Clive Barker and his “Nightbreed” visit Chicago’s Days of the Dead.

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It’s been a while since I’ve attended a Days of the Dead horror con but after hearing Clive Barker was headlining their March 2024 Chicago show, I knew it was time to return. The legendary Horror/Fantasy author has been plagued with poor health and recently announced that he will no longer be attending conventions (I believe an upcoming appearance in New Jersey will be his last) with plans to focus on writing. I love Barker’s books, particularly his more fantasy-based stories such as Weaveworld and Imajica and look forward to adding more favorites to that list. Barker also wrote and directed one of my favorite weird, horror movies – Nightbreed (1990). Several other cast members from Nightbreed were also in attendance: Craig Sheffer, Doug Bradley, Simon Bamford, and Nicholas Vince. It was an opportunity I wasn’t going to pass up.

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Flashback Weekend 2023 concludes with Dick Warlock!

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I had an early start that Sunday morning at Flashback Weekend loading up my car before having breakfast with my friends. The day was to be short and sweet as I’d already accomplished my convention goals save for one…meeting Dick Warlock. As mentioned in my first Flashback post, Warlock would prove something of a hidden gem at this event. Although horror fans knew him best for playing Michael Myers in Halloween II (1981), he proved to be something of a hidden gem with a rich Hollywood history as a stunt double. His resume’ had sent gasps through the audience during his Q&A session with Dick Digilio as well as providing great entertainment for his taped Svengoolie interview on Saturday. Today would be my turn to meet him.

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Flashback Weekend 2023: That Crazy Alan Howarth Concert!

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Though the Saturday night Alan Howarth concert at Flashback Weekend was slated for 8:30 p.m., I left my room a half hour earlier in case there was a line. And what a line it would be!  As soon as saw all the fans weaving the circumference of the hotel’s basement I was painfully aware I should have left an hour earlier instead. The concert took place in the same room as the costume contest (see last post) and I heard people in line saying that many had been turned away on account of it being too full. Whether that was true or not, I have no way of knowing. What I can tell you is that once the idea entered my mind, I was thoroughly convinced I was never going to get in. This, coupled with how achy and tired I was from a full day of conventioneering had me damn close to giving up and returning to my room. Somehow, I successfully ignored the voice in my head, and once the doors opened around 9 p.m. the line quickly got moving. I was surprised, I actually found a seat, albeit at the far right of the stage. Although it meant craning my neck to see the video screen, I didn’t mind as I’d have an unobstructed view of Howarth – ideal for taking pictures.

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2023 Flashback Weekend Saturday: Svengoolie & the Colossal Costume Contest!

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When Flashback Weekend reconvened in 2021, the number of contestants in its annual costume contest surged. I understood with all the extra time some folks had in lockdown why that year went nuts, but there’s been no letup in the two years that’s followed. In fact, the 2023 event had so many adult contestants they couldn’t fit everyone on stage for judging. In the end, three separate groups were judged before a fourth round would be dedicated to the finalists.

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2023 Flashback Weekend Saturday: Svengoolie and the Fans!

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The second day of Flashback Weekend began before the convention doors opened, with my friends, Don and Bunny, waiting for me downstairs to discuss the previous day. While heading towards the elevators, a group of people wearing Svengoolie shirts began yelling at me from the opposite end of the hotel; seeing my own Sven shirt as a beacon of camaraderie. The most vocal of them was a tall, tattooed redhead who goes by the handle “Catbat.” This group was none other than Svengoolie’s faithful blog commentators; fans who transform his weekly posts into their own communications platform. Although I had no idea what they looked like in real life, I was quite familiar with their Saturday morning banter. 

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2023 Flashback Weekend Friday: Svengoolie with Joe Bob Briggs! (and MUCH more)!

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For the second time in about as many weeks, I headed up to the Hyatt Regency in Rosemont, Illinois for a convention. Whereas the previously covered G-FEST was a family affair, however, Flashback Weekend for me is all about friends and celebrating our mutual love of horror films and/or MeTV’s national horror host (and Flashback Weekend regular), Svengoolie. This year was even more momentous as it would feature my other favorite host, Shudder TV’s Joe Bob Briggs from The Last Drive-in show. This team-up alone sent my anticipation levels soaring while making the protracted journey to Flashback (courtesy of Illinois road construction) akin to torture.

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