Final con of 2021, Wrestlecade in North Carolina

I decided to attend Wrestlecade in Winston-Salem, NC. The con was PACKED with names. But my wants there were few. I had someone to travel with and split costs. So I thought why not make it my last con for the year. Especially since Boris Zhukov was there and there aren't very many left from the golden age Hulk Hogan era that are both alive and I have never met. Bushwacker Butch is another hopefully he comes around in 2022.

Also I knew someone with lots of items to get signed, so I was able to get a few upgrades/updates for free! Pierre Carl Ouellet was the only repeat shot I paid for.

First off I get Brock Anderson, son of Arn Anderson. Then I get a dual shot with him and his father. Then I get Fallah Bahh of Impact Wrestling fame. Then my main want from this show, Boris Zhukov. I get him on the Bolsheviks entry of the first WWE_E. I also got him on my NWA poster as Private Jim Nelson. 

Next up, I go to Pierre Ouellet of the Quebecers. Amazingly he made a return to wrestling and is now known as PCO. I got him before as Jean Pierre Lafitte. But he was wearing an eye patch to portray the character so I wanted a photo op with no eye patch. I got a photo op with him and got him to sign the Quebecers entry of the first WWE_E. Unfortunately I didn't get the op I really wanted because he had all kinds of things on his face and head (correlating to his current gimmick). I wanted a Pierre Ouellet op not so much a PCO op. He also did ops with crazy eyes I asked for a regular eyes shot but that didn't help too much. 

Then I finally meet Chelsea Green. And it was off to Sting. I didn't need him but since I had the chance to get a free update with Crow Sting I thought why not. Though they used their own camera for some reason.

After Sting I improve my shot with the Rock and Roll Express. Then Jay White of Impact Wrestling and New Japan fame. I meet the children of Billy Gunn, Colten Gunn and Austin Gunn. Then Thom Latimer AKA Bram from Impact Wrestling. 

Next up, Allysin Kay AKA Sienna from Impact Wrestling. She is now part of a tag team called Hex with Marti Bell. I got the dual shot. And I got a dual shot with Jackie Fulton and Bobby Fulton (both of which I had single shots with before). Got Danhausen of ROH fame since he wasn't expensive and has the cool gimmick.

I see Baby Doll again and say hi to her since she knows me. I get another shot with her. And finally ended things with a Matt Hardy upgrade. As shocking as it may sound, I never got a good shot with him. My airport shots from many years ago he has hat and shades. And my Hardy family op from MCW he has facial hair and is obstructed by Reby Sky and King Maxwell (so I can't really crop them out). So that was a cool way to round up this con. Funnily enough as we were leaving we see Matt Hardy walking the street, and I get a selfie for shit and giggles. 

Boris Zhukov

Matt Hardy

Ful list of photo ops (minus Sting)

Sting photo op

Some scattered meets in November, including a sports meet!

Early November I would go for boxer Sugar Ray Leonard. I don't normally go for sports but I was nearby for other stuff and he's a big name and I had his flight. So I figured why not. He was super nice. I asked him if he would remove the mask and he put it down. And got him to sign a boxing glove. Success! 

Photo op

Autographs

Next up, comedian and actor Bobcat Goldthwait from the Police Academy movies. Came out of the venue and was super nice. Removed mask without asking, signed.

Photo op

Autographs

Then I went to NYC for a non-combo related endeavor. So I stopped by to get a name I missed, namely Alley Mills AKA the mom from Wonder Years. She is the last person from the cast that I never met. First I get Jonathan Spivey in the show program (didn't get his autograph the last time). Then I get Dan Lauria to sign an 8x10 of both him and her.

When alley comes out she is super nice. Got the photo op and got her to sign 4 items including the show program, She was even asking me where I got the solo pic of her. I then go to a spot to wait for actor Simu Liu. He eventually arrives and despite only a handful of us, he sadly blanks. This ended my time in NYC for the rest of 2021

Photo op

Autographs

Sadly my cast shot is still missing Josh Saviano AKA Paul. Wasn't able to get his autograph when I met him.

Leslie Odom Jr from the Murder on the Orient Express remake. Had his flight and wait for him. He comes through, stops and is super nice. After the autographs I go for the photo op. Sadly he declines to remove the mask. Fail. 

Photo op

Autographs

An evening in New York City after Atlantic City

After I was done with Atlantic City, it was off to New York City. I found free parking just a few blocks from Times Square. And right there and then I was in the vicinity of where I needed to be. Score! 

For my first spot I try for actor Hunter Parrish. Jeff Daniels is also there but I have him and he's not nice anyway. As the spot let out they said celebs wouldn't be stopping but you could watch them leave. Of course this doesn't deter me as I know I can follow the celeb for a block or two and ask anyway. I see a guy with a mask leave and wonder if that's Hunter. Turns out it was indeed Hunter and by the time I figured that out he was lost in the crowd. Fail. 

Off to the next spot. At this spot is actress Patty McCormack from The Bad Seed and the TV show The Ropers. Judith Ivey was supposed to be there but she got injured. Thankfully I have her and needed most everybody else besides her!  

To boot, everyone at this spot was super nice and super friendly. And there would only be one other combo hunter besides me. If only it could always be this way I would actually enjoy doing this more. 

First up stage actor Jonathan Spivey. Spivey was wondering "who is this for?" when I wanted my op. First I clarified that I wanted a photo with not of. Then he asked again "who is this for?" Not sure what he thinks I was going to do with it. But I simply responded "for me". He took the op. 

Then Dan Lauria from Wonder Years. Met him a few times but got some photos signed, the show program, and an updated op. Then get actress Alma Cuervo photo op and autograph on the show program.

After that Tony Roberts who has been in Annie Hall and other Woody Allen movies. Got the op and the autograph on the show program. Actually wish I printed photos for him.

Waited and Patty McCormack comes through, along with actress Lindsay Crouse. She is super sweet. Signed my 8x10s, signed my program, and took a photo op. As her and Lindsay were calling a car I waited a few feet from  them cause I still needed Lindsay. Patty asks me who I'm waiting for and I point to Lindsay. She tells Lindsay that I'm waiting. Then I get the photo op and autograph on the program.

The other combo hunter notices a man riding a bike. He thinks it's John Rubenstein. I chase the bike, it's now across the street. I yell "JOHN" and it is indeed him. He waited till the walking light changed so I could cross the street. Asked him for the op he goes "with my helmet on?" and he removed it and I took the op. Then got him on the program. Sadly did not see actress Alley Mills (the mom from Wonder Years). 

Head on to the next spot to try for actor Simon Russell Beale. I wait for the spot to let out then eventually see him with a mask. I ask for the op he is hesitant but agrees and puts down his mask. I get the op. I ask for the autograph on the program he goes "we're not supposed to" as he got whisked away.

Sadly I forgot to wait for actor Adrian Lester who has been in some movies. Adam Godley was there as well but I had him already.

Then I meet up at a spot with Vanessa the Jersey Shore Stalker to get the info for the next and final spot for the evening.

When there I see epicness. Sadly epicness in both Ryan Reynold and Blame Lively completely blank. Taylor swift is there and also blanks. 

Anya Taylor-Joy, Sadie Sink, and Sophie Turner also do nothing. I need Anya already have the other two.

I got a repeat shot with Zazie Beetz from Deadpool 2. Actor Jonathan Majors comes and he is super nice. I even get another shot as he leaves because of a photobomb. I get a photo op with actress Mckenna Grace from Ghostbusters Afterlife. She is super nice. I also get actor Paul Hauser from Cruella. 

Sophie Turner walks away and ignores. As Sadie Sink leaves I try to catch her attention with our photo op from RICC 2017. I was hoping to get an update since she is more grown up now. I say "Sadie remember this" she goes "oh my God". I then ask for an updated photo but she ignores. Hey at least I was the only one at the spot to actually get her attention. 

Ryan, Blake, and Taylor all sneak out. The spot pretty much winds. Security guards gone. everyone waiting gone. Me and Vanessa are in the car about to leave. We then see Anya and her girlfriend just hanging out. OMG! We have a clean shot at them! We wait and their uber arrives. We ask her 2 on 1 and she declines us. Dammit! 

This ended my time in NYC as I would leave the city, nap at a rest stop, and go home. Despite the failures, overall a very solid evening with lots of solid names! So I was happy with my haul.

Patty McCormack

Jonathan Majors

Mckenna Grace

Autographs

Full list of NYC photo ops

Williamsburg Nostalgia Fest and New Jersey Horror Con in Atlantic City

Almost back to back I would attend two cons, Williamsburg Nostalgia Fest and New Jersey Horror Con in AC. 

First stop, Williamsburg! My main want there would be Beverly Washburn who was in the Disney classic Old Yeller. Anything vintage Disney is a treasure. 

I arrive and most people are on lunch brake. So I hang around and wait. George Chakiris comes to his table. I met him before but I was commissioned to get a West Side Poster signed. So I get him to sign that and get a photo op update. The amazing thing is he is 87 and looks and moves like he's in his 50s. It's truly incredible. I should have asked him what his secret is.

Next up I meet Andrew Pine (Gettysburg). Then his wife Heather Lowe who is also an actress. Then I get my main want Beverly Washburn who is friendly. Then Claude Jarman Jr who was in Rio Grande starring John Wayne. Then Audrey Dalton (1953 Titanic movie). And finally actress Laurie Prange.

Beverly Washburn

Full list of Williamsburg Nostalgia Fest photos

Next up, Atlantic City! My main wants there are Clint Howard and Lita Ford (whom I failed on in the street).

First stop is Diane Salinger. She is most known for Pee Wee Herman but I like her from Batman Returns as Penguin's mom. She was wearing a face shield. As I approached her I made sure to try and be extra nice cause I knew I would have to sweet talk her to take a normal photo op. I paid the cash to her handler, got the shield shot. Then I tried to ask nicely for a no shield shot. At first she refused but then she said she would hold her breath and do it just for me. Success! 

Next up I go to Gorgeous George's table. I've known her for years so told her hello and said I had some business for her today. Someone had commissioned me to get 15 things signed for him. Paid her, got the autographs, and got a photo op update.

Then I go to someone that has eluded me for a while, one of the last Back of the Future characters I have yet to meet. Namely, Donald Fullilove aka the mayor. Then got Tamara Glynn from Halloween 5.

I stand in Lita Ford's line, get a photo op with her. Was good to get her out of the way after failing on her a few months ago. Then stood in line for Clint Howard, another main want from this con. Then got Scott MacDonald (Jack Frost), Jon Abrahams (House of Wax, Scary Movie), John Capodice (Ace Ventura), Walter Phelan AKA Dr Satan in House of 1000 Corpes, Naomi Grossman (American Horror Story), and Kimberly J Brown (Rose Red).

Decided to bite the bullet on Ritchie Ramon. Then played mini golf with Kush from NYC. It was my first time ever playing mini golf, somehow on my first ever strike I hit a hole in one. I couldn't believe it. I should have played the lotto.

Ended my time in Atlantic City with Dave Sheridan of Scary Movie fame. And it was off to New York City. 

Diane Salinger

Lita Ford

Clint Howard

Full list of New Jersey Horror Con photos

Chiller Theater 30th Anniversary report

So this was an exciting time! Back to Chiller after two whole years! My top want was Scott Baio from Charles in Charge and Bugsy Malone fame. 

My first stop would be NYC. I wanted to try for actress Justine Bateman. First I try another spot to check if I see anyone, but I didn't. So I went to Justine's spot. Unfortunately I would stand at the wrong door, and by the time I realized that she had left. Wow what a heartbreaking bust. Most NYC folks got her the night before so they did not come to this spot. Extra set of eyes would have truly helped me. 

Go to the Chiller hotel with Vanessa the Jersey Shore Stalker and friend from NYC and get a photo op with Rob Ryder of Warriors fame. A good start. Hang out a little more with Chris who I hadn't seen since before COVID and then sleep. Wake up the next day for my first official day at Chiller. Meet up with James, Suzanne, and Danny whom I haven't seen since before COVID. They were getting Donna D'Errico of Baywatch fame. I already have her but got her autograph on my Playboy magazine cover already signed by 3 others!

Next up, to the four Mr. Belvedere actors. Then one of my top wants at the show, Debbie Dunning of Home Improvement fame. Next up Julie McCullough (Growing Pains), Jonathan Schmock (Ferris Bueller's Day Off), Bruce Ornstein (Saturday Night Fever), Richard Edson (Spike in the Super Mario Bros movie), and Chelcie Ross (Basic Instinct). Then I wait in line for Scott Baio and we get the traditional Chiller Theater bomb scare. 

While outside both Scott Baio and Jere Burns (Incredibles 2, Burn Notice) do paid photo ops and I grab those. Then go back to NYC to try a spot and see people, but sadly again see no one. Since it was about to rain, I decide to bail on the city and go back to Chiller. At that point they had let people back in, the con ended, and I chilled at the concert

Start Sunday with Floyd Vivino. I'd never heard of Uncle Floyd but I got him for Good Morning Vietnam. Next up I get four Friday the 13th names, Kristine DeBell (Meatballs starring Bill Murray), singer Rex Smith, and David Seltzer who co wrote the original Willy Wonka.

I wanted two actors from Day of the Dead, but they were $40 an autograph free photo op. Couldn't pay $80 for both, so I tried to negotiate photo op only prices to no avail. It was the end of the show. No one was at their table and they were sitting down doing nothing. I was offering them money to simply snap a photo. Can't believe they refused this. I did however get free photo ops with four people from Night of the Living Dead. So that was a good deal.

Ended my time at Chiller with actor Lance Kerwin who only took $10 for the photo op and porn star and actress Ginger Lynn who did a regular op and a hug op.

Debbe Dunning

Scott Baio

Full list of Chiller Theater photo ops part 1

Full list of Chiller Theater photo ops part 2

Baywatch Playboy autograph