the Drive In and what magic may occur. Watching a movie at the Drive In made scary movies even scarier. The wind blowing through the trees on the edge of that parking area, dancing shadows in the corner of your eye...And the knowledge that everyone else was experiencing the same thing...Or most at least :-)

Basket Case was a perfect movie for the Drive In, as was Evil Dead, The Thing, Night of the Living Dead and so many more.

Blacktown Drive In(See pic) in Sydney, Australia was one of the main Drive In's we would go to.

It was always an adventure. Sadly it is an adventure that has all but vanished.

Oh and you always got 2 movies and the food at the concession stand was great, at least in Sydney it was. You could get burgers and fries, meat pies and all sorts of goodies...

The Drive In was made for scary movies.

I would love to hear about any of your Drive In stories, you can reach me at Magid@raybin.com

Here's to another great con...

Mag

I hope your all having a great time!

Whether your at the Basket Case reunion at Horror Realm or looking for the Mothman in VA or in Atlanta for Anime I hope your all having a great time. Oh, and for those of you who don't know, the pic above is what is in the Basket in the film...

Mag

Magid@raybin.com

New video blog-"Of Baskets and Zombies!"

Don't forget to send me your convention and event reviews and photo's to Magid@raybin.com

Horror Realm

OOOOO, Beware the Mothman...

Hello Con-Maniacs,

There is a bevy of great events this weekend. One being The Mothman Festival in downtown Point Pleasant in West Virginia. Hey wasn't there a scary series filmed their last year?

The myth of the Mothman began in the 1960's and has continued ever since. They have bus tours, Haunted Hayrides, snapping turtles(LOL), an authentic replica of the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine...Who else would be better to solve the Mothman Mystery...and so much more. The whole town closes down for this event. They even have a pageant...

Check out their site for more details: Mothman Festival

I would love to hear if anyone sees the mysterious Mothman. Send me a photo and Ill post your efforts to catch the Mothman :-)

You can reach me at Magid@Raybin.com...

Don't forget your bug spray...

Mag

Anime Celebration in Atlanta this weekend!

Hello fello Con-Maniacs,

My interests are quite varied. Growing up during the late 70's and 80's I was exposed to alot. Especially being in Australia. I found Anime, Robotech, the original Astro Boy, Gatchaman and so many other honest and hard hitting cartoons. Cartoons that did not treat you like you did not have a brain.
If your in Atlanta this weekend and are near the Renaissance Waverly Hotel you should definitely check this out. They look to have a great lineup of guests:
The great Japanese Director Shinji Aramaki(Appleseed, Full Metal Alchemist, Robotech etc)

Laura Bailey-Voice of Trunks in Dragonball Z, Lust in Full Metal Alchemist, Final Fantasy XIII and in Street Fighter 4 to name a few.

Travis Willingham-Voice work in Transformer: War for Cybertron, Hulk & Human Torch in Super Hero Squad and a whole host more.

Vic Mignogna-Voice for Vega in Streetfighter II, Edward in Full Metal Alchemist, Zero in Vampire Night in addition to so many other voices he also sings. One of his theme's is for Dragon Ball GT.

They have so many more appearing as well. You should check it out. Let me know how it went, I would love to post some great reviews of the event as well as your photo's...


Kamehamehaaaa!!!!!!


Mag

Convention Listings for October 2010

Hello Con-Maniacs,

It is hard to believe we are almost to October. One of my personal favorite times of the year. The time when ghost's and goblins come out. Maybe a few Vampires and Werewolves too. if we are lucky.

I love great Haunted events. Universal Studios always does a great Halloween Haunt. Back in Australia when I was a kid in Sydney, Luna Park used to have some great scary rides. They used to scare the heck out of me. Unfortunately they are not there anymore. I would love to hear some of your Halloween stories.

Also let me know what you think of the events your attending. Are they good, bad or indifferent? Where you treated well or were you treated like cattle? Maybe we can use Halloween to scare them into doing better...LOL

Lots of updates coming to the site soon. We are in the midst of a fantastic overhall that you are going to love. You will wonder how you ever lived without it.

Keep your eye open for a new video blog in just a little bit...

Mag

Oct 1st-3rd, 2010
Tsubasacon Huntington, WV
Archon St. Louis, MO
Creation Twilight Portland, OR
Realms Con Corpus Christi, TX
Conjecture San Diego, CA
Whedon Fest Toronto, ON
Pacific Pinball Santa Clara, CA
Vcon Vancouver, BC
Siegecon Atlanta, GA
Gamecon Memphis Memphis, TN
Sabotecon Phoenix, AZ
Madison Zine Fest Madison, WI
Con-Cept - Montreal QC- Canada

Where Science Fiction meets Fantasy! Fan-run, non-profit for all fans of any genre of Science Fiction and Fantasy http://www.conceptsff.ca/

VCON 35-Vancouver BC- Canada

General Science Fiction and Fantasy. Started in 1971, VCON is the oldest general-interest, fan-run, science fiction and fantasy convention in Canada and the Pacific Northwest

http://www.vcon.ca/

Whedon Fest-Toronto ON- Canada, The works of Joss Whedon - Buffy, Angel, Firefly, Serenity, Dollhouse, Dr. Horrible. http://www.starrynightevents.com/

Oct 7th-10th, 2010

Ny Comic Con/ Anime Fest New York, NY
Cape Kimono Quebec, QB
Sirens Vail, CO
Creation Twilight Anaheim, CA
Creation Supernatural Chicago, IL
Anime Banzai Layton, UT
Nuke-Kon Omaha, NE
Albacon Albany, NY
http://www.conclavesf.org/cc35/index.htm"Conclave Romulus, MI
Oddcon Tampa, FL
Ultimate Horror Orlando, FL
EXPcon St. Augustine, FL
Fox Con Augustus, ME
Motaku Kansas City, MO
10th Annual Columbus Sci-Fi Convention Columbus GA

Sci-Fi, Comic Books, Games, Toys, Costuming and More. http://www.ccssc.org/

Slag-A-con 2010 - Chesterfield IN, Transformers - http://www.slagacon.com/

Oct 15th-17th, 2010
Arcana 40 St. Paul, MN
Another Anime Con Nashua, NH
A.P.E. San Fransico, CA
Con On the Cob Hudson, OH
Valleycon Fargo, ND
Hollywood Expo Hollywood, CA
Con-Version Calgary, AB
FX International Orlando, FL
Raptor Con - Pheonix City AL, Sci Fi Fantasy, http://www.raptorcon.webs.com/

Oct 22nd-24th, 2010
Browncoat Ball Charlotte, NC
Rock Con Rockford, IL
Rising star Bluefield, WV
Charcon Charleston, WV
Capclave, Washington, DC
Creation Star Trek Chicago, IL

Bakuretsu COn Colchester, VT
Blizzcon Anaheim, CA
Snafucon Reno, NV
Necrocomicon St. Petersburg, FL
Mile High Con Denver, CO
Ohio Valley Filk Worthington, OH
GMX Nashville, TN
Pinball Expo Chicago, IL
Star Trek Fan Days Plano, TX
Fandom FL Pensacola,FL
Katahdicon Millinocket, ME
XCON Myrtle Beach, SC
Mr Hush Weekend of FearMatamoras, PA

October 29th-31st, 2010
Hurricane Who Orlando, FL
Hallowcon Chattanooga, TN
Youmacon Detroit, MI
Long Beach Comic Con Long Beach, CA
World Fantasy Columbus, OH
Yaoicon Burligame, CA
Furfright Cromwell, CT
Central Canada Con Winnipeg, MB
Zombcon Seattle, WA
Hal-con Halifax, NS
Magna Next East Brunswick, NJ
Oni-con Houston, TX
OKlacon Watonga, OK
World Fantasy Convention 36 Columbus OH, Fantasy

http://www.contextsf.org/WFC/index.html

Shawnee Smith from SAW and Becker at Dragon Con...

Shawnee Smith is such an amazingly talented actress and a wonderful person. Having worked with her several times I am thrilled that she is doing so well. This panel at Dragon Con was great. Doesn't she look amazing with blonde hair... She was fantastic in SAW and is going to be even better in Law & Order: Los Angeles

Dragon Con - ALIEN

Somebody went to alot of trouble to create this amazing costume at Dragon Con. I would not want to meet that in a dark alley...