05/30/2005: X-Entertainment's First Horror Convention!
Hello all! Hope you're enjoying your day off. There's a new article in town — a massive two-page photo-essay on my first experience at a Horror Convention! We had a great time — met Betsy Palmer, made Betsy Palmer sign a picture of her decapitated prop head and giggled when Betsy Palmer kept interrupting the guy who played Jason for three seconds in the first F13 movie. Lots of Freddy, Pinhead and other horror icons were also there to make this weekend one we won't soon forget. Admission: Article is really, really long and kind of all over the place, so bear with it.
In other news, this latest article is the last to be posted within X-E's long-running Christmas layout. I'm looking at the new design now — Brian's just tweaking it up. I'm using it to introduce a couple of new features to the site that'll help keep the place alive during weekdays, since I think we can safely say that I have no time to write these EPICS after work. In short, better times are ahead for the site, and I thank all of you who've stuck by it during the eternal holiday season. You will all be rewarded with candy canes.
Discussion Thread: 133 comments
Yay! 1st! Off to go read now!
Posted by
Mara @ 05/30/2005 4:29 PM EDT
Awesome! I was going to go to that convention too but couldn't get time off from work.
Heyyyy, candy canes.
Posted by
The Manimal @ 05/30/2005 4:39 PM EDT
Just finished reading the article with the baby in tow. She liked some of the pics (no joke).
There was an entrepreneur who once sold tiny squares from sheets slept on by the Beatles. Maybe that is where sweater boy got his idea from….??
nice link to Freddy's album by the way
Posted by
The Manimal @ 05/30/2005 5:16 PM EDT
Listen, Bub. I don't know who you think you are, but I don't have a job. I always have the day off, and I'm not drunk. Ever. I love your webpage. Good day, sir.
Posted by
Brad @ 05/30/2005 5:22 PM EDT
P.S. Tomorrow is my birthday (finally). Happy damn birthday to me.
Posted by
Brad @ 05/30/2005 5:23 PM EDT
you should leave the xmas layout up longer. we were so close to all manner of hackneyed 'christmas in july' jokes.
they would've been real funny, i promise.
Posted by
jim. @ 05/30/2005 5:33 PM EDT
just keep putting it off till tomorrow..
Posted by
turkeys can't fly? @ 05/30/2005 5:49 PM EDT
Whoah! Sounds like we may be getting a forum!
Posted by
Eddie Lightning Frog @ 05/30/2005 5:53 PM EDT
Awesome its great that the site is getting updated I discovered the site last summer and I cant wait to to see it in a "default" mode again. I love conventions I met Brinke Steavens at one cant wait to read the article. I also saw the girl from the first two Fridays at that same san diego convention.
Posted by
Pat @ 05/30/2005 6:01 PM EDT
We know your trying. Trying hard for us. Oh, oh, trying.
Posted by
Max @ 05/30/2005 6:34 PM EDT
I really wanted to go to chiller theatre when the convention was held at the end of april. Unfortuneatly I was working the night shift and all my coworkers were working the day and I couldn't go.
Hey Everybody!
I'll read the article when I'm awake, sorry Matt.
Man, first contraction scare. Hospital is holding her overnight, but I couldn't stay…have to get the kids off to school and day care.
Manimal, Trajeal, anybody…any thoughts on how to get through this? I think I've developed an ulcer.
Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz
well if having a drink with pinhead is not the top of a lifetime experience, then I don't know what it may be…well, maybe "being" Pinhead…but I think the "job" is taken.
I'm not a horror film pasionate either, but pinhead is such a cool character that beats the poo out of Jason and probably even than Freddy…
cool article…happy to see that the promises of getting rid of the 6 month x-mas junk are coming to an end =)
/voice of bender: "damn you, matt's job!"
Posted by
melonian @ 05/30/2005 7:09 PM EDT
I'd be pissed if I spent that much on that horrible mystery box. I wouldn't be able to resist it either, but, seeing all of those VHS' earlier in the article made me assume that the box would, infact, be full of crappy VHS tapes.
Posted by
Nephets @ 05/30/2005 7:29 PM EDT
That was a completely awesome trip!
Posted by
Vampyre74 @ 05/30/2005 7:56 PM EDT
OOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! (claps hands) Candy canes! yummy yummy yummy!!
Great article! Matt rocks!!! 
Posted by
TW @ 05/30/2005 8:26 PM EDT
That Ari guy was on local radio here out of Philly, with oddly enough on Dee Snider's radio show here. You could just tell that he uses the "I was the first Jason" where ever he goes. It was pretty funny to listen too, but also very sad. His band is called First Jason.
Posted by
Flyerfan @ 05/30/2005 8:42 PM EDT
I was at that convention and I saw you there but was afraid to aproach you. The people you were with were so cool I was afraid to say Hello. This was the best convention ever. You are very cool and maybe one day I'll say hello when I see you again.
Bobbysox
Posted by
Bobby Sox @ 05/30/2005 9:44 PM EDT
As great as that article was it would've been better if Matt actually was approached by an X-E reader. Convention-goer has fans of his own!
That would've really burned the fans that wore stilts and costumes just to get the attention of other fans.
Posted by
Carri @ 05/30/2005 9:53 PM EDT
That looked like…a lot of fun if you had a couple friends and a couple wine coolers. Nice to hear your time wasn't waisted or anything. As for the Christmas format…I'm way too used to it now…Keep up the good work!
Posted by
Laughingboy69 @ 05/30/2005 10:39 PM EDT
What? No Bruce Campbell? I wonder what it would have costed to bring in Romero…
Posted by
ANdrew @ 05/30/2005 10:57 PM EDT
I must say that this article almost killed me: I was drinking generic brand grape soda and I was laughing so hard that I began to choke. I'm better now, but damn, this has to be one of the funniest pieces you have written. Another great article, Matt, keep up the good work.
Posted by
Kathodos @ 05/30/2005 11:39 PM EDT
Betsy bears a striking resemblance to my grandmother in that photo with her action-figure…
Posted by
RewolfJ @ 05/30/2005 11:41 PM EDT
Matt, your writing talent continues to amaze…I don't give a shit about Horror movies (don't really care for the genre), but this article was awesome..
One comment: 20 bucks for an autograph? That seems pretty crappy…I'm a VW fan, and we had Dean Jones (Star of the Love Bug) come to a car show last year, and he signed stuff for free. FREE.
Do people usually charge for autographs at Star Trek/Wars/SciFi conventions?
Posted by
Cameron T. @ 05/31/2005 2:01 AM EDT
Yo Matt: Unless "M3U" is a new digital audio format, you made an error on the "Click on the Girl From Nightmare IV" easter egg.
Posted by
Mars @ 05/31/2005 2:06 AM EDT
Wow. That was a great article. I laughed so hard at the part when you were grunting and swaying in front of Betsy Palmer! Holy shit! Just great!
That looks like so much fun! I would love to go to a convention like that! I guess the closest place for me would be Chic-ago. All those toys and shit, I know I would be so damn broke!
Did you get the absinth in a liqour store? Just wondering.
Damn, I kind of wish the Christmas layout would stay up. I like it a lot! Oh well, there's always the Wayback Machine!
Good luck Erik.
Posted by
kidneyboy @ 05/31/2005 2:07 AM EDT
Mars, .m3u is a Winamp playlist. Just click on it. It is a whole album of Freddy music!
Posted by
kidneyboy @ 05/31/2005 2:09 AM EDT
Oh yeah, I forgot…while I love Christmas, I'm glad the Layout's finally going to change again!
Maybe you could have the old layout still on the site as an elusive easter egg?
Posted by
Cameron T. @ 05/31/2005 2:11 AM EDT
hey som1 deleted my first post on here.
ohwell, good read, as usual. anyone remember trick or treat? heh good horror flick.
Posted by
the80sruled @ 05/31/2005 2:37 AM EDT
Maybe you should award us by making one of those infamous Charlie Brown/Snoopy Thanksgiving dinners! It's seasonal.
That convention sounded cool. I think I wouldn't have paid $75 for the mystery box, but that's just me. If I was in that wedding party I would've been pissed that there was also a horror convention going on.
Posted by
pikachulover @ 05/31/2005 4:26 AM EDT
If you want to see a huge convention, youi should check out the San Diego Comic-Con International. The main convention floor itself is about the size of five football fields. It used to be just about comic books, but not every field of entertainment that the 18-34 demographic loves is here in a huge way. Comics, Anime, Video Games,
Sci-Fi, Horror, you name it. It's great.
Posted by
Jason @ 05/31/2005 5:10 AM EDT
The Christmas theme doesn't work for anything else, but it worked for Revenge of the Sith.
It's always the holidays with Star Wars!
Posted by
Ekkostar @ 05/31/2005 6:58 AM EDT
How is Mrs. Majorwicz, Erik? Is she home yet?
Did you get the idea for the absinthe from Carnivale? Can you just drink it or do you need to sift it through sugar and all that other happy crap? I would love to find an old bottle w/ the Original recipe. I might go blind, but at least I could tell where your watch fob has been.
Bruce Campbell would have made an excellent addition to the convention. Even if he went dressed as a geriatric Elvis w/ a sore on his dick.
Posted by
trajeal @ 05/31/2005 7:38 AM EDT
I never lived anywhere cool enough to get a convention of any kind….once they had an exposition of RV vehicles and tractors at our local arena, though! Yee-haw.
I just heard that most of the animation for the Simpsons and Family Guy is done right here in South Korea….yet neither of those shows are on my satellite dish here! Man, its been 7 months without either show….I am having withdrawl!
Posted by
Muppet Baby @ 05/31/2005 8:21 AM EDT
[sniff]…farewell xmas background… i adore thee.
Posted by
bad karma @ 05/31/2005 9:49 AM EDT
You can find real absinthe online. It comes from the Czeck Republic and still has the wormwood that makes you hallucinate, although it's never worked like that for me. I brought some back from England and all it did was get us all really drunk, really fast. It's a fun, goofy drunk though, I have to admit.
Posted by
jhnnywalkr @ 05/31/2005 10:05 AM EDT
Very interesting. Wish I had been there. I love Betsey Palmer! She was sooooo hot in the 1950s, I came across her on a rerun of "What's my Line" on GSN one night…. SMOKIN!
Posted by
Sweetie @ 05/31/2005 10:11 AM EDT
Matt,
Great article. Good to see you back on here and keeping us addicted to XE. Anyway, keep up the good work and could you please just leave the Xmas background up till Jan '06? It would ease a lot of our minds.
Posted by
Tigerfan @ 05/31/2005 10:28 AM EDT
Great article Matt. I buy way too much crap at conventions myself. Also, they hired the old ECW crew for security? Man, I know for a fact those guys take absolutely no BS from anyone. I wonder if that big guy with the mustache I always saw on TV and PPV was there. I doubt anyone knows who I'm talking about but he was very imtimidating.
Posted by
Wirehead @ 05/31/2005 10:47 AM EDT
Man, am I going to come home and see a new layout? :sniff: bye Christmas, I'll see you in 6 months!
Posted by
kidneyboy @ 05/31/2005 11:18 AM EDT
Hey, Matt,
My friend here at work Mel (who's personal friends with Betsy, even brought her to our job!) went to the con as well. Took great pictures and told me all about meeting Dee Snider amongst others. It sounds like it was a blast. Heard Robert Englund was a asshole though…how much did he charge you for autographs?? Glad you had a great time!! Stay cool
Posted by
Melissa Y. @ 05/31/2005 11:55 AM EDT
If I was in the wedding party, I would have paid a couple of the costumed conventioneers to tuck that little girl in for the night.
Forget Absinthe, according to my Sister-In-Law, who's chock-a-block full of Medieval lore and such, Mead is the drink that keeps you going. An alcohol-fueled meal in a tankard, it's good enough for the Vikings and the people they ransacked.
Posted by
kingklash @ 05/31/2005 11:59 AM EDT
Matt,
Forgot to mention, my friend's girlfriend was helping Betsy out at her table. So no doubt you saw them both! It's a small world after all…it's a small world…
Posted by
Melissa Y. @ 05/31/2005 12:05 PM EDT
WIFE WIFE..Oh my god…I forgot they just got married in February..sorry
Posted by
Melissa Y. @ 05/31/2005 12:05 PM EDT
Holy crap, the forums for the horror stars are FUNNY. Check out the warrington one. There are some fireworks up there today after the stunt coordinator fired some shots at warrington's "apology". I'm not a huge horror movie fan, but that forum thread is gold, baby! Gold!
Posted by
Bobby B @ 05/31/2005 12:08 PM EDT
Okay does anyone else think the Betsy Palmer Action Figure looks like a deranged Will Ferrell? Anybody?
Mrs. Majorwitz is going to be okay, but she has to be very careful. We still have three more weeks of school (well of her teaching anyway), so we would like for Brett to wait until then to make his debut. After that, he better not come June 25th (her ex's birthday) or I will spit on the definition of "irony."
Muppetbaby, you do have the Family Guy DVDs right?
I wonder if I could use horror icons to get my kids to clean up their rooms? Hmmm….
Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz
Hey Matt, I found something incredible in my cupboard today… get ready… SHARKLEBERRY FIN! A sealed package! It was one of two packages left. The other was Ice Berry. I was pretty amazed. Those packages must have been up there for nearly a decade. Wow.
Posted by
Tim Marks @ 05/31/2005 12:13 PM EDT
WOW! Far way better than any Treckie convention I've been to. Big Props to ya Matt. Great story.
Posted by
Mexi-Can @ 05/31/2005 12:29 PM EDT
This is the best trip article you've ever written Matt. Love reading long articles. Conventions tend to run the same way no matter what it's for. My favorite part was the MC trying to do a horror "Whose Line is it Anyway." with those Evil Dead women. Hilarious. Wish you had pictures of that.
Fantastic.
Posted by
JLAJRC @ 05/31/2005 12:49 PM EDT
I went to an Anime con that was in the same convention center as some sort of Christian youth group retreat…most of the people were really nice. I think they would have been much more interesting at the Horror convention, though.
Posted by
Shiamir @ 05/31/2005 12:50 PM EDT
Woohooo finally a new layout. I thought christmas was going to run all the way to halloween. Cause Matt I know you wouldn't keep christmas around for halloween…
Posted by
LordSorrow @ 05/31/2005 12:57 PM EDT
Bravo Matt, well worth the wait.
How did you resist that $10 Greedo figure standing behind Granok?
Posted by
Pedro @ 05/31/2005 2:22 PM EDT
Thanks for another great article, Matt!
Posted by
Christopher @ 05/31/2005 2:34 PM EDT
I got school credit for volunteering at a horror convention last year.
One of the guests was some trailer trash 50's scream queen who refused to believe that she was 60 and not 20 something. She had enough plastic surgery to choke a horse, and wore ugly revealing clothing.
I actually saw this woman take a smoke off her cigarette, drink her beer, then drop the cigarette in the can and take another swig of beer. UGH!
Posted by
Anne Packrat @ 05/31/2005 2:36 PM EDT
I remember I tried Absinth once. It definitely had that funky green color and did have a licorice type taste to it. I took only one shot and it BURNED going down…then about 10 minutes later, and this has to be the strangest way liquor has ever hit me, starting at my feet was this really fuzzy feeling that traveled straight up my body! Normally I feel the alcohal in my head first and then it travels down….it was quite an experience, even doing straight shots of everclear doesn't even compare.
Posted by
phunqsauce @ 05/31/2005 2:55 PM EDT
P.S. Kudos on the old school Castlevania skeleton and Legend of Zelda bats!!!
Posted by
phunqsauce @ 05/31/2005 2:57 PM EDT
Loved the Horror Con. I live in the middle of Michigan, so the only Cons that come within 3 hours of us are of the comic book variety, and it's nothing more than the your local dealers in a different town.
Posted by
Rayzak @ 05/31/2005 4:05 PM EDT
I enjoyed the article. Never been to a convention of any kind before. I wanted to go to a Star Trek convention when I was younger but my mom refused to take me. Looking back on it, I think I'm grateful.
And like phunqsauce mentioned, I got a kick out of the Castlevania skeleton at the top of the page(s). It's like the first thing I noticed
That's sad, isn't it?
Posted by
Night_Trekker @ 05/31/2005 4:16 PM EDT
first thing i noticed too
Posted by
phunqsauce @ 05/31/2005 4:54 PM EDT
May I suggest again that we all send pictures of ourselves to Matt so he can make little paper dolls and have a X-E convention in his apartment. Then he can write an article on how our little avatars behaved themselves during the First Annual X-E Poster Children Gathering and Paper Doll Bowling Tournament. With a special prize going to the one who gets attacked by his cats first.
Posted by
kingklash @ 05/31/2005 5:04 PM EDT
Hey just wondering Matt…
Did you actually dish out the 20 year old cans of Ninja Turtle and Pac Man Chef Boyardee to the winners of the essay contests?
Still have any of the Hi-C Bubble Gum?
Just some lingering questions I had…Oh, and the skeletons kick ass too!
Semper Fi,
Erik Majorwitz
A few years back, Halloween 2002. Clemson University had Pin Head come and meet with the students. I got to go meet him, as well as getting him to side my Hellraiser comics and taking pictures with my ex and me. It was great! He was a wonderful guy, and did a few things on stage for us too.
Posted by
Nahim @ 05/31/2005 5:38 PM EDT
Isn't absinth illegal in the US?
Posted by
Kris @ 05/31/2005 6:04 PM EDT
Nice work and nice review!
Posted by
Matthew @ 05/31/2005 6:59 PM EDT
I got one of those Freddy dolls for my sixth birthday and just like the one Matt bought it started to have some sort of fit after a few months. One day it was growling at normal speeds and then it started to speak at high rates in gutteral tongues. The only parts of it I still have are it's head, hat and sweater. It's voicebox went the way of the buffalo and my talking Alf's voicebox.
A little update concerning the whole Jason vs. Jason feud between Steve Dash and Warrington Gillette that you mentioned. Gillette made the apology, and Dash somewhat accepted it, but after a posting made by the stunt coordinator for Friday II also claimed Gillette to be a liar, he took back the acceptance of the apology. His last words thus far to Gillette: "Warrington you suck!!"
Posted by
SkyDog @ 05/31/2005 8:05 PM EDT
Yeah, it's pretty nuts over there. Not in a good way. But check out some of the other forums there — much breezier.
Posted by
Matt @ 05/31/2005 8:09 PM EDT
The Holiday season starts after Halloween…what's that…5 months? You might as well just keep the decorations at this point…
Nah, from now on, instead of redoing the entire main page, we'll vamp only a section of it — so we don't repeat our current situation.
Posted by
Matt @ 05/31/2005 8:36 PM EDT
Erik,
Sorry I missed the excitement. My only real tidbit of advice is to pack light for the hospital. We (Mrs. Manimal) took too much (worrying about how she looked when people came to the hospital when in reality no one cared). It is such a surreal event anyway. I remember every detail of the day and it just kinda washes over you. Still probably the only new dad to flip between the inauguration/CHARLOTTES WEB/and the THS of Jerry Lewis while is wife and baby slept the day after delivery.
Kingklash, your paper doll idea repels AND intrigues…..
Posted by
The Manimal @ 05/31/2005 9:25 PM EDT
I went to that Con too. It was my first Horror con but I am sure it won't be my last. I only live around an hour away and was only there from the opening on Saturday till around 3am in the morning after helping my friends who were in the Rocky show clean up. The only thing I spent my money on was getting my copy of Killer Clowns signed by the creators. Also, in case any of the fans out there wanted to go, there is another convention in August. http://www.monstermania.net/Convention4.htm
Posted by
Speak @ 05/31/2005 9:47 PM EDT
^oh, at that con, Danielle Harris from Halloween 4 & 5 will be there! Hot stuff! Yeah!
Looks like that one is like a big Halloween reunion. Like 8 different Michael Myers' and different bit characters…remember "Boom Box Boy" from Halloween 2? Yeah, he'll totally be there! Kick ass.
Posted by
kidneyboy @ 05/31/2005 10:17 PM EDT
If you enjoyed Monster Mania, check out Chiller Theatre. Takes place a few times a year across from Giants Stadium and is 10 times better than Monster Mania.
Posted by
Dave @ 05/31/2005 10:35 PM EDT
Dang, I could have sworn I'd posted already…I said that at least the $75 Mystery Box was less of a disappointment than that horrible raffle prize with the Cosby and the cocoa…that was just a slap in the face.
I've made a fool out of myself every time I've met a celebrity (most recently Penn and Teller) without the excuse of archaic hallucinogens, so I'm really feeling that bit.
Traj, I'm pretty sure that the modern legalized absinthe doesn't require the whole production number with the sugar cubes and fancy spoons.
I like your idea King, tho can you imagine if we held a real X-E con? We're all pretty geographically disparate so it's just fancy, but can you imagine the mischief we'd wreak? Man oh man…it's almost too much to imagine…
Posted by
squee4242 @ 05/31/2005 10:46 PM EDT
matt, could you please list the movies that were in your mystery box?
Posted by
dee @ 06/01/2005 1:52 AM EDT
Well I'm personally gonna miss the X-E-mas layout. Godspeed, layout! You have served us well, over and above your call of duty (it being June–RABBIT RABBIT RABBIT!). Looking forward to the new and improved though.
Absinthe? Illegal? Ahem. No comment.
Posted by
jhnnywalkr @ 06/01/2005 9:30 AM EDT
Wow… wierd where you stumble across your own picture. I'm the rollerskating lady who brought you your box o' junk. You can take the censor off my face if you want… well as long as it is a good picture. Ciao
Posted by
Katie @ 06/01/2005 9:50 AM EDT
Holy small world. Sure — I'll de-censor ya later. Just trying to protect the innocent.
Posted by
Matt @ 06/01/2005 10:07 AM EDT
Mia Culpa. It's a fair cop - I was the poor sap that was doing the Q&As. Thanks for sharing pictures of me naked on a bearskin rug; NOW, I want to take it on the lam to Columbia till the issue's blown over.
Still and all, you handled me true and square all the way through, and I'm delighted you had a good time. Next show has Lee Ermy, from Full Metal Jacket - I was thinking that I'd pull some people out of the crowd, and then have him… errr… ok. Maybe not…
Bob, thanks for having a sense of humor about it — and what a great show! We had loads of bloody fun.
Posted by
Matt @ 06/01/2005 10:29 AM EDT
I attended my first ever horror convention in April — Cinema Wasteland. Two things.
At that convention was the Jason of all Jasons — Kane Hodder!
Also, a little tip for you guys. Buying guests drinks in the bar = free autographs the next day! Well, maybe not if the line was a bazillion people long, but it worked for Graveyard Zombie from Night of the Living Dead
Posted by
Nor the Great @ 06/01/2005 11:00 AM EDT
Last time smeone suggested a X-E convention, that was my idea, because of the diversity, disparity, and general dispertion across our great nation. (not to mention those overseas X'ers) The only conventions that happen anywhere near me is a Sci-fi con that goes on in Tulsa, on the other side of the state from me. Guess I could just schlep on down to Dallas for Wizard World or something, but that's too much work. I just feel so lazy this year.
Posted by
kingklash @ 06/01/2005 11:42 AM EDT
I'm really excited for this new layout. I began seriously reading this site last fall so I've only been through two layout designs. Both were well done and got me excited for their respective holidays before I even read an article.
I'd like to give a last hats off to the Christmas layout. It may have overstayed its seasonal welcome but it was a good design.
Posted by
Carri @ 06/01/2005 12:13 PM EDT
man i loved that freddy cd, ive actually listened to it twice.
Posted by
satas @ 06/01/2005 12:36 PM EDT
There's a convention for Disney fans in July, the National Fantasy Fan Club. I would love to see how you covered that. It's in CA, though.
Posted by
Darth Muppet @ 06/01/2005 1:29 PM EDT
WOW!!! Katie's cool ’cause she's met Matt!
Posted by
bad karma @ 06/01/2005 2:18 PM EDT
Anyone tried out one of these http://www.jakkstvgames.com/starwars.html yet? I´m from Finland so we probably wont get those for a year or so, so I´m just wondering if it´s any good?
Posted by
Tarkkis @ 06/01/2005 2:40 PM EDT
What no Corey Feldman?
Posted by
Blah...blah @ 06/01/2005 3:06 PM EDT
I dont know if anyone noticed this, Im too lazy to read everyones comments right now but, in the picture after the pic of the Hilton, the boy in the middle of the picture is picking his nose! You caught him in mid-pick!
Posted by
IHAQ @ 06/01/2005 3:19 PM EDT
Hmmm…seems you are right.
Posted by
Matt @ 06/01/2005 3:38 PM EDT
Sorry if someone already said this… but a horror convention with no people from Evil Dead?! What is going on?
Posted by
Mike @ 06/01/2005 5:02 PM EDT
"Anyone tried out one of these http://www.jakkstvgames.com/starwars.html yet? I´m from Finland so we probably wont get those for a year or so, so I´m just wondering if it´s any good? smile"
They're just a bunch of mini, arcade style games. Fairly fun. For 20 bucks anyway.
Posted by
Jason @ 06/01/2005 5:14 PM EDT
It's a bit weird to hear that Matt stayed at a hotel in a hotel 5 minutes away from my house. Matt, you should be glad I didn't find out…
Posted by
Chris @ 06/01/2005 5:41 PM EDT
It would be something to have an X-E Convention. Who'd be the guests, though? Hmm…a Kool-Aid Man Q & A would be good.
I would like to go to one of these conventions one day (not to just be ironic either). If there was one for TGIF stars of the 90's, I would go there in a second so I could say "HOLY SHIT IT'S ERIC MATTHEWS!" in my lifetime.
Posted by
Dr. Acula @ 06/01/2005 6:46 PM EDT
yes, an X-E convention sounds great. here in vegas sounds even better!
Posted by
the80sruled @ 06/01/2005 7:21 PM EDT
Hail!
I found the elevator bit most amusing. I wonder if any of this would have been half as hilarious without your word smithing abilities.
You've got a gift son.
Although you travel alot Matt, I do seem to live around your neck of the woods. (South Jersey)
One member had mentioned seeing you at the convention. Did you have a pic of yourself somewhere on the site?
You really don't need that job of yours. I'm telling you, put up a little gift shop, you'll be in business and we'd hopefully get more stuff to waste our time with on your site.
Posted by
Novaximus @ 06/01/2005 7:49 PM EDT
Holy Smoke you lucky dog!!!!!
That would be a dream to meet Ms. Betsy Palmer! Plus, the other guests were just too cool: Robert Englund, Doug Bradley, Heather Langenkamp, and Dee Snyder.
It reads like a dream come true. I grew up watching & loving horror movies. Robert & I almost went to a horror convention in San Diego. In reading your article it gets me all excited about wanting to attend. Thanks for another insanely interesting, funny, well written article.
Posted by
retrorandy @ 06/01/2005 8:18 PM EDT
That's pretty weird that both the Q&A guy and the roller skate girl found themselves on the site. Hopefully this doesn't deter Matt from doing the great,brazen, honest portrayls of things/events/people that he does!
Loved this article- I agree with Novaximus- the elevator bit was hilarious.
ERIK- Nope, no DVDs…I DO have a worn out VHS tape with 6 episodes of Family Guy on it that I had my folks mail to me
Posted by
Muppet Baby @ 06/02/2005 8:29 AM EDT
The one guest who would make the X-E convention?
Nathan Bitner.
THE Nathan Bitner.
And yeah, the elevator bit had me cracking up here at my desk, much to the amusement of my coworkers.
Posted by
jhnnywalkr @ 06/02/2005 8:55 AM EDT
I am in for the X-E convention. That would be awesome! Is it just me or do you find yourself checking the site often to see if the Xmas theme is still up?
Posted by
Tigerfan @ 06/02/2005 9:19 AM EDT
We're now trying to fix the problems on the new site that only appear on Macs.
That shouldn't take too long, but do any of you use the Safari browser? If so, please stop.
Posted by
Matt @ 06/02/2005 10:16 AM EDT
That shouldn't take too long, but do any of you use the Safari browser? If so, please stop.,
I just want to say that cracked me up.
Posted by
dohopoki @ 06/02/2005 10:19 AM EDT
Me too. I loathe Safari. I typically try not to visit this page when I'm on my Mac (today being an exception I guess) because if I preview my comment and then want to change anything, hitting the back button totally deletes it and I have to start over. But, yeah, Safari blows (in my opinion - I don't want to start a Mac/PC war here. Those can get ugly.)
The comment above reminded me of one of my favorite Daily Show quotes from the Craig Kilborn years:
"In a related story, Dolly Madison cupcakes were also recalled, so if you're the guy that eats those, quit it."
Posted by
Lori @ 06/02/2005 10:57 AM EDT
Safari sucks. I'm not sure we'll be able to make the site "applicable" to Safari if we ever want to get it done — and besides, shit on this site looks terrible on Safari even when there's not a screwy code. It's made for IE, but tweaked for Firefox.
Posted by
Matt @ 06/02/2005 11:03 AM EDT
I used to use Netscape until the iMac's nervous breakdown. Since its return, it Safari. Seems Ok to me. Unless you count the little window that randomly pops up and give me brief glimpses into the bowels of Hell. Did you know that Satan looks just like the guy on the deviled ham cans? And he does a wicked Electric Slide? Hey, there it is again! It's Hitler ice-dancing with Caligula! hmmm, Never knew the Romans were so graceful on skates.
Posted by
kingklash @ 06/02/2005 11:39 AM EDT
I guess I should have said (in case it wasn't obvious) that I don't actually use Safari on my Mac. I use IE. I had to use Safari last week when IE just mysteriously quit working and I thought I was going to have to be medicated.
Posted by
Lori @ 06/02/2005 12:40 PM EDT
I'm not a big Horror film fan either. I only like them if they're bad enough to laugh at or classic Lugosi/Karloff kinda stuff. But that convention looked like fun. Like a Halloween party a few months late.
I really have no choice, whatever the boss wants on the computer, I use. New OS, new browser.
Posted by
kingklash @ 06/02/2005 1:29 PM EDT
Bruce Campbell could not be there because he is or is going to be, on a book signing tour. "Make love the Bruce Campbell way" hits stores soon.
My next dog's name will be Ash.. hope he play well with Brak, my first dog.
Posted by
primusboy @ 06/02/2005 1:50 PM EDT
I couldn't stop laughing when i read the part about the little girl in the elevator. i'm sick.
Posted by
Connor @ 06/02/2005 4:36 PM EDT
OK everyone. I've just returned from England. Matt may be interested in learning about something called "fruit machines." Or perhaps he already has from one of X-E's UK readers. Anyway, I played a bit, and I had no idea what the Hell I was doing. Part of it was a slot machine, and the other part was…well…I don't know what. Here's a link to the website of one of the major manufacturer's of such machines:
Bell-Fruit Games
Enjoy.
Posted by
Nate @ 06/02/2005 6:22 PM EDT
Oh. And it's great to know that Matt's finally having the layout changed. Looks like my constant nagging finally got his lazy ass to do it (as well as everyone else's nagging). Heh heh. Can't wait to see it.
Posted by
Nate @ 06/02/2005 6:25 PM EDT
Sorry for the OT, post but I need some help! I just got the 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime for my 5 year old. I transformed into the rig pretty easy except for 1 part. I can't get the legs to telescope down. The instructions say push in on the gas tanks and push down but it won't go. Anyone have any pointers?
Posted by
Joe in OH @ 06/02/2005 9:06 PM EDT
HEY! Matt's not lazy. Matt does the very best he can. We should be grateful for every moment he can dedicate to us all.
Yeah, an emo kid not begging for someone's undivided attention. Weird huh?
But I mean it, be grateful!
You Rule Matt! Take as long as ya need.
Posted by
Knegative @ 06/02/2005 11:07 PM EDT
LOL! That comic was great.
Posted by
the80sruled @ 06/03/2005 1:53 AM EDT
Matt your in Stuff magazine this month Yay for you!
Posted by
Becky @ 06/03/2005 2:23 AM EDT
Oh yeah I played those when I was in England. I too have absolutely no idea what I was doing. Those things are in every pub there and make no sense whatsoever.
Posted by
jhnnywalkr @ 06/03/2005 9:19 AM EDT
All things considered, I'd rather play pachinko. Or the Spam machines at the tribal casino where my Dad works.
Posted by
kingklash @ 06/03/2005 12:00 PM EDT
Ok this is a little off topic. The web comic, vgcats, had a great comic aobut revenge of the sith, yesterday. http://www.vgcats.com/comics/?strip_id=150
It pretty much makes fun of most of the things fans have been complaining about.
Posted by
BrightNoah @ 06/03/2005 12:12 PM EDT
–>>.. That is so great the horror !! Soon all July will be here and it will be X-mas in July at X-E !! wha00 !!
Posted by
~tOkK @ 06/03/2005 11:07 PM EDT
It's official, Matt and this website are those people on your block who leave the Christmas lights up all summer long. Matt's out front, wearing long black socks with his sandals, shorts, and wifebeater, mowing the lawn to demonstrate that he's not only physically capable of taking the lights down, but going out of his way not to. Then he takes them down on December 24th. Why? Because F*#@ you, that's why.
Posted by
Shucksbetweenfits @ 06/04/2005 4:37 AM EDT
Your review was great! I went to Monster Mania Con 1 & 2, and your comments sound dead on. I went as a casual fan helping my brother to sell his horror-related paintings (yes, I was part of the dealer mess!) Of course, we had to take turns at the dealer table, so we could go look around at everything and buy more stuff! These conventions are definatley more fun than I thought they would be too! Hopefully, we'll be back at another one soon.
Posted by
Adrienne @ 06/04/2005 11:56 AM EDT
OOO.. there was a wedding at last year's too… our dealer table was in the hall right by the doors to go out the back, so we saw a lot of wedding guests go though… lol
Posted by
Adrienne @ 06/04/2005 12:02 PM EDT
All the costumed guys should have waited outside the wedding, and when the happy couple came out, cheered them on. That would've rocked.
Posted by
kingklash @ 06/04/2005 1:51 PM EDT
Ha ha BrightNoah, that was funny.
But, like I said before, on the subject of Padme being weepy throughout the movie, were we really expecting her to wip out a lightsaber and duel Anakin? Just a thought. PS- the whole Christmas theme has grown on me.
Posted by
TW @ 06/04/2005 1:57 PM EDT
Heh, thats pretty cool that Bob had a good sense of humor…Matt is so cool that people WANT to be insulted by him!!! jk…anywho just wanted to post, kinda disgruntled i didn't win any money in my karaoke contest…I can't remember who won exactly but it was probably the asshole who sounds like trained opera singer. That guy shouldn't do karaoke…I pulled out my fave crowd pleasers Ziggy Stardust by David Bowie, I Don't Like Mondays by The Boomtown Rats, and Roses (which is my biggest crowd pleaser) by Outkast. Sorry I am just blabbing but i felt the need to post something…..laters
Posted by
phunqsauce @ 06/04/2005 2:40 PM EDT
I think Matt is pulling our legs… he never intended to take off the Christmas theme! I think he's doing some kind of psychological experiment and we're his guinea pigs…
Posted by
Lazy Girl @ 06/04/2005 4:27 PM EDT
i wonder what VHS's in the mysery box were ?
Posted by
Dan @ 06/05/2005 1:11 AM EDT
I just was randomly searching for horror conventions and came across this post. I started going to conventions a few years ago and I love it. I'm going to another in just under 2 weeks. It looks like you had a good time.
Posted by
JPD @ 07/09/2007 9:55 PM EDT
Man, I wish we had some horror cons like that atound where I live. It's like the boondocks down here 
Posted by
ZZYZZYXX @ 07/14/2007 1:10 AM EDT
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