Chiller Theater in April and NYC meets

I would arrive at Chiller Theater Friday. This one had quite a few wants for me. First, I get Caroline Williams (Days of Thunder), then Barry Corbin (Dallas), Grand L Bush AKA Balrog from the Van Damme SF2 movie (also in Lethal Weapon 2 and Die Hard), and Heather Locklear (Melrose Place). Finally get Sally Struthers (Dinosaurs, All In the Family, TaleSpin) who has alluded me for over 10 years. She was sadly pro-op only. 

Then get Dominique Swain from Face/Off and Lolita. And after that 89-year-old Dyan Cannon (Heaven Can Wait, Revenge of the Pink Panther). And then one of my top wants, Christopher Lambert AKA Raiden in Mortal Kombat and also from Highlander. Lambert was looking bad and he is not even 70.

After Chiller was done for the evening saw actor Reno Wilson (fresh) and got a photo op. He was a voice actor in the Transformers movies and was in 10 episodes of the Cosby Show. Also got Diana Lynn who recognized me from the semi viral Boy George video. Got UFC fighter, wrestler, and actor Don Frye (fresh). Got updates with Burton Gilliam, Megan Ward, and Barbara Crampton. Then got Tsutomu Kitagawa (update) Hurricane Ryu (fresh) from Godzilla fame. Got the dual shot with Drac and Countess Carita. Final shot for the evening is actor Tripp Bryant randomly walking around. 

Sally Struthers

Heather Locklear

Dyan Cannon

Christopher Lambert

Full list of Chiller Day 1 photo ops

Next day at Chiller I start with Pamelyn Ferdin (Lucy Van Pelt in Charlie Brown cartoons, also in The Beguiled starring Clint Eastwood). Then I get Keith Hopwood of Hermin's Hermits fame. Keeping with the music groove I get former Rainbow drummer Chuck Burgi. I didn't like my Grand L Bush photo op from the prior day, so I went up to his table and was allowed a retake. 

Then I get Wataru Fukuda of Godzilla fame, Johnny Brennan of the Jerky Boys, and Ken Lerner (principle in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, also in The Running Man where he gets stabbed by Arnold). I then stand in one of the longer chiller lines for David Clennon, who is a rare guest from The Thing and one of the last people I still need from this movie. 

Then get Darcy DeMoss (Friday the 13th VI, Can't Buy Me Love), Scott Colomby (Caddyshack, Porky's), Lisa Pelikan (Ghoulies, Return to the Blue Lagoon), Rutanya Alda (Rocky II, Amityville II), and Jocelyn Jones (The Enforcer starring Clint Eastwood). 

Grand L Bush

David Clennon

Full list of Chiller Day 2 photo ops

With Chiller largely in my rear-view mirror, I now set my sights to some of the "easy" NYC shows. It was Saturday just after Chiller Theater. Rain was pounding all day and scheduled to pound all night. I was at the second ever marked out social hanging out. After drinking water I decided that despite the rain I wanted to try some of the NYC shows. 

I was hesitant to even try, but I figured my main want for the evening, Rebecca De Mornay (Risky Business, Runaway Train) would take place indoors and that ends in about a week. So, after much back and forth, I left the marked out social, set the GPS to avoid tolls (at least the Jersey ones), and then headed to NYC. 

My first stop was Rebecca De Mornay. Found my way inside and waited. About 10 minutes later she came out and was friendly. Signed and did photos. I'm now officially on the board!

Next show was mainly for Patrick Ball (The Pitt) and secondary for an autograph from Alden Ehrenreich AKA Young Han Solo (I met him before so didn't need the photo op). I drove my car there and found nearby parking. I begrudgingly paid $6 for an hour's worth of parking (usually I find free parking and just walk all over but all the rain put a literal damper on that strategy). 

I wait, the show breaks, and Patrick comes out and I get the photo op. Alden Ehrenreich comes out and signs my magazine then I get an updated photo op. Sadly he was using a horrid black sharpie so that was botched. 

After this I decided to bail and go back to the car since I already had photos with the rest of the actors at the show. I then drive to the Megan Thee Stallion show and park my car nearby.

Again, supposed to pay for parking as we are about 3h till that parking spot becomes free. But this time I decide not to pay the meter. I then commandeer my railing spot and the show breaks. 

I really debated if I want to wait in the rain and risk a parking ticket rather than simply bail and get some rest. Plus, I had just found out about Jason Bullock's death which didn't help my desire to say. I was almost going to call it and drive back to Jersey. But then I thought, Jason would have wanted me to stay.

Waited in the pouring rain and Megan Thee Stallion would not come out till about 1am! That was quite the agony and torture. As she works the railing and is near me I ask for a selfie and get the posed shot! Success! I then walk down the street to my car, shivering and my heart pounding, and thankfully no $65 ticket on my windshield! Thank you Jason Bullock for looking out. I then drove back to the Chiller hotel (100% toll free of course). And as I arrive I get a photo op with Jeffrey Scott of Warriors fame. 

Rebecca De Mornay

Megan Thee Stallion

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Final day at Chiller was a light one as I just hung out with some buddies and I got a photo op with singer Chris Farlowe who is best known for the song "Out of Time". This ended Chiller weekend for me.

Chris Farlowe

Jason Bullock's last ever con, and Jason Bullock's last ever meet

April would see the death of my long-time buddy Jason Bullock, who ended up succumbing to heart disease at 72. In this report will visit his last ever con and his last ever meet.  

His last ever con would be Steel City Con. Drove him there and he spent over 1K on autographs for around 10 celebrities, most notably his one of his favorite actresses, Patrica Arquette. 

My first get there is one of my main wants, actor Josh Duhamel from the Transformers movies. Then get drummer Rikki Rockett of Poison fame, which now means I completed the band.

Then I got Karla DeVito from the Bonkers cartoon, Allen Covert from Adam Sandler movies, and one of my other main wants from the show, Lori Loughlin of Full House fame. This practically completes my Full House cast minus the Olsen Twins. 

Then get actor Ty Simpkins from Jurassic World, finally after many years of skipping I got Tom Kenny AKA SpongeBob, then move to get some of the artists on site. 

Back to the main guests I got a free update with Doug Bradley AKA Pin Head and an upgrade with Child's Play director Don Mancin. Then get actress Emma Kenney (Shameless, Rosanne). My final photo op at Steel City was Corey Taylor from Slip Knot. 

Jason with Patrica Arquette

Josh Duhamel

Lori Loughlin

Full list of photo ops

Jason's final meet would be at the airport the Wednesday before Chiller Theater. We went for actor Andy Serkis. Traveling with him was his wife Lorraine Ashbourne who is also an actress. We see them and I explain to Andy that Jason is in bad shape and that he may be his final in person autograph (which sadly turned out to be true). 

While Jason was getting his stuff together, I got a photo op with Lorraine and I got Andy to sign my stuff. Andy then signed Jason's book and I prepped for them to take a picture. As Andy posed, I signaled to Lorraine to join the photo op which she promptly did (this was the quickest I've ever seen any celebrity enter a photo op). I took the photo with all 3 then I got an update with Andy. We thanked them all and they were on their way.

Jason would sadly die 3 days later, the Saturday of Chiller Theater. 

Jason obtains his final autograph

Jason's final photo op

Lorraine Ashbourne

Andy Serkis

Autographs

Scattered meets throughout April

April begins with a pre NYC/Chill Out signing with musician Bill Callahan. He was cool and I got the photo op before heading out to NYC. 

Bill Callahan

A few days after chill out I went for the Godfather of Rockabillly, Jim Heath AKA The Reverend Horton Heat. After the show he was nice and did the combo. Got some barely valids as well. 

Jim Heath AKA The Reverend Horton Heat

Full list of photo ops

Autograph

Next day went for the band Luna. My main want from there is actually not an original member of the band. It's voice actress Britta Phillips from the 80s Jem cartoon. Her husband Dean Wareham is an original member of the band, Sean Eden was there since the second album, and Lee Wall joined much later. Arrived and get the opener Jeffrey Lewis and Lee Wall. 

Then outside I got Lee Wall then finally Dean and Britta who were both nice as can be. Sweeping success! 

Full list of photo ops

A few days later I go for actor and comedian Ron Funches. After his show I got the photo op. 

Ron Funches

Around mid-April I made a quick trip to Books and Greetings in Jersey for a book signing with Law and Order actor Mark Harmon. Got the photo op with him and author Leon Carroll Jr. I also got Mark to sign a magazine for me. 

Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll Jr

Autographs

The next day I went to a Mega Church where they had various artists of Christian music and gospel music. I wanted 90-year-old Bill Gaither. Sadly, never saw him at the merch tables or leaving the venue. But got a bunch of other names.

Full list of photo ops

Next day starts with a flight of an actress I failed on in NYC many years ago. Namely, Patricia Heaton (Everybody Loves Raymond, Beethoven). We see her and she is seemingly freaked out we were at the airport. She is rough and barely does a photo op. Would not sign. Thankfully I scored a satisfactory shot. 

Go to another flight for actor David Boreanaz. He is again rough around the edges but thankfully I didn't need to ask for a photo op. I got an 8x10 signed. 

Final flight for the day is for Candace Cameron and her husband Valeri Bure. Both were very nice and did multi combos. 

Later that same evening I went to a venue for the band Crack the Sky. Everyone there is either original or core. I arrive and not 3 minutes later the first person walks out. I got band members Bobby Hird, John Palumbo, Joey D'Amico, Rick Witkowski, Joe Macre all of which were nice as can be.

Patricia Heaton

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Next day was the "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" improv. I got the main people from that in the past but this time they had Gary Anthony Williams AKA Bebop whom I missed in the past. Saw him come out the van at the hotel and he is super nice. I also got Jeff B Davis who I didn't get at that improv show the last time as I was busy getting Joel Murray and Ryan Stiles (who I didn't bother getting this time).

Jeff B Davis

Gary Anthony Williams

Next day to an event with former child actor Nathan Gamble from Dolphin's Tale 1&2. Waited for him outside but never saw him. Went inside the venue and by luck bumped into him. He was very nice.

Nathan Gamble

Towards the end of the month waited at a venue for Lenny Kaye (who is with Patti Smith's band), Jimmie Dale Gilmore (country singer who was in The Big Lebowski) and Dave Alvin (The Blasters). Have Lenny need the other two. 

Wait at the venue and get Lenny and Dave both of whom are nice but sadly we are kicked out before we can get Jimmie. 

Lenny Kaye

Dave Alvin

Next day at a government building I scored a very good name. Jensen Huang who is the founder of Nvidia. I have been a user of Nvidia graphics cards since I started getting into computers in the 90s. So meeting the guy who started this was quite surreal. He was cool and also signed. 

Also got Marc Benioff and Robert Kraft. Could not get Tim Cook going in but I also have him. Checked another spot but it was a dud. Came back to the original spot to get people leaving. Got Anthony Pratt, Tim Cook update (this time his face is slimmer), Ainsley Earhardt, and Bret Baier.

Jensen Huang

Tim Cook

Autographs

Full list of photo ops

At the end of April I would go to the airport to get some AEW names. My first one is someone I never met before and in fact failed on the last time I tried for him at the airport, Kazuchika Okada. He was cool about photo ops but declined autographs. 

I also got photo ops with Brody King (update), Tony Schiavone (update), Edge (update), Lance Archer (upgrade), and Ace Austin (fresh). Also saw Andrade and Goldust but didn't need them. Then I went to a flight for Taz as I needed him on my CS figure. He sees us and goes "stop following me, what do you want". We ask for autos he does one each. Didn't need the photo. Saw Maxwell Jacob Friedman on the same flight and got an update (and downgrade) with him.

Final AEW get was an update with Christian. He wasn't in the mood but still did the photo and didn't sign. I can never say I had a bad experience meeting Christian, but this was the worst of all my times meeting him. Props to him for still being nice after 30 or so years. 

Kazuchika Okada

Signed Taz figure

Full list of AEW photos

After getting some sleep I went to a venue later that evening for former lead guitarist of the Scorpions, Uli Jon Roth. He was in many of their early albums in the 70s but not in their hit "Rock You Like a Hurricane". After the show I got the photo op and autographs. 

Uli Jon Roth

Autographs

New York City and Chill Out con in April

In April, to coincide with Chill Out, I would make my first NYC stop of 2026. Arrived the evening prior, parked, went to sleep. Wake up the next day and my first stop would be for Michael Jackson's nephew Jaafar Jackson. Sadly, he garaged out. Then tried a spot to upgrade my photo with Arsenio Hall but he denied. 

My 2026 start in NYC is pretty rough, and sadly that remained a trend. Went to an event with Robert Pattison and other actors. It was a mob scene and there were people and barricades everywhere. Robert did almost the entire area of people and barricades....EXCEPT the part where I was at! PUNCH! He didn't stop leaving. 

To make things worse, Alana Haim who I never got also did the section I wasn't in. I got actress Sydney Lemmon who I already have and I got Jordyn Curet. Zendaya didn't do it going in but did it leaving. However, I have Zendaya and didn't want to miss actress Isabella Rossellini who was moderating a book signing q&a. So, I bailed just before Zendaya got to my side. In hindsight I could have stayed and gotten another photo op, but I didn't want to risk missing yet another name I was gunning for. 

Waiting outside the bookstore and saw Isabella Rossellini walk out. She was nice and I got the photo. This felt good because I had failed on her in 2025. Went in the bookstore and got a photo with biologist Marlene Zuk.

After a largely rough day, I decided to go to an "easy" show stop with mass gets, but primarily for Margaret Colin from Independence Day. At this spot I got Michael Esper (fresh), Richard Thomas (repeat), Jeena Yi (fresh), Kayli Carter (fresh), Marylouise Burke (repeat), Margaret Colin (fresh), Maria-Christina Oliveras (fresh), and Anika Noni Rose (fresh). Anika didn't want to do photos at first, but when I explained I just wanted a selfie she was happy to do that. I never had the desire to pay for her at a con so getting her for free was nice. 

My rough time hadn't ended because Carl Clemons denied and I didn't spot Ricardo Chavira, both of whom were on my want list. Final spot for the evening was a club with Fast and the Furious actor Sung Kang. When he was done there was a photo op line and I managed to get the op. This ended my evening.

Isabella Rossellini

Margaret Colin

Full list of Day 1 NYC photo ops

Next day is Chill Out Con. My first get is Giorgio Cantarini from Gladiator. Then get the twin girls from the Godfather, Jeanne Savarino and Janet Savarino. Then got an upgrade with Debbe Dunning. I was commissioned to get someone Boy George autographs and that landed me a free updated photo op. After the photo op he banned real cameras and I went semi viral. 

Then I got boxer Vinny Paz who refereed the Bart Gunn vs Butterbean Brawl For All match. Then Ross Bagley (Fresh Prince of Bel Air), Brett Scallions from the band Fuel, and my main goal for this con, Joseph Marcell AKA Geoffrey from Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Ended my time at Chill Out with a Brooke Shields update. 

Joseph Marcell

Full list of Chill Out photo ops

After Chill Out headed to NYC to the "easy" show spots mainly for Rebecca De Mornay and Nathan Lane. First spot is for Rebecca. At that spot Ralph Macchio is randomly spotted and he is with his daughter Julia Macchio (she was in Cobra Kai). I got a photo op with both. Julia is fresh and for Ralph it's my second ever photo op, marking a 15-year update. 

Waited for Rabecca and while I went upstairs to check if she's mingling, she apparently ran to the subway and didn't stop. PUNCH. Went to the next spot in the hopes of seeing Nathan Lane but he apparently snuck out. At that spot I did get actors Christopher Abbott and Jonathan Cake among others, so it wasn't a total loss. But my NYC roughness bled to the next day as I didn't get my two main targets. Spoiler alert, I would make up both of these in the future. 

Full list of Day 2 NYC photo ops

Scattered meets throughout March Part 2

On an evening I decided to try for old school English guitarist Albert Lee. After the show he came out to the merch table and was friendly. I also grabbed the barely valids. 

Full list of photo ops

On another day I went to try to see if some Miracle on Ice hockey players were gonna show up at a spot. They didn't. So, I went to a nearby spot for Joan Lunden of GMA fame and Warrior Award recipient (who I already have). She was very friendly and even put us on her IG.

Joan Lunden

Autographs

Next day a quick flight for Hayden Christensen who was flying in for a con. This was mainly for autographs. He did 2 per and I also got the photo op. The autos alone are a $200+ convention value! He is wearing hat and shades for the picture so that is a downgrade for me.

Hayden Christensen

Autographs

Another day another flight, this time for actress Bridgit Mendler (Good Luck Charlie). She did the photo and was a strict one per. 

Bridgit Mendler

Autographs

Next day a quick folk singer Rhiannon Giddens meet. Waited at the venue, she arrived, was nice.

Rhiannon Giddens

Next day I went to a venue to get the original bassist of Phish, Mike Gordon. Saw him leave the bus but sadly only did a photo op through the fence. 

Went to a restaurant where singer Jewel was dining, she came out and did photo ops but sadly with shades. Since this was impromptu I had nothing to get signed. Checked another venue then came back to the Mike Gordon venue then decided to call it. 

Mike Gordon

Jewel

Next day starts with a flight for deaf actor Troy Kotsur. He was in the Jim Carrey movie "The Number 23". His wife Deanne Bray is also an actress. Saw him sitting at the gate and wrote a message on my phone asking for photo ops. Showed it to him. Both him and his wife were nice as can be.

Later that evening I went to try for Jewel again to upgrade my shades shot and also try to get autographs. When we see her, she remembered seeing us from the prior day and was not very accommodating. By some miracle I got lucky and managed to get a full combo. 

Troy Kotsur

Deanne Bray

Jewel

Autograph

Next day I would try for the band The Ataris, best know for their cover of Don Henley's "The Boys of Summer" in 2003. The way this setup is there's a performance and then a photo op session. The performance starts with just the original lead singer Kristopher Roe. After he leaves stage his band members take the stage. We have bassist Mike Davenport, lead guitarist John Collura, and drummer Dustin Phillips. None are technically original, but Mike joined in the second album and John joined in the third album. Meaning both were there for their hit song making them core members of the Ataris. Dustin is barely valid. 

After they were done, I was expecting a full band photo but turns out the Kristopher Roe left. PUNCH! Now it's a photo op session with the other members. I am heart crushed but I make the best out of it and position myself in between the two core members. 

Dustin Phillips, John Collura, and Mike Davenport

Next day I go to a q&a event with actress Tovah Feldshuh (Law and Order, Walking Dead). Thankfully she did a table after the show which made things easier. I bought a CD and get the combo no issue.

Tovah Feldshuh

Autograph

Final endeavor for march would be an event for author Salman Rushdie. Actors Arian Moayed and Omar Metwally would also be there. I met the former before, never met the latter. At the event I mooch some hors d'oeuvres. Never saw Salman come through but both Arian and Omar come through where I was waiting, and both are nice as can be. 

Arian Moayed

Omar Metwally

Awesome Con DC, Creature Feature Gettysburg, and more

In March I attended Awesome Con in DC. This con seems to have a thing for Dr Who. And they had some older Dr Who names here. First, I get Frazer Hines who in addition to Dr Who was a child actor in a Charlie Chaplin movie. Then get 86-year-old Carole Ann Ford and actress Nicola Bryant.

Move away from Dr Who and get some artists then actor Alessandro Juliani (Battlestar Galactica, The 100). Then back to Dr Who with actress Sophie Aldred. Then get actress Molly C Quinn (We're the Millers). Ended Awesome Con with Jewel Staite and Sean Maher.

Frazer Hines

Carole Ann Ford

Full list of photo ops

Next day at the airport I wait for UFC fighter Justin Gaethje. While waiting I see some awesome con guests leave. Got Sam Riegel, Whitney Moore, and Alexander Ward all for free. Then Justin arrives and was nice as he signed and did photos. 

Checked a flight in case of randoms and Michael Urie is spotted arriving. I get another photo with him.

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Later in March I attended Creature Feature in Gettysburg. My main wants there were child actors from Children of the Corn and Halloween. 

First off get Robby Kiger from Children of the Corn. Then got Lloyd Kaufman again. There were plenty of actors from The Toxic Avenger I would have liked to get but so many of them and no splitters meant I sadly had to skip. 

I got Terrance Zdunich from "Repo! The Genetic Opera". Not familiar with that but I knew someone with extra items, so I was able to get a free photo op. Then I get Anne Marie McEvoy from Children of the Corn and Brian Andrews from Halloween. And finally, Linda Miller from King Kong escapes. 

Drive to Baltimore to try for actresses AJ and Aly at a venue. I got AJ in NYC never got Aly. Don't see them pre but I get the opener Hayden Blount. So now I have to wait till post. On exits I get Hayden Blount again this time no shades. Then wait some more. Finally, they both come out and they are not really trying to stop for everyone but I manage to get selfies with each. Success! 

Aly Michalka

AJ Michalka

Full list of photo ops

Scattered meets throughout March Part 1

First stop for march I go to a spot for basketball player Kevin Durant who has also been in movies. Go to another spot for Wolfgang Puck but he wasn't there. Tried a government building to see who was there but nothing good. Went back to the Wolfgang Puck spot and he was sitting in the restaurant with his son Byron. Both were super nice as they signed and took photos. 

Go back to the Kevin Durant spot and he signs 3-4 autos but takes no photos. Went to another spot to try for Jesse Welles. Saw singer S.G Goodman then gave up. 

Final spot for the evening is for the old school blues rock band The Yardbirds. Unfortunately, only one original member, drummer Jim McCarty. The rest are barely valid. The only other notable one is Kenny Aaronson who played with Rick Derringer on many of his late 70s albums but sadly wasn't with him for the wrestling stuff. But all were nice and did photo ops no problem. 

Byron Puck and Wolfgang Puck

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Next day I went to a venue for musician Michael Andrews. Him and Gary Jules recorded a cover for the Tears for Fears song "Mad World", and this was used in the soundtrack for the awesome movie Donnie Darko (and also my preferred version of the song). So, I had to get that. I waited pre and saw him with a hoodie. He was super nice and even removed his hoodie for the photo op when I asked. I then got in a spat with venue staff who asked me to stop coming which I declined. I was then promised "consequences" if I go on coming. Fourth months later I still await said consequences. There were other people to get in his band but I didn't want to wait till the end of the night for post-show. So, I called it. 

Michael Andrews

Next day would start for a very cool and unique meet. Namely, Adam Christian Johnson who is best known as the Pelosi podium guy from January 6, 2021. He became one of the most prominent and iconic images of January 6, just behind the horns guy and the Pelosi feet guy.  

He was visiting town and I managed to contact him and say I wanted to meet him. He asked me to text him info on who I am, which I did. Eventually he got back to me and arranged to meet up with me at the airport in the early morning. He was cool and talkative and happily did the photo op.

Then went to a government building but only saw billionaires Jared Isaacman and Bill Ackman. Final spot for the evening was a comedy show for actor Matt Rife. Pre I got comedian Martin Amini but had to wait till post show to meet Matt. He did one combo per person leaving. Got Martin Amini again leaving. 

Adam Christian Johnson

Matt Rife

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Couple of days later I attended Blerdcon mainly to meet Redman. Got actor/comedian Godfrey, got barely valid voice actor LaKira Porter, and finally Redman who even gave me a free photo op in exchange for giving him my N50 Pental Pen marker. 

Full list of photo ops

Made a stop to Monstermania in Cherry Hill. I wanted the Welcome to Derry kids but sadly they were all so expensive and I had no splitters. I was commissioned to get someone some Bruce Dickinson autographs which I did. The lone photo op I got at Mastermania was actor Rohan Campbell (Halloween Ends).

Rohan Campbell

Next evening I go for the soul group The Stylistics which feature two original members. First get the barely valid Gregory Naar. Then we spot Airrion Love in a wheelchair, and he happily comes over and does photo ops. Unfortunately, Herb Murrell is already in the bus but we ask Airrion to tell him that we want a photo op. He comes out the bus and is as nice as can be.

Full list of photo ops 

Couple of days later I go for legendary photographer, 87-year-old Henry Diltz. His photos were used on many album covers for James Taylor, The Doors, and others. After his thing he was meeting fans doing multi combos and signing as he shakes. It's incredible to see this old man struggling to be so accommodating while so many young people barely do anything. 

Henry Diltz

Autographs