On a beautiful Saturday in Los Angeles (and a stormy miserable day in Minnesota/Wisconsin) my cohort and I ventured to the Airtel Plaza in Van Nuyes to attend my very first Dr. Who convention.
I was unsure what to expect. The only conventions I had attended in the past were the huge Star Trek conventions in the Twin Cities held in the early 90's. Needless to say, this was a far different experience. For starters the convention was held in a hotel, not a large conference center. The hotel leant a sence of intimacy to the event which could not have been present in a larger setting. The guests also were far more available to the fans. They mingled in and ammongst the various rooms where events were being held and the dealer room.
My first brush with someone "famous" came as soon as I entered the dealers room. Sitting at a table were several of the cast members of the excellent television series, Crusade. I was extremely shy and was unable to bring myself at first to go over to the table and get an autograph (even though that is why they were at the table). So I explored the dealer room instead. I picked up all the Big Finish audios that I had been saving up for and also obtained the lastest Auton video and Domine audio adventure. I purchased the video from George Telfer who enquired if I had seen the earlier segment of the Auton series. I replied that I had them both. He mentioned that he was in them. It took me off guard, but I did vaguely recall who he was. He offered to sign a picture for $5, but I declined, instead enquiring if BBV was going to release any more of the Audio Adventures with Sylv and Sophie now that Big Finish was doing audios. George defered to the other gentleman at the table (who I later discovered was probably Bill Baggs). Happily I found out that the "Time Travlers" series was continuing.
I felt a little better after having met my first minor Who celebrity and my shyness was starting to subside. I wandered to the next table to check out the Curse of Fatal Death video. After a moment or two I realized I was standing next to Stephen Cole. I let him finish his conversation with a eager Who fan and managed to stumble something out about really enjoying Land of the Dead. I must have soudned like an idiot. My fear had returned in full force. So after one more walk past the Crusade table, and a quick glance at all the other stars signing autographs, I did what any self respecting quivering lump of jelly would do at this point. I went to the bar for a drink.
With a beer in me (Bud Light, they didn't have any Leinenkrugels). I felt a bit more couragous. I hit the cash machine (hey autographs cost money you know) and headed back for the dealers room to get Peter Woodward's (Galen from Crusade autograph. Passing Erin Gray whom my Girlfriend realized with a start, "Hey, she was in Silver Spoons!" (my work on converting her to a sci-fi fan still has far to go). We approached the Crusade table. Horror of hoorors! Both Peter Woodward and David Allan Brooks (Max Elilerson) were gone. After a paniced moment my Girlfriend (a smoker herself) pointed out that the pair were outside having a cigarette. I did another quick sweep of the dealer room and they were back. I had no trouble asking for the autograph (after all, it was a business deal. I do hundreds every year, and for much larger sums than $15). I simply asked for an autograph, spelled my name for the personalization, and I had it. After another visit to the bar, I even mustered up the courage to ask to get my picture taken with Peter Woodward.
Then it was off to the beach for a quick hour. I had drug my Girlfriend (Carrie) along to LA to see a bunch of people from a show she's only seen a few times. She had to see the ocean. Our plan was to be back by 3:00 when Peter Davison gave his talk. We grossly underestimated LA traffic. The ocean trip turned out to be a slow crawl through traffic by the oceanfront. We got to see the ocean and I opened the windows so Carrie could hear the ocean. We made it back in time just to miss Peter's talk.
We did make it for the Big Finish session however. Gary Russell and Jason Haigh-Ellery gave a wonderful talk and most of the authors of the Big Finish productions up to this point came up and reavealed their thoughts on the work to date. Stephen Cole also reavealed to us first that Lalla Ward would be appearing in an upcoming adventure with Colin Baker. He made an off the cuff remark about her being Lord President making me wonder if there might be a book tie in here. Gary also shared with us Colin Baker's view of his charecter and costume of the Doctor. He hated it. The future Colin stories will attempt to gradually mellow out the charecter and give his Doctor a chance to be a more likable fellow. I guess the upcoming Mel adventure will also lessen her annoying qualities a bit as well. Given the chance to do a bit of revisionism, Big Finish is jumping at the idea.
I next had the chance to finally meet Kate Orman (from whom I took over the Allen Road mailing list) and her husband Jon Blum. I stammered a bit, but was quite happy when she asked my name, and after I told her Reuben, she responed , "Herfindahl? Nice to finally meet you. Jon, this is Reuben." The lines betwwen the real world and the "internet world of Who" blurred a little more for me. Later I was also able to take a picture with the two of them.
Then it was off the the Crusade cast session. I was quite excited about this as Crusade is my favorite Sci-Fi show to come out in the past few years. Carrie was also quite excited as this is the first Sci-Fi show she really got into on her own (the only other one was Blake's 7 which I had to prod her on a bit at first). The cast was extermely funny. Peter Woodward and Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel) taking every chance to poke fun at each other and David Allen Brooks (who seemed quite out of it that day). It was an entertaining session and I even managed to get a question in. Peter Woodward revealed a few new facts about his charecter. Yes, he is/was human but he has been altered technologically. I guess he has a mess of wires accessable from his back.
After the session I managed to convince David to have his picture taken with me, and later he also agreed to take a picture (or three) with Carrie. Carrie was very excited as he is her favorite charecter and , "He's very good looking." David's comment on the whole situation was, "She's a lot cuter than you". To this I had to agree.
Next up, the charity auction hosted by Peter Davison. I quite enjoyed it. Peter was quite funny and offered to sign pretty much anything bought at the auction. I kept waiting for something that I could get signed by him that was in my price range, but kept on seeing any item I wanted to bid on going for higher than I could afford. I finally managed to secure a $20 bid on the Target novelization of Enlightenment which Peter signed earlier. I didn't have a chance to get him to personalize it as he was quite hungry and had to run get lunch.
While waiting in line we had a chance to marvel at all of the wonderful costumes the fans were wearing. There was a Queen Amedalla in full garb, a Centauri wearing shorts and a very skinny fellow wandering around dressed as Tom Baker. I fell quite short wearing my Rage Against the Machine T-Shirt and a Crusade hat. I regretted not bringing my Space Princess guard's uniform from the Blake's 7 episode Gold (yes it's the actual costume worn by one of the guards. I'm quite proud of it).
There was a break in the auction before the Cabaret started, so it was off to the bar once again for lunch (a quick salad) and a few more drinks. I noticed Gary Gillat (from Dr. Who Magazine) getting drinks for a few Who authors I had noticed earlier. Feeling a bit bolder by now I got them to agree to take a picture with me. Everyone put there "best foot forward". Peter Anghelides chatted with me a bit. I was quite embarrased to have to ask his name as he was the only one I didn't recognize.
Then it was off to the Cabaret. On the way I manged to get Terrance Dicks to take a picture with me as well. I was really getting into the spirit of things by now and had lost most of the former shyness and apprehension. The Cabaret started quite well, but the early highlight was most definately Justin Richards and Peter Anghelides doing the Dr. Who version of Monty Python's Parrot Sketch. The Dr. Who TV series being the parrot.
I took a quick break out to the hall not that interested in seeing the video compelations. There I noticed Julie Caitlin Brown (Na'toth from Babylon 5 chatting with John Bro Wilkie. We left them alone and Carrie and I chatted a bit. Eventually we asked for a picture. They both obliged. I wasn't sure who John was, but after chatting with him for a bit I gathered he had been an extra in quite a few sci-fi series, including Space: Above and Beyond and one of the Star Trek series. We wandered back into the Cabaret and John and Julie followed. Julie seemed to have enjoyed talking to Carrie and approaced her and kept up the conversation. Very interesting, a star making initiating a conversation with us and not vice versa. We had the pleasure of hearing Peter Davison perform his infamous version of Officer McFee. He has an amazing voice.
I finally had a quick chance to meet the Doctor! Peter Davison obliged us for a quick picture (which unfotunately blurred a bit). My night was complete (or so I thought).
Since our flight didn't leave until 1:30 we had some time to kill. We grabbed a seat at the bar. After a bit Terrance Dicks came over and took the seat next to Carrie. I was quite amazed, but wanted to respect his privacy and left him alone, only offering to buy his drink. He accepted and struck up a conversation. I told Carrie who he was and we started chatting about how his wife stays totally out of his television business as well (as Carrie stays out of some of my Who obsession). He bought the next round of drinks and so the time passed. We discussed World War II, his plans for making Players into a trilogy, his status as the "father figure" for the Who authors, Mindgame and more. It was very fun for all 3 of us. Terrance was a wonderful fellow and became genuinely concerned about me being late for my flight. I pushed it off another 15 minutes or so, but finally had to leave. We exchanged business cards and raced for the flight (which we just barely made). Later after, after a nap on the flight and on the drive home, Carrie and I discussed our evening. I had drank quite a bit with Terrance and by this time was quite hung over, finally realizing just how much I had drank. When I drink I sometimes can loose track of time, especially when I am deep in conversation and have someone else drinking with me, keeping pace. Carrie, who drank very little and has an excellent sence of time, informed me that the 3 of us had drank and chatted for over 2 and a half hours. Two and a half hours chatting and drinking with one of the most influential men in all of Dr. Who. I was amazed. A far better top off to an amazing convention than I ever could have imagined.
I'm already making plans for next year.
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With a beer in me (Bud Light, they didn't have any Leinenkrugels). I felt a bit more couragous. I hit the cash machine (hey autographs cost money you know) and headed back for the dealers room to get Peter Woodward's (Galen from Crusade autograph. Passing Erin Gray whom my Girlfriend realized with a start, "Hey, she was in Silver Spoons!" (my work on converting her to a sci-fi fan still has far to go). We approached the Crusade table. Horror of hoorors! Both Peter Woodward and David Allan Brooks (Max Elilerson) were gone. After a paniced moment my Girlfriend (a smoker herself) pointed out that the pair were outside having a cigarette. I did another quick sweep of the dealer room and they were back. I had no trouble asking for the autograph (after all, it was a business deal. I do hundreds every year, and for much larger sums than $15). I simply asked for an autograph, spelled my name for the personalization, and I had it. After another visit to the bar, I even mustered up the courage to ask to get my picture taken with Peter Woodward.
I next had the chance to finally meet Kate Orman (from whom I took over the Allen Road mailing list) and her husband Jon Blum. I stammered a bit, but was quite happy when she asked my name, and after I told her Reuben, she responed , "Herfindahl? Nice to finally meet you. Jon, this is Reuben." The lines betwwen the real world and the "internet world of Who" blurred a little more for me. Later I was also able to take a picture with the two of them.
Then it was off the the Crusade cast session. I was quite excited about this as Crusade is my favorite Sci-Fi show to come out in the past few years. Carrie was also quite excited as this is the first Sci-Fi show she really got into on her own (the only other one was Blake's 7 which I had to prod her on a bit at first). The cast was extermely funny. Peter Woodward and Carrie Dobro (Dureena Nafeel) taking every chance to poke fun at each other and David Allen Brooks (who seemed quite out of it that day). It was an entertaining session and I even managed to get a question in. Peter Woodward revealed a few new facts about his charecter. Yes, he is/was human but he has been altered technologically. I guess he has a mess of wires accessable from his back.
After the session I managed to convince David to have his picture taken with me, and later he also agreed to take a picture (or three) with Carrie. Carrie was very excited as he is her favorite charecter and , "He's very good looking." David's comment on the whole situation was, "She's a lot cuter than you". To this I had to agree.
There was a break in the auction before the Cabaret started, so it was off to the bar once again for lunch (a quick salad) and a few more drinks. I noticed Gary Gillat (from Dr. Who Magazine) getting drinks for a few Who authors I had noticed earlier. Feeling a bit bolder by now I got them to agree to take a picture with me. Everyone put there "best foot forward". Peter Anghelides chatted with me a bit. I was quite embarrased to have to ask his name as he was the only one I didn't recognize.
Then it was off to the Cabaret. On the way I manged to get Terrance Dicks to take a picture with me as well. I was really getting into the spirit of things by now and had lost most of the former shyness and apprehension. The Cabaret started quite well, but the early highlight was most definately Justin Richards and Peter Anghelides doing the Dr. Who version of Monty Python's Parrot Sketch. The Dr. Who TV series being the parrot.
I took a quick break out to the hall not that interested in seeing the video compelations. There I noticed Julie Caitlin Brown (Na'toth from Babylon 5 chatting with John Bro Wilkie. We left them alone and Carrie and I chatted a bit. Eventually we asked for a picture. They both obliged. I wasn't sure who John was, but after chatting with him for a bit I gathered he had been an extra in quite a few sci-fi series, including Space: Above and Beyond and one of the Star Trek series. We wandered back into the Cabaret and John and Julie followed. Julie seemed to have enjoyed talking to Carrie and approaced her and kept up the conversation. Very interesting, a star making initiating a conversation with us and not vice versa. We had the pleasure of hearing Peter Davison perform his infamous version of Officer McFee. He has an amazing voice.
I finally had a quick chance to meet the Doctor! Peter Davison obliged us for a quick picture (which unfotunately blurred a bit). My night was complete (or so I thought).