Last October my family and I attended Chiller Theater Expo in New Jersey as we often do. We love making it a day trip with the kids. We have been going since 2006 and it never disappoints. To have the chance to meet and chat with stars of yesterday and today is a super neat. 

We met Dee Wallace and Henry Thomas from E.T. (1982), took a photo with the card used in Halloween (1978), Sara Karloff (Boris Karloff's only child), Nick Castle (original Michael Meyers), and the great Tom Atkins (Night of the Creeps (1986) and Halloween III: Season of the Witch (1982).

Nick Castle asked to take a photo with my youngest because he actually dressed up as Michael Meyers for   Halloween. He loved the photos we took of him in the costume. We also encountered the best cosplayer who dressed up as Fluffy from a segment in Creepshow (1982). It was amazing.  Events like these are super fun and for the tv/movie aficionados. 

Around 2006-2007 my husband and I attended our first Chiller Theater Convention. We didn't know what we were getting into at first. After walking around a bit we ended up meeting the cast of A Christmas Story (1983) who signed a leg lamp for us, I got a smooch on my cheek from Peter Criss (Katman from Kiss), and I chatted with Melody Anderson (Flash Gordon) about education and kids (She is now a social worker). I didn't realize that this convention of past and present actors, musicians, etc would bring such delight to either of us. 

After our first Chiller we would try every year to attend one. Both my husband and I are big movie, tv, and music aficionados. Music and movies played a huge part in our childhood and in our generation. For a few years we attended with my brother and his family. My brother and I are very different in many ways but the one big thing we have in common is our love for the visual medium of film and television. This past October my family and I attended our first Chiller without my brother because he relocated to another state. It was bittersweet but it was still fun to share with our children and show them little glimpses into our own childhoods.

In ode to The Creature from the Black Lagoon's (1954) 65th Anniversary I wore a dress from Unique Vintage's special line of Universal Studios Monsters inspired clothing. I absolutely love this style of dress and it was a Mother's Day gift from my husband. I felt like a vintage dream in this dress and I got so many compliments from people at the convention. There is no better feeling then when you are wear a style you love and are comfortable in. 

My family and I had the best time talking to all sorts of interesting people and we even got in some vintage shopping from the vendors there. Afterwards I was able to meet Ann Robinson who starred in the original War of the Worlds (1953), tell Kristy McNichol how much her film Just the Way You Are (1984) meant to me (her character wore a leg brace), share with Hayley Mills how much our family loves her films, and talk art with the great Frank Romano who was the head artist for the Ben Cooper costume company.

I think its so important to step out of your norm and do something different and attending Chiller Theater Conventions is just that for us. We get to meet and talk with people who we have long admired their work and have good fun with our children too. What do you like to do that is a little out of your norm?

Next on my list was to meet Paul Peterson. You may remember him from The Donna Reed Show but he was also cast as Cary Grant's son in Houseboat. I really wanted to ask him about working with Cary and he was so kind to answer my question. He told me he was friends with him until the end of Cary's life (1986) and that Cary told him one time that he never forgot that he was Archie Leach. That remembering that and not forgetting who he really was kept him grounded. If you didn't know, Cary's real name was Archibald Leach.