March Celebrity sightings

Get those sharpies ready.  There are a lot of notable actors, athletes and Hollywood types coming to the area:

3-6-13 For the hoop fans, on 3-6-12 you will be able to get autographs of Husker Hall of Famers Dave Hoppen, Erick Strickland and Eric Piatkowski in a special autograph session from 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. at the Devaney Center in Lincoln as part of the last regular-season home finale against Minnesota. The signing will be on the main concourse.

3-9-13 and 3-10-13, The Omaha Film Festival brings in a slew of people for the film festivals conference.  Jim Kouf – “Rush Hour,” “National Treasure,” Show runner on GRIMM, David Greenwalt – executive producer/writer/director for “Buffy the Vampire Slayer,” co-creator of “Angel” with Joss Whedon. Show runner on GRIMM , Tim Dowling – “Role Models” (Paul Rudd, Seann William Scot), “This Means War” (Reese Witherspoon, Chris Pine, Tom Hardy), “Just Go With It” (Jennifer Anniston, Adam Sandler), Mike Hill – Academy Award winning editor. Has edited many of Ron Howard’s films including “A Beautiful Mind,” “Frost/Nixon,” “Apollo 13,” “Rush” , William Katt – actor, “Carrie,” “The Greatest American Hero,” “Sparks”, Jessalyn Gilsig – actress, “Heroes,” “Glee,” “Somewhere Slow” , Yolonda Ross – actress/director, HBO's "Treme," HBO's “Stranger Inside,” “The Antwone Fisher Story,” “Breaking Night” 

On 3-9-13 William Katt will be making an appearance at Krypton Comics with Christopher Folino from 10am to 2pm promoting the graphic novel "Sparks"

Also on 3-9-13, Rex Burkhead will be making his first public appearance at Fan House Sports from 1 - 3pm. For your own items is $30, 8x10 photos $30 16x20 photos $80 mini helmets and footballs are $60 and full size helmets are $150 all include getting autograph. Also pictures with Rex are $35 and the picture will be autographed as well.

Than on 3-16-13, Fan House Sports presents Alonzo Whaley, Will COmpton, Eric Martin and PJ Smith from 1 - 2:30 for a free signing event.  

Celebrity Sighting: Cindy Williams and Eddie Mekka

Bruce Crawford's Omaha Classic Film Event has announced it's next movie with a  showing "American Graffiti".  The show will be screen on November 2, 2012, 7 pm at the Joslyn Art Museum's Witherspoon Hall. The event will bring Actress Shirley Williams and actor Eddie Mekka in as special guests.  Tickets will be $20 and proceeds from the event will benefit the Nebraska Kidney Association.

In 1973, American Graffiti is considered a movie which launched and started many careers. Some of the most notable cast included Richard Dreyfuss, Ron Howard, Harrison Ford and Suzanne Summers. It was written and directed by George Lucas and produced by Francis Ford Coppola and Gary Kurtz .  Cindy Williams played the part of Laurie who was Ron Howard's high school sweetheart.

In 1975, Williams appeared as Shirley Feeney in an episode of "Happy Days".  She was a girlfriend of the character 'Fonzie' (Henry Winkler) along side another female character named Laverne Defazio (Penny Marshall).  This launched the beginning of the popular TV show "Laverne and Shirley" which aired from 1976 to 1982.  Williams appeared in 159 episodes of the show. In 1977, she auditioned for the part of Princess Leia in the movie "Star Wars"only to be beat out by Carrie Fisher. In the 90's, she went on to co-produce both "Father of the Bride" 1 and 2.

Also appearing at the event is Eddie Mekka. He is best know for his part as Carmine Ragusa on "Laverne and Shirley".  He also went on to have a part on the very popular soap opera "Guiding Light".  On the big screen, Mekka can be seen along side Bette Midler in "Beaches" and also as Madonna's Boyfriend in "A League of their Own".

More information can be found at http://www.omahafilmevent.com/upcomingamericangraff.htm.

Celebrity Sightings: Eric Crouch and Grant Wistrom

Our friends at Fan House Sports are presenting a set of of signing opportunities in the very near future.

Heisman Trophy winner Nebraska Cornhusker and former Omaha Nighthawks quarterback Eric Crouch will be signing autographs at Fan House Sports in the Gateway Mall, Lincoln NE.  The signing will be on October 27th from Noon to 1:30 pm.  Autographs are free on your own item.  Fan House Sports will have items to purchase also.


In 2001, Eric Crouch won the Heisman Trophy, the Davey O'Brein Award and the Walter Camp Award.  He was also the Big 12 Conference offensive player of the year. He is one of a few quarterbacks in Division 1-A to rush for 3000 and pass for 4000 yards in a career. Eric was the 13th player in NCAA history to rush and pass for 1000 yards in a season with 1115 rushing and 1510 passing yards. While at Nebraska, he held records of single season total offense leader with 2688 yards and single game record for total offense of 360 yards. He holds the total offensive touchdown record at 88 and has the most rushing yards by a quarterback at 3434. Eric also has the record for longest run from scrimmage at 95 yards.  

Also coming up is one of the greatest Blackshirts of all time: Grant Wistrom!  Grant will be at Fan House Sports in the Gateway Mall, Lincoln NE on November 24th. VIP signings are available for $75 with a time from 12:30 to 1:30pm.  Public signing is from 2 to 4pm. Autographs will be $25 per item on your own item.  Fan House Sports will also have items to purchase which includes one signature.

Grant Winstrom was member of 3 National Chamionship teams at Nebraska - 1994, 1995 and 1997.  He was first team Big 12 in 1995-1997 and First team All American in 1996 and 1997. In 1996 and 1997, he was also Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year. Also in 1997, Winstrom was the Lombari Award Winner and the Nagursk Award finalist. He holds Nebraskas record for tackles for a loss at 58.5 and is second in school history in sacks at 26.5. Wistrom was selected 6th overall in the 1998 NFL draft by the St. Louis Rams and played in the NFL from 1998 to 2006.  He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

For more info on these signings, please call Jeff at Fan House Sports at 402-601-6257. 

Celebrity Sighting - Cornhusker Heisman's, 9-1-12 Lincoln NE

The Fan House in Lincoln NE will be hosting an autograph signing with Heisman trophy Winners Johnny Rodgers (1972), Mike Rozier (1983) and Eric Crouch (2001) on 9-1-12 at their store in Gateway mall. A VIP session is available from 9 am to 10:15 am ($100 get photo with players and tropheys and a personalized autograph picture) and than the a General Public session from 10:30am to 12:30pm. Cost per item - Mini Helmets $50 with autographs, Full Size Helmets $150 with autographs, Footballs $50 with autographs, Photos $25 with autographs, Your item $35 with autographs. For more information, call Fan House at 402-601-6257.

Celebrity Sighting - AMC's The Walking Dead Zombies

More info at Their Facebook page or Their Web Site.

Celebrity Sighting - Hacksaw Jim Duggan 8-5-12

Get your 2x4's ready..... Wrestling star Hacksaw Jim Duggan will be signing autographs and meeting fans at Glory Days in Council Bluffs on 8-5-12 from 6pm to 10 pm.  More details on Glory Days Facebook Page.

After Action Report: ACME mini Star Wars Con 6-30-12

Things have been crazy busy around here and I havent had much time for blogging.  I'm going to try and catch everyone up on whats been happening soon.  Let me start with an after action report from the ACME comics Mini Star Wars Convention. Heres some photos with a quick synopsis of the event!  

 Shoot A Trooper was a huge success!

Kids enjoyed The Thermal Detonator Rancor Toss 

 Face Painting was very popular

 Star Wars Trivia tested the knowledge of all the guests

 Kids enjoyed Coloring and were able to get some temporary tatoo's

 We were doing everything for Make-A-Wish!  We raised a little over $360 in the day.  Not to bad considering tickets were 25 cents a piece! 

R2-D2 and R2-TD were on hand 

 Richard LeParmentier - Admiral Motti from the original Star Wars was on signing 

autographs through the day.

 The 501st, Rebel Legion and R2-Builders gave lots of demonstrations through the day. 

The group of volunteers who made the day a smashing success! 

Flashback Friday - ACME Comics Mini Star Wars Con 6-2010

Since we are 22 days away from ACME Comic and Collectibles Star Wars Mini Con where RICHARD LePARMENTIER will be on hand. I thought I'd flash back a few years to the last Star Wars Mini Con I attended also at ACME with DANIEL LOGAN.

TD Stands Guard waiting for the doors to open.

Meeting up With Daniel Logan - Young Boba Fett

Lord Vader was on hand

Kids got to get their face painted

Games, prizes and demonstration filled the parking lot all day.

Flashback Friday - CATCH UP TIME from the last few events

Seems I have been a bit lazy with my blog posts lately. April 26th was the last one and that was when I reported on Huey Lewis and the News of the concert.... (See what I did there... LOL! I crack myself up). I also haven't done a Flashback Friday in forever. This is not as far back as I normally go but still fitting.

Its been a busy few weeks. So busy, I haven't blogged. Meant to a few times but just didnt happen. Lets see... we had Star Wars night with Omaha Royals err Storm Chasers, Free Comic Book Day, The Avengers, and a tiny little bit of R2 work.


May the 4th Be with You - Star Wars Day with the Omaha Storm Chasers. I brushed off the RFT costume and headed out to the Ball Park. After all, How often do you get to go on the field before a baseball game and help Darth Vader throw out the first pitch? I wasn't missing it this year. The troop was fun and relaxed. We got there, threw out the first pitch and than posed for pictures. Pretty relaxed night and always lots of fun. Unfortunately, R2-TD didnt make the trip. He's still down and out getting his system over haul, but more of that in a bit.

Most of the Group who made it out

The Force is strong with this one

Vader always draws the biggest crowd

Luke and Vader play a friendly game of Catch

Free Comic Book Day. I hit 2 of the shops in town and joined in the fun. First I swung by Legend Comics and Coffee to grab my free comic books, check out the sale and to see how the fund raiser for Make-A-Wish Nebraska is going. The store raffled off a issue of Amazing Fantasy 15 which was the very first issue to have Spider Man in it. They also had a dunk tank set up where the you could dunk one of the owners of the store as well as various other happens around the store.

The store was buzzing with excitement of the day

People loading up on the Free Comics

Looks like Dave is about to get wet!

The Lucky winner of the Grand prize for the Nebraska Make a Wish Raffle

I meet up with Beau and Hannah at Legends than we headed out for Lunch after we snagged our free comics.

Lunch with Beau and Hannah

After Lunch it was time to check out Krypton. Adam Baldwin came to town and it was my chance to meet him. I also hung around at the 501st / Rebel legion table for a bit. It was fun to hang out and chat with a few folks I hadn't seen in about a year.

By far the largest crowd I have seen come out to Free Comic Book Day.  The line on the Right is for Free Comics, The line of the left is to Meet Adam Baldwin.

Thumbs up from Adam Baldwin

Finally meeting another of my Big Damn Heroes!  

Local artist Christina Musgrave works on a sketch 

I got to sneak in THE AVENGERS movie. Without giving anything thing away, I'll say it was AWESOME! I've seen it 3 times in 2 weeks. I felt it had everythign a movie needed. It had the right amount of story to action with a bit of comedy to keep things fresh. Can't wait to see what more they do with the story.

Last little thing in there was a build day / armor party with the local 501st. I'm not currently working on any costumes so I worked a little bit on R2. First we trouble shot the Think Geek T-short sound system. Still working on getting that going again. Than I started making R2's feet.

Im trying something different here. Normally a lot of the guys use styrene but it seems to break easy since thats a high impact area when you run into something. Keeping that in mind, I looked for something a little cheaper and less damaging. I decided to give foam board a try. This was a first attempt, Now I know I can get it fairly close to looking the way it should, I can start with a more accurate and detailed foot. More to come on that as I get it done.

Planet Comicon 2012 re-cap

Just getting home from Planet Comicon. What a rush! The place was PACKED full of awesomeness. When I say packed... I mean packed!

We arrived at the show a little later than normal. Doors opened at 10 and usually I'm there by 8 helping set up and getting ready for the show. This year, we ran behind and came in about 11:30. I thought, not a big deal. In years past, the main crowd would be in and we could walk right in. Not the case this year. At 11:30, there was still a line severial hundred deep waiting to get tickets and get in. Thank goodness, said line didnt apply to people who pre-reg so we got to walk right past all those people and get in. R2-TD didnt make the trip this year and I'm kinda glad he didnt . It was wall to wall people. I started the show by working our way to the autograph area. Once there I got a few Jake Llyod and Adrienne Wilkinson autographs for a few friends.

Than we jumped on over to the Billy Dee Williams line which had just started to form. We were maybe 30 people back from the front and were told he would be signing from 1:30 to 4 pm. The time, Noon. So wait we do. Finally, Billy Dee comes in at 1pm. he does a photo op first and started signing about 1:15.

After, we met Billy Dee, we left for a bit for Lunch. We took our time and enjoyed the 82 degree weather unheard of for Kansas in March. We than went back to find a much less crowded show. It was still hopping, by you could actually move now. I took the opportunity to shop and catch some costumes.

Overall, the show was great. I thought it was well run and the staff did a great job getting lines to move and making sure people knew where to go. The show utilized its space much better this year than in years past. I wouldn't be surprised if they move to a bigger venue next year. I had heard the attendance double to tripled last year judging by the parking lot. In fact, The biggest thing that sucked was parking. You had to walk, most likely around the building to get in.

While writing this, this popped up in my timeline on Facebook. The video isnt mine but it shows the convention much better than I explain. :)