Remembering Carla Laemmle

.Above, Carla Laemmle at the 2011 Monsterpalooza. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is sometimes incredible how fast time flies. This is particularly true whenever someone passes away and the passage of time isn't realized until someone makes note of it years later.

Craig Brann posted the following on Facebook this morning:

In memory of Rebekah Isabelle Laemmle, AKA Carla Laemmle. (October 20, 1909 – June 12, 2014) R.I.P.   She was the niece of Universal Pictures founder, Carl Laemmle. Some of you may remember the small part she had in the beginning of Dracula (1931).

It doesn't seem that long ago that Carla Laemmle passed away at 104. But it has been nine years ago today. For a long time, she was the sole surviving cast member of Dracula (1931) starring Bela Lugosi.

It is nice that she is still remembered today.

Hollywood Collectors Show, 2005

Above, Noel Neill with a fan who brought his poster for her to sign. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While going through my photo collection, I came across a set I took at the February 19, 2005 Hollywood Collectors Show that was held at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center.

I was mainly hanging with Noel Neill, the "original Lois Lane" and her manager Larry Ward at the show, but I did manage to wander around and took a few photos. I scanned them for posting.

I have more photos I took at the show, but I am unsure whose photos I took. One looks like actress Karen Black, but since I was unsure, I'm not posting it.

Here some I was able to identify:

Above, House Peters Jr., the original "Mr. Clean". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Jerry Maren. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Marilyn Chambers, the "Ivory Snow" mom. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Tommy Bond, the original screen Jimmy Olsen. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was a fun time at the show. Carl Glass was also there. It is interesting to note that since this 2005 show, all these celebrities have since passed away.

Monsterpalooza 2017

Above, how would you like to have this on your desk? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today, I made it to the last day of this year's Monsterpalooza. As I was driving The Beast, the closest parking I could find was about 4 blocks away.

After standing in the ticket line for about 50 minutes, I finally got into this year's Monsterpalooza at the Pasadena Convention Center. All things considered, it would have been a much worse wait had the show not moved out of the Marriott Hotel and Convention Center in Burbank.

Above, the ticket line. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As usual, Monsterpalooza had a lot of monster, horror and science-fiction things to look at and, in some cases, to buy. There was even a little lady (sans top) getting an "Earl Scheib" paint job.

I met up with Brant Elliott while in line and we had a good time wandering around many rows of booths of just about everything imaginable.

I didn't see anyone that I knew except my daughter Amber and her boyfriend Neil and master monster suit-maker Shinichi Wakasa at the show. I guess a lot of them (at least the ones from out-of-state or from Northern California) were already on the road heading home.

Although the Pasadena Convention Center is a huge facility, Monsterpalooza filled up all the exhibit halls.

There was one "fly in the ointment" though. I should have charged up the battery to my Canon camera. It only had enough juice for two photographs and it went dead. Luckily, my cell phone was fully charged and I was able to take pictures with its camera.

Brant and I finished off the day with dinner at P. F. Chang's China Bistro that was located across the street.

All in all, Monsterpalooza didn't disappoint and it was very well attended.

Some photos:

Above, the bride and her court. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly with a strange critter. Photo by Brant Elliott.

Above, Brant Elliott with the same critter. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a nice Alien. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a refreshment break. 

Above, a view of the main hall. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a little lady getting the "Earl Scheib treatment". Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, artist Frank Dietz autographing a book for Brant Elliott. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, how would like to meet this in a dark alley? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, since there's a full moon tonight... Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, my turn with the lycanthrope. Photo by Brant Elliott.

Above, a Godzilla sculpture in progress by Simon Lee. Photo by Ar,mand Vaquer.

Above, I met a new friend at Monsterpalooza. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Monsterpalooza Tomorrow

Above, actress Caroline Munro with yours truly at the 2012 Monsterpalooza.

Tomorrow, I will be heading to Pasadena to attend this year's Monsterpalooza.

Monsterpalooza is probably one of the best monster conventions/shows in the U.S. with plenty of celebrities and exhibits to see.

It previously had been held at the Burbank Marriott Hotel and Convention Center, but it really outgrew that facility ages ago. Now, it is being held at the Pasadena Convention Center, a much larger venue.

It opened yesterday and is running through tomorrow. The Pasadena Convention Center is at 300 E. Green Street, Pasadana.

I will be meeting up with Brant Elliot at the convention center's lobby.

The official website for Monsterpalooza: http://monsterpalooza.com/spring/index.html

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.

First Martin Landau Photo

There was one other photo I took with Academy Award-winning actor Martin Landau at last weekend's Monsterpalooza at the Burbank Marriott & Convention Center.  It is a lot like the other one that was taken, but the focus was a little off.

This was the first taken, but since the focus was off a bit, we took another that appeared in an earlier blog post.

Monsterpalooza 2013 - Part 2

Above, Kong dominates the Monsterpalooza Museum.

Text and photos by Armand Vaquer

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

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

Text and photos by Armand Vaquer

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 this 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."

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.

Monsterpalooza 2013

The dates for the next Monsterpalooza have been announced: