Page 20 THE VILLADOM TIMES III & IV • October 21, 2009 The stars will come out at Chiller Theatre Expo by Dennis Seuling The biggest Halloween party in New Jersey will be held from Oct. 30 through Nov. 1, when Chiller Theatre Expo returns to the Parsippany Hilton with an extensive roster of celebrities, costume contests, autograph sessions, loads of movie and TV-related memorabilia for sale, question and answer sessions with the stars, and the opportunity to meet movie and fantasy film fans from all across the country. Heading the celebrity guest list is Ann-Margret, star of the films “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Viva Las Vegas,” “Carnal Knowledge,” “Tommy,” and “Grumpy Old Men.” Ann-Margret was born in Sweden, came to the United States when she was five, and settled in Chicago. An introverted child, she found it difficult to adjust to American culture. Her love of song and dance gave her a means of selfexpression. She started singing at weddings, parties, and church socials. By age 14, she had won several talent contests. George Burns was responsible for launching her career in Las Vegas, and Hollywood soon beckoned. In the early 1960s, her growing fame was the subject of a Life magazine article. She also hosted a number of CBS television specials. Movie legend Mickey Rooney, now 89, by Busby Berkeley. Rooney began his film career in silent comedies in 1927 as comic strip character Mickey McGuire and later played Puck in Warner Brothers’ “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” Some of Rooney’s best-remembered movies are “National Velvet” (opposite Elizabeth Taylor), “Requiem for a Heavyweight,” and Stanley Kramer’s “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.” Joining Ann-Margret and Rooney at Chiller will be Richard Dreyfuss (“Jaws,” “Mr. Holland’s Opus”), Patrick Stewart (“Star Trek: The Next Generation”), Peter Fonda (“Easy Rider”), Stefanie Powers (TV’s “Hart to Hart”), Jim Kelly (“Enter the Dragon”), Ali McGraw (“Love Story”), Linda Blair (“The Exorcist”), Barbara Feldon (“Get Smart”), George Lazenby (James Bond in “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”), Jon Provost (Timmy of TV’s “Lassie”), and Davy Jones of The Monkees. There will be a total of 68 guests, but Chiller Expo founder and producer Kevin Clement offers far more. Chiller Expo got its start in Rutherford in 1990. As the show’s name indicates, the expo is dedicated primarily to horror, sci-fi, and fantasy, but in the last 19 years, the scope of the show has grown. It now encompasses the worlds of mainstream TV, sports, special effects, and music. There is definitely a feeling of nostalgia as Chiller fans meet favorite celebrities, look at memorabilia in the huge dealers’ rooms, or simply connect with others who share a passion for an actor, a movie, or a particular genre. Chiller Expo is family friendly. During each show, there are scores of kids who have been brought with their parents and are wide-eyed and thrilled by the stars and the general ambiance. Through the years, Chiller has moved to ever bigger venues to accommodate the crowds who eagerly anticipate every show. The Parsippany Hilton offers far more space than earlier Ann-Margret will headline an extensive roster of celebrity guests at this year’s Chiller Expo. will also be on hand to greet fans and tell stories about the great years at M-G-M, where he appeared in a series of Andy Hardy films and costarred with Judy Garland in elaborate musicals, many directed ���������������������������� ���������������� ��������� ������������ Mon-Thurs 11:30-10 Fri 11:30-11 Sat 12-11, Sun 12-10 OPEN 7 DAYS Authentic Cuisine from Spain Lunch • Dinner • Cocktails �� ����������������� ��������� ���������������� ��������������������� ����������������������� �������������� ������ ������������������������ ������������ ������ ������������������������ ����������� ������ ������������� ���������������������������������� ������ ������������������ ������������������������������ ����������������������������������� ������������ �������������������������������������� settings. Though there are crowds, there isn’t the sense that you’re struggling for a square foot of your own space. Hallways are wide, and the exhibits and attractions are spread out through several ballrooms and conference rooms. It is great fun to meander, discovering gossipy Hollywood historian Laurie Jacobson in one room, seeing some amazing fantasy art in another, and encountering Sara Karloff, daughter of Boris Karloff -- the man who rose to movie fame as Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein monster -- in yet another. Each new Chiller Expo brings a new model contest. Fans with artistic skill display models they have painstakingly made, some from scratch, others from kits. Looking over the entries is like strolling through a horror museum, since most of the models are of creatures, movie monsters, scenes from genre films, or creative re-imaginings of those scenes. The best aspect of the model exhibit is that you can get really close to see the rich craftsmanship of each model. Touching is a no-no, but it’s cool to check out the gruesome detail on a slasher model, see the assortment of materials involved in a model’s construction, or simply appreciate the time and care that go into such a creation. What’s Halloween without costumes? Chiller Expo will sponsor a Halloween Costume Contest on Saturday at 8 p.m. Prizes will be awarded in five categories: Best Costume, Best Makeup, Most Creative Costume, Scariest Costume, and Best Children’s Costume (ages five through 15). For directions to the Parsippany Hilton Hotel, visit www.chillertheatre.com. Doors open Oct. 30 at 6 p.m. Hours on Oct. 31 are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and on Nov. 1, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 per day and are available at the door. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Reservations Suggested OKTOBERFEST OKTOBER Now thru October 31st Presents Our 40th Annual K IR KERS INN German Beers ON TAP 25th Anniversary Special 20% Off Entire Check *10% Off Friday Dinner and Saturday Dinner. Not to be combined with any other offer. *Not including tax. With coupon, not to be combined with any other offer. 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Valid 10-26-09 to 12-20-09 Orders Over $90* KIRKERS INN 237 Diamond Bridge Ave, Hawthorne HOURS: 973-427-7700 www.kirkers.com Tuesday - Thursday Lunch 11:45 - 2:30 Dinner 5:30 - 10:00 43 Franklin Avenue, Ridgewood • 201-447-6525 • www.sakurabana.com