Celebrity Photos From Chiller Theatre!

By Michael Musto Wed., Nov. 2 2011 at 11:30 AM

Me and the always fierce Pam Grier. She lit up the place like a Roman candle.

Today's column is all about my interactions with various Oscar winners, ex-child-stars, sitcom survivors, and other culty icons at the Chiller Theatre autography show in New Jersey the other night.

Well, here's a gorgeous bunch of Angelo Pitillo-photographed shots of the amazing luminaries we got to carry on with.

But first, a random anecdote:

I heard Oscar nominee Bruce Dern (Coming Home) tell a fan there that on the first day's shooting of Family Plot, Alfred Hitchcock got out of his chair, but he was so fat the chair stuck to his ass. Once he became disentangled, the genius director (complete with pacemaker) went up to each person on the set and thanked them by name!

"No other director's ever done that," said Dern, misty-eyed.

Showbiz, for all it's darkness, can also be extraordinarily lovely, right?

So are these photos. Enjoy!

Reverend Mother Dolores Hart, the Elvis-co-star-turned-nun. She got a calling from the Lord and picked up the phone.

Mother Hart's table of heavenly wares. I love showbiz.

Heather Matarazzo, such a doll from the Dollhouse

Louis Gossett Jr., promoting Eracism as an actor and a gentleman

Traci Lords as Little Red Riding Hood. So foxy!

Ellen Foley (Night Court), an old friend of mine. She said Selma Diamond was "cranky, funny, and smart."

Danielle Spencer (Dee, What's Happening?); she was in a horrible accident and ended up getting spinal surgery -- THAT'S what's happening.

Valerie Perrine -- a real good-time gal and two-time Oscar nominee. She got Nancy Walker fired from the Village People movie.

Michael Pare (Eddie and the Cruisers, Streets of Fire); super-nice and still hot. He meditates!

Lana Wood, an ex-Bond girl and Natalie's sis. She has a large hope chest.

Martine Beswick (Thunderball, Prehistoric Women), an extremely personable ex-sexpot

Bruce Dern, not stuck to his chair

This was an option -- or you could get a free photo of a shark by posing with ME.

Betsy Russell, teen prostitution film sequel

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Anne Thrax

Valerie Perrine looks great. I loved huh as Miss Tessmacher.

Queenie

"Mush, Miss Tesschmacher, mush!"

Melinda9

Her convent probably could use the cash. I know the nuns in my town have to get out and sell candy bars to make repairs on their house - the church does very little for them.

Southern Dave

"The Lord led me here," said Mother Dolores Hart. "Now fork over 25 bucks or I won't sign my name over the word 'WHERE' that covers my ass in this 'Where the Boys Are' poster."

And speaking of "Boys," Mikey, was that Paula Prentiss and Richard Benjamin's son on the most recent "Law & Order: SVU" last week? Sure looked like them and his last name was "Benjamin."

Musto

I'm not sure. If so, I worship his parents!

Melinda9

Someone put up a thing on youtube: CHILLER THEATRE 10.29.11. Has Barry Livingston talking about being groped by Raymond Burr, Valerie Perrine and others. (That came out wrong - Valerie Perrine did not grope Barry Livingston.)

KurtChristenson

The photos look pretty bad, with a little work by a photo editor these would be a lot better. I'm available if you need me.

Dangle

PShaw. These photos are super fun.

KurtChristenson

I just meant the quality. Terrible.

Ynnocence

I was thinking of adjectives like "sad," "washed-out," "has-beens," and worse. Reading the article and, even better, seeing these pics convinced me just how awfully wrong I was. I'd give up an invite to the Oscars or Grammys any day to mingle with this kind of crowd. Score another point in the revision of pop-culture values for the Musto!

Musto

Thanks for opening your mind. These stars are important and in addition to that, they are lots of fun to hang around.

Musto

There was also Gena Lee Nolin, Angie Everhart, Burt Young, the My Three Sons guys, the Willie Wonka kids, on and on..

Gregorama

Sounds like quite a day! Each time you report on these events, I SWEAR I'm going to attend the next time. So the "My Three Sons" boys were there? Including Don Grady, who played oldest brother, Robbie? How's he looking these days? Watching him weekly as a little gay was a very early indicator that I had desires other than those of my brothers (who were much more into the cast of "Petticoat Junction". Furthermore, it came as quite a shock (later) to discover that Father Douglas--Fred MacMurray--was a drop-dead hunk in his youth. All this, and Sister Dolores Hart, too! That must have been something of a shock, huh?

Musto

I think just the Livingston brothers were there, not Don Grady, but I'm not sure because I wasn't an avid viewer of that show.

Bill Huelbig

Don Grady wasn't there. Stanley Livingston talked about How the West Was Won. He's one of the few surviving actors to have appeared in a Cinerama film, along with Debbie Reynolds who was supposed to attend this convention two Chillers ago.

Ponchietta

My eyes are a-poppin. This is so amazing.

Melinda9

Wow, this year was maybe even better than last year. Ellen Foley, Heather Matarazzo, Danielle Spencer, Louis Gossett, Pam Grier, Bruce Dern, Michael Pare, Valerie Perrine - I'm jealous again. (How did VPerrine get Nancy Walker fired?Never mind; I googled it.)

Celebrity Photos From Chiller Theatre!

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