The
Unmutual Reviews: 2007
MID-ATLANTIC NOSTALGIA CONVENTION
Review by Tom Mayer
From September 13 through 15, 2007, the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention
was held at the Clarion Hotel in Aberdeen, Maryland, USA. PRISONER actress
Annette Andre was one of the featured guests, along with her husband, television
writer/producer Arthur Weingarten.
Other guests included Erin Gray from BUCK ROGERS IN THE 25TH CENTURY, Conrad
Brooks from Ed Wood's PLAN 9 FROM OUTER SPACE, Denny Miller from the 1950s
TARZAN Films, and Virginia Davis, child actress from several 1930s Disney
films.
The weekend featured a dealer's room with several vendors selling videos,
DVDs, books and other memorabilia relating to all aspects of film and television
from the silent era to the present. There were also interview panels featuring
each guest.
Annette was interviewed on Friday morning 14 September. She happily discussed
various aspects of her career, from her roles on THE SAINT and RANDALL &
HOPKIRK (DECEASED) to working with Buster Keaton in A FUNNY THING HAPPENED
ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, to her appearance in the "swinging sixties"
book BIRDS OF BRITAIN.
In addition to the dealer room and interviews, the convention also featured
a 24-hour screening room running rare films, TV shows, and classic commercials
much to the delight of the film and TV addicts who attended.
There was even a "3-D" viewing of the 1950s monster movie classic
THE CREATURE FROM THE BLACK LAGOON.
Several golden-age British television programs were well represented with
episode screenings of THE NEW AVENGERS, THE SAINT and RANDALL & HOPKIRK
(all of which featured appearances by Annette Andre). This gave stateside
TV fans a chance to sample some UK shows that rarely get screened in the US.
And yes, Annette's PRISONER episode "It's Your Funeral" was shown,
being one of the first screenings of the convention on Thursday morning.
The weekend turned out to be a fine event, especially for any American PRISONER
fans who were most grateful to have met someone who worked on the series.
Information on any previous or upcoming conventions can be found at www.midatlanticnostalgiaconvention.com