Inside The 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits

Above, yours truly at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

The 2026 NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits was quite a show. 

It was touted as 14 acres of exhibits. After having been there, I have to agree. I am still suffering from a cramping of my left leg muscle. I have been practically walking around like the Mummy Kharis. 

My friend Mitch Geriminsky was smart, he rented an electric scooter with a seat. The cost for it was $70.00. 

I did manage to take a few photos at the exhibit hall of the George R. Brown Convention Center.

Here's some of them:

NRA Annual Meeting Day One 2026!

NRA Annual Meeting Day One 2026! video by Outdoor News America.

Summary:

We tour the show and show you cool new products at the NRA Annual meeting in Houston TX! Day one show coverage! Let’s Go!

 

Reuters Photos of NRA Show

Above, yours truly at the registration area. Photo by Mitch Geriminsky.

Reuters posted 26 photos from yesterday's opening day for the NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston.

These photos will give the viewer a great idea on what the event has to offer. It was a well-attended event and one I would recommend putting on one's "bucket list" of things to do at least once in their lives.

To access the photos, go here.

G-FAN #148 Arrives

Above, G-FAN #148.

G-FAN #148 arrived in yesterday's mail. According to publisher J. D. Lees, the fanzine will end its long run with issue #150. A mere two issues away.

It reminds me of when I first heard of G-FAN. I was at Tower Records in Sherman Oaks/Studio City, California (now long gone) in late 1998 when I spotted issue number 36 in the store's magazine rack. I pulled out a copy and perused it. I found it quite interesting and decided to buy it.

Above, G-FAN #36.

It is hard to believe that was 27 years ago and I was at the ripe old age of 44. I'm now 71, even riper!

Knowing my current age-related limitations, I can easily understand why J. D. is retiring the magazine. He's a little younger than I but is feeling he needs (as he said) "a breather" due to advancing age and, possibly, a lack of will power. It is still amazing that the magazine has lasted as long as it has. 

Given that G-FAN will last two more issues, it will end before next year's G-FEST. Daughter Payton has taken over the reigns of the convention and has done a superb job. 

I am considering attending next year's G-FEST. That depends on how I am feeling at the time. I noticed I didn't have the stamina when I attended last year and air travel does not have the allure for me as it used to. We'll see. 

Now At G-FEST 2024

Above, the Hyatt Regency O'Hare. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

What seemed like a longer flight than three hours, I made it to Rosemont (outside of Chicago) for this year's G-FEST.

Above, a view of the lobby from the 8th floor. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The convention moved to the Hyatt Regency O'Hare out of necessity. It simply outgrew the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

The Hyatt, as one might expect, is a lot more luxurious with prices to match. Since G-FEST is only once a year, I'm not complaining. I saw few people I recognized. 

Above, the dealers setting up their tables in the Dealers Room. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I am up early as I went to bed early, plus my inner clock is out of whack. 

Above, having an after dinner stogie.

G-FEST officially starts today. The Dealers Room will open at 10:00 this morning.  

Almost Ready To Go

Above, after getting the "toys" out of their respective garages. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Packing my luggage is about 95% done.

I got The Beast out of the GOCO Beast Barn. It is not to drive to Chicago for G-FEST in, but to get to the Albuquerque Sunport for the flight to O'Hare Airport.

I took it down to the Flying J to gas it up ($3.250/gallon here, $3.599 in Gallup the last time I checked). I had to get the Jeep out to return to the Flying J to get my mail as the RV key ring doesn't include the key to the mailbox, whereas the Jeep key ring does.

Looking forward to heading out to G-FEST.

G-FEST 2024 Kicks Off This Weekend

Above, one of the vendors in the Dealers Room at the 2019 G-FEST. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

G-FEST 2024 will be kicking off this weekend at the Hyatt Regency O'Hare near Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The is the big Godzilla (and kaiju) convention.

This will be the first for me at the new hotel. G-FEST simply outgrew the Crowne Plaza Hotel which necessitated the move to the Hyatt Regency. The last G-FEST I attended was in 2019. Then COVID and other stuff intervened.

Above, yours truly with Jessica Tseang at the 2019 G-FEST. Photo by Steve Ryfle.

I was lucky to get direct flights to and from the Albuquerque Sunport. The only drawback was that my return flight is in the morning.

As with the Crowne Plaza, shuttle bus service is available at O'Hare to the Hyatt Regency (and back).

Above, G-FEST founder J. D. Lees and the late Akira Takarada at the 2019 G-FEST. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It will be nice to see the ol' gang again even though we've kept on contact through Facebook. 

Tickets are still available online (or at the door) by going here.

The Moribund California Republican Party

Above, Ronald Reagan addressing a rally at the 1979 California Republican Party
 convention at the Town & Country Hotel in San Diego. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the 1970s and 1980s, I regularly attended the annual conventions of the California Republican Party (also known as the Republican State Central Committee of California). 

These days, state party has become a moribund shell of its former self. During the days of Ronald Reagan, George Deukmejian and even Pete Wilson, the party had fairly decent leadership. I remember the days when the party mobilized its troops and won many special elections, even during the Watergate period.

Since Arnold Schwarzenegger's disastrous terms as governor, including his wacko Proposition 14, California has become essentially a one-party state. Small wonder it is called Commiefornia.

The party held its first 2024 convention in Burlingame last month. I just read one person's report on how the convention went and it is not too encouraging. 

The report, by William Del Pilar, begins with:

I am back from the California Republican Party (CAGOP) convention. My first in a few years, and many familiar faces are no longer around. While old leadership remains, I did see more younger faces than ever before. That gives me hope.

It was also great to see the San Diego Young Republicans out as a visible group. I met the future:

• A young female mayor with chutzpah, Indian farmers who’ve had enough.
• Latinos are fed up with Democrats hiding transitioning children from them.
• More blacks and Latinos are tired of CAGOP RINOs and are entering political races.

Sadly, none of that matters to an extent because leadership continues to be led by a token Latina who was elected not once, twice, but three times to serve her masters and not the people. For the bigots who want to call me racist, WRONG! I’m a conservative Latino, and I don’t need to be Latino to figure out why this person was selected to lead the CAGOP. She works for those above her who pay her, not the people!

To read the full report, go here. 

Gun Owners of America Announces First Convention

There's an old saying, "The More, The Merrier!" 

That could apply to the Second Amendment group, Gun Owners of America, who has announced the group's "premier" convention this summer in Knoxville, Tennessee.

According to the Colorado Springs Gazette: 

The pro-Second Amendment group Gun Owners of America announced Thursday their first-ever summit to be held in August in Knoxville, Tennessee, saying it aims to draw tens of thousands of attendees with the goal of being the "premiere event" for firearms enthusiasts.

The event, titled the Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit, will be held just months before the pivotal 2024 presidential election, which GOA's senior vice president, Erich Pratt, says is going to be "the most critical in history for Second Amendment rights," according to a press release.

"With that in mind, our goal is to make this the premiere event bringing together Second Amendment enthusiasts and advocates as we prepare for the political fight of our lives this November. I can’t wait to reveal more details as we lock in speakers and other guests of honor," Pratt added.

The Gun Owners Advocacy and Leadership Summit comes as the nation's most powerful gun lobby group, the National Rifle Association, is in legal jeopardy over the New York attorney general's claims that its top executives engaged in mass corruption. According to internal audits, revenue for the NRA is down more than 40% since 2016 as legal costs are amounting to tens of millions per year, the New York Times reported.

The two-day GOA event is slated to begin Friday, Aug. 16, and will feature talks from "leaders in the gun rights movement, educational panels, meet and greet sessions, and musical performances from major artists."

It appears this event might be worth going to.

To read more, go here. 

The Convention That Wasn't

Above, the front of Sammy C's Rockin' Sports Pub & Grill. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

A little while ago, I returned home from Gallup.

I went there to attend the McKinley County Republican Pre-Primary convention at Sammy C's Rockin' Sports Pub & Grill. It is owned by Sammy Cioda, who is a radio announcer at KYAT-FM for Millennium Media. 

Above, the main hallway/lobby of Sammy C's. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I got there, there was nothing to indicate that there would be a convention or any kind of meeting at the announced time of 12:45 PM. So, I went to the bar and ordered a screwdriver (vodka and orange juice). I hadn't had one in years. It was good.

Above, the bar, where a women's breakaway rodeo was shown on the monitors. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I sat down at the bar, Sammy C came in and greeted everyone. He makes it a point to greet his customers. I met him three years ago. We were introduced by Nandoh. 

I wandered around the place to look over Sammy's collection of sports and entertainment memorabilia. It is quite a collection. 

Above, enjoying my screwdriver in the bar.

When 12:45 arrived, I and others asked about it. Sammy said the time was moved to 5:45 this evening. Apparently, the McKinley County GOP didn't tell anyone.

Since we are supposed to get a rain and/or snow shower storm coming in after 2:00, I decided to leave and do some grocery shopping before heading back to Jamestown.

Above, a standee of Sammy C near the main entrance. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Although disappointing, it wasn't a wasted trip as I got out of the house and enjoyed looking over Sammy C's memorabilia.

Headed To G-FEST Next Year

Above, yours truly at the 2019 G-FEST with Jessica Tseang. Photo by Steve Ryfle.

Well, I booked my room for next year's G-FEST in the Chicago area.

It is set for next July 12-14, 2024, but considering the large attendance expected, it would be prudent to book the room now (the G-FEST hotel has opened room booking. So I did. It is at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare in Rosemont, Illinois, which is a new hotel for the convention. 

I attended the 2019 G-FEST at the old hotel, the Crowne Plaza, which the convention outgrew. I am looking forward to the new convention digs.

It will be nice seeing everyone again after five years.

For more information on G-FEST, go here.

Traci Lords Autograph

Above, Traci Lords autograph.

Back around 1984, Traci Lords caused a bit of a stir when she appeared in Penthouse magazine (the infamous issue that ended the Miss America reign of Vanessa Williams) in a pictorial. The reason for the stir was that she was underage at the time (age 16). Oops!

According to Wikipedia:

Traci Lords (born Nora Louise Kuzma; May 7, 1968) is an American actress and singer. She entered into the adult film industry by using a fake birth certificate to conceal that she was two years under the legal age of eighteen. Lords starred in adult films and was one of the most sought-after actresses in that industry during her career. When the FBI acted on an anonymous tip that Lords was a minor during her time in the industry, and that pornographers were distributing and selling these illegal images and videotapes, the resulting fallout led to prosecution of those responsible for creating and distributing the tapes. In addition, all but the last of her adult films were banned as child pornography.

After leaving the pornography industry two days after turning the legal age of eighteen, Lords enrolled at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute, where she studied method acting with the intention of becoming a mainstream actress.

She did succeed in becoming a mainstream actress and she appeared in a number of movies and television shows. She's now also a singer with the Radioactive record label.

Above, Traci Lords at the TV Land convention. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I was attending the TV Land convention in Burbank in 2005 with Noel Neill and Lords's table was nearby. We chatted for a bit (we found that we both were residents of the South Bay area of Los Angeles County for a time) and I got her autograph, which I found yesterday while looking for something else.

I found her friendly and easy to chat with.

G-FEST XXVII A Success

Above, J. D. Lees and yours truly at G-FEST XXV1 in 2019. Photo by Reagan Lees.

From the myriad of postings on Facebook and elsewhere, it appears that G-FEST XXVII was a huge success.

One poster said that the two-year layoff due to COVID-19 "made the show stronger."

I couldn't make it this year as my former roommate, Jessica, will be coming over next week and we will be doing some traveling during her visit to Durango, Colorado and Navajo Lake State Park. The funds are rather finite these days. 

However, I am planning on attending next year's convention. I last attended in 2019. Hopefully, I won't have airline issues like the last time.

From what I have been reading, the attendees liked the new hotel, the Hyatt Regency O'Hare in Rosemont, Illinois (outside of Chicago). G-FEST simply outgrew the Crowne Plaza, necessitating a move to a much larger venue. When the numbers of attendees were smaller, the Crowne Plaza worked out just fine. But since the numbers grew to over 5,000 or so, that venue would not work out. 

The ballroom used for the Dealer's Room looked enormous. 

I found the architecture of the Hyatt Regency to be interesting, from the photos of it many have posted. Some likened it to the sets of Logan's Run. Yup, I can see that.

Anyway, I am glad that everyone had a great time. 

RV Parks and Campgrounds Convention: “RVers’ Future Is Schizophrenic”

Above, Lava Hot Springs West KOA in Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds held its annual convention last week in Raleigh, North Carolina. It was held after a one-year hiatus due to the pandemic.

RV Travel has posted a report on when transpired at the convention. Their findings are interesting, to say the least.

They begin with:

If the annual convention of the National Association of RV Parks and Campgrounds (ARVC) is any indication, RVers can look forward to more tech, higher prices and, somewhat paradoxically, a lot more messaging from campground operators about “the experience” they’re being sold.

The good news for RVers frustrated in their search for campground sites is that there are a lot more RV campgrounds in the pipeline. The bad news is that prices are rising and will continue to increase, boosted in no small part by the growing adoption of dynamic pricing.

Those were among the major takeaways from ARVC’s four-day annual convention, held in Raleigh N.C. this past week after a one-year hiatus. Thronging the Raleigh Convention Center, a largely maskless 900 or so campground owners, vendors and prospective campground owners from around the country attended a series of workshops and panels on subjects ranging from reservation systems to workplace practices to profiling customers.

 To read the full article, go here.

New Mexico GOP To Hold Convention In Texas

The Republican Party of New Mexico will be holding its annual state convention in Amarillo, Texas on May 14-16 due to excessive restrictions in New Mexico.

The Las Cruces Sun News reported:

The Republican Party of New Mexico is holding its annual state convention next month, but it won't be in-state.

The three-day event, dubbed Operation Freedom, will be held in Amarillo, Texas, which has much looser COVID-19 restrictions than New Mexico, where mass gatherings under even the most lenient conditions are limited to 150 people.

"It was named 'Operation Freedom' because had we been able to have it in our own state, we would not have to travel," Kim Skaggs, the state GOP's executive director, said in a telephone interview Monday.

New Mexico's COVID-19 restrictions, some of the most stringent in the nation, are likely to be a hot topic during the convention, particularly since Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota and U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, both Republicans, will be the keynote speakers.

To read more, go here. 

G-FEST Cancelled Until 2022

Above, J. D. Lees and actor Akira Takarada at G-FEST XXVI in 2019. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The casualty list of events cancelled this year is starting.

G-FEST, which was scheduled for this summer, has been cancelled.

Here's the announcement:

When G-FEST had to be cancelled in 2020, we all had high hopes for a rebound the following summer. However, with great regret, the G-FEST Organizing Committee has announced that the convention will not take place in 2021. The continued prevalence of COVID-19 across the country has resulted in anti-COVID restrictions persisting much longer than everyone had hoped.

According to public health forecasts and vaccination timetables, it’s virtually certain that conditions will make it impossible to safely stage G-FEST this coming summer. G-FEST requires months of lead time for planning and preparing, processing registrations, creating displays, organizing the convention schedule and program, making travel arrangements and securing translators for foreign guests, and many, many other considerations. The participants in the convention, from vendors to attendees, all require a great deal of lead time for planning and preparation. With time for proper preparation running out, we didn’t want to keep G-FEST supporters in doubt any longer. Our venue, the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, has agreed with our conclusion.

This is very sad news for everyone that loves the special weekend of camaraderie that G-FEST has provided for so long. It’s especially hard on the youngsters and the special needs kids and their families, for whom G-FEST has become such an anticipated time of the year. However, offering a safe environment according to government regulations is a paramount consideration.

The idea of a “virtual G-FEST” has been discussed on social media. G-FEST’s primary attraction is the opportunity to actually get together with other G-fans and to shop, discuss, play video games, watch movies, see models and art, receive instruction and experience with moviemaking and prop/costume building, meet famous people, etc., etc., etc. IN PERSON. That’s the essence of G-FEST. For that reason, there will be no official online version of G-FEST. A “virtual G-FEST” just wouldn’t be G-FEST. However, no doubt many on-line kaiju-themed events will take place over the summer, and we encourage G-fans to participate and keep the kaiju spirit burning brightly.

We thank everyone for their patience and understanding throughout this difficult process. We are all looking forward to beginning the planning for G-FEST in 2022, about which further details will be coming soon. The disappointments we’ve all experienced have only made us more determined than ever to create a tremendous celebration when we all can be reunited next summer.

Above, Jessica Tseang and yours truly at G-FEST XXVI. Photo by Steve Ryfle.

Well, at this point, all we can do is keep our fingers crossed that the coronavirus is vanquished and G-FEST will be held in 2022.  

Blast From The Past

Above, three "yutes": Arleigh Kerr, yours truly and Gary Julian. Photo by Ken Huthmaker(?).

Today, I received in the mailbox the above photograph. As Glenn Thornhill is clearing out stuff in preparation of moving, he came across the photo (how he ended up with it is unknown to him). Pictured are (from left) Arleigh Kerr, yours truly and Gary Julian. All of us were in our 20s when the photo was taken.

It looks like a print from Assemblyman Paul Bannai's administrative assistant Ken Huthmaker. He was an ex-press photographer who shot in black & white. Obviously, it was taken at a convention.

At first, my thought was that it was taken at a Young Republicans or California College Republicans convention. But if it was a Huthmaker photo, it is more likely from a California State Central Committee Convention in San Diego at the Town & Country Hotel (September 1975) or the convention in April 1976 in Fresno.

In either case, it was during the California Primary campaign as I am wearing a "RSD" button (for Robert Spencer Douglass, who was running for the 51st Assembly). We had a lot of conventioneers wearing them by saying they meant "Reagan Should Declare" against President Gerald Ford.

I don't recall ever seeing this photo before.

Akira Takarada At G-FEST XXVI

Last week, I took a "quickie" video of actor Akira Takarada at G-FEST XXVI following his acceptance of his Life Achievement Award from the convention.

Here's the video:

G-FEST XXVI Miscellany File

Below are some photos that I hadn't posted, but they don't fall under any specific catergory. Just call it the "Miscellany File".

Here we go:

Above, goodies for sale in the Dealers Room. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the U.S. release poster for Godzilla vs. Hedorah. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, there were plenty of cosplayers at G-FEST. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a nice model with built-in lights. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Godzilla teapot without its head in the tea ceremony room. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a vintage movie poster. Is that robot Mr. McTavish? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, "Notzilla" strolls though the halls. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Destroy All Monsters in Murray Bros. Caddyshack bar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Yoshikazu Ishii singing the praises of Shusuke Kaneko. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Chicago skyline from my room at Candlewood Suites. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

G-FEST Stuff

Above, toys galore in the Dealers Room. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Genre conventions usually have many things for attendees to see and do. These include panel discussions, movies, dealers room, games and other activities for people to spend their time and part with their cash.

Here's some of the things that G-FEST XXVI had:

Above, Godzilla in the Murray Bros. Caddyshack bar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Akira Takarada in the hotel lobby. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Mothra looks different. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Dealers Room

Autograph Tables

Above, Akira Takarada. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, directors Shusuke Kaneko and Yoshikazu Ishii chat. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Modelers Room

 History of G-FEST Room

Panel Discussions and Interviews

Above, Akira Takarada interview panel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Shusuke Kaneko interview panel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Collect All Monsters panel. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Bringing Godzilla Down To Size with Steve Ryfle and Ed Godziszewski. Photo by Armand Vaquer.