Son of Monsterpalooza

by Armand Vaquer

Today, I made it over to the Burbank Marriott and Convention Center near Bob Hope Airport for this year's Son of Monsterpalooza.

Son of Monsterpalooza is like the big Monsterpalooza show, but on a smaller scale. Nevertheless, it was a lot of fun.

Fortunately, when I got there, the crowds had thinned out and I was able to move about with no problem. I was able to meet with actor Akira Takarada and Bela Lugosi, Jr. while at the show.

Lugosi, Jr. (whose table was a few feet away from Takarada's) asked me about Takarada as he wasn't familiar with his work. I explained to him that he was in the original 1954 Godzilla as part of the love triangle as well as other Toho epics.

Some highlights:

Above, some displays at the show.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, actor Akira Takarada and Armand with an autographed poster.

Above, Bela Lugosi, Jr. with a companion in a mask of his father.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, an attendee in the make-up chair.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a nicely-done bust of Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, more exhibitor displays.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Monsterpalooza 2013 - Part 2

Text and photos by Armand Vaquer

Above, Kong dominates the Monsterpalooza Museum.

Along with King Kong, there seemed to be a lot of Erik from The Phantom of the Opera.  The Chaney Family had a booth there as did Sara Karloff and Bela Lugosi Jr.

I was pleased to meet and be photographed with Academy Award winning actor Martin Landau.  I also saw 2001: A Space Odyssey stars Keir Dullea and Gary Lockwood.  I had met Gary Lockwood before when I used to patrol in Malibu.  He lives at one of our gated community accounts in Point Dume.

Back in the day, I used to pick up copies of G-Fan at the Creature Features store in Burbank to do the  highlights summaries for kaiju message boards (as issues tended to be slow in coming).  They closed down about 7-8 years ago.  They had a booth at the show and they are now open in Arcadia, California.  We talked a little and perhaps they will be carrying The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan at their store.

Here's some more from opening day:

Above, a rather well-done replica Robby the robot from "Forbidden Planet."

Above, the crew of the "Orca" from 1975's "Jaws."  Great likenesses of Robert Shaw, Roy Scheider and Richard Dreyfuss.

Above, yours truly with Academy Award winner (for his role as Bela Lugosi in "Ed Wood")  Martin Landau.

Above, Erik and Christine from "The Phantom of the Opera."

Above, I took this photo because this reminds me of a co-worker in Malibu.

Monsterpalooza 2013 - Part 1

Text and photos by Armand Vaquer

Above, the Lon Chaney "Phantom of the Opera."

Monsterpalooza 2013 was another great show!  As usual, the Burbank Marriott's convention center was packed (it will be worse on Saturday and Sunday) with many happy attendees.

I got there at about 6:00 PM Friday evening.  I had about a 30 minute wait in line.  Fortunately, a nice costumed gent handed out copies of the show's program, so we had something to look at.

My ad for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan was placed in an excellent position on page 5 of the show program.  Jessie Lilley did a great job on the program and I complimented her on it and congratulated her on her induction to the Monster Kid Hall of Fame.  She said that big plans are afoot for next year in getting Haruo Nakajima inducted.

Shinichi Wakasa was there, but I didn't see him.  Bob Johnson and Jay Grymyr were there, but I didn't run into them either.  I did manage to see (or, he saw me first) kaiju toy collector Jean Carbajal as I was waiting in line to get in.  We chatted a bit.

King Kong was prominent as this year marks the 80th anniversary of the original RKO King Kong (also, it would have been my mother's 80th birthday this year).

I roamed around the show and was impressed with all the displays.  There seemed to be more realistic wax figures of horror greats at this year's show.

Here's some photos:

Above, anxious fans waiting to get into the show.

Above, a young lady getting the make-up treatment.

Above, I met with Jessie Lilley of Mondo Cult magazine.

Above, the Max Shreck "Nosferatu."

Above, Jack Nicholson in "The Shining."

Monsterpalooza 2012 Announced

by Armand Vaquer



As you can see from above, Monsterpalooza 2012's dates have been announced (April 13-15, 2012). It will be returning to the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.

There's lots to see (definitely an understatement) and do at the show. It does get crowded at the show, so I would recommend getting there early in the morning so you can find yourself a parking spot.

The Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center is located on Hollywood Way directly across the street from the Bob Hope Airport. If you are from out-of-state, you may want to seriously consider taking advantage of the special Monsterpalooza room rates. The Marriott Hotel is first-class and there are plenty of fast-food restaurants across the street, so you won't be at the mercy of hotel food prices (unless, of course, that's what you prefer).

Here's some pictures from the 2011 show:

Above, yours truly following the "Scene To Seen" presentation.

Above, Haruo Nakajima ("Mr. Godzilla") with Miki Hayashi.

Above, a werewolf stalks prey in the Monsterpalooza museum.

Above, Miki Hayashi with Godzilla suit-maker Shinichi Wakasa.

Above, Abbott and Costello meet Frankenstein again in the Monsterpalooza museum.

Above, Carla Laemmle, the last surviving star of "Dracula" (1931).

"Monsterpalooza" Magazine Launch In September

by Armand Vaquer


Monsterpalooza magazine launches in September!

Yes, you read that right. A new horror-related magazine is launching in September. It is a tie-in with the Monsterpalooza convention held annually in Burbank.

The Players:

PUBLISHED AND EDITED by MICHAEL HEISLER and MARK REDFIELD
ART DIRECTOR Theresa Ratajczak
GRAPHICS AND WEBDESIGN Jennifer Rouse
CONTRIBUTING EDITOR/SENIOR WRITER Joe Nazzaro

The Contributors for issue #1:

ILLUSTRATORS: JEFF PRESTON (cover illustration, “The Pumpkin Master”, 2011)
George Chastain, Mark Redfield (interior illustrations).
WRITERS: (alphabetically)
Jeff Baham, Matthew J. Bowerman, Frank Dietz, Scott Essman, Pierre Fournier, Daniel Griffith, Michael Heisler, Matt Lake, Joe Moe, Caroline Munro, Joe Nazzaro, Mark Redfield, Gary Don Rhodes, Eric Supensky, Anthony Taylor

Monsterpalooza magazine is to be a quarterly publication with 96 full-color pages.

For more information on Monsterpalooza magazine, including ordering, go here.

Godzilla (Haruo Nakajima) Takes Hollywood!

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Haruo Nakajima gives his famous "Godzilla attack" pose at Godzilla's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Photo courtesy of Sonoe Nakajima.

After getting home from work tonight, I found an email from Sonoe Nakajima in Japan with photographs of her and her dad's visit to Hollywood. The photos accompanying this blog post are just part of what she sent of their personal collection.

Above, Haruo and Sonoe Nakajima pose at the Hollywood Sign. Photo courtesy of Sonoe Nakajima.

Back in early April, the original Godzilla, Haruo Nakajima and his daughter Sonoe, attended Monsterpalooza at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center. Mr. Nakajima was a special guest of Monsterpalooza.

Mr. Nakajima was a big hit at the show, and that's an understatement!

While in Los Angeles, the Nakajimas were taken around Los Angeles by August Ragone, David Chapple and others. Their stops included the Hollywood Sign up Beachwood Canyon and Godzilla's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, located in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater on Hollywood Blvd.

Above, Haruo Nakajima drew a crowd on Hollywood Blvd. Photo courtesy of Sonoe Nakajima.

The Nakajima's visit to the Godzilla star on Hollywood Blvd. was originally going to be a nice, quiet visit. However, once word got around to the tourists on the boulevard that Godzilla himself was in their midst, they gathered around to have their pictures taken with him (photo above).

One can tell from these photographs that the Nakajimas had a great time while visiting Hollywood!

The Japan National Tourist Organization (JNTO) ought to hire Mr. Nakajima. He'd make a great "goodwill ambassador!"

A First-Time Monster Con Experience

Text and photos by Armand Vaquer

Above, Miki with "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan" during our February photo shoot.

As a veteran of many different conventions over the years, I've accumulated a lot of photos of myself with celebrities. This year I decided to take a different approach at Monsterpalooza.

I asked my The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan model Miki  to assist me at the sales table during my presentation, "Scene To Seen" at this year's Monsterpalooza. My daughter was originally going to help, but a three-week bought with the flu made that an impossibility. Miki agreed to do so.

She is originally from Kyoto, Japan (her parents now live in Osaka) and she never attended a monster convention before. So this was a new experience for her.

She attends college in Orange County and it took her about two hours to get to my house in Tarzana Friday evening. Once she arrived and after freshening up, we headed to Monsterpalooza in Burbank (about 15 miles away).

Once we got there, we stood in line to get in. While doing so, we spotted Haruo Nakajima and his daughter Sonoe on the walkway between the convention center and the main Marriott Hotel building. Sonoe and I spotted each other and gave big waves and she motioned to her dad of my presence. He smiled and waved also.



After getting our wristbands, Miki and I went over to the Nakajima table. I introduced Miki to Sonoe Nakajima. I asked Miki if she'd like an autographed photo of Mr. Nakajima (my treat), she said yes. She picked out the beautifully colorized photo of Mr. Nakajima in a Godzilla suit (with the proceeds going to Japan earthquake relief). She had Mr. Nakajima sign it and then we had her pose for a couple of pictures with The Man (above).

Miki, by this point, was beaming. She said that Mr. Nakajima is "very famous" in Japan and it was a thrill to meet him. She can't wait to email the photos I took to her parents in Japan.

During the time we were at Monsterpalooza, I introduced Miki to a number of prominent G-fans including Richard Pusateri, Steve Ryfle, Peter H. Brothers, Bob Johnson and others.



We then wandered around the convention, first taking in the museum exhibits. Miki appeared to be awe-struck by the figures on display. I asked her if she'd like a photo of her (above) with one and she agreed. She wants to send that one to her parents as well.

After the museum, we wandered around the vendors area. She and Julie Adams (Creature From The Black Lagoon) talked about Miss Adams' USO visit to Tokyo during the Korean War.

After seeing the vendors area, we went back into the lobby and bumped into Godzilla (and other monsters) suit-maker Shinichi Wakasa, who was buying himself a beer at a small bar set up in the lobby. I introduced Miki to him and they had a brief conversation in Japanese. I then took a picture of Miki with Wakasa (below).



At this point, I had to get my things for the "Scene To Seen" presentation at the theater in the main building of the Marriott from the car. After doing so we headed over to the presentation room and met up with Peter H. Brothers and his friend Gordon.

Following our presentations, Miki and I headed for Kabuki Japanese Restaurant in the media center area of Burbank, but once we got there, we found that the waiting list was long and we's have at least a 25 minute wait before being seated. So we went instead a few doors away to Fuddrucker's for dinner. We didn't care what we ate, we were both starved.

After dinner, we headed back to my residence and Miki headed back home in the Long Beach area.

The next day, I received this very nice note from Miki:

Hi Armand,

Thank you so much for last night. I had a great time, the event was very interesting.

And thanks for pictures. I was so happy to see the Godzilla guy and take pictures with him.

And I'm glad that your presentation went very well.

Thanks again
Miki

It was fun photographing Miki at the convention and enjoyed watching her experience a monster convention for the first time. I think it comes through in the pictures.

Godzilla Takes Burbank: NBC Interviews Haruo Nakajima At Monsterpalooza

Above, Haruo Nakajima with Miki Hayashi at Monsterpalooza Friday night. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Veteran Godzilla suit-actor Haruo Nakajima was interviewed by the Los Angeles affiliate of NBC News at Monsterpalooza.

To view the interview video, go here.

Monsterpalooza: Day One Report

by Armand Vaquer

Above, Carla Laemmle, 101 (born October 20, 1909), the last surviving actress of the 1931 "Dracula" and the niece of Universal Pictures founder Carl Laemmle, enjoyed talking with fans.

Here's my report on the first day at Monsterpalooza.

The convention itself was loaded to the Gill Man's gills with things to see and people to meet. I was able to meet Bela Lugosi, Jr. and we talked about how I came upon his Inglewood telephone book listing when I lived in nearby Hawthorne.

Above, Bud Abbott and Lou Costello meet Frankenstein again in Monsterpalooza's museum.

Miki Hayashi discussed Japan with actress Julie Adams (Creature From The Black Lagoon). Adams said she was in Japan once for a USO show in the 1950s when the Korean War broke out.

Miki got Haruo Nakajima's autograph and posed for a photo with him. Earlier, she said that he is very famous in Japan. She is from Kyoto, Japan.

Above, the original Godzilla, Haruo Nakajima with Miki Hayashi. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Later, I introduced Miki to kaiju suitmaker Shinichi Wakasa (below). Wakasa was the primary Godzilla suit maker for the Millennium Series of G-films.



Monsterpalooza's museum again was loaded with some great wax figures that didn't disappoint attendees.

Above, Lon Chaney, Jr. as the Wolf Man prowled Monsterpalooza's museum.

At 7:00, I headed over to catch Peter H. Brothers's talk (below) on Godzilla director Ishiro Honda and prepared the table for sales of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan. At 8:00, my presentation on Japanese monster locations began. Pete and I shared the table out side of the ballroom for book sales.



Although both of our presentations were well-received, unfortunately, the room for the presentations was away from the convention center and in the main hotel. (This was to make room for more vendors.) This resulted in a sparse attendance for our presentations. We each had about 35-45 attendees. Additionally, the people of the next presentation, "Zombies From The Supermarket" (John Naulin) sabotaged our book sales by grabbing the table immediately following my presentation. We were promised a table before and after our presentations. What gave them the right to grab our table?

Above, Miki in the Monsterpalooza museum.

The Monsterpalooza staff tried to get people over for the presentations by making announcements over a p.a. system, but we were told that the noise in the convention center drowned out the announcements. At past Monsterpaloozas, the presentations took place in the convention center, which was easily accessed. Having the room for presentations away from the convention center is like being out in the boonies. The Monsterpalooza planners need to address this problem for future shows.

Above, my "Scene To Seen" presentation in progress. Photo by Richard Pusateri.

Following my presentation (and table fiasco), Miki and I left for dinner at Fuddrucker's in the media center area of Burbank. We were both starved. We both enjoyed our meals.

Above, following my "Scene To Seen" presentation. Photo by Richard Pusateri.

Despite the aforementioned glitches, Monsterpalooza was fun. I'll be heading back today to take more of it in.

MONSTERPALOOZA THIS WEEKEND!

by Armand Vaquer


Monsterpalooza is only two days away in "beautiful downtown Burbank!" Actually, it is at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, just across the street from Bob Hope Airport at 2500 Hollywood Way.

Monsterpalooza will be held April 8-10.

The original Godzilla, Haruo Nakajima will be making his first appearance in Southern California since 2000 and it will likely be his last appearance in North America. So don't miss this chance to meet the original Godzilla!

He will be signing books and posters and will gladly pose with fans for photographs. Nakajima will also be taking part in the following panels (click on images to view larger):





Along with Haruo Nakajima, there's plenty more for Japanese science-fiction fans!

Peter H. Brothers will kick-off opening day at Monsterpalooza with his presentation of Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda, which is based on his book of the same name.



Following Brothers Friday night, I will be presenting "Scene To Seen," a look at locations and landmarks used in your favorite giant Japanese monster movies based on The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.



Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fantastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda and The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan will be available for purchase before and after the sessions.

Additionally, there will be dealers with Japanese monster toys including Clawmark Toys and Toyfreak.

Don't miss out on a great weekend of monsters!

For additional information, go here.

1950s Sci-Fi Presentation Added To Monsterpalooza

by Armand Vaquer

A presentation on 1950s science-fiction movies has been added to the opening day (April 8) Friday night line-up of Monsterpalooza:


(Click on image to view larger.)

The presentation features Bill Warren, Ted Newsom and "Mr. Dino" himself, Donald F. Glut.

Above, Don Glut and Armand in 2007.

It will take place following my presentation on Japanese monster locations, but in the AFM room at 9:00 PM at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.

For more information on Monsterpalooza, go here.