Son of Monsterpalooza Coming Sept. 12-14

It only seems like yesterday that the last Son of Monsterpalooza was held.

But, time flies and Son of Monsterpalooza will soon be back before we know it. It is scheduled to hit the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center (across the street from Bob Hope Airport) on September 12-14.

Guests of interest to Godzilla fans are Godzilla suit actors Kenpachiro Satsuma (Godzilla vs. Gigan, Godzilla vs. Biollante, Godzilla vs. Mothra, Godzilla vs. Hedorah) and Tsutomu Kitagawa (Godzilla 2000, Rebirth of Godzilla, Godzilla x Mechagodzilla, Godzilla: Tokyo S.O.S.).

For additional guest and ticket information, go here.

Monsterpalooza Opens Tomorrow In Burbank

Monsterpalooza is opening tomorrow and it features not one, but two, stars of Toho's Godzilla series: Kenji Sahara and Haruo Nakajima.

Above, Kenji Sahara and Armand in 2009.

It will be held at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, just across the street from the Bob Hope Airport, March 28-30.

Monsterpalooza is one great show that all fans of horror and science-fiction would enjoy.

Above, Armand with Haruo Nakajima in 2013. Photo by Jeff Blanken.

Right now, my attendance at Monsterpalooza is a bit "iffy" as my roomie, Jes, had to be re-admitted yesterday to the hospital. She was released last Friday. We are still battling Medi-Cal to get her on the liver transplant list. We have requested a hearing on her case. As I don't know what her status will be over the next several days, I cannot say for certain if I will be able to attend Monsterpalooza this weekend.

For more information on Monsterpalooza, go to their official website here.

Kenji Sahara At Monsterpalooza

Above, Kenji Sahara and Armand in 2009.

It has been announced this week that actor Kenji Sahara will be a guest at the 2014 Monsterpalooza in Burbank. The show runs March 28-30.

Monsterpalooza will be held this year (again) at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, just across the street from Bob Hope Airport.

Sahara has appeared in many Japanese science-fiction movies, most notably in Rodan (1956), King Kong vs. Godzilla (1962), Mothra vs. Godzilla (1964) and most recently in Godzilla Final Wars (2004).

If you haven't met Mr. Sahara, you should head out to Monsterpalooza to meet him. If the materials his handler Jim Cirronella had on hand at Son of Monsterpalooza for Akira Takarada are any indication, there should be some nice items (photos and posters) available for purchase and to have Mr. Sahara sign.

For details on Monsterpalooza, go here.

Monsterpalooza 2014

One of the best horror shows to attend is Monsterpalooza and Son of Monsterpalooza.  Monsterpalooza is the bigger of the two, although both are held at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Burbank, California across the street from Bob Hope Airport.

The next show is scheduled for March 28-30, 2014 at the Burbank Marriott. The show can use a larger venue, since attendance is so great and there's a lot of things to see.

You should do yourself a favor and save the dates and attend.

For Monsterpalooza's website, go here.

Son of Monsterpalooza

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. We also talked about being "neighbors" back in the late 1960s when he lived in Inglewood and I lived in Hawthorne.

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.

Horror and Monster Weekend

Above, actress Caroline Munro and Armand at last year's Monsterpalooza.

This weekend will be a busy one.

Monsterpalooza opens tomorrow evening at 6:00 PM at the Burbank Marriott Hotel & Convention Center (across the street from Bob Hope Airport).  The show runs through Sunday.  For info, go here.

Then, on Saturday night, a special screening of The Black Cat, starring Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi will be held at the Chinese Theater in Hollywood.  I've already purchased my tickets for that.

My best bet for Monsterpalooza will be Friday night as I have the screening Saturday night and a heavy work schedule the rest of the weekend.

Monsterpalooza Program Ad

Since Monsterpalooza is just three months away, the gnomes working on the show are already getting things done in preparation.

One such gnome is the great Jessie Lilley, who is handling the show's program.  Back a few months ago, she emailed me about getting signed up for ad space in the show's program.  Since the price was right, etc., I agreed to run my ad again (below) for The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan.  She said then that she would remind everyone later concerning paying for the ads.  Well, she got in touch this week and said the fee for the ad is due by February 15.

Since I had the cash anyway, I went ahead and sent it in today so I wouldn't have to worry about it later.  Efficiency!

As the poster above states, the show goes on at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center on April 12-14.  The hotel is located across from Bob Hope Airport.

For more information, go to Monsterpalooza's official website here.

Son of Monsterpalooza - October 26-28

If you need a horror convention fix, there's some good news for you.  And, it's just in time for Halloween!

Son of Monsterpalooza is coming to Burbank, California next month.  It is put on by the folks behind Monsterpalooza, one of the best horror conventions in the U.S.

It will be held at the Burbank Marriott and Convention Center, across the street from Bob Hope Airport.

Save the date!

For more information, go here.

Monsterpalooza: Ready To Go!

Above, King Kong atop the Empire State Building at the 2009 Monsterpalooza. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Monsterpalooza's four days away. I'm ready!

The slideshow has been completed with over 70 photos of monster locations throughout Japan along with my narrative notes.



There will be plenty of copies of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan available at a 20% Monsterpalooza discount before and after my "Scene To Seen" presentation. Anyone who wants theirs signed will be able to have it signed, at no extra charge!

Above, model Miki with "The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan." She will be joining me at Monsterpalooza Friday night. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center is a great facility for conventions such as Monsterpalooza. I first went there in 1999 for G-Fest when the hotel was the Burbank Hilton. I've since attended other shows there such as the Hollywood Collectors Show, the TV Land Convention, Dark Shadows Festival and the first two Monsterpaloozas.



It is located across the street from Bob Hope Airport at 2500 Hollywood Way. There are plenty of eateries across the street from the hotel, so convention attendees won't be just at the mercy of the hotel's restaurant.

For information on Monsterpalooza, go here.

Monsterpalooza's Kaiju Kick-off

Left, Peter H. Brothers. Right, below, Armand Vaquer.




Monsterpalooza's official website now has the events of the show arranged by date and time.

Monsterpalooza will be held April 8-10, 2011 at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center (across from Bob Hope Airport).



Monsterpalooza kicks off with Peter H. Brothers' presentation (above) on Godzilla director Ishiro Honda at 7:00 PM Friday, April 8. My presentation on Japanese monster movie locations immediately follows at 8:00 PM.



Pete's book, Mushroom Clouds and Mushroom Men: The Fanstastic Cinema of Ishiro Honda and my Japan travel guide, The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan will be available before and after our presentations. We both will be happy to autograph them for you!

Remember, also, "Mr. Godzilla" himself, Haruo Nakajima will be at Monsterpalooza!

Above, Haruo Nakajima. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

To view the events page, go here.

Making A Co-Worker Happy With An Ambush

When a co-worker at my "parachute" job as a community patrol officer learned that I was going to Japan, he asked me to bring him something.

Being the nice guy that I am, I picked up a Bandai 6" Heisei Godzilla at a toy shop in Asakusa for him.

This morning, I had his toy and a copy of The Monster Movie Fan's Guide To Japan waiting for him when he showed up for work. Here's a couple of photos of when he discovered the items. I ambushed him with my camera for fun.





Getting him the Godzilla toy worked great! This is his first Godzilla toy. I found out that he's a G-fan and says he has a Godzilla card from the 1980s. He said he'll bring it in when I see him next week.

Above, the Bob Hope Airport from the Burbank hills that I took early this morning.