Creature Feature in Gettysburg, Station Unity in Maryland

On a weekend I decided to attend two cons. 

First up, Creature Feature in Gettysburg. I didn't need any of the big names, so I went on a Friday to get what little I needed. The bigger names were all saturday/sunday. I mainly needed Kimberly Beck from F13th fame and a few get if there names. It wasn't too far for me so I thought why not. I also knew someone with consignments so I was able to split combo prices.

First up, I get Nightmare on Elm Street 2 director Jack Sholder. Then actress Kimberly Beck. Then a rare Halloween guest in John Michael Graham. And finally added me some Texas Chain Saw Massacre names in John Dugan and Edwin Neal. Edwin actually offered free ops if you said your name was Murray, and ops were $2500 if you worked for people magazine. It was all stated on his price list. This ended my time at Creature Feature.

Kimberly Beck

Full list of Creature Feature photo ops

The following Sunday I attended Station Unity in Maryland. The con wasn't very well attended which led me to worry if celebs would even be there Sunday, but thankfully everyone was. Plus I also had people to split with.

My main want is Geoffrey Blake from Forrest Gump, Critters 3, Men at Work, and other movies. He was nice as can be. Sadly I don't think I saw anyone go up to his table which sucks cause it might discourage names like him from getting booked. These are half decent names that don't do a lot so it was good to see him here. 

Then I get Taylor Buck from Superman and Lois, Tony Amendola from Mask of Zorro and Once Upon a Time, and Erik Valdez from Superman and Lois.

Ended my time there with actress Crystal Lowe of Final Destination fame.

Geoffrey Blake

Crystal Lowe

Full list of Station Unity photo ops

Meet of the year after many failures

For the last 10-12 years I've been trying for Steve Martin. And he never agrees to do the photo op. Sometimes he signs. Sometimes he does nothing. But never the op. Even worse, I didn't go to a CD signing in NYC where he ended up doing ops. Big mistake (they had said it was no ops). 

The last time I saw Steve Martin was at an event last December. He completely denied everyone while wearing a mask. The time before that pre COVID where I got him after a show he did, he signed wouldn't do ops. When I pleaded him for an op he goes "boring".

Fast forward to the latest Steve Martin and Martin Short tour. I embark to what I believe is a fruitless endeavor to get a photo op with Steve Martin (already have a few ops with Martin Short).

Day 1

Start in the evening for his private flight coming in. He completely declines just like last December (except no mask). Martin short declines someone an op but actually signs for Clint from Pittsburgh. Go to the hotel we don't ask Steve Martin as he has hotel staff escorting him but Martin Short also declines an op.

Day 2

Here we see if we could get them coming from from the show (they were on for 2 nights). We wait and finally the SUV pulls up. Steve Martin, again declines without a mask and does nothing. Martin Short also declines. 

Day 3

At this point we are all battered and bruised. I am on my own and have to decide if I want to try again. It is early evening and I am debating if I want to even try. After some back and forth I think to myself, well let me spend some time there see if I see him leaving for the show.

I arrive and park in position. At this point I am blind. I have no idea if he's still there, if he left for the show, or if he's out sight seeing. Nothing. Just parking there blind and waiting. As I wait, about 40 minutes later I see Steve Martin walking from the nearby restaurant to the hotel. I'm like WTF! But it gets worse, he is wearing a mask. I debate if I should even ask with the mask on but I say fuck it, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity! Steve Martin just walking by himself, and me waiting here by myself. 

I go "excuse me Mr. Martin may I have a photo with you and maybe an autograph". He looks and goes "no autographs, I'll take a picture, quick". I am floored! I am about to take the op then I ask "do you think you could put the mask down" and he goes "no I'm not...well ok quick". And I snap the money shot right there as I thank him and he continues to walk in!

I can't believe how many things went right there! I waited blindly, caught him as he finished eating at a restaurant, he agreed to a photo with me for the first time ever, AND he agreed to remove the mask? The combo Gods were truly looking out for me! 

Imagine that, I went for DJ Spinderella, she had a mask on and refused to remove it for the op. I went for Steve Martin, he had a mask on and pulled it down for the op. It truly goes to show you the unpredictability of combo hunting. A denial from Spinderella and a compliance from Steve Martin? I'll take that trade!

For those that say it was rude to ask to remove the mask and he could have ended up walking in and denying me altogether, that is fine with me. Mask shots are garbage. So asking him to remove the mask was a risk I had no problem embarking on. Because I had everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Steve Martin

WWE Monday Night RAW Report

WWE RAW is in town. So I prepared for my first WWE trek since COVID seems to be eroding. Which means opportunities to make up for past mask shots! I had a whole bunch of flights coming in the day before the show, sadly half of them got canceled or moved. This included Bobby Lashley (would have been cool to get a 14 year later update), Dominick Mysterio (needed an upgrade), and Austin Theory (only have a mask shot which I don't count). PUNCH! 

This was truly heartbreaking. But the Omos flight was still good and I only have a mask shot with him. So I still went. Akira Tozawa was on the same flight but I didn't need him as I met him many times.

So I go to the airport and wait. From a distance I see someone wearing a Superman shirt that looks like a wrestler. Turns out it is Damian Priest who I never met! He was on the same flight and I didn't even know it! I guess the combo Gods wanted to make up for the punches. And they did good on that front! He is super nice. Get him on an 8x10 and the WWE_E V4. 

Next up, there he is, the colossal Omos. Was super nice and did a combo per person. Didn't have a mask on or anything. Never saw Tozawa turns out he didn't have luggage so he must have slipped out. Missed someone I didn't need, got someone I needed in Damian. I'll take it. Two fresh wrestling names for such a short time at the airport is a treat for me these days (I consider Omos fresh since my original shot is a mask one).

I go to another airport to see who I see. I see Finn Balor so I get an update. After I left Io Sky did mask ops but I have her. I then go check out hotels and I see Byron Saxton and Io Sky checking in. Byron Saxton knows me so I go up to him tell him hello. I also tell him that I could get him on the WWE_E V4 which he says he is happy to do. I go on the side and wait for him to be done checking in. While waiting Corey Graves declines me. Byron finally approaches me, I get the autograph and an updated shot. 

Io Sky is wearing a mask as she checks in. I get her on her entry in the same book. She asks me what book it is and that she's never seen it. How cool is that? This ended my evening.

Damian Priest

Omos

Full list of Day 1 photo ops

Wait at the hotel the next day and first person I see is The Miz coming back from his signing. I get an update and Miz is cool as always. Also get him on the WWE_E V4. I seek Kevin Patrick. Fresh name alert! So I approach him and he is very cool. Then see and get Dexter Lumas and Tamina, both updates. Doudrop pops up and all of us gang up on her. She signs my 8x10s and does photos. Super nice lady. At this point the hotel asks us to only ask outside and we are welcome to hang out inside as long as we don't ask. So we go outside.

Outside we see Dakota Kai and Io Sky. Get updates with both and Dakota on the WWE_E V4. Get a Mike Rome update and then see Usos and Angelo Dawkins. Jimmy (I think) outright declines and Angelo ignores but Jey (I think) comes over. I have them all from before anyway.

Come back at night and I get Kevin Patrick and Dexter Lumas on the inside cover of the WWE_E V4, and Mike Rome and Corey graves on their entries.

Doudrop

Kevin Patrick

Full list of Day 2 photo ops

Last day of WWE, we start with the airport. Austin Theory is my main one, but he's leaving from the airport most people don't use. A big let down cause that means we will miss a ton of people going for him. But we start in the main airport to see who we see. See referee Rod Zapata and get an update. Angelo Dawkins shows up. We get ready to ask but he lies down on a chair with a hat on his face as if sleeping. SMH. Can't believe this guy became a dick. Guess hanging with the Usos rubbed off on him.

Wait a bit more then see Montez Ford and Bianca Belair wearing masks. I have them so I didn't bother to try for ops but Bianca did a mask shot. I got them both on the WWE_E V4. At this time we had to leave to the next airport. I knew Doudrop was coming soon but thankfully got her the day before and didn't have to wait for her. 

On the next airport I knew two flights for sure, Austin Theory and Rey Mysterio. First person we see is Asuka. She is her usual friendly self. Get her on the WWE_E V4. Spot Ciampa from a distance. Get a combo on the WWE_E V4. Then finally Austin Theory shows up and is cool. Get the op and his auto on the WWE_E V4.

Next up Rey Mysterio shows up and his is usual friendly self. Update and auto on the WWE_E V4. In all the excitement I forgot to get Austin Theory on my 8x10s. But no worries he isn't going anywhere for a while. Track him down and get the photos signed. Also see Omos again and get him on an 8x10. He remembered us from 2 days ago. Get updates with Akira Tozawa, Kevin Owens, and Adam Pearce. And get Pearce to sign the inside cover of the WWE_E V4. I told him he has no entry he said I must have an old edition, but I pointed out it's the newest one.

Austin Theory

Full list of Day 3 photo ops

Now to showcase autographs

Full list of autographs part 1

Full list of autographs part 2

WWE_E V4

Damian Priest
Byron Saxton
Io Sky
The Miz
Dakota Kai
Kevin Patrick (inside cover)
Dexter Lumas (inside cover)
Mike Rome
Corey graves
Montez Ford (Streets Profits entry)
Bianca Belair 
Asuka
Ciampa
Austin Theory
Rey Mysterio
Adam Pearce (inside cover)

Monstermania Cherry Hill and Steel City Con

In one weekend I would attend both Monstermania in Cherry Hill and Steel City Con. My first Steel City Con in years. Unfortunately both would be severely ruined by cancellations. 

On the Monstermania side, Marley Shelton would be announced and canceled. Additionally, I had planned to go to Monstermania Friday and Steel City Saturday. W Earl Brown was supposed to be there all 3 days. Then he was changed to Saturday and Sunday. PUNCH! My plans were already in place at that point.

On the Steel City Side both Mia Farrow and Jennifer Grey, both wants of mine, canceled. 

Despite that there will still people I could get at both shows. With Alicia Silverstone being my top want for the weekend.

First off, Monstermania. I get Leo Rossi and Dick Warlock from Halloween II fame. Then make up artist Greg Nicotero, and finally Debra S Hayes from Friday the 13th part 2.

Full list of Monstermania photo ops

Autograph

Next up, Steel City Con. I get my top want Alicia Silverstone out of the way since she had a long line. Then it was smooth sailing from there on. Got actress Grace Van Dien and voice actress Judy Kuhn. I was thinking of getting Tom Payne but he was pricey and I had no one to split with so I didn't get him.

Rounded up my time at Steel City with X-Men Animated creators Eric and Julia Lewald. And make up artist Nick Maley who is best known for his work on Yoda.

Alicia Silverstone

Full list of Steel City con photo ops

Kicking off August with a few meets and a con

Start August with Baha men, best know for the early 2000s song "Who Let The Dogs Out". After the show they were super friendly and met with all fans. I'm sure some of them are barely valid, but I did get the main two singers. Dyson Knight (who yells actual phrase WHO LET THE DOGS OUT" and lead singer Rik Carey.

Baha Men photos

Next up to Philly for Icons of Wrestling AKA RF Con. I mainly needed Slick because my old ops are not really valid. I get a photo op with Slick and his autograph on the WWE_E V1.

While there I got ECW original Tommy Cairo who is best known for his feud with Sandman. And I got a dual shot with Dexter Lumas and Parker Boudreaux.

Icons of Wrestling photos

After that it was off to the airport for two original members of Blue Oyster Cult. You have the two members that tour along with the barely valids. And you have the Joe and Albert Bouchard who are the rare members. Arrive at the airport and see Joe. He is super nice. But his wife was not letting him take the mask off for photos. Managed to talk them into a distant no mask op (which wasn't easy). Not the greatest but valid and counts. I think of it as no different than a shades shot. Not ideal, but valid. Then Albert who is also super nice and does a normal op.

Joe Bouchard

Albert Bouchard

Autographs

Then to a separate flight for DJ Spinderella of Salt and Peppa. I see her and ask and she's like "what do you want". I reclarify and say I want the op. She goes "c'mon" but sadly declined to take down the mask. Bust.

DJ Spinderella

Fast forward to mid August and I get info for two actors from the show Trying. One of them, Rafe Spall, was in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. And the other is actress Esther Smith.

So I went to the hotel not knowing if they were in, out, or even still there. I ask a guy who was with them in the event. He claims they are gone "to the next spot". But I am not too quick to believe that. Upon further research I have reason to believe they are still there but not in the rooms. Not long after I start waiting, perhaps 45 minutes later, I see both Rafe and Esther walking on the sidewalk to go back inside. I couldn't believe how I lucky I got to a point where I had to do a double take and look at the photos on my phone to make sure I'm not hallucinating. Indeed it was them, and they are super friendly. 

Wow it is not often you go to such a setup, wait, see your people not long after, AND they are  super nice. Usually you wait 5 hours and don't even see them!

Rafe Spall

Esther Smith

Shore Leave, Scares that Care, and Galaxy Con

Rounding off July cons, I would do 3 cons. Shore Leave in Maryland, Scares that Care in Virginia, and Galaxy Con in North Carolina. Sadly, covid would be a factor in these cons.

Let's start with Shore Leave, where I meet with Greg2600 on markedout. We both want Aimee Garcia but turns out she is behind a glass pane and not doing table ops. She has pro ops the next day but not the day we are there. The website said nothing of all this. And she is really the only name of note that we needed here. We wait to try to negotiate. While waiting I knock out John Billingsley of Star Trek fame and actor Eddie McClintock.

When it comes to Aimee we plead our case saying the website said nothing and we have to drive up. In the end they let us pay for table ops, but sadly there's a glass pane. However, it is 1000X better than the pro ops she did the next day. They used a horrid divider for that. And I managed to edit out the pane well. So it largely worked out.

Aimee Garcia (glass pane edited)

Full list of Shore Leave photo ops

Next up a weekend of two cons, Scares that Care and Galaxy Con. First up, Scares that Care. Thankfully I only plan for 4 people. KC Martel from ET, Steven Williams from Jason Goes to Hell and 21 Jump Street, Harvey Stephens who was the Child actor from The Omen, and finally Kerr Smith from Final Destination fame.

Full list of Scares that Care photo ops

The heartbreaking this about all this, it would be the last Scares that Care ever. Sad times cause I really liked this con. And off to Galaxy Con.

Start off Galaxy Con with Andrew Robinson from Dirty Harry. A good rare name I haven't seen elsewhere. Then Marilyn Ghigliotti from Clarks who did over the table ops due to COVID. I'm fine with that better than masks or glass.

Next up Gerard Christopher AKA Superboy. And then actor Rupert Friend from Obi Want tv show and Pride & Prejudice. Surprisingly his booth didn't have much activity and did table ops even though those were not advertised. 

Now here comes a sour note of this con. She was advertised as doing table ops. So I went to get one. But she is not doing table ops, pro ops are done, and she is not there Sunday! What an unlucky chain of events! I pleaded my case to them, told them I'd pay, and explained my situation. In the end they preferred to give me a free signed 8x10 as an apology instead of taking my money for a table op. The mind boggles. I figure she will do another con so I decided to concede and chose an 8x10 from Star Wars.

For actors I rounded up my day with Terry Farrell from Star Trek fame and Hellraiser III and Steve Downes AKA Master Chief from Halo.

I also got a couple of people from the artists area. Comic book writer Peter David. I got him to sign my Incredible Hulk comic books and a photo op. I put $5 in his donation box. And artist Tom Fleming who worked on some iconic WWE are from the early 90s. He sadly wouldn't take the mask off for ops. But I got him on two prints. He asked where I got these. I told him truthfully I got them from the Internet and printed them at Walgreen. He goes "oh, really" like he was surprised. Then I left Galaxy Con.

Michael C Hall was playing a venue in Raleigh. So I thought why not try to upgrade my shot from NYC years ago. Don't want to pay for it but for free why not. Sadly he didn't stop. Rushed out the front while we were waiting in the back. I got the barely valid band members.

Andrew Robinson

Rupert Friend 

Full list of Galaxy Con Day 1 and street photos

Autographs part 1

Autographs part 2

Go back to Galaxy Con the next day. The main objective is Brendan Fraser, a huge want of mine. Now here's the mind baffling thing about him. He is at his autograph table, he is doing no table ops. He has no mask, no glass, no divider, nothing. And he is mingling normally with fans. Yet in the pro ops he requires plexi glass. The mind boggles to no end.

I begrudgingly decide to do the op. My rationale is that if he died I would regret not getting the op. But I managed to edit out the damn divider. Ended my time at Galaxy Con with wrestler Kaleb with a K who was also Suicide in Impact Wrestling.  

Brendan Fraser (glass pane edited)

Full list of Galaxy Con Day 2 photo ops

More scattered meets in July

First off, a spot with the bands Bare Naked Ladies (best known for the song One Week) and their opener Toad the Wet Sprocket. There's 4 members to get for BNL and 3 to get for Toad (one member is barely valid).

I arrive and sadly missed BNL singer Ed Robertson by a few minutes.

First up I get photo and autographs with BNL member Jim Creeggan. Then photo and autographs with BNL member Kevin Hearn. I see the main man of TTWS Glen Phillips walking about and get a photo op with him. Then TTWS member Dean Dinning. Thankfully I finally see Ed and get autographs and photos from him. 

Sadly I never see Tyler Stewart of BNL and I couldn't get a photo op with Todd Nichols of Toad as he was behind a fence and only signed.

Full list of photo ops

Autographs

Next up a political name. I go to the airport for Nikki Haley. She was nice as can be but did only one per.

Nikki Haley

Autograph

Next up a music venue with En Vogue, Salt N Peppa, and New Kids on the Block. Need 2 members of New Kids and all of the rest. Sadly it is a bad venue. So you have to get them at other spots. While waiting there I see rapper D-Nice. Never heard of him but got the op.

I found a spot and got Salt of Salt N Peppa but didn't see Peppa. At another spot I got New Kids member Danny Wood. Sadly I had him already. So the night is largely a bust. I had a flight for all members of En Vogue but since I saw they wore masks for their paid meet and greets I didn't bother to try.

Full list of photo ops

And finally Linda McMahon. I met her before but I wanted to get some autos. She was doing a 2 day event. 

Went the first day. Never saw Linda the whole time but I got former Governor of Texas Rick Perry, football legend Lou Holtz, Kellyanne Conway (update), Joni Ernst (senator), and the cast of the TV Show Wise Guys (John Tabacco, Cara Castronuova, and Lou Gelormino). Saw Newt Gingrich but didn't bother to chase him down for an op as I have him a couple of times.

On to day 2. Donald Trump was there that day but of course no shot at him. I do get Tommy Tuberville (senator), and Keith Kellogg (former National Security Advisor). And finally I do see Linda McMahon at the very end. She does ops, signs one item for one person, but declines autographs otherwise. This is painful cause I had an op and this is just an update. I needed autos more than the op.

To make matters worse, I was blown off 3 times by Marjorie Taylor Greene, a senator I actually would have liked a photo op with. 

Linda McMahon

Wise Guys

Day 1 photo ops

Day 2 photo ops