Seasons in the Sun

It is almost August and there is no sign that the Dogs will field a softball team this year.  This could be the first time since 1990 that I don't play at least one game.  It was a good run if that is so.
Back in the mid-90's, I was the captain of our team at Lerner Newspapers.  In other words, I spent way too much time chasing down people to field a team every week.  During the eight year run, I played every position except 1st base, before finally settling in as the team's main pitcher.
When taking the mound, I decided to try to unsettle the opposing batters by donning face paint.  I know, it was not too original (basically, I copied the Road Warriors and Sting of wrestling fame), but it did startle a few batters (and umpires).
As the season wore on and it got hotter, the face paint seemed much less fun, but I made the commitment to wear it until we made the playoffs.  Fortunately, that promise had an expiration date of that year, since we never made the playoffs and I would still be wearing facepaint.
By the way, that lump on my left cheek is actually a softball earring (worn just in case the facepaint wasn't enough).  Hmmm maybe I am seeing why we never really won much!

A facepainted me in Skokie, IL-Mid 1990's.

Celeb Jersey Cards #63 Mark Wahlberg & Kevin Bacon

This is a regular series which combines my passion for trading cards with my interest in celebs.  The season is about 2/3 over and the two teams leading their leagues are the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Red Sox.

When we last saw Boston area native Mark Wahlberg, he was sporting a Philadelphia Eagles jersey for his role as Vince Papale in Invincible.  Today, Wahlberg is showing his true colors while tossing out the first pitch at Fenway.  While I was a big fan of Papale, this is a much more fitting Celebrity Jersey Card for Wahlberg.

One degree of separation away from Mark Wahlberg is Kevin Bacon.  They are connected by Jennifer Aniston, who starred with Wahlberg in Rock Star and with Bacon in Picture Perfect.   Bacon is a native Philadelphian and he donned the Phillies jersey when he performed the National Anthem with his brothers.

On the Beat with Kaylee Williams

Kaylee Williams was the first celeb guest I attempted to interview at the Days of the Dead convention.  Kaylee responded positibely and politely.  She became the first celeb I interviewed at the event.
Kaylee is a talented young actress and model from Schaumburg (IL).   Because she loves doing stunts and wanted to learn and improve, she has trained with a stunt group called Asylum Stunts.  Kaylee has an impressive body of work already and her career really has just begun.  As you will learn from the interview, Kaylee was at the convention to promote Idiot Gore.
Unfortunately, some of the bugs weren't worked out in the process and there is too much background noise during the interview.  You can actually hear Kaylee better than me.  My questions were about doing conventions, doing acting in her native Chicago area, how she got started in horror, if she wants to stay in horror, how it felt to be asked for an autograph and what she was working on now.
I really appreciate Kaylee giving me her time and thoughts for this interview.  I hope to see her again at a future convention and catch up with her (and I will do better with the sound).  Kaylee has a bright future and Johngy's Beat will be following her career as it develops.

Autograph Tales:Dennis Werth

Jayson Werth is a third generation major league baseball player.  His grandfather Ducky Schofield, uncle Dick Schofield and stepfather Dennis Werth all played in the majors.  Werth was a catcher for the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals from 1979-1982.
Years ago, I sent Dennis Werth a baseball card and asked him to sign it.  He sent back the card signed and also included a couple extra goodies.  The first was a 3x5 b/w signed photo from his time with the Yankees.  The second was a business card.
After retiring from baseball Werth had become a master lamper.  I have seen hundreds of former players go into business after retirement, but Werth is the first I have seen to become a lamper.  Pretty cool.

The Boys Discover Lefty O'Doul's

On a recent trip to San Francisco (CA), we saw the Giants play the Dodgers and the A's play the Angels.  We also accidentally found another fun baseball-related place to visit.
Right around the corner of the Westin St. Francis (where we stayed) we found Lefty O'Doul's, a unique bar originally opened by and named for Francis "Lefty" O'Doul, a legendary baseball figure, especially on the west coast.
O'Doul played 11 seasons in the majors, managed 23 seasons in the Pacific Coast League and is a member of the PCL Hall of Fame.  The Bridge across McCovey Cove at AT&T Park is named the Lefty O'Doul Bridge.
The bar featured a piano player up front, along with a comfort food-style buffet.  It is a lively place, yet quiet enough to have a good chat (or in our case, a lengthened debate on Mark Buehrle's Hall of Fame credentials) with friends. 
Our lengthy night at O'Doul's featured great moments which will become fun memories.  It also featured our rousing rendition of Piano Man (which is probably a moment best forgotten).
To learn more about O'Doul's and the rest of our San Francisco trip, check out my blog at Global Traveler.

Jim Gekas, Chuck T. Gekas, Chuck E. Gekas, me and JayHawk Evans in Lefty O'Doul's in San Francisco, CA-July 2011.

Marshall Brodien Salutes Literacy

 This is a sporadic series which highlights the celebrity-filled literacy ads I ran for the Newspaper In Education (NIE) program we had at our local schools.

When I started the NIE literacy ad series at Lerner Newspapers, my goal was to increase awareness to the program by using local celebrities as spokespeople.  After I landed a few celebrities and the series was on solid ground, I really started to have fun with it.

Especially for Chicagoans, few people evoked memories of fun more than Marshall Brodien.  Whether as Wizzo the Wizard or as himself selling decks of his famous TV Magic Cards, Brodien entertained millions of children (and adults) for decades.  I knew having Brodien appear in our ads would really spark an interest with the parents who grew up watching him on the various Bozo shows.
Brodien was pure class whenever I talked to him at the time.  He offered some free magic products for the program, too.  He gave me plenty of his time and was happy to be part of the program.
Our Graphics Department produced a whimsical ad featuring his dual persona.  It was colorful, kitschy and very 70's.  It was everything I wanted it to be.
So was the response.  Parents loved seeing their childhood favorite again.  Students were also drawn into the ad.  The ad brought a lot of attention to our literacy program.
When I called Brodien later to tell him how successful his ad was, he seemed genuinely touched.  I swear he even got a bit choked up.  For a man whose life was focused on magic, this was one more magical moment!

Read to discover the secrets hidden within books.
--Marshall Brodien as quoted in the NIE ad series in 2004

Friendly Encounters

This is a regular series which features my friends who have met celebs.

I have featured Josh Watko several times in the past.  He is a great wrestling fan with a fascinating wrestling site called JW's Wrestling Memorabilia.  His site has everything including product reviews, commentaries, event reports and much more, all related to wrestling.
Josh has been very gracious by sharing some of his wrestling encounters here.  He tells a great story and I always like letting him tell it.  Here is his latest story:

For the past two years, Pittsburgh wrestling fans have had some incredible opportunities.  A half-dozen separate "Studio Wrestling Reunion" signings have been held in the area, including not only local hero Bruno Sammartino and other stars of the old Pittsburgh wrestling telecast, but also men such as George Steele, Greg Valentine and Larry Zbyszko who all had local ties.
Although the Studio Wrestling program ended in the early 70's, fans of all ages have taken advantage of meeting these men who are such a big part of Pittsburgh's heritage.  Blue collar workers and their families have always enjoyed a good wrestling match.
For the last two reunions, Tony Marino was included in the lineup.  A strongman remembered by fans around the country as a good hand in the ring, to Pittsburgh fans, Marino is simply known as "The Battman".

When the 1966 Adam West Batman tv series took over the nation, Pittsburgh wrestling fans were introduced to The Battman on the Studio Wrestling show.  Although an extra "T" was added to the name, the original costume was very close to the one used on the series.  While there was originally a "Boy Wonder" wrestler sidekick, Marino was able to successfully bring the character to life and continue using the gimmick for several years.
It was a thrill to meet this grappler who so many of my family members remember from their childhoods and get him to sign an iconic Wrestling Revue cover featuring the gimmick. 
Mr. Marino himself is an amazing man.  It is easy to see how this charismatic gentleman was able to make the character a success.  Hardly looking his actual age of almost 80, the hair on the back of Marino's head is shaved in the form of the Batsignal.  Holy Grappling Greats!
I love this story.It is wrestlers like Marino who helped carry the sport in its regional days.  As always, I appreciate Josh for sharing it and I encourage everyone to check out JW's Wrestling Memorabilia site.

Tony Marino and Josh Watko in Pittsburgh, PA-Mid-2011.

Old Times at the Comiskey Park

I'm back again with a grainy photo but clear memory from my younger days.  This one features Mike Squires (my favorite White Sox player of all time) and Comiskey Park.
Back in the early 80's, the White Sox didn't draw great attendance.  Many times, the total attendance was below 10,000.  There were wround that number when my dad and I went to see the Sox face the woeful Cleveland Indians.
The Indians had super rookie Joe Charboneau, along with ex-White Sox players Jorge Orta, Pat Kelly and Alan Bannister and ex-Cubs Andre Thornton, Miguel Dilone and Davey Rosello.  It was quite a Chicago reunion.
At some point, I wandered over to the first base box seats and snapped a picture of Squires.  It wasn't even a good action shot.  I should have waited for a better moment.  Maybe even waited until he batted, although defense was his specialty.
Still, the picture shows the bad Sox uniforms of that era.  It shows Tony Bernazard standing near second base.  You can also see a lot of empty seats.  Furthering the eye strain, Ron LeFlore is (almost) visible in center and I believe that is Wayne Nordhagen in left.
The White Sox finished in 3rd and 6th in the split season that was 1981.  On to better news, my man Squires won the Gold Glove that season.

Mike Squires in Chicago, IL-Summer 1981.

Darryl Lenox and His Vision

While in Las Vegas, we saw comedian Darryl Lenox, a very funny guy who is legally blind in one eye and incorporates that into several jokes in his act.  He knows when to draw the line though, so those jokes never became tiresome.
Lennox explained that in his bad eye, his field of vision is roughly 20% of normal.  When we met him after his show, it was evident that his peripheral vision in the eye was virtually nothing. It is great that he has overcome this adversity and not only does he laugh about it, he uses it to get laughs.
As a seasoned comedian, it probably isn't a huge deal now, but I would think when he first started using his sight for material, it was probably not easy.
Lenox was gracious after the show.  He posed for and signed autographs for his fans and he did it all smiling and with nothing to sell.  It was just him mixing with his fans.  Great guy!

Matt Parker, Darryl Lenox and me in Las Vegas, NV-March 2011.

Celeb Jersey Cards #62 Kathy Ireland & Geri Halliwell

This is a regular series which combines my passion for trading cards with my interest in celebs.

Kathy Ireland was born and raised near Los Angeles.  She has remained close to her LA roots while attaining stardom worldwide.  That alone should make her a model Dodgers fan (sorry, couldn't resist that one).  Ireland went old school with a high leg kick and excellent form when she tossed out the first pitch.  She wore #42, which was retired for Jackie Robinson, of course.

From old school to new school, brings us to Geri Halliwell.  No self-respecting old-schooler would wear an "08" jersey, but Halliwell adds her own "spice" to everything (sorry again).  I am going to claim the 08 is for Hall of Famer Gary Carter (although I doubt Halliwell even knows him).  In reality, it probably is for the year in which Halliwell took the field to earn her Celeb Jersey Card.

On the Beat with Todd Card-Part 2

Yesterday, I introduced you to Todd Card, author of Hell Cometh (an action-packed, gruesome zombie story filled with gore, blood, suspense and everything else guaranteed to keep you reading and possibly up all night).  Todd gave us several minutes of his time to talk about his career, Hell Cometh and his future.

Todd is a great guy.  He is very fan-friendly and very interactive with his fans through his Facebook page.  I see him active on his page through all hours of the day, just talking to fans and answering their questions.  You couldn't ask for anything more!
As of this writing, there were only about 70 first print copies of Hell Cometh left.  I am proud to own a signed first print copy.
I hope you enjoy Part Two of my interview with Todd and I hope you check out his site and Hell Cometh.  You will not be disappointed.

On the Beat with Todd Card-Part 1

I love reading debut novels and seeing how the author's career develops.  When I made plans to cover the Days of the Dead convention, I saw that Todd Card would be there and I was excited about meeting him and buying his book, Hell Cometh.  I contacted Todd and he agreed to do an interview with me at the convention.
Todd's own story, including his path to becoming an author, is an interesting one.  Despite having done a lot of writing, his transition to being a published author was somewhat unplanned.  Todd talks about that, Hell Cometh and a lot more in our interview.
Hell Cometh is an amazing debut novel.  The best description I read was made by R. Richardson of 8Publishing, "Hell Cometh is an unforgettable rollercoaster ride of gruesome zombie gore and soul-chilling horror."
I had never read any zombie novels and had no idea what to expect, but I checked out the excerpt on the Hell Cometh site and was immediately hooked.  Sometimes excerpts are misleading (like movie previews).  In this case, the excerpt is really a perfect example of what the rest of Hell Cometh contains.
There is action, gore, suspense, blood, horror and shocking developments.  It is unlike anything I have ever read.  Todd freely states that he holds nothing back and this is not a pleasant read.  It is however a fascinating and completely enjoyable read!
Below is Part One of my interview with Todd.  Part 2 will appear tomorrow.  I hope you enjoy listening to Todd and learning about him as much as I did.  I also hope you check out Hell Cometh, because I am sure you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Lee Arenberg Loves Johngy's Beat

Earlier this year at the Motor City Comic Con, I came across Lee Arenberg.  Arenberg is the perfect guy for such a convention.  He had a role in two popular franchises (Seinfeld and The Pirates of the Caribbean).  Being connected to either one would make him popular enough at collectors shows.  Being in both simply doubles his audience.
He was extremely outgoing and down-to-earth.  For several minutes, he chatted with us about his time in Chicago, his roles and his thoughts on his place in life.  It's always cool to talk to celebs who have spent time in Chicago, especially when they enjoyed it as much as Arenberg did.  He mentioned people, places and even streets.
He also talked about realizing that he has fans and he has entertained people, but knowing what he does isn't world-changing.  Yet still, it does make people happy.  It was an interesting conversation and I got to really appreciate him.
After such a nice experience, I had to ask him if he would do a promo for this site.  He quickly agreed and had some fun with it.  It is lively and fun.  It appears below and also has taken its place in the "Testimonials" column on the right.
I really appreciate the promo, but I appreciated the experience even more.  Arenberg is a special guy!

Friendly Encounters

This is a regular series involving friends who have met celebs.

I first met Bill Apter at a Wrestle Reunion in Florida in 2005.  Bill went out of his way to rectify a problem we had.  In fact, he checked back with us several times over the weekend.  I don't even remember the problem, but we never forgot Bill's care and attention.
Bill is a legendary wrestling journalist.  His current journalistic home is 1wrestling.com and the 1Wrestling YouTube channel.   Previously, he was with the Pro Wrestling Illustrated magazines, sometimes called the "Apter Mags" a sign of just how respected and popular he is.  For all the great work he has done, the WWE shoul put him in their Hall of Fame.
On Facebook, Bill recently posted a celebrity Friendly Encounter he had.  I loved the picture and his description and asked him to share it here.  In Bill's own words...
ME AND ... Ernie and Cookie Monster ... July 3, 2011--Times Square, NYC ... When you talk about legends who are more legendary than these two world renowned celebs? I had a great time with them and even did my imitation of both of them and Ernie's best friend Bert (who was not there -- ill from eating too many of Cookie Monster's Chocolate Chip Cookies with too much milk the night before). They still look great even though they are senior citizens and still very chipper in personality. I have met a ton of celebs in the past but these two are the best!In my opinion, (with Bill) they are three of the best.  I appreciate Bill sharing his photo and thoughts.  Bill has agreed to share other pictures he has and those will be here in the future.  Until then, check out his work on 1wrestling.com.

Ernie, Bill Apter and the Cookie Monster in New York, NY-July 2011.

Celeb Jersey Cards #61 Guy Fieri & Jerry Rice

This is a regular series which combines my passion for trading cards with my interest in celebs.  Since I am out west to catch games in Oakland and San Francisco, I am featuring both of those teams today.

Guy Fieri was a young entrepreneur, selling his soft pretzels when he was in 5th grade.  About 15 years later, he opened Johnny Garlic's, his first restaurant.  Fieri became a Food Network star and an author of several cookbooks.  He remained true to his northern California home by donning an A's jersey when he tossed out a first pitch.  You don't ordinarily see kids on a baseball card, but Fieri is not ordinary and neither are Celebrity Jersey Cards.

Jerry Rice played 20 years in the NFl (16 with the San Francisco 49'ers).  Although he ended his Hall of Fame career with the Seattle Seahawks, Rice left his heart in San Francisco.  His Celebrity Jersey Card presented me with a dilemma.  Although he is clearly shown throwing a pitch, I made an executive decision and listed him as an outfielder.  Over his career, he proved he could catch anything.  Maybe the explanation could be that he pitched in some mop up relief.

Seasons in the Sun

Hmm maybe, just maybe I should have tried using this at bat.

Me in Park Ridge, IL-Summer 2010.

On the Beat with Kayla Perkins

Kayla Perkins is a young actress and model who has an impressive resume already.  Kayla has done several movies, commercials, music videos and print ads.  She is one very active young woman and she holds a "regular" job in her hometown.
When I learned that Kayla would be appearing at the Days of the Dead convention, I contacted her and asked for an interview.  Kayla was so polite and nice.  I really looked forward to meeting her.
Despite being a popular guest and having a steady stream of fans, Kayla still took time to talk to us for a few moments.  We discussed her career, her life and her future plans.

Kayla was great and I really appreciate her time.  Go to Kayla's website to learn more about this young actress.  I am quite sure we will be seeing much more of Kayla in the future.

M-i-c..k-e-y M-o-u-s-e

Tomorrow the White Sox start a three game series in Detroit against their division rival Tigers.  One of the highlights of my annual trip to the Motor City Comic Con is a side trip to see the Tigers.  I am 4-0 rooting for the Tigers at Comerica Park.
I have sat in many sections at Comerica and sightlines and really good everywhere.  The rest of the stadium is excellent, too.  The food offerings are a little minimal, except for the big food and entertainment court in the outfield.
The stadium houses statues for a handful of legendary Tigers, but it also has a statue of a legendary mouse.  While Mickey Stanley had an excellent career and Mickey Tettleton had some great years, Mickey Mouse got a statue and he never was a Tiger (he's always been a mouse).  The Mickey statue is all jazzed up in Tigers artwork and is much more colorful that the real Tigers statues.
I couldn't resist grabbing a picture with this legendary mouse, even if he is trying to appear to be a Tiger.

Mickey Mouse and me in Detroit, MI-May 2011.

Heads Up With Jay Brant

I first encountered comic artist Jay Brant when I was researching the Motor City Comic Con for an online piece for Global Traveler. Brant is the creative force behind Heads Up Studios.
As the name might indicate, Heads up is all about the heads of a lot of characters.  My main interest (as always) was Aquaman and Brant had an Aquaman card which I bought.
Brant's artwork and sketchcards are interesting and unique.  There are a lot of comic artists out there and it is important to separate yourself if you want to be successful.  Brant is successful because his work is beautiful, but also because it is unique.
I have met Brant a few times at various cons and he is always up for a little small chat about the hobby or the event.  He's talented, accommodating and personable (and he includes Aquaman, something many comic artists do not do).  It's a winning combination for Brant!
If you look at the wall behind Brant in the photo below, you will see some of his artwork.  Of course, you can also go to either Heads Up Studios or his Deviant Art site to see more of his work.  Even better, you can check out his scheduled appearances and meet him in person.

Jay Brant and me in Novi, MI-May 2011.

Celeb Jersey Cards #60 A Salute to Major League

This is a regular series which combines my passion for trading cards with my interest in celebs.  With the All-Star break upon us, the baseball season is half over (or completely over for Chicago fans).  I am trying to stay in the baseball spirit by featuring Celeb Jersey Cards for the stars of the Major League movies.  I know this has been done by several others, but now it is my turn to put a Johngy's Beat spin on it.

Charlie Sheen has been around forever.  A reporter once asked him if he could really throw 100 mph.  Umm...not even sure how to comment on that.

Tom Berenger played catcher Jake Taylor.  I think he looks great on the 1977 card.  He'd also probably have looked good on that Indians team.  He might have beaten out Alan Ashby for the starter job.

At 3rd base was Corbin Bernsen.  Bernsen's in-action shot is unique for the 1960's cards, but I make the cards, I make the rules.

The late James Gammon looks like any other manager in the 1960's except for his hair length.

I have no doubt that Dennis Haysbert would have made the 1978 Indians.  Johnny Grubb and Rick Manning were solid, but I know he would have stolen at-bats from Paul Dade.  That's a tough looking card!

This card recalls the early 70's Spring Training shots.  Wesley Snipes is diving back into a base, while another player looks to be skipping in the background.  His speed would have been nice compliment to Brett Butler's on the mid-80's Indians.

Longtime Dodgers catcher Steve Yeager played coach Duke Temple.  That's enough to merit a Celeb Jersey Card.

David Keith played Jack Parkman, the Indians free agent catcher who was later traded to the Chicago White Sox.  Could he have beaten out the Sox catchers of that era (Milt May, Wayne Nordhagen and Bill Nahorodny)?

Cy Young award winner Pete Vuckovich never hit a home run in his career, but he played Clu Haywood, a thumping 1st baseman for the New York Yankees.  This might be my favorite card of my salute to Major League.  If this was a real card, other bloggers would be studying it to determine which catcher is visible behind him (and I bet most would be able to pin it, although I haven't quite mastered that art like some have).

Okay, now I am getting a little gimmicky, but I love Scott Bakula, so he gets a card.  Bakula appeared as the manager of the South Carolina Buzz, the minor league affiliate of the Twins.  I took a minor league set of that era and I was happy to see a Coke logo on it.

The final card belongs to Ted McGinley, who is sometimes called a show killer.  While McGinley has appeared on the last season or so of several shows, he has also had lengthy runs on others as well as some big screen success.  I took some liberties with his manager card.  The Topps card from 1981 featured team photos with a manager head shot in the corner.  I prefer my version.

Friendly Encounters

This is a regular series about friends who have met celebs.

In doing research after Days of the Dead, I came across Karen DeGrassie.  I loved her posts on Facebook about the event.  She showed so much enthusiasm, I had to ask her to share some of her stories here.
She decided to send the picture and story of Derek Mears.
My words cannot do justice to her enthusiasm.  Here is Karen's story, as she tells it...
I love the pictures of me and Derek Mears.  He was Amazing!!! When we try to explain to friends what he is like, we are at a loss...You would think playing a serial killer, he would not be The most Friendliest,Thankful Celebrity we have ever met.  He was so busy thanking us when we were the ones very Grateful and he took the time to chat...not just here is your signature and photo.
The Days of the Dead Convention was Amazing!!!  The help and the Vendors were Fantastic!!! Can't wait till next year.This was only my second horror convention but I am soooooo addicted!
This type of excitement is exactly why I love these conventions.  Karen's story about meeting Mears is just one of her many.  She has agreed to share more here in the future.

Derek Mears and Karen DeGrassie in Indianapolis, IN-July 2011.

Autograph Tales:Pat and Tom Underwood

Tom Underwood pitched for 6 teams during his 11 seasons.  He finished with a record of 86-87 with 35 saves.  Tom's brother Pat, pitched for the Detroit Tigers during his 4 seasons, going 13-18 with 8 saves.
On May 31, 1979, Pat made his debut, facing Tom (then with the Blue Jays).  The Tigers won 1-0, with Pat getting the victory.  Tom took the loss, although he pitched a complete game, only giving up 6 hits.  Both pitchers received standing ovations.
Sadly, Tom passed away in 2010.  He had been battling pancreatic cancer.
A few years ago, I sent a ball to Tom asking for an autograph.  As I sometimes do, I mentioned that I would be trying to get Pat to sign it at a future date.  To my surprise, Tom got Pat to sign the ball before he sent it back to me.  Thus, I added another family-ties ball to my collection.  By the way, Tom is #2 all time in wins leader for pitchers with a last name beginning with "U" (George Uhle is #1 with 200).

Tom Underwood

Pat Underwood

Seasons in the Sun

Here is Frank Moy, our star centerfielder.  Frank has supplied plenty of power to the team over the years.  Possibly even more important is his defense.  I really can't even guess how many times I saw a shot head to deep center and was surprised to Frank make the catch look easy.
Frank is also one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.  Even when he has a great game, like going 5-5 for example, Frank will never brag about himself.  If you don't believe me, check out this video.

On the Beat with Amy Lynn Best

Amy Lynn Best made her acting debut in The Resurrection Game (2001), which she co-produced.  She also took on many other tasks during filming, which proved to be valuable in the learning process.  She has since done over twelve more movies, including making her directorial debut on Severe Injuries (2003).
I had the pleasure of interviewing Amy at the Days of the Dead convention in Indianapolis last week.  Amy was very gracious with her time and thoughtful with her answers.
Amy is at the forefront of a movement which is seeing women play more important roles in the horror genre.  I really respect Amy because her actions speak as loud as her words.  She has done so much already and has shown a willingness (an eagerness) to do and learn all aspects of the industry (like her multi-tasking on The Resurrection Game).
I am grateful to Amy for giving us a few minutes of her time.  It was a real pleasure.  Check out Amy's site to learn more about her!

On the Beat with Marc Price

I first saw Marc Price as Skippy on Family Ties.  I was envious of him because he hung out with Alex and was always around Mallory.  That seemed like an ideal situation to me.
A couple years ago, I went to a comedy show in Las Vegas and was pleasantly surprised to see Marc performing that night.  I knew he did comedy, but had no idea he would be there.  It was a pretty funny show, too!  I met him after the show, but only talked briefly to him.
When I heard Marc would be at the Days of the Dead convention, I asked him for a short interview to which he agreed.  I really looked forward to talking to him.
Marc was one of the most popular guests at the convention.  During a quieter moment, I approached him and we did the interview at his table.  He is extremely nice and very funny.  It is great to see him doing well.
He said later this year he would be doing comedy in the Chicago area at a southside place called Riddles.  The dates haven't been announced yet, but when they are, I will be there!

Vincent or Virgil?

Mike Jones has probably parlayed his limited wrestling success into a longer career than any other similar wrestler.  His active career primarily lasted about 15 years ending in 2000, although he has made sporadic short-term appearances since then. Other than holding 2 minor titles and one meaningless one, Jones really did little, accept play second fiddle to various other wrestlers.
Jones gained his first big notoriety as Ted DiBiase's bodyguard Virgil in the WWE.  The name Virgil came as a rib on Virgil Runnels (aka Dusty Rhodes, who was the booker for the WWE's main competitor at the time).  Later, when Jones joined WCW, he became Vincent as a rib on WWE's Vince McMahon.  It is a bit confusing and certainly silly, but pretty much was the highlight of his career. 
I can't say a whole lot of good things about meeting him either.  I will say he works hard to make money.  He appears at many conventions (although sometimes he hints that other wrestlers will be there with him, when they won't).  He's a likable guy, but there is just not much there.
I asked him for a short interview several years ago.  He asked for money, a large amount for a few minutes, too!  I explained that I had just interviewed Christy Hemme, Al Snow and Terri Runnels and they all did it for free (along with a few plugs of their websites etc).  Virgil was nice enough, but stuck to his cash demand and I thanked him but walked away.
All of this is completely within his rights.  I just don't think it is good business.  There is really no other way to say it but he simply doesn't have the resume to merit his price demands.  It is his right to do whatever he wants, but it is my right to decline to pay his asking price for anything..  I do appreciate that he has been nice about things each time I have met him.  That's better than some.

Virgil and me in St. Petersburg, FL-January 2005.

Johngy and Donny

On my recent trip to Las Vegas, I stayed at the Flamingo.  I discovered that Donny and Marie (do I really need to write their last name?) were performing their show nightly at the hotel.  While I didn't really care to see the show, I was hoping to run into at least one of them during my stay.
I saw Donny in the shops section of the hotel.  He wasn't very talkative and to be honest, he seemed quite shallow.  He didn't resist when I asked him for a photo, but he wasn't very inviting.  At least he smiled (although his smile seemed to be plastered on his face).

Donny and me in Las Vegas, NV-March 2010.

Friendly Encounters

This is a regular series about my friends who have met celebs.

Today's friend, the Evil Zebra, is a celeb himself, but he still occasionally takes the time to share some of his celebrity encounters with Johngy's Beat.  Previously, we saw the first part of his first encounter with the late actress Dana Plato.  Here, the Evil Zebra continues the story.

Part 2 of the DANA PLATO Stories
At last we met......... WE MET!!!! I was WET!!!!!!!!
Now onto to the remaining time in Miami @ the National DECA Conference........ After spending the afternoon at the pool, I invited Kay and Dana to join my group from Pennsylvania for dinner. So I guess you could say we kinda adopted Dana and Kay into our family, which DANA was thrilled with.  She had lots of kids her own age to talk to and hang out with, which she did over the next few days. I remember the kids all having a ball at the "dance" that they set up for them that night.
Ok...... a few days of fun and fast forward to the final night at the conference, where they held the awards session in which Dana would be taking to the stage to present the award for the MDA - 7-Up company national project, 3-4 thousand screaming high school kids cheered as they announced, "And here to present the award for the MDA 7-Up Company Project, please put your hands together and welcome our special guest... you know her as Kimberly Drummond from TV's Diff'rent Strokes.  Please welcome DANA PLATO!!!!!!!!"
What happens next, you would not believe. She talks a bit, saying how she loved hanging out there over the past few days and met some really cool people and then it was time for her to open the envelope and present the winning high school. She opened the envelope and her face went real strange. Everyone was waiting...She then got this big smile on her face and said something like, " OH MY GOD.... the winning high school is...NORRISTOWN HIGH SCHOOL...from Norristown, Pennsylvania!"
That's right. MY school WON! So as we made our way up to the stage to get the award from our new friend. I just watched how excited Dana was up on stage until we got up there. She ran right over and jumped up at me (kinda like how Johnny Fairplay did to Danny Bonaduce on an award show... LOL). She presented us with the award, and we all walked off stage together.
We did a photo shoot for 7-Up back stage and then headed back to our rooms to change into comfy clothes to hang out on our last night in Florida. We all had early flights home the next morning. It was about 10 pm and the conference was using about three or four hotels in the Miami Beach area.
On the last night of the conference, most States had a hospitality suite in one of the hotels for their kids and teachers to hang out in and have pizza and what not on the last night. Well naturally, Dana wanted to try and at least visit each state's "party" for a few minutes. I remember that Kay went to a few of them with us, but got tired and said to me, "You're on your own... just keep a good eye on DANA and I will see in the morning before we leave". So Kay went back to her room and Dana and I headed out to visit as many "states" as we could.
I'm not sure how many we visited, but I remember it was about 3 am when we got back to our hotel. We had to be up to head to the airport at I think 6 am, so we decided to just stay up and talk and since my room was right near Dana's, a few of us just hung out talking and stuff in my room. That is when the pics of Dana sitting on my lap were taken. One thing I do remember about that night is (and I didn't know till I got home and looked at it) I had the high school yearbook with me at the hotel. We had just gotten them before we left for Florida, so i brought mine along to get my kids to sign and when looking at it later I noticed a note in it from DANA PLATO!!!!!
Yup she must have signed it while I was not looking LOL! I also remember her saying how much fun she had and that she was sooooooooo happy that she met us all first! She also said she didn't wanna leave and go home, which gets me to the final part of the Florida "meeting".
So it's like 5 am in the hotel lobby. Tons of tired kids are waiting to get to the airport to catch a flight home. We got a school bus there loading up my kids. Down to the lobby comes Dana and Kay. 7-Up company had a LIMO waiting to take them to the airport. As we are saying our good-byes, I promise Dana that I will be in touch with her cause I had something planned and if it worked out, I would be giving her a call in about a week. The next thing I know the LIMO is gone. Nope...Kay and Dana did not leave without a final good bye. Dana told the limo to leave, cause they were taking the school bus with US to the airport!!! STAY TUNED FOR MORE!!!!
As always, I really appreciate the Evil Zebra's stories.  I grew up watching Plato on tv and t is heartwarming to hear EZ's insider stories.  I know he has more stories and I look forward to hear them.

The Evil Zebra and Dana Plato in Florida-Late 1970's.

At Days of the Dead in Indianapolis

Today is the final day for the Days of the Dead convention. As much fun as conventions are, I always get sad leaving them on the final day.  Fortunately, there will be more Days of the Dead cons and I am already looking forward to the next one.
Co-Promoter Adolfo Dorta did a great job with this convention.  The guest list was great.  The events were interesting.  The situation was well organized.  I wish all cons were run as smoothly as this one. 
Tom Savini is a legend in the horror genre.  While Savini has been at several cons in the past, I somehow never managed to meet him.  Sometimes it is all about the timing.  As you can see in the photo below, Adolfo had met Savini previously.  Savini is known as the Godfather of horror makeup and special effects.
If this Days of the Dead con was any indication, Adolfo will be well on his way to becoming known as the Godfather of horror cons!

Tom Savini and Adolfo Dorta in Indianapolis, IN-Late 2000's.

At Days of the Dead in Indianapolis

Another of the celebrity guests at Days of the Dead is Roddy Piper.  I have been a fan of Piper for a long time.  As previously documented here, Piper appeared in a literacy ad series I ran when I was at Lerner Newspapers.  Since then, I met Piper a few times and it is always a pleasure.
I remember seeing Piper in the wrestling ring when I was a teenager.  He had a unique style, a magnificent presence and a real charm about him.  First on the phone and later in person, I found out that he is basically the same in real life.  Oh sure, it is all magnified in the wrestling ring, but what you see is pretty much what you get with Piper.
The strange thing is that there is a big contradiction with him.  When he enters a room, he commands attention.  He can pull you in immediately.  The odd thing is that he is basically a quiet, respectful person.  Larger than life, but modest and humble.  This is all Piper and it is all good.
Meeting celebrities, especially your favorite ones, is always risky.  You want the celeb to be what you envision.  You want your memories to be validated.
Meeting Piper was one of the great thrills I have had.  He respects his fans and gives them as much time as he can within the confines of an autograph signing.  I look forward to meeting Piper again.

Roddy Piper (and the ad) and me in Indianapolis, IN-October 2006.

At Days of the Dead in Indianapolis

I was doing research for this weekend's Days of the Dead convention in Indianapolis, when I came across Mike Jolley.  Mike is the CEO/Owner/President of Bloody Scorpion FX, which specializes in special effects and mask-making.  In fact, the picture you see below features Mike with Kane Hodder holding a mask that Mike made.  How cool is that?!
Mike showed the mask to Kane at the Days of the Dead convention earlier this year.  Mike describes Kane as "one of the coolest, nicest people...just so awesome".  Mike says that every time he meets Kane, Kane remembers him from previous times.  He asks/states, "How cool is that?!"
The answer is very cool.  There are a handful of celebs who really are just a step above.  I have never met Kane, but I hope to meet him someday.  I have met a few who remember me and believe me, it makes a big impression.  Those are the truly special encounters.
I am glad Mike had such an experience with Kane.  I am even happier he shared it with us here.  I also hope to meet Mike at the convention this weekend.

Mike Jolley and Kane Hodder in Indianapolis, IN-Early 2011.