Check out the Geeks for great savings!
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CONVENTION HIGHLIGHTS 2008
The Friends of Old-time Radio held its 33rd Annual Convention from October 23 - 26 at the Holiday Inn, Newark, New Jersey. New Celebrities present were: Mark Barkan, Ervin Drake, Harold Gould, Ilene Kristen, Laurence Luckinbill, Douglas McGrath Other celebrities present were Arthur Anderson, Lucie Arnaz, Larry Conroy, Christina Britton Conroy, Tommy Cook, Peter Fernandez, Cliff Carpenter, Joe Franklin, Michael Gwynne, Elaine Hyman, Chuck McCann, Shirley Mitchell, Bill Owen, Rosemary Rice, Lynne Rogers, Jean Rouverol, leslie Shreve, Craig Wichman. The guests socialized with fans, participated in panels and workshops and re-created 10 radio shows.The convention began Wednesday Evening with complementary Wine and Cheese and informal visiting. Thursday Morning the dealers opened at 9 am. There were three afternoon panels: Radio Idol with R Larson, D Zwengler and guests; Script Writing with Dave Zwengler; Authors Panel. We then had cocktails and dinner. 52 fans attended during the day. 119 fans and guests attended in the evening. Those Were the Days Radio Players; dir. by Connie Foster; with Chicago group and Michael Gwynne (Odyssey of Runyon Jones by Norman Corwin); Peter Fernandez directs an episode of Suspense which he wrote "The Time, the Place, and the Death" including Arthur Anderson, Cliff Carpenter, Larry Conroy, Christina Britton Conroy; leslie Shreve Jean Rouverol, Craig Wichman; Arthur Anderson dir. an original script (The Seven Hills of Passion by Alan Gutierrez, including Cliff Carpenter, Jean Rouverol, Larry Conroy, Christina Britton Conroy, Lynne Rogers, Craig Wichman
Friday began at 9:00 with the opening of the dealers room. 54 dealers' tables were active during the convention. 177 people attended dinner with another 69 in the afternoon. Workshops and panels included the following: Poetry and Radio with David Zwengler and Frazier Russell; Pulp to Radio (Anthony Tollin); Sports on Radio (K Stockinger); Lindbergh Kidnapping (Jack French); War of the Worlds (Anthony Tollin and Michael Biel); 6th annual Funny Friday Comedy Panel with Chuck McCann; Michael Gwynne; Shirley Mitchell, Arthur Anderson, Tommy Cook ; The Gotham Radio Players presented a "lost" episode from THE ADVENTURES OF SAM SPADE, "Sam and the Corporation Murders". directed and produced by Steve Lewis and Max Schmid
On Friday evening we had 2 programs: Gary Yoggy directed Our Miss Brooks; includes Shirley Mitchell Rosemary Rice, Tommy Cook, Bill Owen, Craig Wichman; Edgar Russell III directed original script "The Three Lives of Nurse Polly" includes Arthur Anderson, Bill Owen, leslie Shreve, Bobb Lynes, Michael Gwynne
Saturday the panels and workshops included the following; OTR Jeopardy; with Fred Berney; children on Radio hosted by George Downes with Tommy Cook and others; Late Nite comic with Brian Gari, Dave Zwengler and Ilene Kristen; Propaganda on entertainment program during WWII; with Gary Yoggy; The Dave Warren Players then presented The Aldrich Family; Joe Franklin Hosts; with Harold Gould, Laurence Luckinbill, others; Singers and Big Bands with Lucie Arnaz, Betty Rose, Ervin Drake, Mark Barkan; (B Gari and S Weiss); Lucie Arnaz and Laurence Luckinbill present The Bickersons; Michael Gwynne announcer.
Saturday's events culminated with cocktails and buffet dinner for 192 people with another 122 coming for the day. After dinner there were 2 re-creations; Anthony Tollin directed The Lone Ranger; includes Tommy Cook, Chuck McCann, Michael Gwynne; X - 1 "Mars Is Heaven" directed by Gregg Oppenheimer; cast included Laurence Luckinbill, Harold Gould, Lucie Arnaz, Michael Gwynne, Shirley Mitchell, Arthur Anderson, Tommy Cook; Bart Curtis with Penny Swanberg supplied the sound effects. Ed Clute supplied the Music with the help of Judi Reynolds; Bill Siudmak was again our very capable engineer.
The Allen Rockford Award was presented to Bart Curtis and Edgar Russell III for their outstanding efforts in keeping radio and this convention alive. The Ray Stanich Award was given to Arthur Anderson for all the excellent writing he has done. A special Florence Williams award was given to Elaine Hyman. She has attended our convention for several years and has always been willing to help. Donations will be given to various organizations throughout the year.
Sunday morning found about 87 people having breakfast and listening to an entertaining and sometimes very hilarious panel consisting among others of Arthur Anderson, Tommy Cook, Harold Gould, Michael Gwynne, Chuck McCann, Shirley Mitchell, Ed Clute. It was hosted by Anthony Tollin.
I again want to thank all the guests who were very gracious in giving of their time to be with us.
--Jay Hickerson
