Monster Mania Connecticut

Well, we’re finally back from the convention this past weekend and I’m almost caught up with things. Almost being the operative word… But I thought I would take a moment and post some pics we took from the show. So read on for more on our weekend in Hartford, Connecticut!

As some of you already know, we always attend the Monster Mania show, which takes place twice a year in Cherry Hill, NJ. However, this year they decided to add a third show, but at another location. So, this past weekend we packed up the trailer and van and headed 5 1/2 hours East for the Monster Mania show in Hartford, CT. Although the hotel layout was different, and the vibe of the show was not like Cherry Hill, we still had a blast. Here are just a few of the pics we took along the way…

First up, I went in to see Chris Sarandon and presented him with a Fright Night t-shirt. He loved it and was gracious enough to take a picture with me. When I mentioned that the artist (Jeff Zornow) was also at the show, he told me to make sure to send him over to say hi. Very cool guy and nothing at all like Jerry Dandrige…hehe…

I also had a chance to meet Heather Langenkamp, who was there with her friend Thommy Huston (His Name Was Jason) and her niece and nephew. She was great and he niece and nephew stopped by our table to get a zombified caricature drawn by Zornow…

On the way out of the autograph room, I decided to stop by Lisa Wilcox’s table to meet her as well. I’ve always had a soft spot for Nightmare on Elm Street part 4, and it was really cool to meet her in person. She ended up stopping by our table at the end of the show to pick up a shirt for her son.

While at our table I saw a fellow vendor from Bully Belts walk by sporting this customized version of our CHUD shirt. Damn, that is friggin’ cool!

Normally at shows I don’t get to leave the table long enough to meet the major guests. But this weekend was different…. On Sunday, we heard that the line for Robert Englund was pretty short by mid-afternoon so my buddy Tim and I ran over there to meet him. What a guy… He’s so cool in person and actually makes conversation with you so you don’t have to just stand there trying to think of something to say. All I can say is that I’ve never been so happy to be strangled in my life..

By the end of the show we were all tired and ready to pack up. We usually stick around until Monday so there was no rush to break down our table. So, while everyone else was leaving, we stuck around until the last person was gone. And one of them happened to be Robert Rusler (Nightmare on Elm St. part 2, Weird Science, Thrashin’), who stopped by our table at the end of the day. It always seems that the guys who play the biggest jerks on film are the nicest in person. He’s no exception…so cool and gracious. We chatted for awhile about his new project and love for Universal Horror Monsters (which he proudly displays on his arm in the form of a huge tattoo). We hooked him up with a Wolfman’s Got Nards shirt and he was cool enough to take this pic with us.

All in all, it was a great time. Next up, Monster Mania in August!