The Ezekiel Project

Convention
Name:	The Ezekiel Project
Dates:	July 6-8, 1990
Frequency:	once
Location:	Rochester, New York
Type:	fan run, celebrity guests
Focus:	War of the Worlds
Organization:
Founder:	Patricia D. Ames and Jude Wilson
Founding Date:
URL:
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The Ezekiel Project was a War of the Worlds convention held in Rochester, New York in 1990.

Assuming RooCon did not happen, "The Ezekiel Project" is the only all-War of the Worlds fan-gathering.

There were two four-hour VHS tapes of selections from "The Ezekiel Project" advertised for sale ($25 for both) in The Blackwood Project #9.

The con charity was Camp Good Days and Special Times.

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  flyer printed in The Blackwood Project #4

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  flyer printed in Herne's Stepchildren #0

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  art from the charity t-shirt for this con, artist: Ann Larimer

Convention Reports

The Ezekiel Project: Pat Ames and Jude Wilson sure know how to throw a party. Of course, it helps when the guest of honor, Philip Akin, is such a party animal type of guy. It was great to meet him at long last. It was fun to see Peter Bloch-Hansen again (seems like it's been forever since Wilkes-Barre) and to discover that set dressers Vinnie and Greg are capable of dressing up a set just by standing on it; not to mention that they are talented and had lots to say. For those of you not amongst the fortunate, let me reassure you that Phil is a swell person. I like him a lot. He's very bright and witty — fun to be around. He's extremely knowledgeable on a vast variety of subjects -- politics, the martial arts, real estate and medicine were just some of the subjects discussed. And can this guy dance or what?! I told him that he was going to be responsible for paying to have a pacemaker installed. He wore me out. I hope that I get the opportunity to see him again. He showed me a photograph of his daughter, Taylor, and she's cute -- just like her old man. The charity auction did well and I had a great time.

Ezekiel was great, a little bit of a culture shock, so many WOW fans all at once when one comes from a solitude situation with regard to dealing with a few of you lovely lassies. You women get pretty wound up with these panels, and poor old me, my mind was spinning as you changed subtopics like gears in a race car!! Even though I have been going to cons for 20 years now, those old, reliable and unwanted new fandom con group nerves sure ruled my roost so hence some of my jitters. I'm too used to being with fan friends at basically the same con for around ten years now with regard to GERRY ANDERSON clubs in England and Ohio.... I was a bit miffed at the repeated emphasis on having a good time at the bar, even though I was a guilty party. This I accept to a point, we are all adults and like to unwind, but we must be aware that SF TV remains a family viewing thing and kids under the state legal drinking ages are a part of our group. I did enjoy the way things ran smoothly for the most part, as panels segued into autograph sessions, the fun Omega Squadsters had "running" for auction audience members, Phil's almost immediate falling in with the flow and tone of events. The breadth and impact of the auction-display items, some of the ridiculous prices for some items, being able to let my Toronto ego get swelled as our little Canadian Guest Invasion took hold for the weekend. OH CANADA!! Being able to catch precious moments from FJ with Jared almost pre-pube-clean-shaven in it, for the first time since first-run. The enthusiasm of Cindy Rancourt throughout the con. The company of mine including the Alien Sushi and WOW Fan Club cliquettes who graciously allowed me to tag along for meals, drinks, etc. Mucho gracias los senoritas!!! Seeing my dear old friend Pam Barnes walk in as a surprise Dealer for the weekend. Showing off my original clippings files to all those drooling eyes of yours. Flying home with Phil and Peter. Hope we get to do it again, a fresh chance to renew friendships with each other and already initiated guest stars and extending our one-con experience to other guests invited but unable to attend.

Pat and Jude (and all those con panel organizers), stand up and take a bow. You done good! Everyone that I've reminisced with agrees that a terrific time was had by all. We had a great (albeit loud) band in the hotel bar. We had fan panels (more like friendly rap groups than anything). We had an especially efficient Omega Squad commanded by Sgt. Jeanne (thank you, thank you). Last but by no means least, we had our guests. Greg and Vinnie, your local friendly neighborhood set dressers straight from Toronto and the wreckage of the deceased WOW. We had Peter Bloch-Hansen, who was his same wonderful and quietly weird self. And we had (drum roll, please) Mr. Philip Akin, who was absolutely spectacular. I could gush for pages and pages with no effort at all, but suffice to say that Phil is warm, handsome, witty, intelligent, charming and (best of all) totally irreverent. Just look in the thesaurus under "great".

The whole weekend was a nice, strolling pace (instead of the breakneck speed of most cons), broken only by leisurely meals in the restaurant and laid-back, personal panels. I'm spoiled now. I'm afraid I'll demand just as good from the rest of the cons in my future. I suspect I shall be disappointed. So, Pat and Jude, when's the next one...? (Please don't hurt me!)

Also, some of us very lucky women also got to find out just what a good dancer Phil is. If I wasn't before, I certainly am a slow dance fan now. I got to see the creation of a whole new dance. The Cyberpunk Polka, as invented by our editor and Peter (I have pictures too!).

Then there was the drunken revel in the bar which... well, let's just say that shoes were lost, shirt tails came untucked, rabble was roused, and there were three very sore heads the next morning. But, what the hey? It was worth it! At least I didn't start my day with Kaluha and Fruit Loops like some people...

All in all, it was very hard to leave Monday morning. It was hard to move, too, but I already told you the cause of that. A great con experience. A three-day party that ended too soon.