This was originally posted on the Classic Horror Film Board back in 2005, but today when Tom Weaver asked me about one of the shows I was feeling nostalgic so I decided to post it here. Also, Gary and Sue Svehla (sponsors of FANEX) have just released the first of hopefully many DVDs (artwork for the DVD is shown above) containing interviews and guest talks from the many years of FANEX. You can order from their Web site (www.midmar.com).
Recently, I was checking out Dick Klemensen’s Web site for his wonderful magazine, Little Shoppe of Horrors, when I noticed he had recently added a whole section of photos taken throughout the years. What struck me and set off numerous fond memories were all the photos taken at FANEX over the years. While I know many of the people who frequent the Classic Horror Film Board know about FANEX and may have attended at least one show throughout the years, many of you might not be all that familiar with it. So I decided to share some of my thoughts on the convention and to provide a list of all the shows and the guests who have appeared over the years.
The first time I ever heard of FANEX was in the summer of 1992; I had recently been stationed at Andrews AFB in Maryland (I'm a 20-year Air Force man), and while checking out the latest issue of Filmfax I saw a small ad for a convention being held in Baltimore called FANEX. Having previously attended several West Coast Fangoria Conventions (run by Creation), I decided to call the number and find out more about the show. Little did I know that I would be talking to Gary Svehla, Editor-Publisher of Midnight Marquee magazine (a publication I had read and thoroughly enjoyed for several years since discovering it, along with Little Shoppe of Horrors and Video Watchdog, at my local comic book shop in the late 1980s and early 1990s). After talking to Gary for well over a half hour about the show, I decided to give it a try. Unfortunately, the hotel was sold out, but I managed to find one nearby, so off I went for the weekend to my first FANEX Convention (FANEX 6).
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| FANEX 6 Program Guide (My First FANEX) |
If you think you have a hard time deciding what events to check out when you go to Monster Bash or Monster Mania, FANEX had them all topped: a dealer's room; two movie rooms (one running 16mm, the other video projection) with films running non-stop to the wee hours of the morning, sometimes even all night; a room where all the guest talks took place; and two or three panel discussion rooms where many of the genre's best writers held court over a captive audience discussing a wide variety of topics (it was FANEX 6 that I first learned about McFarland books). "So much to see, so little time" was never truer than at FANEX.
Unfortunately, I thought my first FANEX might be my last, as organizers Gary and Sue Svehla announced that they were getting burned out and that this would most like be the last show. However, thanks to an infusion of new blood (including my own) into the Horror and Fantasy Film Society of Baltimore (who staffed FANEX), a decision was made to carry on. First up was 1993’s Nostalgia Vision (Classic TV Convention), which took place in February. As luck would have it, a snowstorm struck Baltimore that weekend; thus, attendance was low, causing severe financial losses. However, even with a small budget Gary and Sue managed to pull off FANEX 7 (a salute to drive-in horror films), which included a dusk-to-dawn show at the Bengie’s Drive-in Theatre. Thanks to the success of that show, it was full-steam-ahead with FANEX 8 (one of the two Hammer Tribute shows they held). It was at this time that I became one of the chairpersons for FANEX (a title I held through FANEX 11) and actually learned how much hard work, time and money (Gary and Sue's) goes into putting on a convention (hats off to everyone who's ever filled those shoes). It was during this period that I met Michael and Steve Kronenberg, and with the guidance of Gary Svehla, Monsters from the Vault was hatched and premiered at FANEX 9 in the summer of 1995. It was also at FANEX where I met most, if not all, of my longtime regular contributors to the magazine. In short, without FANEX there would be no Monsters from the Vault. It was also because of the success of MFTV (which was originally planned as a one-shot) and the time I needed to commit to the magazine that I was forced to step down as a chairperson after FANEX 11 (the second Hammer Tribute show). However, over the years I continued to help out in any way I could with what free time I had. And I haven't missed a show since my first.
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| FANEX 8 Program Guide (My First as a Chairperson) |
Another reason FANEX and the Horror and Fantasy Film Society will always hold a special place in my heart is that I met my lovely wife, Marian, because of them. I also know of several other couples who met because of FANEX. Because of FANEX, I get to spend the rest of my life with my soul mate, one I would have never met if it wasn't for the efforts of Gary and Sue, and for that I'm most grateful!
Influence? Yes FANEX has been a major influence over the years for many. Even if you've never been to a FANEX but have attended other conventions, you probably owe Gary and Sue a debt of gratitude. The organizers of some of today's best conventions got their start at FANEX as dealers: Ron Adams (Monster Bash), Kevin Clement (Horrorthon and Chiller Theatre), Dave Hagen (Monster Mania), and Ken and Pam Kish (Cinema Wasteland), so FANEX's influence is obvious. Without FANEX, none of those shows might exist. Even Ray Ferry consulted Gary and Sue about pros and cons before organizing his 1993 Famous Monsters of Filmland Convention in Crystal City, Virginia. They gave him numerous pointers (many of which I'm sure he'd deny today), and he even promoted the show at my first FANEX. As a matter of fact, everyone in the Horror and Fantasy Film Society received free admission to the FM Con because of the help Gary and Sue offered Ferry. So, yes, whether you've ever been to a FANEX or not, if you’ve attended a horror-related convention in the past 24 years, FANEX probably had some influence on it.
Through the years, FANEX also prided itself on being one of the conventions (if not the only convention) where the guests didn't charge for autographs. This was the norm from the beginning, until after FANEX 12. While I never had a problem if guests charged for their autograph (for many it's their sole source of income in their later years), I do find it disturbing that so many charge such excessive amounts these days. Much of this has to do with demand and the large number of conventions being held today, but I see so many shows where the fans come for the weekend and after paying for autographs on Friday night they find themselves broke for the rest of the weekend and often have to pass up movies, magazines, books, etc. I truly feel it's gotten out of hand, and sometimes I wish we could go back to the days of FANEX when the guests were just happy someone remembered them for their work. Many of those guests even gave away signed photos. Unfortunately, those days are a thing of the past.
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| Cortlandt Hull's Wonderful Monster Rally Artwork |
FANEX peaked in 1999 and 2000 with Monster Rally and Classic Filmfest, respectively. Both shows featured a guest list that could easily rival the FM Cons of the 1970s and the FM Con of 1993, yet fandom didn't turn out in the large numbers like they did at the latter shows (a fact that still amazes me, considering who was there); therefore, Gary and Sue encountered large losses financially, which forced them to scale back on future FANEX Conventions. But even with large losses, they continued to press on, and their first show after Classic Filmfest featured one of the most sought-after guests, in my opinion, Barbara Shelley. Just like Frankenstein's creation, FANEX had become a Monster that couldn't be stopped no matter what! Yes, just like in life, friendships have been lost and egos have been bruised, but thanks to new friendships and the support of fans like the members of the CHFB, FANEX lives and will continue to do so in the future. Even though there was no FANEX in 2004, the show returned in 2005 with a new format, one that featured no guests, just a place for horror and sci-fi film fans to hang out and discuss the films they love so much and the people who made them. And believe me everyone who attended had a great time! For sure, whether FANEX returns in the future or not (there's been rumors), we all owe a debt of gratitude to Gary and Sue Svehla for all the great memories!
So, as you glance at the guest lists (names in alphabetical order) over the years, you'll certainly realize how amazing a feat Gary and Sue have pulled off over the years, one that can never be duplicated in a time when so many of our favorites have passed on or have reached an age that a convention appearance is no longer possible. But I'm happy to say that I'm a part of FANEX, past and hopefully future, and I have a lifetime of wonderful memories because of FANEX!
FANEX 1 (September 1987):
Greg Mank
FANEX 2 (November 1988):
John Agar
Fred Olen Ray & Ted Bohus (who attended most FANEX Conventions)
FANEX 3 (September 1989):
Forrest J Ackerman
Conrad Brooks
Jeff Morrow
Linnea Quigley
Brinke Stevens
FANEX 4 (August 1990):
Conrad Brooks
Veronica Carlson
Ray Harryhausen
Elizabeth Russell
FANEX 5 (August 1991):
Forrest J Ackerman
John Agar
William K. Everson
Lisa Gaye (Troma star)
Richard Gordon
Count Gore De Vol
Janie Howard Hanky (daughter of Curly Howard)
Yvette Vickers
FANEX 6 (August 1992):
Acquanetta
Veronica Carlson
Jim Danforth
Russ Tamblyn
Nostalgia Vision (Classic TV Convention, February 1993):
Richard Dix (Baltimore Horror Host, Dr. Lucifer
Beverly Garland
Russell Johnson
George Lewis (Baltimore Horror Host, The Ghost Host)
FANEX 7 (July-August 1993):
Robert Clarke
Sam Sherman
FANEX 8 (July 1994):
James Bernard
Martine Beswick
Veronica Carlson
Yolande Donlan (The Devil Bat)
Val Guest
Ingrid Pitt
FANEX 9 (July 1995):
Jane Adams
Richard Gordon
Lucille Lund
William Marshall
Robert Quarry
Greta Thyssen
Elena Verdugo
FANEX 10 (July 1996):
Forrest J Ackerman
Conrad Brooks
Robert Clarke
Kathleen Crowley
Dolores Fuller
Linda Harrison
Val Lewton, Jr.
Anne Robinson
William Schallert
Robert Wise
FANEX 11 (July 1997):
Veronica Carlson
Freddie Francis
Val Guest
Caroline Munro
Jimmy Sangster
Virginia Wetherell
FANEX 12 (July 1998):
Karolyn Grimes
Peggy Moran
Betsy Jones-Moreland
Kevin McCarthy
Lori Nelson
Mala Powers
Dee Wallace
*FOR ALL THE ABOVE FANEX CONVENTIONS, THE GUESTS SIGNED AUTOGRAPHS FOR FREE!
Monster Rally (August 1999):
Forrest J Ackerman
Jane Adams
Conrad Brooks
Veronica Carlson
Ron Chaney
Anne Francis
Basil Gogos
Count Gore De Vol
Coleen Gray
Linda Harrison
Ray Harryhausen
Cortlandt Hull
Sara Karloff
Ed Kemmer
Carla Laemmle
Christopher Lee
Susanna Leigh
Val Lewton, Jr.
Bela Lugosi, Jr.
Terry Moore
Victoria Price
Ingrid Pitt
Rex Reason
Michael Ripper
Yutte Stensgaard
Bob Tinnell
Elena Verdugo
Yvette Vickers
Classic Filmfest (July 2000):
Samuel Z. Arkoff
Veronica Carlson
Roger Corman
Robert Dwan
Linda Harrison
Jonathan Haze
Dorothy Herrmann
Candace Hilligoss
Pat Hitchcock
Betsy Jones-Moreland
Janet Leigh
Kevin McCarthy
IB Melchior
Yvonne Monlaur
Paul Naschy
Margaret O’Brien
Jessica Rains
Robert Skotak
Elena Verdugo
FANEX 15 (July 2001):
Forrest J Ackerman
Veronica Carlson
Curtis Harrington
Jonathan Haze
Jackie Joseph
Yvonne Monlaur
Michael J. Pollard
Barbara Shelley
FANEX 16 (August 2002):
Susanna Leigh
Carol Lynley
John Saxon
SON OF FANEX (April 2003):
Edward de Sousa
Susan Gordon
FANEX 17 (August 2003):
Carol Cleveland (Monty Python)
Hank Garrett
Francis Matthews
Beverly Washburn
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