I don't know if this is the right forum(sorry if it's not!), and I do apologize for the late posting, but I wanted to tip NY/NJ folks of the annual Chiller Theatre Expo at the Meadowlands Sheraton(chillertheatre.com for details). It's primarily a horror/sci-fi expo, and many folks are availble for autographs, as the "D" rate celebrities hump the American dream. But, there are also several great DVD's to be had, including a chance to go to "Wars" to be a "Raider" of some of your favorite 70's and 80's Triloglies(hint hint). But is much more, Poker industries has a table, featuring plenty of goodies, and there is much classic television now popping up on DVD, should that suit you.

My best buys today were Battle Royale all region and a Voltron DVD compilation. I liked the Battle Royale, and the guy was selling Hero and Shaolin Soccer as well, so I think I might go back for more.

They do charge admission(but I don't know how much, I snuck in, which isn't impossible). I believe it's in the 8-12 dollar range, and be prepared to spend some cash. But if it's off the beaten path and on DVD, chances are, you'll find it here.

If you've never gone, I highly recommend checking it for the freak factor. They have a costume contest/ball tomorrow night, and were screening some Bruce Lee late night, and it's a great place to rub shoulders with the bottom rung of show business. But I must admit, meeting Roddy Piper was pretty cool, but doesn't hold a candle to meeting Mark "Dave McFly" McClure.

ah yes... Chiller Theatre is highly recommended! although the Spring show is smaller than their Oct show, it is still worth the trip. Admission is $15 at the door.

There is indeed a great selection of esoteric and hard to find DVDs and videos.

Unfortunately I won't be in the area to catch this one, (I'll miss it by 2 weeks) but I'm making sure to catch the Oct show.

Yes, a friend of mine always hits this one, and the one they have Halloween weekend. He comes home with tons of stuff. I get to see some pretty cool movies through him.

this sounds great, but i don't live in the area. does anyone have a list of these sort of things happening around the country, specifically the new england area? thanks!

And in case the weather is bad, wear a good set of "boots".

Justing kiddin' with ya. It sounds like a really cool event and I wished I lived closer. I know I'd be there! Another cool way to go broke...

Edit: Hey malkmuz.... I see your location mentions San Diego...don't forget the Comic-Con is close at hand! Woohoo!

I'm actually a vendor at the chiller expo. My friends & I run a comic book store in Jersey & we have a stand at chiller every year. We also do business with the comic book store that runs/owns poker industries. So I get a huge discount on all their DVDs. Got the Battle Royale: Special Edition Directors but for $18.00.

Chiller is pretty fun, but it keeps getting worse every year & it has the dirtiest weirdest people you will ever see there.

But some of the pseud-celebrities there are awesome b/c they will just hang out & shop & you really get to talk to them. We met Virginia Hey (Zahn sp?, the blue chick from Farscape) & we helped her load stuff out of her car & got a drink w/ her & she is drop dead beutiful & literally about the nicest person you could ever meet. Also Roudy Roudy Piper is there this year & is unbelievably friendly & outgoing as is Tony Todd (the candyman).

Noel Gross usually does an article on it every year.

I definately agree about it going downhill each year! That said, there aren't many instate shows to pick up this kind of product, so I thought I'd give them the plug. I guess you're at the show now, but I"m curious on your thoughts of their staff, because they seemed way out of control in my experience early yesterday, just being real bastards and on power trips at every turn. And I"m just a customer, but I was really put off by these guys who couldn't make the Guardian Angels laying down the law. I saw them throw out a table selling boots, and some other lame reason(and he was a good table, if only high priced). Uhhh, Hello? This is a horror con, people sell boots! That's why you can charge the outrageous 15 bucks to get in, and whatever gouging they do to the vendors. They seems to be among the best on the East Coast, and longest running, so I guess they have some sense of blithe entitlement and ego of it being "Chiller's Way or the highway", but they come off as bigger losers than they are that way. I know the "Fire Marshall" was around, and they were making guys move back their tables, but why not be vigalent before a guy spreads 600 tapes over 3 tables before telling him to move?


But this shouldn't scare off any first time Chille's, just a few old timers griping! Check it out if you haven't been, at least once. You're guaranteed to love it, or have a night full of stories to tell at the bar, worth your time either way. And I agree about the Hot Rod, super super dude! Actually every celebrity I've ever met there has been great, I got **** faced with Charles Napier and Ed Lauter last year, two of my favorite character actors. And who can forget Ray Manzerek playing "Light My Fire" with the Dead Elvi last year( which was actually cool to hear the actual man who played that keyboard playing it) but somehow Jeff "Bobby Wheeler" Conway got on stage, drunk as all hell, wearing his "cool" suit you could tell he got at Quails in 1992, and sang all the wrong words. Priceless. If only Banta was there!

The only jerk I ever met was Alan Ruck, he of Spin City and "Cameron" fame. He sat sulking, wearing a baseball hat and sunglasses, with a "What-did-my-agent-get-me-into?" look on his face.

No, I'm not there now. I worked it last night, & my friends are running the stand today. Chiller is probably the single worste run expo I have ever been to in my life. The staff is nothing but a bunch of balding, fat dirt bag losers that have nothing going on in their lives & this is the 3 (6 actually) days a year they can pretend they have some kind of authority. And the worse part is they know nothing about what is going on. They booted an associate of out store who has a stand out last year for absolutely no good reason, & this guy is actually going to sue chiller now. "Power trip" is the exact word to decribe the stuff & it's funny that someone I completely do not know, but just a visitor at chiller feels the same way.

Quote:

The only jerk I ever met was Alan Ruck, he of Spin City and "Cameron" fame. He sat sulking, wearing a baseball hat and sunglasses, with a "What-did-my-agent-get-me-into?" look on his face.

Yeah, that's funny also. he was all the way up stairs right? He looked absolutely miserable. It's why I just have a little extra appreciation for people like Piper, who would sit & talk to every single person for hours if he was able to. The celebrity area has become a mess also now that they don't do it outside in the big tent anymore. that was the best. Do you know the story why they don't do that anymore? 2 years ago, Richard Keel (The big giant that played Jaws in Bond & was in Happy Gilmor) was there & it was really windy. The tent collapsed, the pole slammed in to Keel's boulder like head & busted him open. That was the end of the tent.

But back on topic. DVD wise you will almost always get a good find there, (stay away from teh bootlegs though). So if your in the area it's worth the trip for that, & you can usually find some really good movie posters as well.

Yep. Angling toward a return visit in October. Did anyone happen to notice if there were any CineSchlock-O-Rama posters touting Citizen Toxie at the Troma booth? Here's links to previous Chiller reports ... Spring 2001 and Fall 2002.

I didn't see anything of the sort Noel, but I wasn't exactly looking for it. But I was there for the early part of the Friday show, and perhaps it went up Saturday, but nothing I saw. If it wasn't displayed, it wasn't prominent, because I spent a few moments there perusing the "Tox Box".

And why doesn't Troma get a better spot? They are the cream of the schlock crop, and it seems like Seduction Cinema and a few others get better placement. I"m sure the answer lies in these symbols ($$$) but I think they are in a cramped, crappy dark corner. Yes, first table inside the first door, and I"m sure people will find them wherever they are, but why not emphasize them over that skeezed out tweaker who's still selling the wacky package uncut sheets by the main door?

Could I get more information about the Chiller Theatre Expo in October 2003? Sounds like it’s worth the drive from Toronto, Canada! Been looking for a Battle Royale: Special Edition Directors dvd forever (Nobody in Toronto has the dvd, just crappy VCD from Hong Kong).

I too have noticed that it has gone downhill since moving from the Hilton to the Sheraton. It really can't get much worse...when compared to the the shows of the early/mid 90's at the Hilton.

But they're the big dog in the area, and money rules the day. That's what keeps people going back... in the hopes that THIS year will be better than the next.

emack_ca, the drive from Toronto is probably 10-12 hours each way. It would NOT be worth the drive to me. It is often times not worth the 1.5 hr drive from upstate NY. But then again, I've been to 12 Chiller shows... so I have a different perspective. Check out www.chillertheatre.com for information.

I think there are some decent Massachusetts shows, so go there and don't give us SARS!!! Ha ha, just kidding man!

If you are in the market for Asian imports, you might investigate the pokerindustries.com website. They have a pretty major table at each show, and an unreal amount of Asian product, including I believe an all-region Battle Royale for sale there.

As for the show, if you are a real hardcore movie buff, and like the avant garde and the unusual, as far as titles go, I'd guess this to be among the best of the best on the east coast. Hopefully some of the more hearty convention and festival buffs can confirm. I"m a bit spoiled in living 20 minutes away, and I dont know if I'd drive to Toronto for this show. But the selling point could be two things. One, it's in a hotel, and you'll be staying with like minded freaks. The Fall shows are always the best, and there should be some pretty serious costumes there. And two, I'd keep an eye on the Chiller website listed, to see what celebrities are coming. There may be one or two that make it worth while, as Chiller always seems to pull one kick ass, non conventional convention guest out of their ass, and if it's up your alley, it might be worth your while.