The Thriller At Chiller (Stevie Related...Kinda)

[Arizona Ranger]

Well Ledgies, I just came back from working Security at Kevin Clements Chiller Theater Show at the Meadowlands Sheraton in Secaucus, NJ. (4/19-21).The entire weekend was fantastic and Ray Manzarek, the legendary Keyboardist from The Doors was in attendance and had a HUGE LINE for autographs !!! (I know because I was helping to keep it orderly !)

The following were in attendance....

Lisa Loring who played little Wednesday from The Addams Family was there and told me she knew both Lindsey and Stevie during the 70's Rumours Era. It also turns out Lisa's Aunt or Grandma is great friends with one of Stevie's Aunts and thats how Lisa got to know both S&L. She said Stevie was a great person to pal around with and lost touch with her after the 1990's. Perhaps John Kinney from the Nicks Fix can help get them together....

James Darren, the 60's Singing Sensation from South Philadelphia (Goodbye Cruel World) who appeared as Gidget's Boyfriend and The Time Tunnel was there as well. He never met Stevie or any other member of FM but did relate he was great friends with Elvis Presley. They also played several games of Touch Football in Coldwater Canyon Park whenever The King was in California.

Ruth Buzzi from Laugh In did'nt know Stevie but was still as perky and full of laughs as she was in the 70's. She charmed everyone with her sunny personality and got several larfs when she appeared at Saturday Nights Rock & Roll Party making a comic show of covering her ears when DFX was blasting out Magic Carpet Ride...

Joseph Turkel who played the Evil Bartender/Caretaker in The Shining and the Replicant Master from Bladerunner was cheery as well and good company. Charles Napier who appeared in The Blues Brothers with Dan Akyroyd & John Belushi as the leader of The Good Ole Boys ("You're The Good Ole Boys???") was a scream and provided a lot of laughs with his antics. Charlie was also one of Hannibal Lecter's Police Victims in Silence Of The Lambs when the evil Dr. busted out of his fancy cage.

Jeff Conaway from Grease & Taxi had a huge line for Autographs as well and took part in the Saturday Night Rock Jam but the climax of the show was when Ray Manzarek stepped onstage to jam with Kevin's Band The Dead Elvi (www.deadelvi.com ) doing the magical keyboard work on Roadhouse Blues & Light My Fire.
The place was jammed pack and we were all singing along Kevin & Company on the two Doors tunes and screamed for more when Manzarek finished his bit. Jeff Conaway jammed with the boys doing the Mojo chores on Light My Fire to the delight of the ladies in the audience. Conaway made everyone laugh when he flubbed the intro calling him Ray Mancini !!! I know because I was 5 feet away from Conaway & Manzarek and saw history being made!!!

Ray Manzarek was one of the most friendliest and knowledgeable Rockers I have ever met. He never took an attitude with anyone and autographed everything from my cap that I bought at The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame to collections of Doors CDS/Shirts/Photos and Concert Posters. Manzarek is in his 60's now and is still playing gigs and never showing any signs of slowing down. I also acted as his gopher running to get Poland Spring Water and Pens for him so he could keep signing for all his fans.
Ray also said he never met Stevie or Lindsey but remains great friends with Mick Fleetwood and someone told me The Doors played a few shows with the Early FM back in the late 60's. Hey Mick, how about getting Ray to fill in for Christine ?! Ray also stays active doing various film & music projects and might be back for a second visit. He truly made everyone's weekend !

David Hedison (The Fly, Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea), Richard Kiel (Jaws from James Bond), George Lazenby, Deanna Lund, Jack Grinnage (Kolchak), Carol Ann Susi (6 Ft Under) and a few of the guy from The Sopranos were there as well and were enjoying themselves and got along great with the fans. Caroline Munroe (still sexy) from The Spy Who Loved Me was in attendance and is one of the most friendliest ladies you could ever meet. Unfortunately Sarah Douglas & David Carradine acted like total s--ts during the weekend and people avoided them like the rabies. Next time stay at home if you're in a bad mood people !

Kevin was impressed with the attendance and appreciated Ray Manzarek's appearance at the show. Kevin's wife Sue told me they're trying to get a few more Classic Rockers to appear at October's show on 10/25-27. I suggested they try to contact either Bob Welch or Peter Green's people to arrange for an appearance. They said they would check it out. So keep those fingers crossed !!!!

To get more info about Chiller Theatre or suggest personalities to attend in the future log onto www.chillertheatre.com !


We want to see you there !!!!

P.S. My friend Bob is making me a copy of the Manzarek concert on Saturday Night he filmed and I'll try to download some photos to put on the Ledge !!!!


NAMASTE

[tommer]

dear god!!! you met Dr. Tony Newman!!!
that's SO cool!!!
he was a childhood hero for me!
i'm really REALLY jelous.

[Arizona Ranger]

Cos' you can visit him at www.jamesdarren.com !!!!

Jimmy Darren attended the same High School in Philly with Fabian and appeared in The Guns Of Navarone, T.J. Hooker, and Deep Space 9 as the Lounge Singer Vic Fontaine .....

He is a really friendly person and very professional. He enjoyed making Time Tunnel (one of my favourite Sci-Fi Series). Jimmy revealed that Time Tunnel was renewed for a Second Season but there was a change of management at ABC in 1967 and they nixed any future shows... I also met his co-stars Lee Meriwether (Dr. Ann MacGregor) and Robert Colbert (Doug Phillips) at Chiller Theatre and they are very nice people as well

BTW other guests in attendance were

Don Marshall (Land Of The Giants) Very nice and witty !!!
Heather Young aka Patricia Yorke (Land Of The Giants) Lovely Lady and doing many literary projects like Jane Eyre. Currently living in Salt Lake City and active with The Mormon Church
Deanna Lund (Land Of The Giants) Nice Lady and doing a lot. She appeared with Elvis in Paradise Hawaiian Style and
Spinout
Mark Goddard (Lost In Space) A Lovable Old Fart whenever he's dry

Marky Ramone (The Ramones) Wants MTV to do a series on his family ala The Osbournes since he feels they're more colourful and dysfunctional than Ozzy's

The Misfits !!!

Paul LeMat (American Grafitti) Did'nt get a chance to talk to him
Debra Lee Scott
Kathy Garver (Family Affair)

Also tommer, according to Don Marshall who was doing a special Irwin Allen panel, remakes are planned for Time Tunnel, Land Of The Giants, and a special Lost In Space TV-Movie based on the Orginal Series. The Time Tunnel remake reportedly will feature George Clooney & Ben Affleck....

Let's not forget the HQ for the Time Tunnel crew was underneath the Arizona Desert on the outskirts of Phoenix which probably explains why Stevie manages to remain ageless through the years

[Arizona Ranger]

Ron Palillo (Horshack) from Welcome Back Kotter provided a lot of unintentional larfs when he grew irate when none of the mostly young crowd there knew who he was and would'nt buy autographed photos from him Ronnie also got mad at guest Brad Dourif (Chucky, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest) getting a huge line of people at his table

"I can't believe all these people want a f**kingn dolls autograph (Chucky) and not mine !!!!" He quipped

He got ticked off at me when I refused to clear the crowds away for him so he could go home and told him to use the back area of the tent (where the guests were set up) like everyone else. He whined that he was going to get wet from the heavy rain. There was a light drizzle at the time ....

Brad Dourif was kewl and a spoke to him briefly !

Adam West (Batman) was there as well and charmed most of the ladies there.

Lois Chiles (Moonraker) Maud Adams (Octopussy) Virginia Hey (Road Warrior) Julie McCullough, & Denise Crosby (Pet Semetary) were also there and had a LOT of males at their tables for photos & autographs !!!



OH BTW !!!! I forgot to ask, Did any Ledgies here show up for Chiller ? Wet Camel Food, if you attended, I'm sorry I missed you dude !