Page 16 THE VILLADOM TIMES I, II, III & IV • October 26, 2011 Hart makes rare public appearance at Chiller Expo by Dennis Seuling ‘Tis the season of witches, goblins, and mini candy bars. As leaves rustle and the cool breezes of fall waft through streets, ghostly displays are up throughout neighborhoods, trick-or-treat costumes have been bought or made, and jack o’ lanterns grace front porches. Halloween will be here in less than a week. Chiller Theatre Expo, now in its 21st year, will once again attract fans of horror and fantasy flicks, vintage TV shows, big-budget mainstream movies, and celebrities from the world of entertainment to a three-day extravaganza paying homage to pop culture. Of all the guest stars to appear at Chiller, perhaps the most elusive is this year’s surprise, Dolores Hart (“Loving You” with Elvis Presley, “Where the Boys Are”), who has avoided the public eye since the early 1960s. Raised by her grandparents in Chicago, Hart was still a teenager when she was discovered by producer Hal Wallis, who cast her as Elvis Presley’s leading lady in both “Loving You” (1957) and “King Creole” (1959). She appeared on Broadway in 1959 in “The Pleasure of His Company,” then returned to Hollywood for her most famous film, “Where the Boys Are” (1960), co-starring with Connie Francis. Other films she made include “Lonelyhearts” (1958), “The Virginian” (1961), and “Francis of Assissi” (1961). In 1963, the actress gave up her $50,000-per-picture career and her engagement to a businessman to enter a Benedictine order of nuns in Connecticut. After several years as Sister Judith, she is now known as Mother Dolores. Once primarily dedicated to the world of horror, science fiction, and fantasy, the scope of Chiller’s attractions has expanded over the years as crowds have grown bigger, requiring numerous moves to more spacious venues. Kevin Clement, a longtime fan of all things horror, started out with Horror-Thon in 1990, a smallish get-together at New Jersey’s Rutherford Center. His first guests were Zacherley, the TV horror host from the late ‘50s and early ‘60s, and Dyanne Thorne, star of the ‘70s cult film “Ilsa: She Wolf of the S.S.,” who appeared complete with Ilsa’s trademark leather whip. The crowds proved that there was definitely a fan base out there, and the show later moved to a site at Farleigh-Dickinson University and then to the Meadowlands Hilton before settling in at the Parsippany Hilton the last few years. Clement has produced every Chiller Expo since, and Zacherley has appeared at every show since that first one in Rutherford. Over the decades, the guest list has grown from two to Dolores Hart circa 1961 (left) and today, known as Mother Dolores. well over 70 at the upcoming expo. Heading the guest list, in addition to Hart, are Pam Grier (“Jackie Brown,” “Coffy”), Valerie Perrine (“Superman: The Movie”), Martin Landau (“North by Northwest,” TV’s “Mission: Impossible”), World Heavyweight Boxing Champion Joe Frazier, Academy Award-winner Louise Fletcher (“One Flew over the Cuckoo’s Nest”), and Bruce Dern (Hitchcock’s “Family Plot”). Landau, a native of Brooklyn, New York, made his theatrical debut in 1951, eventually shuttling between live theater and the bustling new world of live television drama. He appeared on such Golden Age anthology shows as “Playhouse 90,” “Goodyear Playhouse,” “Kraft Theatre,” and “Omnibus.” In movies, one of his more famous roles was as James Mason’s henchman and Cary Grant’s nemesis in Alfred Hitchcock’s “North by Northwest” (1959). During the 1960’s, Landau made guest appearances on such TV shows as “The Outer Limits” and starred in “Mission: Impossible” (with his wife, Barbara Bain). He won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1994 for his portrayal of Bela Lugosi in the Tim Burton biopic, “Ed Wood.” Also on hand at Chiller, making her last East Coast convention appearance, will be Cassandra Peterson, better known as Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, the most famous horror hostess in the history of TV. Peterson grew up in Kansas and Colorado Springs and, during her teens, worked as a go-go dancer. Shortly after graduating from high school, she headed to Las Vegas, where she became a showgirl at The Dunes. She had a small role as a showgirl in the 1971 James Bond film “Diamonds Are Forever,” briefly dated Elvis Presley, and played a topless dancer in “Working Girls” (1974). She gained fame on Los Angeles television station KHJ wearing a black, gothic, cleavageenhancing gown as host of “Movie Macabre,” a weekly horror film presentation. Though her appearance is wickedly vampish, she conveyed a comical character with a quirky, offbeat, and quick-witted personality. Other guests of the expo are Lou Gossett Jr. (“An Officer and a Gentleman”), Burt Young (“Rocky”), Stanley and Barry Livingston (TV’s “My Three Sons”), Frank Vincent (“The Sopranos”), Richard Kiel (“The Spy Who Loved Me”), and Sara Karloff (daughter of Boris Karloff). Chiller Expo makes it possible to meet the celebrities close up, speak to them, get autographs, and have pictures taken. There are often lines for the most popular guests, but fans tend to wait their turn patiently as they exchange stories and discuss the stars’ careers. Clement maintains that in recent years, booking guest celebrities has become easy because of the expo’s successful track record. In fact, celebrities often ask him for an invitation. With such a wide range of guests, there is something for everyone. Visitors may attend to see a particular celebrity or simply to bask in the aura of multiple stars in one place. One of the more popular attractions of Chiller Expo is the huge number of dealers’ tables. Imagine a huge flea market dedicated to pop culture. Shoppers can find photos, magazines, one-of-a-kind models of classic horror creatures, hard-to-find books, movie posters, toys, DVDs, masks, gothic jewelry, original art, autographs, and other unique collectibles. It’s fun to walk around and check out the diversity of offerings. The area has a museum-like quality and dealers are often more than happy to speak to visitors, especially if you admire their wares. There is also a Halloween costume contest with five categories: best costume, best makeup, most creative, scariest, and best children’s costume. One winner in each category will receive an award suitable for framing and prize money. Chiller Expo will be held at the Parsippany Hilton in Parsippany from Oct. 28 through 30. Hours are Friday from 6 to 11 p.m., Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $25 per day. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. For an updated list of guests and directions to the hotel, visit www.chillertheatre.com.