Amelia Kinkade Chiller Theater 2021

Amelia Kinkade was the last autograph I got at Chiller Theater. I had just finished with Scott Baio. It was closing time or just a few minutes before. I was checking rooms for who was still present that I might want.

Amelia was on my want list but I don’t always get everyone on the list. The list is flexible and people rise and fall based what is happening at the convention.  While I have portion control issues and I want everyone, it doesn’t happen.

Amelia was still at her table. A couple was talking to her. They were just chatting. She saw me and nodded in acknowledgement. I knew to be patient and she would get to me. After a few minutes they left and I stepped forward.

I was expecting a check exchange – I would tell her which photo I would like signed and then hand over the month. I would leave and check if anyone else was still around.

It didn’t work that way. She was very friendly and she asked questions. One of them was where I worked. When she found out, she started sharing. She has a friend that sells our products. That is good to hear. I like when people talk about my company.  And the way that Amelia talked, it sounded like she knew more than just a few buzz words.  I wondered if she sold our products too at one time.  

It was a good conversation and a great way to end the convention.  I left building after that. I was excited to get back on the road and call The Wife and tell her all about my day…and maybe hear about her day too.

AH

Scott Baio Chiller Theater Oct 2021

For me, the longest line was Scott Baio. It was a slow line too. I joined and then bailed twice. But it was close to the end of the day and I was determined to get the autograph.

He is a ‘local kid’. Not local as in Jersey but in NY. A big part of the Chiller crowd is from NY. While standing in line I heard a lot of ‘stories’ about people knowing him or a friend knew him or their cousin went to school with him…etc etc etc.

I will say, someone brought their school pictures and showed them to Scott. There were lots of laughs and some tears as they talked about the good old days. It was kind of fun to watch.

Scott stood the whole day. He asked questions. He didn’t rush people and he was not in ‘machine mode’ and shouting ‘next’. He was differently in charge (yes, you can 'boo' that). The women all wanted hugs and some hugs lingered. They were meeting their childhood crush.  

When I got to hand over my photo, he shook my hand and asked how I was. He asked where I was from, etc. He gave me time to ask my own questions. While a rush of adrenaline coursed through my blood and I no longer felt the pain in my knees and back from standing all day, I was empathic to the people still in line. I didn’t want to draw this out. But Scott asked a few more questions and exchanged a few sentences about The Wife. And he wanted to sign the photo to her.

It was good to see him. I’m glad I was stubborn and waited.

AH

What Time is it...? Tool Time! Chiller Theater Oct 2021

Not only was Home Improvement a fun show to watch, it was a show my Dad and I could talk about each week. There are lots of good memories from the show and good memories with Dad as we chatted and caught up with each other.

Both Richard Karn and Debbe Dunning were friendly and ready to take selfies with the fans. They were dressed much like the photos.

Richard listened as I talked about the show and how much my Dad and I liked it. He smiled and said he heard that a lot. It was something he seemed to enjoy hearing.

Debbe was very outgoing and fans seemed to want to talk to her more than Richard. I wonder why…?

It was great to see both of them and to get to exchange a few words.

AH

Leave it to Beaver Chiller Theater Oct 2021

While I never watched Leave it to Beaver, it is so iconic, I wanted to get the autographs of the two main characters.

Jerry Mathers was nice. He signed and we exchanged the normal pleasantries.

Tony Dow signed and then told me about how he and his real dad built the car in the photo. While he was telling the TV crew about the bonding with his dad, the writers got involved and ended up making an episode for the show about it with his TV dad. Art imitating life. That was a great story to hear.

AH

Peter Billingsley and Scott Schwartz Chiller Theater Oct 2021

I wasn’t aware that Scott Schwartz was going to be at Chiller Theater. I had missed him at other shows so I figured now was a good time. I love the movie Christmas Story. For me, it's not Christmas until I see that and Die Hard.

On his table was pre-signed photos for Peter Billingsley. While I prefer to get autographs in person, I figured this was the only chance I could get Peter’s signature.  I handed over my money an Scott added his signature to the photo.

I like it.

AH

Marta Kristen Chiller Theater Oct 2021

My memories of Lost in Space are as old as my memories of Star Trek. While not in the same league as Star Trek, I found all of the Irwin Allen series hypnotic. I watched them any time they were on.  

Over the years, I have picked up a few other Lost in Space autographs.  I was very happy to get Marta Kristen’s signature. Who didn’t have a crush on Judy?

AH

Sybil Danning Chiller Theater Oct 2021

There is a mystic about Sybil Danning.  She has loyal fans. As I was standing in line, a group of 5 or 6 cosplayers walked in wearing V uniforms.  Old school V. They were part of a V fan group. Who know that V was that popular?  But she actually knew them and said hello by name.

She had lots of photos and other items to sign. She had some semi risqué and very risqué photos too.

She was very friendly and asked some question about what I might want to get signed. I quickly picked a photo and she signed. As I was leaving, she started chatting with the V fan and everyone was excited.

AH

Jodie Sweetin Chiller Theater Oct 2021

Okay, I did watch Full House when it was on. I blame The Wife. She liked the show. I tried to be a good Husband and watch with her. (I’m sure not as quietly as she would have liked. I do tend to vocalize my snide remarks.) After all, I subjected to all kinds of movies and TV shows she didn’t want to watch either.

Getting Jodie Sweetin started as a ‘want for the wife’. Just a small Thank You for not killing me in my sleep. However, when I saw this photo, it became more about me. Sorry honey.

Jodie was very nice. She chatted with fans and the area was well lit to make the selfies look great. Her hair and makeup were camera ready. The line was mostly women, who were young girls when the show was on. I’m sure a few were fans from Full House.

This was a quick one for me. No interaction other than ‘hi’, and ‘thanks’. I didn’t really have anything to say and I didn’t want a selfie. I got my photo and left.

AH

Richard Masur Chiller Theater Oct 2021

When I first saw Carpenter’s The Thing in 1982, it was in a fairly empty movie theater by myself. I was scared and paranoid and loved it. 

When I saw Richard Masur (Clark) on the screen, I thought One Day at a Time. It only took me out of the movie for short while. The movies quickly grabbed me and kept me tense and waiting for the next shoe to drop.

When I mentioned One Day at a Time, Richard he smiled and reminded me that Mackenzie Phillips was at the show too.

Since I caught him as he was about to take a break, I didn’t pepper him with questions about the sets, the actors, or the cold.

AH

Ed Gale Chiller Theater Oct 2021

Anyone remember Howard the Duck?  The Wife and I saw it as a date movie. We laughed a few times. I might have watched it one more time over the decades to see why people still talk about it. However, that opinion of the movie doesn’t prevent me from getting an autograph. Yes, I have admitted in the past I have an addiction to collecting autographs.

This was announced as Ed Gale's last appearance so he had a long line. Ed was very quiet. His handler was a talker. He chatted with the fans and guided Ed with the signing process; ensuring the quotes, personalization, or the character names were correct. 

AH

Judith O’Dea Chiller Theater Oct 2021

Many Years ago, I was able to get Russell Streiner’s autograph at a show in Texas. It was good to finally get Judith O’Dea to complete the ‘brother/sister’ set from Night of the Living Dead.

She was in front of her table and greeting people as they stepped up. She was full of energy and friendly.  She let me know she was fully vaccinated and I could remove my mask.  While I was fully vaccinated too, I kept mine on. As I was walking through the show, I heard a few people coughing. I doubted it was COVID, I just didn’t want their colds.

AH

Lance Kerwin Chiller Theater Oct 2021

I think the TV movie Salem’s Lot was my first encounter with a Stephen King movie. I’ll admit, the movie scared this 16 year old kid. I read the book not long after and then read The Stand.  From there I read a lot of King’s novels.

Of course, I had to get Lance Kerwin’s autograph at Chiller. He started speaking and explained why he had some cuts and bandages on. He was hit by a drone. I assumed it happened around the hotel that the convention was in but he didn’t go into too many details.

He was friendly and willing to chat. He offered a second photo for a discount so I got two. Not something I usually do but I d like both photos.

AH

Ronny Cox Chiller Theater Oct 2021

We are know Ronny Cox from different movies: Total recall, RoboCop, Beverly Hills Cops or even Deliverance. Being a Trekkie, I remember from Next Gen, although I also remember him from Apple’s Way.  When I mentioned that, he had a big smile. He called it a modern-day Walton’s. It’s a good description.

AH

Richard Edson Chiller Theater 2021

The red Ferrari in Ferris Bueller’s Day off is iconic. And so is the image of Ricard Edson sailing that car over a hill when he was valeting it.

AH 

John Ashton Chiller Theater 2021

To continue the baseball theme, John Ashton was also at Chiller. While it was tempting to get a photo from Beverly Hills Cop, I just like Little Big League better.

AH

Two from Major League Chiller Theater 2021

Who hasn’t watched Major League a million times and can quote a dozen times? Even The Wife loves the movie. I'll happily watch the second and third one too.

Skip Griparis was friendly and had perpetual smile on his face.

Chelcie Ross was also friendly and offered a few quotes for the photo.

AH

Geoffrey Owens Chiller Theater 2021

Another quick pick up at Chiller Theater was Geoffrey Owens. I remember him from The Cosby Show. But I thought this was the best photo he had. One day, I might watch It's Always Sunny...one day...

AH

Mackenzie Phillips Chiller Theater 2021

I watched One Day at Time through High School. When I got to see Mackenzie Phillips, I mentioned The Wife watched Orange is the New Black.  She smiled and commented that she was surprised how intense the prison set was. Even though it was a set, it seemed too real.

AH

Jere Burns Chiller Theater 2021

The Wife recently beige watched 2 series that Jere Burns was in: Justified and Burn Notice. So, this was a no brainer. I caught him just as he was about to step away. I offered to come back but he waved in. He was friendly and we exchanged a few words. I kept it brief to let him have his break.

AH

Loretta Swit Chiller Theater Oct 2021

At the end of October, I visited my parents in Jersey. It was a good visit. Saw some sites and helped them clean out some stuff…and I selfish attended Chiller Theater. As always, Chiller had a nice line up.

I did grow up watching MASH. The Wife still watches re-runs on a lazy afternoon. So having a chance to get Loretta Swit’s autograph could not be missed.

She was gracious and willing to give fans some time. She had a great selection of photos and this one called my name.

AH