The Living Dead Weekend

Well, I arrived in Monroeville for the Living Dead Weekend.  Drive was uneventful and I got here earlier than expected!

Once I got checked in and things began to open.....I walked through the vendors to find Bodoro T. Dugrasima Creations.  She knits movie creatures!  I bought Sam (of Trick 'r Treat) from her last year and we have a fun time at work decorating him for holidays.

So this year I bought her Frankenbear to join Sam.  I named him Gus!

When Greg Nicotero got set up, I went to his table and had him sign my Funko Pop Woodbury Walker.  I knew he played a Woodbury Walker in The Walking Dead but wasn't sure if the Funko Pop was actually him as a walker - IT IS!!  We also did a selfie, which he always has to do, I told him "I give you my phone code every year, you never remember it..." and he said "You're right, I don't, but I lecture you on the dangers of that everytime!"  LOL!!  He then went to take the photos and I said "Wait, let me fix my hair." And then he said "Oh I'll fix mine too!"   There is no possible way not to LOVE this man!

I'm here the whole weekend, but I try to get as much done on Friday that I can.  Then I can relax.  Saturdays are normally the crowdiest and Sundays everyone trying to do what they miss.  Fridays aren't overly busy...so if I get everything done I need to then, I can relax more the rest of the time.  Like right now I'm at the hotel; I'll go back later for the late night activities for the VIP passes (I'm one) and though that will make a long night.....I can sleep in in the morning and go to the convention a little later!  

Last year a fan from England fell asleep in one of the massage chairs in the mall.  Someone took a photo and it went viral; he and that chair showed up everywhere, lol!!  I was getting something to eat in the food court and a guy in front of me looked like him, so I asked!  He laughed and said "I've been waiting for someone to say something!"  He's set up with that photo for autographs and selfies as well, lol!  And yeah, I had to do that!  That also gave me the opportunity to meet Michael Tomaso.  Michael had a zombie part in Day of the Dead and Michael also records many of the panels and takes tons of photos!  I bought last year's panel discs from him.  He's so very nice and knows the importance of documenting these events; especially since Wal-mart bought the property and plans on tearing it down. We've friended on FaceBook.

The late night activity is a viewing of the original Dawn of the Dead which was filmed right at the Monroeville Mall.  What could be better than watching the film in the mall where it was filmed!!!  Also had opening discussion by 3 of the stars:  Ken Foree, Gaylen Ross and Scott H. Reiniger!  

It was a late night though, didn't get out of the theater until about 1:30 a.m.!

My Next Trip

Two years ago CC took me on a Happy 60th Birthday trip.  We have been huge fans of zombies ever since grade school and watching Night of the Living Dead (original).  We live about a 3 hour drive from where that was filmed.  For my birthday we were going to go to the cemetery where the opening scene was filmed and then from there we would find things to do in and around Pittsburgh.  It turned out to be a fabulous trip that you can read  more about HERE.

Last year I wanted to go again; CC had a family thing already planned for that weekend so she couldn't go; but I planned the weekend and went all by myself.  I had a BLAST and met so many nice people (you're really never alone there).  You can read that adventure HERE.

I've decided to go again by myself this year (I really don't think CC enjoyed it quite as much as I did that first year).  I like to go to see Greg Nicotero.  They haven't announced his presence yet, and considering the theme this year (as he was too young to be an actor/special effects at that time), he may not be attending BUT that doesn't matter; it will be a fun event regardless.

This year's theme is Dawn of the Dead (the original one).  It was filmed in the mall where the event is held!  I again got a VIP ticket for the weekend and that, this year, includes a screening on Friday night in the mall theaters of (what else) Dawn of the Dead!!

The Monroeville Mall was sold last year to Walmart.  Walmart's plans are to tear it down and build a Walmart and strip mall.  No one wants this; but it looks as though it is past the fighting phase.  This will probably be the last Living Dead Weekend at this location.  There are dozens of cast members of this movie attending; so it's a pretty big deal!  And it's why I want to attend, Nicotero or not 😊!

They have a lot packed into the weekend.  I've opted out of another behind the scenes mall tour - I did that last year and since tours are limited, decided others deserve the chance.  The drive up is tiring to begin with.  I'll go straight to the mall on Friday to get my arm band and just see the vendors and celebrities and work out my game plan.  Then off to hotel check-in and some much needed rest before a pre-movie party, the movie and whatever else is planned.  I think I'm going to need an hour or two of sleep before the evening festivities as it will be a late night!

I'm so looking forward to this trip!!

The Living Dead Weekend

A Great Weekend

 I had the best time last weekend at The Living Dead Weekend in Monroeville, PA!  It was an extremely busy weekend though.

Friday I did the 3 hour drive to Monroeville arriving way before I needed to.  Standing in line I was able to get this:

That's Greg Nicotero and Tom Savini!  I just love Greg Nicotero!  He is so very nice.  You can read about last year's event here:  2024 Continues.  After everything opened and Greg finally showed up at his table I took my stuffed Greg Nicotero from The Cuddle Cult to have him sign:

He told me a story of how he gave one of these in a Christmas gift exchange at work and that the guy who got it, put it on his Christmas tree!  I also bought a large coin he designed with his 13 favorite horror movies on it (I've yet to identify all of them).  We did a selfie - for some reason he has to do the selfies - anyway he took my phone and then told me he couldn't get it to open; I rattled off the code to him and he said "You do realize you just gave me your phone code."  I told him all that that would get him is about 600 photos of Duran Duran.  He shook his head and said "You and my wife....."   LOL!!  Totally made my weekend!  Though I did get more photos of him from a distance; I didn't get the opportunity to talk to him again.  It was very crowded and he had people around all the time, even at the VIP event on Saturday evening.  And though being a fangirl, I didn't want to come across as stalkish either.

Friday evening I saw the original b/w version of Night of the Living Dead on the big screen finally!  Some of the cast was there to watch it with us.  It was great!  It was in line waiting to get into the theater that I met Dave.  Dave is a school teacher from New York; he's married with a 6 year old son.  He was also at the event by himself.  We would run into each other several times during the weekend - the Dawn of the Dead mall tour, various discussion panels and the Day of the Dead brunch.  The majority of the people at the event were very nice.

I also met Alice B. Sullivan, an author of apocalyptic novels.  I had downloaded one of her books but never read it due to the dog on the cover.  She assured me the dog doesn't die in her books - LOL!!  I bought some books from her - go check her out!

From the hotel to the event - everything was great!  I think they are planning another one in October.  Walmart has bought the mall and it is expected that it will probably be torn down and replaced with a Walmart; because that's the crap that Walmart does!  So they are trying to get another one in.  Will I go?  Not sure, it takes a lot of money for that!  But we will see.

The worst part of the weekend was the drive home in all the rain and fog; but it was worth it.

Living Dead Weekend 2024

 CC and I went to Evans City, PA/Monroeville, PA this past weekend.  We visited the Evans City Cemetery where the movie Night of the Living Dead (original) was filmed and the Monroeville Mall where Dawn of the Dead (original) was filmed.  We lucked out on this weekend, because about 3 weeks prior I discovered there was a Living Dead Weekend happening at the mall!  So we eagerly bought tickets for that and it was a blast!

Most of the celebrities there were ghouls in Dawn of the Dead but there were some big names there as well:  Tom Atkins; Tom Savini and Greg Nicotero may be three you've heard of.   A big one for us was Russell Streiner.

Russell Streiner played Johnny in Night of the Living Dead.  He delivers the most memorable line of the movie "They're coming to get you Barbara."  He was more than happy to say that line for us!  He told us how they had no money to make the movie and how they begged and borrowed to get it done.

But, for us, the big draw was Greg Nicotero.  He's from the area so happily always comes to the yearly event when his job doesn't have him elsewhere.  Greg is a special effects person and was the walker professional for The Walking Dead.  He also owns a restaurant with Norman Reedus.  If you're a Walking Dead fan, you know who Greg Nicotero is, he's as popular as the all the characters.  He's also a very nice, down to earth person.  While CC was asking him questions about Daryl Dixon; he apologized for eating candy but he said he had felt lightheaded and needed something and if we see him laying on the floor; we'd know why.  I told him I was CPR certified; he told me he could only accept mouth-to-mouth; I told him I could do that!  LOL!!  Great guy!

So that was my highlight for the year so far!