Page 18 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • April 15, 2009 The stars come to New Jersey for Chiller Expo by Dennis Seuling It’s time for the April edition of Chiller Theatre Expo, a fixture in New Jersey since 1990, which will take place at the Parsippany Hilton from April 17 through 19. This extravaganza is the opportunity for stars of screen (large and small), sports, and music, to come together with their fans and collectors in a festive atmosphere of star-struck excitement. If it’s an autograph you seek, a photo with a favorite star, a rare collectible, or a chance to chat with fans from all over the country, Chiller Theatre is the place. Tony Curtis tops the list of this year’s guest stars. Born Bernard Schwartz in the Bronx in 1925, Curtis has played leading men, the sidekick, the comic relief, the villain, and many other roles that illustrate his versatility. His better known films include “The Defiant Ones,” “Some Like it Hot,” “Spartacus,” and “The Boston Strangler.” His marriage to Janet Leigh produced a daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis. He makes no bones about his career aspirations: “Early on, I decided I didn’t want to be known as a mere actor. I wanted to feel like a star. I wanted to get my footprints in Hollywood on the sidewalk... I wanted to be on the cover of all the magazines and go to parties in a limousine with a beautiful girl.” He accomplished all of these things, becoming one of the last studio-nurtured stars. Tippi Hedren also will be on hand at Chiller. Her movie career began when Alfred Hitchcock saw her in a TV commercial and put her under personal contract. He cast her in “The Birds” (1963), one of his two genuine horror films, and in the title role of “Marnie” (1964). She also holds the distinction of appearing in the last film made from a screenplay by notorious writer/director Edward D. Wood Jr., “I Woke Up Early the Day I Died” (1998), with Wood regulars Vampira and Conrad Brooks. After spending 11 years and $17 million collecting big cats and other wildlife for the film “Roar” (1981), Hedren became actively involved in animals rights causes. Hedren is the mother of actress Melanie Griffith. If TV is your passion, you’ll have the chance to rub shoulders with Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees; Dwayne Hickman, the original TV Dobie Gillis; Larry Storch of “F Troop;” Corbin Bernsen of “L.A. Law;” Lou Ferrigno, “The Hulk;” Walter Koenig, Chekov in the original “Star Trek;” and Noel Neill, Lois Lane in the 1950s “Adventures of Superman.” Sports fans can shake hands with Harlem Globetrotter’s Hall of Famer Meadowlark Lemon. Horror aficionados can meet and greet director George A. Romero (“Night of the Living Dead”), Zach Galligan (“Gremlins”), Kane Hodder (“Friday the 13th”), and John Amplas (“Dawn of the Dead”). Other attractions include a massive dealers room where vendors’ eclectic offerings include rare movie photos, monster model kits, books on fantasy topics, toys, DVDs, masks, unique movie props, exotic jewelry, rare magazines, original art, and comic books. The dealers’ room is a flea market of movie-related treasures. If you enjoy the excitement of bidding for a coveted item, note that auctioneer Ted A. Bohus will preside over a charity auction of items donated by show vendors. This year, proceeds will go to the Linda Blair/Worldheart Foundation for Animal and Human Welfare. Chiller Theatre Expo has progressed through several venues, including the Rutherford Center of the Arts, a campus of Farleigh Dickinson University, and the Secaucus Meadowlands Hilton. Each move has been made to larger quarters as the expo has grown in scope and attendance. Once a small celebration of horror and fantasy, the show now encompasses the entertainment world in general. Past guests have included Henry Winkler (“Happy Days”), Ernest Borgnine (“McHale’s Navy”), Stella Stevens, Michael Biehn (“The Terminator”), Linda Blair (“The Exorcist”), June Lockhart (“Lassie” & “Lost in Space”), Frank Gorshin (The Riddler on TV’s “Batman”), Peter (continued on Crossword page) Tony Curtis will head the list of guest stars at this month’s Chiller Theatre Expo. Talk of the Town celebrates Grand Reopening Talk of the Town proudly announces the April 17 Grand Reopening of its audio, video, and home automation showroom at 319 Franklin Turnpike in Allendale. The newly-designed facility now features seven state-of-the-art demonstration spaces, including dedicated home theaters, a sports room, and numerous home automation and distributed a/v technologies. To mark the occasion, Talk of the Town will host an exclusive Pioneer KURO event Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The latest in Pioneer’s audio and video gear will be on display, and representatives and engineers from Pioneer will be on hand to answer questions. For the event, Talk of the Town is also offering special package deals to purchase Pioneer KURO plasma displays, Elite AV receivers, Blu-Ray players, and more at substantial discounts. Authorized by leading industry manufacturers like Pioneer, Sony, Samsung, Rotel, Denon, Integra, Crestron, Paradigm, Anthem, and many more, Talk of the Town provides design, installation, and support services for homeowners in the metro NJ/NY region. Specialties include custom home theater design, whole-home audio and video distribution, HVAC, shade, and lighting control, and custom cabinetry and millwork. Partnership programs for architects, interior designers, and home builders are also available. 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