Friendly Encounters:Lisa Marie Varon Meets Bozo

This is a weekly series featuring my friends who have met celebs.

Sometimes the celebs I meet become friends of mine.  Oh don't get me wrong, I am pretty sure they will never be at my home for holiday dinners (but they are all invited anytime), but they have become more than just celebrities I see at conventions.
One such person is Lisa Marie Varon.  I have seen her many times over the years at various events and interviewed her last year.  Somewhere along the way, the line between fandom and friendship got blurred.
Lisa is living in Chicago and promises to give me a tour and interview once her planned restaurant opens.  She is also good for a hug and chat at events such as the debut of Resistance Pro Wrestling.
She is very sweet and very cool.  One of the highlights of the R Pro debut was seeing her having a blast with the fans after the show.  That woman has some dance moves.
One of the joys of the Wizard World convention last year was seeing her pose with Bozo, another Chicago icon.  Look at that picture below.  Doesn't it make you smile?  It represents all that is good with conventions.  A great female wrestler, a shiny title belt, a famous clown...what else could you want?

Lisa Marie Varon and Bozo in Rosemont, IL-August 2011.

Friendly Encounters

This is a weekly feature highlighting friends who have met celebs.

Back when I was a wee little Johngy, my favorite tv shows were Bozo's Circus and The Ray Rayner Show. These were the days before computerized cartoons beyond my then-imagination.
It was every kid's dream to play the Grand Prize Game on Bozo's Circus. Heck, it was every kid's dream just to be in the studio audience for the show. I never did either, by the way.
My nephew Matt did meet the clown himself though. This Friendly Encounter of the clown kind occurred at an event held by the Chicago Tribune.
Shortly after this meeting, Bozo saw his show moved, altered and eventually ended. It was a sad day in Chicago.
Matt, however, has gone on to bigger and better things. He is a part-time Production Manager for Johngy's Beat as well as General Manager for my Boone League fantasy baseball team.

Bozo and Matt Parker in Chicago, IL-Early 1990's.