The Thing Cast Texas Frightmare Weekend 2023

Frightmare had six cast members and the director from the movie, The Thing. It’s one of my favorite movies. I first saw it in a semi empty theater at night and was thoroughly creeped out and paranoid by the end. Every time I watch it, I think about the feelings I had in the theater.

There was a some really nice cosplay from this movie. Mostly it was the MacReady character. It’s nice to know this movie is still known and loved.

I picked up the three actors I haven’t gotten before: Joel Polis, David Clennon, and Peter Maloney. All three were friendly. It was great to see them. I hope they all do more conventions so others can meet them too.

I had gotten Thomas G Waites before but that was from The Warriors. I splurged and got him on a photo from this movie. As before, he was very nice. We chatted and he told me about the movie, Target that he recently made. He did everything on that movie. Wrote, Directed, Produced, and even wrote some of the music.

While Richard Masur and Keith David were at the convention, I skipped them only because I have gotten them before.

AH

The Warriors – Rival Gangs Chiller Theater 2019

Chiller scheduled 5 different actors from the rival gangs from The warriors. One, cancelled but I still added 4 more signatures to my collection.

Originally, I planned to have them add their signatures to the mini poster I had Brian Tyler sign. Well, that was the plan.  Then I doubted my decision. Then I doubted my doubt…etc...etc…etc. That was a 5 minute internal debate. Sometimes it’s hard to be a fanboy.

As I debated, I watched fellow Warrior fans unroll full size movie posters and original artwork, pull out baseball bats and figurines, and replica gang vests.  All of it looked amazing as more and more autographs were added. It was so tempting to do the same with my mini poster but I felt it would get too crowded. I decided I would just pick up 8 x 10s from the rivals.

Joel Weiss was first. He was from the Rogues. Of course, he doesn’t look the same. Now, you can see his eyes and the hair is grey and short. He talked about his stage career with the fan in front of me.

Wanda Velez was next. She was from the Lezzies. She was recognizable without her hair slicked back.

Konrad Sheehan was friendly. He was from the Punks. He wore glasses but he also wore the blue jean jumper you saw in the movie. He was not on skates.

Jery Hewitt was last. As a Fury, you would not recognize him without the iconic face paint.  

They were all friendly and chatty. They seemed to enjoy being there and seeing fans. Since I was squeezed between two uber fans that were getting multiples signed across a variety of objects, I made my interaction minimal.  I had a long list of people I wanted to see at Chiller and there were a lot to Warriors fans in the room.

AH

Brian Tyler The Warriors Chiller Theater 2019

I have mentioned before how much I enjoy the movie, The Warriors.  So it was great to see Chiller Theater announce they were doing a Warriors reunion.  I already had most of the cast members but there were some new people too.

One of the new people was Brian Tyler. He was not in San Antonio when I got most of the main cast to sign my mini poster. I added Snow to my poster and got an 8x10 from him.   As with the rest of the cast, he was friendly and seemed ready to hear everyone talk about the impact the movie made.

I now have 8 signatures on the poster; that includes ‘Mercy’.  The only one left is ‘Cowboy’ who seems to be reclusive. Unfortunately, Rembrandt has already passed away.

AH

Warriors Alamo City 2017

It’s hard for me to be elegant when I talk about The Warriors.  I just Fan-Boy out too much.  The Warriors was a big reason I went to Alamo City ComicCon.  Yes, getting the Monster Squad mini poster signed by the monsters was a big reason too. But really, The Warriors or Monster Squad (I’m pantomiming a scale with my hands. One movie is in each hand.)?  It is no contest: The Warriors.

Alamo City had 7 cast members in attendance. (David Harris, Terry Michos, Doresy Wright, Deborah Van Valkenberg, Michael Beck, James Remar, and Thomas G Waites). Four of these actors I have seen before.  Here, in San Antonio, six of The Warriors themselves and Mercy are attending this convention. Of the missing Warriors, I might be able to see 2 more.  One has already passed away. This reunion is an exciting opportunity. 

I stressed before the show. I could not find something suitable for the cast to sign. There are lots of great photos and posters. Either the background is too dark which would lose the signatures or it is missing cast members. As the movie progresses, a few characters are lost and an additional character is added.  There isn’t a perfect picture with the 9 Warriors that include Mercy.  And if Mercy is in the image, a few of the Warriors are missing.

Oh, the dilemma Fan-Boys have!

When I got to the show, I scanned the actor’s tables to see if I could find anything suitable for the cast to sign. One of my fellow hounds walked with me. He was polite as I whined about my fruitless searches.  We both decided on a mini poster that Michael Beck had.  It was not perfect but is would work. I’m glad I went in that direction.

The mini poster was a black and while subway map of NYC. There was lots of room for people to sign and the autographs should not get lost in the image.

As I got the poster signed, I added some signed  8x10’s that I was missing from my collections. Some of the actors twisted my arm and MADE me get a selfie with them.  I must admit, I did like looking at them afterward.  Oh silly Fan-Boy!

Everyone was friendly. Yes, I say that all of the time. It’s still the truth. They seemed happy that people still remember and enjoy the movie.

Details are blurry on what I said to who. Thomas Waites said he thought he remembered me from Texas Frightmare.  I told Michael Beck I met him a couple of times in the past. I mentioned SDCC to Deborah and she said, God that was a long time ago.

AH

Thomas G Waites Texas Frightmare Weekend 2017

Thomas G Waites has been in 2 of my all-time favorite movies: The Thing and The Warriors. It was very hard to choose a photo to get signed as I liked both characters in each movie.  I choose Fox from Warriors as he had a better quote to add to the autograph.

Thomas was friendly. He knew the movie quote I wanted and had started writing it before I even finished asking.  

I had already heard him talk about The Thing while I was waiting. He said it was colder than he expected and it was COLD. I wanted to ask a few questions about The Warriors. I limited myself to only: Did you expect to run so much?  I knew the answer but I still wanted to hear him say: no.

I thanked him and let the next fan meet him.

AH

Michael Beck Texas Frightmare 2016

In the past, I have admitted that now and then I have ‘fanboyed out’ and lost my suave James Bond demeanor as I got a signature.  It doesn’t happen often but it does occur.  Michael Beck has done that to me twice. 

Think about that for a moment.  While extremely excited, I was able to converse with Tom Cruise and Hugh Jackman.  Denzal Washington put me on my heels but I made him laugh at the end. I think I conducted myself well with Ray Bradbury, George RR Martin, and Tom Clancy. George Bush, Jimmy Carter, and Buzz Aldrin? A piece of cake.  However, I have geeked out twice with Michael Beck.

I first got his autograph 8 years ago at SDCC. There was no line and I just walked up. It started off well: I said hello.

Then it fell apart.  I babbled about how much I loved the movie, The Warriors.  Well, I think I’m being generous with the word ‘babbled’.  I think I uttered a syllable every few seconds.  He was kind and said to take my time and I did take my time. However, I didn’t say anything else.  I took my photo and left.

James Remar Texas Frightmare 2016

I have no right to say the movie The Warriors is meaningful to me.  I have no right to say it ‘speaks’ to me.  I shouldn’t say that I ‘get’ it.  Or even that I find it inspiring.

I’m an lower middle class kid from a homogenous small town.  I didn’t need to be in a gang to survive. I never got in a fight where weapons were needed. Yet the movie is a favorite.  A big favorite.  In college, we adapted a line from the movie:  When we see the ocean, we figure we’re home; we’re safe…my fellow dorm mates and I changed that to: when I see the Stadium, I think I’m home, I’m safe.  That won’t mean anything to anyone who didn’t live in the dorm that was in the football stadium.

James Remar has been in a lot of movie and shows I’ve seen. When I see him I always think of Ajax.  He signed for me. In a giddy way, I mentioned I loved his ‘wimps’ line in the movie.  So he added to the photo.

AH