Special Convention Guests who have given definite or tentative acceptance of our invitations:

West Coast and Southern Guests

Tommy Cook - Red Ryder
Chuck McCann - Comedian, actor
Gloria McMillan - Our Miss Brooks
Shirley Mitchell - The Great Gildersleeve

New East Coast Guests

Ilene Kristen - (TV) Ryans Hope, One Life to Live
Laurence Luckinbill - (M) Star Trek V; (TV) many
Douglas McGrath - Academy award nominated writer (Bullets Over Broadway); also director, actor (Michael Clayton)
Ervin Drake - Composer (It's a Very Good Year; Good Morning Heartache; I Believe; many others)

Returnees

Arthur Anderson - Let's Pretend, Mercury Theater
Lucie Arnaz - TV, Movie and Broadway actress
Cliff Carpenter - County Seat, Terry and the Pirates
Christina Britton Conroy - Barbara Britton's daughter: Voice Over and Radio, and Theatre Actress. Also Music Pschotherapist
Larry Conroy - Voiceover Coach; Count of Monte Cristo
Peter Fernandez - Suspense
Joe Franklin - Joe Franklin Show in New York
Michael Gwynne - Drummer, DJ, actor (Movie) Payday, many others
Will Hutchins - (TV) Blondie; Sugarfoot
Elaine Hyman - The Lone Ranger
Bill Owen - (Announcer for ABC)
Rosemary Rice - Archie Andrews; Let's Pretend
Lynne Rogers - The Guiding Light
Jean Rouverol - One Man's Family
leslie Shreve - Actress, activist, television, movies, voiceovers
Craig Wichman - Director of Quicksilver Radio Theater, on Twilight Zone Radio Series

SCHEDULE - 2008

The following events are tentatively scheduled. Time will be announced at convention. Any are subject to change.

Thursday

Dealers Rooms 9 am - 5:30 pm

11:30 - 12:30 - The Search for the Next Radio Idol (R Larson, D Zwengler) winner is cast in the re-creation by the Chicago group
12:45 - 1:45 - Script Writing (Dave Zwengler)
2:00 -3:00 - Author's Panel with Ben Ohmart, Janet Gari, Mel Simons, others
5:30 - 8:00 - Cocktails and Dinner; raffle
8:00 - 8:30 - Those Were the Days Radio Players (Odyssey of Runyon Jones by Norman Corwin)
8:45 - 9:15 - Peter Fernandez directs an episode of Suspense "The Time, the Place, and the Death" including Arthur Anderson, Cliff Carpenter, Larry Conroy, leslie Shreve, Jean Rouverol, Craig Wichman
9:30 - 10:00 - Original Script (The Seven Hills of Passion by Alan Gutierrez, dir by Arthur Anderson); including Cliff Carpenter, Jean Rouverol, Larry Conroy, Christina Britton Conroy, Lynne Rogers, Kevin Scullin, Craig Wichman

Friday Morning and Afternoon

Dealers Rooms: 9 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

10:00 - 10:45 - Poetry and Radio hosted by Dave Zwengler with guest Poet, Frazier Russell, author of "Lush," a poetry book
11:00 - 11:45 - Pulp to Radio (A Tollin)
12:00 - 12:45 - More Sports on Radio (K Stockinger)
1:00 - 1:45 - Lindbergh Kidnapping (J French)
2:00 - 2:45 - War of the Worlds with A Tollin and M Biel
3:00 - 4:30 - Sixth annual "Funny Friday" Comedy Panel with D Tague, M L Wallace;  with Shirley Mitchell, Michael Gwynne, Chuck McCann, Arthur Anderson, Tommy Cook
4:45 - 5:30 - (Re-creation) The Gotham Radio Players present "The Adventures of Sam Spade" directed and produced by Steve Lewis and Max Schmid

Friday Evening

5:30 - 7:45 - Cocktails and Dinner, raffle
8:15 - 9:00 - (Re-creation) Gary Yoggy directs Our Miss Brooks; includes Gloria McMillan, Ron Cocking, Rosemary Rice, Bob Hastings, Tommy Cook, Pat Hosley, Bill Owen, Shirley Mitchell
9:15 - 10:00 - (Re-creation) Edgar Russell III directs original script "The Three Lives of Nurse Polly" includes Arthur Anderson, Bill Owens, leslie Shreve, Bobb Lynes, Michael Gwynne

Saturday Morning and Afternoon

Dealers Rooms: 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

9:00 - 9:45 - OTR Jeopardy (F Berney)
10:00 - 10:45 - More Children in Radio and Television; G Downes
11:00 - 11:45 - Late Nite Comic with Brian Gari, narrated by Dave Zwengler, with Ilene Kristen
12:00 - 12:45 - (Re-creation) original presentation by the Dave Warren Players (Aldrich Family)
1:00 - 1:45 - Propaganda on entertainment programs during WWII by Gary Yoggy
2:00 - 3:00 - The Joe Franklin Show with special Guest Ilene Kristen, Laurence Luckinbill, Lucie Arnaz, Harold Gould, others
3:15 - 4:45 - Singers, musicians and Big Bands, 12th annual (hosted by Stu Weiss and Brian Gari); guests include Lucie Arnaz, Betty Rose, Ervin Drake, others
5:00 - 5:20 - (Re-creation) Lucie Arnaz and Laurence Luckinbill present The Bickersons with Michael Gwynne, announcer

Saturday Evening

5:30 - 8:00 - Cocktails and Dinner, raffle, awards
8:30 - 9:15 - (Re-creation) Anthony Tollin directs The Lone Ranger; includes Tommy Cook, Will Hutchins, Chuck McCann, Michael Gwynne
9:30 - 10:15 - (Re-creation) X - 1 "Mars Is Heaven" directed by Gregg Oppenheimer; cast includes Laurence Luckinbill, Lucie Arnaz, Michael Gwynne, Shirley Mitchell, Arthur Anderson, Tommy Cook

Sunday Morning

7:00 - 9:30 - Breakfast in the restaurant
9:30 - 11:00 - Informal Panel in the Dresden Room

Getting There

By Air: Fly to Newark Airport. Free shuttle bus from Newark Airport to the Holiday Inn; follow the signs to ground transportation.

By Bus: Bus service from Manhattan's Port Authority to Newark Airport: then take shuttle bus.

By Car: From NJ Turnpike, take Exit 14; take second right marked Frontage Road after toll booth. DO NOT TAKE FIRST RIGHT which is Rt. 1 & 9. Take second right directly under bridge marked Frontage Road. You must take one of the right - hand tolls and stay on the right.

From Garden State Parkway south of airport, take Exit 140 to Route 22E to Routes 1 & 9 North, local. Follow the sign marked Frontage Road.

From Garden State Partway North of airport: take Exit 142 to I-78 to Exit 58B (Frontage Road)

From Newark Airport, exit airport and follow route 1 & 9 North to Frontage Road.

Hotel Address (for MapQuest) is 160 Frontage Rd., Newark, NJ 07114

By Train: Check your local train schedule

Cost

Reserve your spot as soon as possible. Prepaid tickets are held at the door. Take advantage of our package specials described below.

Thursday, October 23; Daytime only (9 am - 5 pm); $20 if paid in advance; $25.00 at the door

Thursday, October 23; Daytime and evening including buffet dinner (9 am - closing) $52.00; Discount of $5.00 for those over 62 and under 16.

Friday, October 24: Daytime only (9 am - 5:30 pm) $20.00 if paid in advance; $25.00 at the door.

Friday, October 24: Daytime and evening including buffet dinner (9 a.m. - closing) $64.00. Discount of $5.00 for those over 62 and under 16.

Saturday, October 25: Daytime only (9 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) $20.00 if paid in advance; $25.00 at the door.

Saturday, October 25: Daytime and evening including buffet dinner (9 a.m. - 10:30 p.m.) $70.00. Discount of $5.00 for those over 62 and under 16.

Sunday, October 26: Morning including buffet breakfast and panel, 7:00 to 11:00 am: $20.00

Complimentary coffee and muffins early Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings; complimentary hors d'oeuvres Friday and Saturday evenings. Hors d'oeuvres for dinner guests only.

Dealer's Tables are $65 for all tables (Details below.)

Hotel

Hotel: Rooms are $99.99 plus parking ($15 a day), no matter how many in a room, no matter how many nights. All rooms can be reserved on the web site OR USING THE 800 number (1-800 Holiday; 1-800 465-4329); Reservation should be placed by September 25th. Rooms are limited. Other options below.

Ads

Ads may be placed in our program book. See below.

Registration

Advance dinner reservations must be made. Reservations are limited (Friday 300; Saturday 400). Make checks out to FOTR or Jay Hickerson; send to Jay Hickerson to address below.

Updated and Further Information

Registration

All meal reservations MUST be paid in advance. If you are coming for the day only, avoid the hassle of paying at the registration desk and save money. Preregistration for the day only is $20 if mailed in advance and $25 if paid at the door for each day. Remember, if you register at the door, you have to fill out a registration card. If you can't attend the dinner but wish to stay for the activities afterwards, the cost is $20 for each night.

The cocktail hour is for dinner guests only. If you come for the day only, but wish to stay for the cocktail hour and hors d'oeuvres, add $10 to the cost.

PACKAGE PRICES: If you come for all 4 meals (Thursday through Sunday), cost is $191 ($181 for seniors). If you come for Thursday through Saturday, cost is $171 ($161 for seniors). If you come for Friday through Sunday, cost is $147 ($137 for seniors). Make reservations, pay early and avoid lines at the registration table. Tickets are not sent when you register. They are held at the door. If you want confirmation that money has been received, please send a SASE or e-mail address. It would be easier to send me your e-mail address anyway. I can send you updated information easier.

Rooms and Parking

Rooms must be reserved through the Holiday Inn-North 800 number (1-800 Holiday; 1-800 465-4329) OR the web site.  Cost of the rooms is $99.99 a day plus daily parking fee of $15, regardless of the number of days or number of people in the room.  A deposit might be required (by credit card). If you must cancel, you must do it by 6 pm of the day you are arriving. Rooms should be reserved by September 25th. If you reserve them after that, you will be taking a chance on availability.

Cost for daytime guests is $1.00 a car UNLESS at least one person in the group buys food in the restaurant or bar; then there is no charge.

If you wish to stay at the Howard Johnson, which is also renovated and a half mile from the Holiday Inn, cost per night should be less. Call the Howard Johnson at 973-344-1500. It is now under new ownership so you may need your own transportation between hotels.

If you wish to stay next door at the Sheraton, call 1-800-325-3535.

Also try the internet. Don't mention FOTR at first. Don't forget to try the Sheraton. Try to share rooms with someone. Mention AARP and/or AAA if appropriate. There may still be a parking fee if done this way.

Seating

Sit where you wish on Thursday and Sunday. On Friday and Saturday, tables will be numbered and will be assigned in advance. Tables sit 10 people. If you wish to reserve a full or partial table, please let me know in advance with whom you would like to sit. Make sure the people with whom you wish to sit are coming. A few people gave me a long list of people to choose from. I can't do this. All those who register at the door or who have no preference will sit where there is room. Table reservations must be made in advance. We expect a larger attendance than usual.

Ads

Ads may be placed in our program book (8 1/2 by 11). This is our 33rd year and we will again have an expanded program book with guest biographies and articles. Cost for ads are:

Full Page - 8 1/2 by 11 $100
Half Page - 5 1/2 by 8 1/2 or 4 by 11 $60
Quarter Page - 4 by 5 $40
Two full Pages - $160

Dealers at our convention may take a 35% discount on the ad. Help support our 33rd annual convention. Deadline for ads is October 1st.

Wednesday

To all Wednesday overnight guests and committee; Come and join us for wine, beer and cheese in the Dresden Room from about 6 pm to about 10 pm. There also will be soft drinks and vegetable & cheese platters. Please let me know if you plan to attend. Because of higher expenses, we will ask for donations for the food and drink.

Thursday

Remember, the dealers are open from 9 am. I will be at the Holiday Inn Wednesday afternoon.

Food

If you have to eat at a particular time or need special food, please let me know in advance.

Dealers

Cost for dealers will be $65 a table. All details on a special sheet. Daytime registration fees for dealers will be eliminated. Dealers can arrive as early as 7 am Thursday morning to set up. Some dealers will be able to set up late Wednesday night. I will let you know as I get closer to the date.

No Smoking

This is a smoke free convention. The Hotel is under new management and is completely renovated. There is NO SMOKING ANYWHERE in the convention area, the lobby or the rest rooms.