A Little Godzilla History In Memory Lane

The above photo taken at the Rainforest Cafe in the Chicago area after G-FEST XII (2005) shows a group of us including (from left) yours truly, Stan Hyde, Yoshikazu Ishii, Ruth Lees, J. D. Lees, Yoshimitsu Banno and Robert Scott Field. 

The photo popped up in the Memories gizmo of Facebook yesterday. It prompted a comment by Field on the significance of it.

He wrote:

Great picture. In 2000 Banno asked me to help him connect to Hollywood for a 4D version of Hedorah. No one was interested in Hedorah but in 2005 we talked again for a couple of hours about getting the rights to Godzilla and before and after this picture of the dinner at the Rain Forest in Chicago was taken. I'm guessing that no one knew (including us lol) that this is where the turning point of the Legendary G-franchise actually began… And now history!!! It’s a beautiful thing!!!

Above, director Yoshimitsu Banno addresses the 2004 G-TOUR group in Tokyo. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The very first time we met Yoshimitsu Banno was at the T.G.I. Fridays dinner (above photo) in Roppongi, Tokyo of the first G-TOUR in 2004. He spoke to the group and dropped strong hints about his plans for a Hedorah movie in 3D.

He was later invited to G-FEST XII in 2005. Sadly, he passed away at age 86 in 2017.

Megumi Odaka Turned 50 Yesterday

Above, Megumi Odaka (center) arrives at LAX for G-FEST 2000
with her sister Rina and Robert Scott Field. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

1972. This was the year I graduated high school. It is also the year that actress Megumi Odaka was born.

This coming September, several classes (including mine) of Hawthorne High School will be celebrating their 50-year reunion. I plan on attending. Since I experienced the years since graduation, I can believe it has been 50 years.

What is hard to believe is that Megumi Odaka had reached 50 years of age yesterday. When she was acting in the Heisei Godzilla series of movies, she was in her 20s. When she made her first Godzilla movie appearance in Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989), she was 17.

From IMDb:

Megumi Odaka was born on May 9, 1972 in Kanagawa, Japan. When she was 12 years-old, she jump-started her film career as a voice actress for children's TV shows in Japan. In addition, with also being a singer, she released several singles and albums throughout the late 1980s. After participating in the "Toho Cinderella Contest" in 1989 with actress Yasuko Sawaguchi, she was cast as psychic girl Miki Saegusa in the Godzilla film Godzilla vs. Biollante (1989). Impressed with her portrayal of Miki Saegusa, Toho studios had her return in the remaining 5 Godzilla sequels, thus becoming the first actor to portray the same character in a Godzilla film for more than 2 times. To this date, she is the one actor with the most reoccurring role in the Godzilla film trilogy.

After the Godzilla "Heisei" series ended in 1995, Megumi has pretty much retired from films. However, she has made appearances on stage, including "Peter Pan," "Anne's Love," and "Fiddler on the Roof," and occasionally can be seen participating at Godzilla conventions.

She appeared as a guest at G-FEST 2000 in Hollywood. She was 28 then. It is even hard to believe that G-FEST 2000 was held 22 years ago this coming summer.

This only goes to show how time flies. 

New Scans of Old Photos

For the blog about Megumi Odaka's appearance at this year's Chiller Theater Expo, I had to make a new scan of some photos of her when she arrived in Los Angeles for G-FEST 2000 at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

I used one of them, but I figured that I may as well post the others here.

Above and below, Rina & Megumi Odaka and Robert Scott Field at LAX. Photos by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Megumi Odaka is interviewed by the Japanese media at LAX. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Heisei Godzilla Kenpachiro Satsuma and Armand at G-FEST 2000.

Megumi Odaka To Appear At Chiller Theater Expo

Above, from the Chiller Theater website.

Not since she appeared at G-FEST 2000 in Hollywood, Heisei Godzilla actress Megumi Odaka has not appeared at any stateside convention (as far as I know).

That is all about to end when she appears next month at Chiller Theater Expo at the Hilton Parsippany in Parsippany, New Jersey April 21 to 23.

Above, Megumi Odaka arrives in Los Angeles in 2000 for G-FEST. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I took a look at Chiller Theater's website and they do have a pretty impressive line-up of guests.

For more information, go here.

From Japan...

They are already celebrating the 22nd anniversary of my 39th birthday in Japan. It is already February 4 in Japan. Japan is 17 hours ahead of California.

I've received some messages from my Japanese friends (and some who live in Japan) including...

Kenpachiro Satsuma (the Heisei Godzilla):

Armand vaquer 誕生日、心からお祝いいたします。おめでとう！

Shinichi Wakasa (the great monster suit-maker):

Happy Birthday Armand!
Have a great one!!!

Shelley Sweeney (actress in several Godzilla movies):

Happy Birthday!

Robert Scott Field (M-11 in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah):

happy b-day smile emoticon

Hello, Japan? Behind The Scenes At the "Godzilla" Panel At Comikaze

Above, panel moderator Jessica Tseang trying to get an Internet connection before the start of the session.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

One of (many) frustrating things about being on a panel (especially when you're also in charge of it) is finding that things previously requested aren't provided and planned agenda items are prevented from happening. 

This is what Godzilla and Pacific Rim panel moderator Jessica Tseang faced last Friday before the session's start.

She planned to have us show slides or videos during the panel discussion, but the requested audio/visual equipment wasn't provided by the Comikaze Expo organizers. After discovering this, she even tried (among other things) to swap meeting rooms with another concurrent session (who didn't need the audio/visual equipment in their room), but they refused her request. This caused a problem with a planned recorded greeting by Godzilla screenplay writer Max Borenstein. We had the recorded message, but no audio equipment was provided for all of the attendees to hear it. Instead, Borenstein's message was played on Tseang's laptop computer with a microphone held next to one of the speakers. Unfortunately, the recording was not very loud to begin with and this resulted in just the first few rows of attendees being able to hear it (and making sense of what he was saying).

Above, Robert Scott Field.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Also, prior to the session's start, Tseang was trying to get an Internet connection so she can be connected with Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) actor Robert Scott Field in Japan via Skype. Field said he "waited and waited..." for the connection starting at 5:00 a.m. Japan time. The problem? We found that Comikaze Expo's organizers did not arrange for any Internet/Wi-Fi service at the Los Angeles Convention Center. So Field's participation had to be scrubbed (that's cancelled in NASA lingo).

This is not the first time I've seen SNAFUs crop up for panel sessions. I've seen malfunctioning audio and video equipment as well as special guests being brought in late to their sessions at other conventions by inconsiderate handlers.

At least Robert Scott Field was a good sport and understood the situation. He called Tseang a "peach" and felt she brought her "A-game to the con so all went smoothly." I agree.

Despite the problems, the session did go well and the attendees seemed to enjoy it. That's what really counts anyway.

The Comikaze Panel On "Pacific Rim" and "Godzilla"

Above, the panel on "Godzilla" and "Pacific Rim" before the start of the session. 

It was  a good thing that we had a room that was double the size of last year's room for this year's panel on Godzilla (2014) and Pacific Rim (2013) at Stan Lee's Comickaze Expo.  All seats were taken and a dozen people had to stand in the back of the room. I was somewhat surprised as our session began an hour after the show's doors were opened to the public. I was wondering if they would make a beeline to the main hall instead.

Above, a panel's eye view of the crowd still coming in.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It was an appreciative and enthusiastic audience of giant monster and robot fans. The panel consisted of Jessica Tseang (moderator), Bill Janczewski, Frank Woodward, Tom Franck, Chris Eaton, Scott Zillner and myself.

We began the session with our thoughts on Pacific Rim. Generally, all on the panel felt the movie "delivered the goods" with some minor quibbles. On the low box office, most felt the movie wasn't marketed right, leaving many people with the impression that it was another Transformers movie instead of giant robots battling giant monsters. But all believe that it will be a big hit in DVD and Blu-ray sales. Most wondered why it grossed better in China but not in Japan. One panelist voiced the opinion that Japan is just over-saturated with giant monsters and they can see giant monsters for free on television. Another said it was (probably) because it was mainly centered in Hong Kong.

Above, these session attendees show their support for "Pacific Rim."  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I repeated my opinion that I posted a week or so ago on this blog. The audience seemed to agree that Toho did a better job with the Millennium series MechaGodzilla movies by having jets do the heavy lifting of the robot, whereas Pacific Rim went beyond the boundaries of "suspension of disbelief" in having helicopters do the robot transporting. They also seemed to agree with me that while the CGI was probably the best (so far) for a giant monster movie, it still did not fully convey mass and weight of the robots (or monsters) as the traditional "suitmation" method with miniatures.

Each expressed hopes that next year's Godzilla will be a hit and generally like the direction the Godzilla design is heading.  I said that as long as Godzilla looked and acted like Godzilla, along with his atomic breath, it will be a winner as far as I was concerned.

As mentioned in my last post on Comikaze, there were a few SNAFUs. Jessica Tseang was disappointed that there was no Wi-Fi Internet available at the Los Angeles Convention Center to have Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah's android M-11, Robert Scott Field, to participate with the panel via Skype. We also planned to have audio/visual materials to show along with a recorded greeting by Max Borenstein, the scripter of Godzilla, but somehow the show's organizers didn't come through with any. But those problems didn't prevent us or the audience from enjoying the panel session. Jessica did a great job in keeping the session moving.

I did manage to sell the same number of travel guides following the session as last year. Which helped to lessen the bite of the parking fees at the L.A. Convention Center, and then some.

A Great Time At Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo 2013

It was another successful Stan Lee's Comikaze Expo, at least for me.

The audience for the  panel I participated in on Godzilla (2014) and Pacific Rim (2013) filled the available seats with about a dozen more standing.

There were some SNAFUs to the proceedings. The head table was only large enough to accommodate five panelists and there were seven of us. There was no Internet available, which was needed to make Skype contact with Robert Scott Field of Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) in Japan. And, we requested audio/visual equipment, but none were provided. We had a special audio message from Godzilla (2014) scripter Max Borenstein. But with what we had, not everyone in the room was able to hear it.

Nevertheless, the panel was enjoyable (we could have gone on for at least another hour).

Rather than prattle on about the show, here's some photos from today:

Above, the main exhibit hall.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the main lobby of the L.A. Convention Center.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Iron Man display. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, plenty of comic books for sale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the panel on "Godzilla" and "Pacific Rim."

More photos to follow in future posts.

Monster Madhouse Launches Blog

Above, Karlos Borloff gets a chest exam by Haruo Nakajima as
Robert Scott Field looks on.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Jerry "Karlos Borloff" Moore announced that the Monster Madhouse television show now has an official blog.

It has been set up under Wordpress.com (I think they should have used Blogger, such as Armand's Rancho Del Cielo does, as Blogger offers more features (in my opinion) and has more attractive layouts) under the name, monstermadhousetv.

According to the blog:

This is the OFFICIAL blog site for the MONSTER MADHOUSE TV SHOW. A television program based on Classic Monster films, Slapstick comedy, over the top MONSTER music videos, cartoons and improvised comedy & artistic wackiness. Monster Madhouse TV show has been on Cable TV in the Washington DC area for over 7 years, hundreds of episodes, and thousands of broadcasts in just about every time slot imaginable. We’ve been broadcast into Millions of homes across the country, including Los Angeles Ca., suburban Chicago, Boston, Pennsylvania, Alabama, Florida and many other areas. The show has won 3 TELLY AWARDS for “Televison Entertainment” and “Production”, over the past several years, and has been featured on many variety & News programs, such as “The Tonight Show, w/ Jay Leno”, FOX News, NBC-TV, ABC-TV, CBS-TV, and others…Monster Madhouse is the wildest, LOUDEST, most Monster filled TV horror host show ever!! Hosted by the Rockin’ loudmouth Monster Cowboy “KARLOS BORLOFF” (Jerry Moore), and his wide assortment of Co-hosts, Monsters, maniacs,Super heroes, aliens, Vampires, gorillas, robots, monster Hunters and musicians… you never know whats gonna happen nest…even WE don’t!! 

Above, Jerry Moore, sans make-up, and Armand .

A link to the monstermadhousetv blog has been added to my blog list.

To access the official Monster Madhouse blog, go here.

Monster Madhouse Returns

Above, this photo of Karlos Borloff meeting Haruo Nakajima (taken in 2008) is
one of Borloff's prized possessions.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Monster Madhouse has been on a break since last September.  On April 19, it has returned.

Terror From Beyond The Daves has posted an article on the show's return.  According to the article, the break was made necessary as the cast and crew were exhausted.

Above, Karlos Borloff gets a chest hair inspection by Haruo Nakajima as
Robert Scott Field looks on.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Now that they're tanned, rested and ready, Monster Madhouse has returned with show host Karlos Borloff (Jerry Moore) and his cadre of misfits including Frank N. Stein, Lizard Man, Stabsalot, Ultra Mam, Dr. Finger, Freaky Daddy and more.

The opening show presented the 1950s sci-fi flick, Giant Gila Monster.

Borloff had kept himself busy in the interim by selling Godzilla caps, toys and t-shirts (by the way, I am still waiting for mine) and coming up with new material for use in future shows.

Above, yours truly with Karlos Borloff who is shown
here disguised as mild-mannered Jerry Moore.

Now that they've been rested, they are back in the game again and having fun doing it.

To read the full article, go here.

Happy Birthday Robert Scott Field!

Above, Rina and Megumi Odaka with Robert Scott Field at Los Angeles International Airport, July 2000. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today's Robert Scott Field's birthday (although it is now February 21 in Japan, where Scott lives).

Above, Scott translating for Haruo Nakajima at G-Fest in 2008 during the awarding of Nakajima's "Mangled Skyscraper Award." Photo by Armand Vaquer.

He is best known amongst G-fans as android M-11 in 1991's Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah. He also has served ably as a celebrity guest as well as translator for G-Fest's Japanese guests over the years.

Happy Birthday Scott!

G-TOUR: Osaka Castle and Toei Studio Park

Above, Osaka Castle.

Since I'll be gone all day tomorrow for a plaque dedication up in the San Gabriel Mountains, I'll do the remembrance of G-TOUR's last full day in Japan five years ago.

The day began with a bus trip from Kyoto to Osaka to go see Osaka Castle, which was the site of the final battle of Godzilla and Anguirus in Godzilla Raids Again in 1955.

The ride to Osaka from Kyoto was about an hour long on the expressway. We arrived at Osaka Castle in the morning and noted a time capsule placed there during an Expo world's fair that was once held in Osaka.

The castle is a reproduction and it has an observation deck that affords great views of Osaka. Nearby, one can see the Twin 21 towers that were demolished in Godzilla vs. Biollante. Osaka itself is a mix of old and futuristic architecture.

After exploring the many exhibits (some interactive) inside the Castle, we headed back to the Gimmond Hotel in Kyoto. Some tour members went on to Toei Studio Park to see the attractions there. The Power Rangers were well-represented at the park with shows. The park also has Toei Eiga Mura (Toei Movie Village) that offers a miniature version of a studio theme park. This one features Japanese super-heroes, samurai and a scary haunted house.

I elected to stay at the hotel and did some wandering around in the neighborhood once a heavy rainstorm left the area.

Above, (from left) Skip Peel, Peter H. Brothers, J. D. Lees and Armand in the lobby of the Gimmond Hotel in Kyoto.

That night, G-TOUR was visited by Robert Scott Field and several of us joined him for dinner at a nearby Chinese restaurant. We were also entertained by the sword prowess of a Japanese newspaper editor. He was dressed in a kimono and when he flashed his sword, other guests in the lobby did double-takes in wonderment.

Next day: Departing Japan

G-FEST XVI Staff Meeting

Photos by Armand Vaquer

Above, actor Kenji Sahara.

G-FEST XVI began today with a staff breakfast meeting which included guests Kenji Sahara and Robert Scott Field.

Above, Sahara and staffers ordering breakfast.

Introductions were made of the staff to Mr. Sahara. Each staffer was introduced with a description of each one's duties at the convention.

Above, Robert Scott "M-11" Field.

Above, Kenji Sahara and Armand.

Above, Kenji Sahara and Stan Hyde.

Above, J. D. Lees introduces the staff to Kenji Sahara.

Above, G-FEST guest handler and translator Yutaka Ichimura and Kenji Sahara.

Made It To G-FEST!

Above, O'Hare International Airport's hotel shuttle pick-up area.

I made it into the Chicago area for G-FEST XVI today. The flight in had to be the smoothest (and we arrived early) I've had in a while. The plane seemed to taxi forever after landing. A couple of ladies near me thought they could skip getting a cab into downtown as it appeared the plane would take them directly to their hotel.

The weather here was overcast and in the 60s. This sure is more pleasant than the oven I left (i.e., the San Fernando Valley) back home.

On other oddity, my suitcase was one of the first to come out on the turnstyle in the baggage claims at O'Hare. I had about a 20 minute wait for the courtesy shuttle from the Crowne Plaza. Speaking of which, after departing the hotel courtesy shuttle pick-up area, we drove down a street a bit and suddenly stopped to pick up a passenger who flagged the shuttle. It was August Ragone.

The usual gang was at the hotel including Randy Giesey, Lenell Bridges, J. D. Lees, Robert Scott Field and others. I saw Kenji Sahara going into the hotel while outside having a smoke with August Ragone.

My weekend roommate, Stan Hyde made it in just long enough to unpack and then head over to Bill Gudmundson's for a dinner.



As I had been up since 3:00 AM after only 4 hours of sleep, I conked out on the sofa (above) in our room for a nap that lasted five hours. That was refreshing!

On the issue of the remodeling of the hotel, the ballrooms looked untouched, but several people have reported the rooms being smaller, but they didn't complain about it. In fact, they provided positive feedback on them. The rooms seem to have flat-screen plasma television sets mounted on the walls. In our suite, there's one in the living room area (I am staying in this room and sleeping on the convertible sofa) and one in the bedroom where Stan is sleeping. The suite also has a bar (below).



Anyway, we made it in and it is almost one in the morning here. So I am going to bed. Ciao!

UPDATE (7/3/09): After a good night's sleep, I headed down to the food court. I purchased a small coffee (the stupid coffee-maker in the room doesn't want to work) and a fresh-baked cinnamon roll. The tab: $9.12. The cinnamon roll was $4.95 and the coffee was $3.25. Those prices are bad enough, but the tax was $.92! That's what you get in a city run by liberals.

G-FEST XVI Flier

Jeff Horne, who is working with me on publicizing G-FEST XVI, has created the official G-FEST XVI flier that will be distributed to Chicago-area comic shops, etc. Nice job, Jeff!




Click on it to see it full size.

G-FEST XVI News

Here's the latest news on G-FEST XVI:

June 2, 2009


News Release


For Immediate Release

North American Godzilla fans will be gathering July 3-5, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza O'Hare International in Rosemont, IL for G-FEST XVI. The special guests for G-FEST XVI are Kenji Sahara, who has appeared in more Godzilla films than any other actor, including the classics: King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla, and Destroy All Monsters; Robert Scott Field, who appeared in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah as android M-11; and August Ragone, one of the most authoritative historians of Japanese science-fiction and fantasy films.

G-FEST XVI will feature panel discussions with Kenji Sahara, August Ragone and Robert Scott Field along with fan movie historians. There will also be a giant dealers room, video game contests, video contests, art contest, modeling contest, costume contest & parade, special programming for young fans and more. Movie screenings will be held at the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge, Illinois. This year Godzilla, Mothra & King Ghidorah: Giant Monsters All-out Attack, The Mysterians and Godzilla vs. The Thing (Mothra vs. Godzilla) will be screened.

Weekend admission tickets are $40.00 for adults, $20 for youth (12 and under). Daily admission (at the door) is $25.00 for adults, $10.00 for youths. Children 5 and under are admitted FREE. For more information, log onto www.g-fan.com.

-30-

G-FEST XVI Movie Line-up

J.D. Lees has announced the movie line-up for this year's G-FEST XVI:

GODZILLA, MOTHRA, KING GHIDORAH:
GIANT MONSTERS ALL-OUT ATTACK
The twenty fifth Godzilla movie in the series, with direction by Shūsuke Kaneko following his highly acclaimed Gamera trilogy. This 2001 release saw Godzilla take on a truly evil role, being a more powerful and dangerous threat than ever before.

Thursday evening, July 2nd
Time: 10:30 PM

***

THE MYSTERIANS (EARTH DEFENSE FORCE)
A Toho classic, combining the alien invasion and kaiju sub-genres by the golden-age team of Honda, Tsuburaya, and Ifukube. The Mysterians was the first Tokusatsu to be filmed in TohoScope. Our feature is to be introduced by the star, and our guest of honor, Mr. Kenji Sahara.

Friday evening, July 3rd
Time: 10:30 PM

***


GODZILLA VS. THE THING (MOTHRA VS. GODZILLA)
(With bonus “Best of G-FEST Video Contest” features)
Considered the best in the series by many fans, Godzilla vs. the Thing is nearly perfect on all fronts: direction, special effects, and score. This would be Godzilla’s last role of a serious villain until he was resurrected in the 1980s.

Saturday evening, July 4th
Time: 10:30 PM

For more information, go to www.g-fan.com

G-FEST XVI Is Around The Corner

G-FEST XVI Is Around The Corner

G-FEST XVI is a little over a month away. If you haven't registered or made your room reservations at the special G-FEST rate, now's the time to get a-crackin'!

North American Godzilla fans will be gathering July 3-5, 2008 at the Crowne Plaza O'Hare International in Rosemont, IL for G-FEST XVI. The special guests for G-FEST XV are Kenji Sahara, who has appeared in more Godzilla films than any other actor, including the classics: King Kong vs. Godzilla, Mothra vs. Godzilla, and Destroy All Monsters; and Robert Scott Field, who appeared in Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah as android M-11.

G-FEST XVI will feature panel discussions with Kenji Sahara and Robert Scott Field along with fan movie historians. August Ragone, "the living encyclopedia of kaiju", plans to be on hand at the convention. There will also be a giant dealers room, video game contests, video contests, art contest, modeling contest, costume contest & parade, special programming for young fans and more.

Movie screenings will be held at the Pickwick Theater in Park Ridge, Illinois. The movies to be shown will be announced shortly.

Weekend admission tickets are $40.00 for adults, $20 for youth (12 and under). Daily admission (at the door) is $25.00 for adults, $10.00 for youths. Children 5 and under are admitted FREE. For more information, log onto www.g-fan.com.

Robert Scott Field To Join Kenji Sahara At G-FEST XVI

Robert Scott Field To Join Kenji Sahara At G-FEST XVI

Robert Scott Field, our favorite android M-11 from Godzilla vs. King Ghidorah (1991) will be returning for his tenth consecutive G-FEST this summer at G-FEST XVI in Chicago. G-FEST XVI will be held July 3-5.



Scott (as we call him) will be doing his usual double-duties as a celebrity guest and as Japanese translator for our special guest, Kenji Sahara.

G-FEST XVI will be held at the Crowne Plaza O'Hare with movie screenings to be held at the Pickwick Theater. The movie line-up is still being formulated at this time. As soon as they are finalized, an announcement will be made.

WEEKEND ADMISSION
Adult – $40.00
Youth (15 and under) – $20.00
Child (5 and under) – FREE!

DAILY ADMISSION – Daily admission is all on-site, no pre-registration.
Adult – $25.00 per day
Youth (15 and under) – $10.00 per day
Child (5 and under) – FREE!

AWARDS LUNCHEON
Adult – $22.00
Youth and Child – $15.00

Films at the Pickwick Theater are $7.00 at the box office and cannot be pre-ordered. Room charges and parking are the responsibility of the attendees. (Parking for G-FEST attendees is $10.00 per 24-hour period.)

The hotel is 1.5 miles from the Chicago O’Hare Airport and offers to/from complimentary shuttle service. The train station to the City of Chicago is within walking distance.

The hotel contains a casual dining restaurant, deli/café, and a sports bar. Facilities include an indoor pool, sundeck, fitness center, sauna, whirlpool, game room, business center, and gift shop. The rooms feature work stations, AM/FM clock radios (some with CD players), hair dryers, coffee maker, iron and board, color television with free premium channels, and many other amenities.

Book your room anytime before June 16th, 2009 for the special G-FEST rate: Up to four person occupancy for $99.00 per night. Call the hotel directly at (888) 642-7344 and use the G-FEST ID code: GF9. Reservations can also be made on-line. Go to the Hotel’s reservation page. Enter your Check-In/Check-Out Dates, Number of Rooms and Guests, and click “Search Rooms”.

Come join the oldest and only North American Japanese giant monster convention!