AUTHOR’S NOTE: I first attended this festival in 2009 and thought I would come back to write an update and take better photos (which can be difficult at indoor venues). You can read about my first experience HERE.
This post documents my experience on November 2, 2013.
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Three years after first attending Ghoulardifest…
…I came to this year’s location at the La Villa Banquet Center…
…where a $15 admission gave me access to a large room…
…that immediately exposed me to collections of movie magazines…
…rare CD’s…
…monsters…
…comic books…
…baby skull and baby head candle holders…
…and mementos of a local legend named “Ghoulardi.”
Created by Ernie Anderson (on left – 1923-1997)…
…Ghoulardi was 1960’s hipster character who hosted B-movies live on WJW-TV…
…usually in his lab coat, a half-working pair of sunglasses…
…and tons of slogan buttons.
And although Anderson left for California after only three years (1963-66) of performing as Ghoulardi…
…his movie hosting success brought not only other Cleveland incarnations, such as the Big Chuck & Lil’ John Show…
…it created multiple generations of fans who came to celebrate Ghoulardi’s 50th anniversary…
…along with the help of Dick Goddard…
…Art Lofredo…
…Big Stash…
…Big Chuck, Lil’ John…
…and even friend Tim Conway (they met and worked together in Cleveland).
Lucky for me, I came to the festival shortly before Mr. Conway’s appearance and happened to find my way in front of the stage…
…to present you with this Tim Conway story.
Enjoy!
Along with the local and national celebrities to reminisce with, some festival goers came to re-experience the period of Ghoulardi…
…through historic items…
…memorabilia…
…radio stations (WIXY)…
…and photography (George Shuba)…
…while other fans took advantage of the Ghoulardi-esque things in the forms of books (Post Mortem)…
…art (Sean J. McCoy)…
…T-shirts (Bartel & Sons)…
…programs (Daughter of the Ghoul Show)…
…and cookies…
…which looked deliciously Ghoulish (The Avocado Tree).
Beyond Ghoulardi edibles…
…the festival offered food that included burgers and pierogi…
…mouth-watering Kiedrowski‘s Snoogles…
…and freshly popped popcorn…
…perfect to eat while in the “Shock Theater”…
…or while in the audience…
…as the Harp Twins performed.
But for fans who didn’t want to sit…
…there were animals to pet (Jungle Bob)…
…a CW prize wheel to spin (I got a poster)…
…Star Trek characters to color (U.S.S. Lagrange)…
…and intriguing terror-catures to pose for…
…not to mention the photo-op with the legend himself.