ShadowCon

Convention
Name:	ShadowCon
Dates:	1977-1986
Frequency:
Location:
Type:
Focus:	Dark Shadows
Organization:
Founder:	Barbara Fister-Liltz
Founding Date:
URL:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

ShadowCon was a Dark Shadows convention that ran from 1977 to 1986.

In 1987, the con became a more general media con and was renamed Illumicon. Dark Shadows Festival was also a replacement.

This con has a con zine called Shadowcon.

some guests at ShadowCon #4, illo by Shari Metcalf, printed in The World of Dark Shadows #24/25

Transitions

The first ShadowCon was held in 1977.

In 1983, Kathy Resch and Marcy Robin resigned from the comcon and officially dissolved the connection between this con and the zine The World of Dark Shadows. They cited differences in opinion about the change of direction this con was undergoing -- that instead of being a Dark Shadows con, it was turning into a more general horror genre convention. See Open Letter by Kathy Resch Regarding ShadowCon.

ShadowCon 1 (1977)

• held Sep 30-Oct 2, 1977, at the El Cortez Hotel in San Diego.
• John Karlen was the only actor to attended the first ShadowCon.
• ShadowCon was part of Starcon and was run by Jean (Peacock) Graham, Kathy Resch, and Marcy Robin.

One of the first mentions of plans for this first con was in The World of Dark Shadows #9:

Jeanne described the Town and Country Hotel to me - it sounds absolutely fantastic! 600 rooms, 4 restaurants, 4 swimming pools, and a convention center that's the envy of every hotel around. Room rates are usually discounted to members of a convention. Activities that have been suggested by members for the con. Richard Robinson suggested panel discussions on these "Barnabas VS Dracula- Which is the more believable vampire?", "The image of the DS fan" and "The Future of DS". Suggested by both Marcy Robin and Richard Clark is a costume ball with people dressed as their favorite characters/creatures or in the costumes of any of the flashback periods. Marcy also suggested a panel on "What made DS special" and a discussion on the occult in general. Then there's the customary Trivia contest, displays of anything and everything to do with DS, etc. We'd like to get some of the actual episodes to show, but don't know yet if this will be possible. The fact that they were done on video-tape instead of film is bound to present an obstacle - assuming, of course, we're able to rent any from Worldvision at all.

The planned venue changed. From "The World of Dark Shadows" #10:

STARCON (and therefore ShadowCon) has moved. For a variety ot reasons it was decided to change the location from the Town & Country Hotel in San Diego, to the El Cortez Hotel in San Diego. There are a number of advantages to this move--more meeting rooms, lower room rates (which gladdens my parsimonious Capricorn heart) and it is quite close to the airport, and within walking distance of the train and bus stations. The hotel space is limited, so, if you're planning to attend, get your reservations in early. They are charging one flat rate per room, no matter how many people you get inside.

ShadowCon 2 (1978)

• July 1-4, 1978
• Lara Parker, Christopher Pennock, John Karlen, and Jerry Lacy were part of ShadowCon II at the Los Angeles Marriott Hotel
• its "parent convention" was WesterCon
• Kathy Resch was the chairperson

ShadowCon 2 (1978): Con Report

I awoke the next morning and went downstairs and registered at the parent convention, "Westercon" and from there went to Shadowcon registration. There I met Kathy Resch who was chairperson for the DS convention, and editor of "The World of Dark Shadows" An excellent DS fanzine. Looking about the exhibit room there were all sorts of things, ranging from MariJyn Ross paperbacks to a lock of Jonathan Frid's hair . (Seriously) Other articles of interest were Josette's music box, albums, pictures, art, games, puzzles, just about everything ever put on the market! Pictures from episodes and artwork adorned the walls of the room. Off to one corner was a beautiful painting of Barnabas which was for sale for $300.00…. Some loyal fan had taped most, if not all, of the 1795 flashback on a Beta-Max. Many episodes were shown, to the delight of everyone, including myself. Some episodes that were viewed are: Barnabas killing Angelique, Sarah's death, and Josette's jump/fall. After viewing the episode of Josette's plunge from Widows Hill, it is hard to tell whether she jumped or confused by Angelique's witchcraft stumbled over the edge. Either way the scene was quite dramatic."

ShadowCon 3 (1979)

flyer for ShadowCon 3

• June 29- July 3, 1979 at the Hyatt House Hotel in Los Angeles

ShadowCon 3 (1979): Con Report

After two fairly successful conventions Shadowcon III was held this July at the Hyatt House Hotel in Los Angeles. The most significant factor was that this year the Shadowcon executive committee consisting of Peggy Green, Bill Hunt and Barbara Fister-Liltz were determined to make Shadowcon III even better than the two previous conventions.

from Probe One #15, part of a con report

There was a large exhibit room which contained many paintings, drawings and sketches dealing with Dark Shadows. Various posters on the Dark Shadows' films and films in which the series' actors appeared in lined the walls of the room. Many of the Dark Shadows fan clubs were represented and had copies of their fanzines and related Shadows items for sale and information on joining their clubs.

The exhibit room also served as the film screening room. The two Dark Shadows films as well as episodes from the series were shown along with other vampire films and a few special surprises.

The guests this year were actors Humbert Allen Astredo, John Karlen, Jerry Lacy, Lara Parker, Kathryn Leigh Scott and Michael Stroka. They sat on an interview panel and answered questions from the audience about the show and on their own present and future acting roles. They were polite and signed autographs and smiled as fans took pictures and shot off an almost endless number of flashbulbs in their faces.

The main event of the convention was the Claret Cup reception. Fans dressed up in 18th century costumes similar to the early episodes of Dark Shadows. Awards were given out for best costumes, art work and trivia. Presentations were made and a group photo of "vampires" surrounding a pretty "victim" was taken. The guests were asked to dance to a minuet and surprised quite a few people with their fancy steps. A surprise guest who came in shortly after the reception was actor Dennis Patrick. The Costume Faire gave many of the fans the chance to let their imagination run wild as they showed off their costumes modeled after the various Dark Shadows characters.

Everyone who attended Shadowcon had a very enjoyable time and are no doubt anxiously awaiting July 1980 and Shadowcon IV.

ShadowCon 4 (1980)

• June 27-28, 1980 at Hyatt House Hotel, Los Angeles

flyer for the fourth con

• the fan film Dark Vengeance was shown

ShadowCon 4 (1980): Con Report

Star Trek conventions and general science fiction conventions have gotten most of the attention and publicity but did you know that there was an annual convention on the soap opera "Dark Shadows"? Believe it or not there is and there has been for the past three years. Since the main characters that populated this ghoulish soap opera were vampires, werewolves, and ghosts this particular convention usually attracts lovers of the occult as well as the soap opera buff.

It had been nine years since the television show was cancelled but these DS-fans who attended Shadowcon talked as if it was still on the air. Even more surprising is that it wasn't until four years ago that old episodes of the series were reaired as part of a syndication package offered to local cities. This, however, only lasted a year and despite the many cards and letters sent to the syndicator, Worldvision, the program still remains off the air.

Thus many fans delighted to the many hours of episodes shown at the convention. In addition, both of the DS feature films were ran as well as other horror related movies. In a combined exhibit/sales room, the fans were able to view art work with a DS related theme. Many of the items were paintings of the DS characters, some were for sale while others prized by their artists were for display only. Walking around the exhibit room one would see the many Dark Shadows fan publications on dis-play as well as an opportunity to join your favorite DS actor's fan club.

The fact that amazed me the most was that many of the fans present at Shadowcon had travelled not across town for this convention but as far as the east coast to mingle with their fellow DS fans.

An event which may seem odd at most conventions seemed perfectly natural at Shadowcon: Trisha Allflatt and Alan Bradford were married. Both the bride and groom were long time fans of DS and thought it would be a great idea to be married at the convention in period costume. The invited guests liked the idea and many of them also dressed in 18th century attire, with DS theme music in the background the wedding was an event that all who attended will always remember.

Besides the fine film collection shown at Shadowcon each year, this convention always has a large number of the actors from the series in attendance each year. It's interesting to note that the convention does not pay the actors a large sum of money to come to Shadowcon. The actors come because they enjoy the time spent chatting with their fans. In a sense they also come to honor their fans for keeping the memory of the show alive. The fans who attended were thrilled at the chance of speaking to their favorite actor or actress. The question and answer session held brought out a lot of behind the scenes facts on how the television program was made. They discussed their vigorous rehearsal schedule, bloopers on the air and old stories of forgotten lines and staring into the wrong cameras.

This year's guests were Terrayne Crawford, Barbara Cason, John Karlen, Diana Millay, Lara Parker, Dennis Patrick, Lisa Richards, Kathryn Leigh Scott and Michael Stroka.

Most convention guests give a brief speech, sign a few autographs and leave. The guests at Shadowcon mingled with their fans and posed for pictures . They were quite surprised to find that some of the fans remembered things about the show which they had forgotten.

The guests donated personal items used on Dark Shadows or on other projects for the celebrity auction. The receipts from the auction totalled $1,300 and went to the American Foundation for Children, a project that actress Terrayne Crawford is much involved in.

While this convention's membership didn't number into the thousands, it did succeed in doing something that many conventions often fail to do... enable the fans and the convention guests to have a good time and leave Shadowcon IV with fond memories. The program was well prepared and gave the fans what they wanted in large dosages.

ShadowCon 5 (1981)

ShadowCon 5 was held June 27-28, 1981 at the Hyatt in Los Angeles, CA. The zine, Chosen Haunts, contains the prize-winning stories from the ShadowCon literary contest from that year. This con also generated a con zine called Shadowcon and the fan film Diary of Shadowcon.

the literary contest rules, printed in The World of Dark Shadows #27. Some highlights were: don't discuss your story with others, there would be no censoring regarding adult/explicit material, stories were to be submitted anonymously, there had to be at least one DS character, first prize was $50, and that winners would be published by Pandora Publications

ShadowCon 6 (1982)

• July 2-4, 1982

program book for 1982

flyer for #6

Program book: There are many candid photos of guest stars Robert Bloch and Jonathan Frid. There is also an article on Dark Shadows programming by Kathy Resch with candid photos of Jonathan Frid, Lara Parker, John Karlen, Jerry Lacy, and Robert Rodan. Lots more memories and photos from the convention.

ShadowCon 7 (1983)

ShadowCon 7 was held June 17-19, 1983. A fan video is posted here.

flyer for #7

ShadowCon 7 (1983): Con Report

ShadowCon was small as compared with most of the "Star Trek" get-togethers I've attended over the years; but while I'm sure some fans would disagree, I personally find small cons the more ideal. At a smaller gathering, friendly faces and familiar names are much easier to pick out of the crowd, and the guest stars are usually much more at their ease to wander among their admirers, sign autographs, pose for photographs, etc. And all of the guest stars who did manage to get to ShadowCon were, so far as I could tell, very gracious and accessible at SC. There were also plenty of videos to be enjoyed, including the compilations of DS stars in other roles, bloopers {not too hard to find on DS, you must admit) and of course the episodes and movies themslves. All in all, on the surface, SC had all the elements of a good, well-equipped, fun-filled con.

However, all was not perfect in L.A.--in fact, something was downright rotten.

Everyone is by now familiar with the argument posed recently by some of the various US fan publications: not enough mass participation, not enough 'extracurricular' interest on the part of some fans, not enough insight and motivation to make fandom worthwhile or relevant, etc. ((Note: See Bill Hunt's "Dark Tower" a recent "Inside the Old House" for clarification of that argument. KR.)) However, though the purpose of those articles seemed to be to stir up some fans and get them more involved, some of the things I witnessed at ShadowCon made me wonder exactly what these self-appointed "guardians" of fan integrity were trying to accomplish.

For one thing, there was certainly an over-emphasis on "security" at SC--committee members keeping the Comm Suite number secret, instituting a virtual strip-search at the Art Room (and I personally heard the name of a very well respected fan mentioned in connection with theft--all because she had carried her purse into the room!), and very rudely ordering gophers, "the public" (read; con supporters), and even other committee members out of 'restricted areas' (otherwise known as empty rooms). Granted, there are dishonest people out there, but the condescending attitude present during SC VII was totally uncalled for.

I think the perpetrators of this kind of thing would do well to remember exactly which section of fandom will be shelling out twenty dollars apiece for next year's con, and they should also be made to understand that we are all fans--be we committee members, writers/artists, general consumers, whatever. We are united for a general purpose--to enjoy and preserve DS, and to say that some fans, because they have connections, talent, Committee badges, whatever, are more intelligent, more trustworthy, more "respectable" than other fans is downright wrong. It is even worse to run an entire con for the benefit of a chosen few, while commandeering the superior equipment and room space for the more "important" events, regardless of which activity more fans wish to take part in.

I can only gape in astonishment when some "fans" deride the "average" DSer for not getting more "involved" in various things when at the same time they are doing everything possible to make him/her feel totally unimportant and perhaps even unwelcome in fandom's self-appointed "upper circle".

Fortunately, when I think of ShadowCon in the future, it will be warmly--because of the efforts of some of these same "average" fans (who are some of the most interesting and friendly people you'll ever want to meet), some of the major fanzine editors, and those on the other half of the committee. It was really your con, gang, so thanks.

There is a final memory I would like to share: I was a volunteer/gopher at SC, and one of my duties involved running some DS videotapes into the wee hours of both Friday and Sunday nights. I wish to make it known, here and now, that upon no occasion during either presentation did any fan wet his or her pants, or require any assistance in that area whatsoever. Thanks.

ShadowCon VII was my first. To me, Jonathan Frid always was DS, so seeing him in person was exciting. I found him to be friendly and I was impressed during the autograph session. After about 45 minutes someone from the committee asked if he wanted to stop, and he answered no, he was happy, and kept on for probably another half hour. I was lucky enough to be at Kathryn Leigh Scott's table, and I swear she's prettier now than in the OS days, When she found out I was from Texas, she kidded that if I was an oil man, she might like to get to know me better! She's a very classy lady. John Karlen was incredible. I found him to be a back-slapping type of guy -- so friendly it was incredible. If someone asked to have their picture taken with him, he would put his arm around that person as if he was a member of the family. The impromptu song-and-dance routine with the wolf's head cane between Jonathan Frid and John Karlen was great. So was the posing for the "You betrayed me, Willie!" pictures. I haven't seen so many flash bulbs going off at one time since the Miss America Pageant. I'll remember for a long time when, after these pictures were taken, someone shouted out, "Thank you!" And John Karlen said, "No. Thank you for making all this possible." Kathryn was anxious to see the blooper tape, and Lara was laughing so hard she was rocking back and forth in her chair. It was good seeing all of them enjoying themselves so much. There was some very good art to see. In the Dealer's room, I picked up a number of DS scripts and paperbacks and back issues of "Inside the Old House". I still can't believe Jonathan Frid's binder went for $300!

ShadowCon 8 (1984)

1984

ShadowCon 9 (1985)

• June 21-23, 1985
• a fan video is posted here. The fan who uploaded the video writes:

  One of the last of the pre d.s. festivals. the shadowcon was falling apart as the convention was celebrating other sci-fi/horror programs leaving ds fans wondering why the convention is even called SHADOWCON. Confused CHRIS PENNOCK is being told why there are fans from the show "V" running around at a DARK SHADOWS convention. DENNIS PATRICK+JOHN KARLEN soon join and sign autographs. I conduct a short interview with JOHN KARLEN.

ShadowCon 9 (1985): Con Report

Very disappointing. I went on... the assumption that this was a Dark Shadows con. In addition to a great deal of poor planning and management, we were told that Dark Shadows fans represented only 10% of the attendees and were generously given 20% of one of the room's time. The con was obviously being run, this year, for V fans. Let the con committee hope that V is still around next year, as I doubt any Dark Shadows fans will bother to attend in the future.

ShadowCon 10 (1986)

ShadowCon 10 was held July 11-13, 1986 in Manhatten Beach, CA. Special guests were Frank Ashmore, Greta Blackburn, Mickey Jones, Andrew Prime, Sam Rolfe, and Norman Felton.

flyer for the tenth con, published in The Seaview Sextant #5, note possible date discrepancy