The Cthulhu Mythos Convention
August 18-20, 1995
Danvers, Massachusetts
At the Tara
Ferncroft Hotel & Resort
Guests of Honor
| Guest of Honor: |
Ramsey Campbell |
| Special Guests: |
L. Sprague de Camp & Catherine Crook de Camp |
Convention Committee Members
Franklin Hummel, Friday Jones, Marc A. Michaud, Charles D. Morgan, and Joan C. Stanley.
Program Participants
Scott David Aniolowski, Peter Atkins, Fred J. Behrendt, Scott D. Briggs, Donald R. Burleson,
Peter Cannon, Don D’Ammassa, Stefan Dziemianowicz, Jason Conrad Eckhardt, Perry M. Grayson,
David S. Hammann, Chris Henderson, Franklin Hummel, Friday Jones, S.T. Joshi, Robert H. Knox, Allen
Koszowski, Donovan K. Loucks, Steven J. Mariconda, Marc A. Michaud, Robert Murch, Will Murray,
Robert M. Price, Faye Ringel, David E. Schultz, Darrell Schweitzer, Joan Stanley, Gary Sumpter,
John Tynes, and Hubert Van Calenbergh.
Commentaries
Programming Schedule
Friday, August 18, 1995
- 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM – Dealers’/Art Rooms (King Edward and King Richard)
| Afternoon |
| Time |
Buckingham |
Camelot |
Essex |
Longford (A/V Room) |
| 1:00 PM |
|
|
|
Suspense: “The Dunwich Horror” (1 November
1945; audio)
By H.P. Lovecraft. Suspense was one of radio’s best, and
longest-running, mystery programs. This episode from 1945 is the only known old-time-radio
adaptation of a Lovecraft story to appear. (30 min.) |
|
| 1:30 PM |
X Minus One: “A Gun for Dinosaur” (7 March
1956; audio)
By L. Sprague de Camp, adapted by Ernest Kinoy. X Minus One
(and its predecessor Dimension X) were NBC’s strong attempt to appeal to the
science fiction market on radio during the 1950s. (30 min.) |
|
| 2:00 PM |
Call of Cthulhu Game: Session
#1
Note: Those who wish to participate in a gaming session must sign
up ahead of time in the game room. [David S. Hammann (Keeper)] |
|
Cast a Deadly Spell
(1991)
Directed by Martin Campbell. In a 1940’s Los Angeles where magic
really works, private eye H.P. Lovecraft (who refuses to use magic) is hired to track down a
stolen copy of the Necronomicon. A Lovecraftian mystery tale. Stars Fred Ward, David
Warner, Julianne Moore, Clancy Brown. (93 min.) |
|
| 2:30 PM |
| 3:00 PM |
Lovecraft’s Providence
Rhode
Islanders (some former) discuss their favorite Lovecraftian sites. [Peter Cannon, Don
D’Ammassa, Marc A. Michaud, Faye Ringel (Moderator)] |
|
| 3:30 PM |
| 4:00 PM |
HPL Bytes: Publishing Lovecraft
Electronically
A discussion of the Lovecraft Transcription Project, what value it
holds, and the overall changing of Lovecraft into mere bytes. [S.T. Joshi, Donovan Loucks,
David E. Schultz (Moderator)] |
|
Witch Hunt (1994)
Sequel to
Cast a Deadly Spell. Directed by Paul Schrader. Private eye H.P. Lovecraft is in
Hollywood, where he discovers that the magic of the silver screen is caused by all the
witches in front of the camera! When a spell kills a client’s husband, can Lovecraft
get to the bottom of things—without using magic? Stars Dennis Hopper, Penelope Ann
Miller, Julian Sands, Eric Bogosian. (100 min.) |
|
| 4:30 PM |
| 5:00 PM |
Science Fiction Greats I’ve
Known
[Catherine Crook de Camp] |
|
|
| 5:30 PM |
| Evening |
| Time |
Living Room |
Longford (A/V Room) |
| 6:00 PM |
|
Caltiki, The Immortal Monster
(1959)
Directed by Riccardo Freda (Robert Hampton), Mario Bava. A blobby monster
discovered in a Mayan temple emerges “when the stars are right” and gets ready to
devour civilization in this scary, sometimes grisly tale. Stars John Merivale, Didi
Sullivan, Gerard Herter. (76 min.) |
|
| 6:30 PM |
| 7:00 PM |
| 7:30 PM |
Quiet, Please: “Gem of Purest Ray” (17 May
1948; audio)
Written and directed by Willis Cooper (writer of Son of
Frankenstein and creator of Lights Out), Quiet, Please was, in the minds of
many, the finest—and least appreciated—horror series to appear on old-time-radio.
In this episode, it becomes obvious that Cooper had read some Lovecraft, particularly
“The Shadow over Innsmouth” (in an episode which aired about two months later,
Lovecraft is actually mentioned by name, confirming this suspicion). (30
min.) |
|
| 8:00 PM |
|
Re-Animator (1985)
Directed by
Stuart Gordon. A determined young scientist, Herbert West, enters Miskatonic Medical School,
but secretly pursues the perfection of his reagent for reviving the dead. One of the
best-known Lovecraft cinema adaptations, or mutations if you prefer. Stars Jeffrey Combs,
Bruce Abbott, David Gale, Barbara Crampton. Based on “Herbert
West—Re-Animator” by H.P. Lovecraft. (86 min.) |
|
| 8:30 PM |
| 9:00 PM |
| 9:30 PM |
| 10:00 PM |
Reading: “The Horror Under
Warrendown”
[Ramsey Campbell] |
|
Bride of Re-Animator
(1989)
Sequel to Re-Animator. Directed by Brian Yuzna. That’s
Dr. Herbert West to you now! And, now that he’s got reanimating the dead down (almost)
pat, his twisted mind plans on building the perfect woman the good old-fashioned
way—from scraps. Stars Jeffrey Combs, Bruce Abbott, Kathleen Kinmont. Based on
“Herbert West—Re-Animator” by H.P. Lovecraft. (99 min.)
Will be followed
by a 15 to 20-minute collection of interviews with Stuart Gordon and the rest of the cast
about the making of the film. |
|
| 10:30 PM |
| 11:00 PM |
|
| 11:30 PM |
| Late Night |
| Time |
Longford (A/V Room) |
| 12:00 M |
Thriller: “The Incredible Doktor
Markesan” (1962)
Directed by Robert Florey. A scientist who discovered
reanimation, but was destroyed by the medical establishment, comes back from the dead to
reanimate and torment his enemies, much to the dismay of his nephew. Herbert West meets
Joseph Curwen! Stars Dick York, Boris Karloff. Based on a story by August Derleth. (60
min.) |
|
| 12:30 AM |
| 1:00 AM |
Die, Monster, Die!
(1965)
Directed by Daniel Haller. A young man who comes calling on his fiancee
finds her house in Massachusetts at the center of “the blasted heath,” and her
secretive father carrying out bizarre and deadly experiments with something from beyond the
stars. Stars Boris Karloff, Nick Adams, Patrick Magee. Based on “The Colour Out of
Space” by H.P. Lovecraft. Also known as Monster of Terror. (80
min.) |
|
| 1:30 AM |
| 2:00 AM |
| 2:30 AM |
| 3:00 AM |
The Curse (1987)
Directed by
David Keith. After a meteorite lands on a farm, the land and the people on it are slowly
transformed and destroyed. Stars Wil Wheaton, Claude Akins, Malcolm Danare, John Schneider.
Based on “The Colour Out of Space” by H.P. Lovecraft. Also known as The
Farm. (92 min.) |
|
| 3:30 AM |
| 4:00 AM |
| 4:30 AM |
| 5:00 AM |
The Unnamable (1988)
Directed by
Jean-Paul Ouellette. A group of Miskatonic University students, looking for a place to make
out with their dates, enter a deserted house stalked by a demon. Stars Mark Kinsey
Stephenson, Alexandra Durrell. Hardly at all based on “The Unnamable” by H.P.
Lovecraft. (87 min.) |
|
| 5:30 AM |
| 6:00 AM |
| 6:30 AM |
| 7:00 AM |
The Real Ghostbusters: “Collect Call of
Cthulhu” and “Russian About”
An animated version of the Cthulhu
Mythos? Why not? Saturday morning cartoons for the Lovecraft crowd. (60
min.) |
|
| 7:30 AM |
Saturday, August 19, 1995
- 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM – Dealers’/Art Rooms (King Edward and King Richard)
| Morning |
| Time |
Buckingham |
Camelot |
Essex |
King Henry |
Longford (A/V Room) |
| 8:00 AM |
|
|
|
|
Vincent (1982)
A B&W stop-motion
short by Tim Burton, about a little boy who wants to be Vincent Price. Narrated by Vincent
Price. (5 min.)
The Haunted Palace (1963)
Directed by Roger Corman.
Charles Dexter Ward returns to the New England town that his ancestor, Joseph Curwen, laid
under a curse as he was burned to death. Stars Vincent Price, Lon Chaney Jr. Based on
The Case of Charles Dexter Ward by H.P. Lovecraft. (87
min.) |
|
| 8:30 AM |
| 9:00 AM |
| 9:30 AM |
Call of Cthulhu Game: Session
#2
Note: Those who wish to participate in a gaming session must sign
up ahead of time in the game room. [Gary Sumpter (Keeper)] |
|
| 10:00 AM |
Lovecraft & I
[L. Sprague
de Camp] |
|
Lovecraft’s Rejected
Stories
A look at why Lovecraft was rejected so often during his lifetime
(aspiring writers, take heart). [S.T. Joshi, Will Murray, Darrell Schweitzer
(Moderator)] |
|
The Resurrected (1991)
Directed
by Dan O’Bannon. Charles Dexter Ward becomes fascinated with his genealogy, especially
a satanic ancestor, Joseph Curwen, whose experiments in resurrection he recreates—with
disastrous results! Stars Chris Sarandon, John Terry, Jane Sibbett. Based on The Case of
Charles Dexter Ward by H.P. Lovecraft. (108 min.) |
|
| 10:30 AM |
| 11:00 AM |
The Compleat de Camp
A look at
the work of our Special Guest, L. Sprague de Camp. [Stefan Dziemianowicz (Moderator),
Darrell Schweitzer, Joan C. Stanley] |
|
On At the Mountains of Madness
Is
this novel Lovecraft’s classic, or just a failed experiment? [Peter Cannon, Jason
Eckhardt, Steven Mariconda (Moderator), Hubert Van Calenbergh] |
|
| 11:30 AM |
| 12:00 N |
Signing
[Catherine Crook de
Camp & L. Sprague de Camp] |
|
The Best of Lovecraft: From an Artist’s
Point-of-View
Some artists tell all about what they like about Lovecraft.
[Jason Eckhardt, Robert H. Knox, Allen Koszowski, Robert Murch
(Moderator)] |
|
The Early Campbell
A look at our
Guest of Honor, Ramsey Campbell, mythos writer. [Scott David Aniolowski (Moderator),
Donald R. Burleson, Stefan Dziemianowicz] |
|
The Dunwich Horror
(1970)
Directed by Daniel Haller. Something is wrong with the Whateley
baby—it’s alive! And it grows up into a young warlock who wants to use the
Necronomicon to open a gateway to the Outside. Stars Dean Stockwell, Sandra Dee.
Based on “The Dunwich Horror” by H.P. Lovecraft. (90 min.) |
|
| 12:30 PM |
| 1:00 PM |
|
|
|
|
| Afternoon |
| Time |
Buckingham |
Camelot |
Essex |
King Henry |
Longford (A/V Room) |
| 1:30 PM |
|
|
|
|
Mystery in the Air: “The Mask of Medusa” (4
September 1947; audio)
By Nelson Bond. Starring Peter Lorre (who does some
wonderful overacting here), this radio adaptation of Bond’s story is classic pulp
fiction come alive before your ears. Bond was an infrequent contributor to Weird
Tales and numerous other pulps. (30 min.) |
|
| 2:00 PM |
The Shuttered Room
(1968)
Directed by David Greene. A young couple who inherit a house in New
England find something terrible living within. Stars Gig Young, Carol Lynley, Oliver Reed.
Based on “The Shuttered Room” by August Derleth. Also known as Blood
Island. (100 min.) |
|
| 2:30 PM |
Writing Call of Cthulhu Scenarios
Workshop
[Scott David Aniolowski, Fred Behrendt, Gary
Sumpter] |
|
The Clark Ashton Smith
Revival
[Perry M. Grayson, Will Murray (Moderator), David E.
Schultz] |
|
A Reader-Response Approach to the Lovecraft
Mythos
[Steven J. Mariconda] |
|
The Later Campbell
A look at our
Guest of Honor, Ramsey Campbell, horror author. [Scott Briggs, S.T. Joshi (Moderator),
Hubert Van Calenbergh] |
|
| 3:00 PM |
| 3:30 PM |
Special Guests’
Interview
[Catherine Crook de Camp, L. Sprague de Camp, Stefan Dziemianowicz
(Moderator)] |
|
|
Myth(os)-Abuse
Wherein writers
defend what they do; is it real “mythos,” or just good enough to pay the rent?
[Don D’Ammassa (Moderator), Chris Henderson, Robert M. Price, Darrell
Schweitzer] |
|
| 4:00 PM |
The Curse of the Crimson Altar
(1970)
Directed by Vernon Sewell. A man searching for his missing brother follows
his dreams of seeing him in the company of a deadly witch, to a town where that same witch
was burned at the stake 300 years ago. Stars Mark Eden, Michael Gough, Christopher Lee,
Barbara Steele, Boris Karloff. Based (loosely) on “The Dreams in the Witch House”
by H.P. Lovecraft. Also known as The Curse of the Crimson Cult. (87
min.) |
|
| 4:30 PM |
|
Reading
[Donald R.
Burleson] |
|
Pre-Mythos Authors
A look at some
of the authors who preceded (and possibly) inspired Lovecraft. [Scott Briggs, Peter
Cannon, S.T. Joshi, Faye Ringel (Moderator)] |
|
| 5:00 PM |
| Evening |
| Time |
Buckingham |
Camelot |
King Henry |
Longford (A/V Room) |
| 5:30 PM |
|
|
|
Suspense: “The Dunwich Horror” (1 November
1945; audio)
By H.P. Lovecraft. Suspense was one of radio’s best, and
longest-running, mystery programs. This episode from 1945 is the only known old-time-radio
adaptation of a Lovecraft story to appear. (30 min.) |
|
| 6:00 PM |
From Beyond (1986)
Directed by
Stuart Gordon. A scientist who invents a machine to let him see—and feel—other
dimensions is killed by the monsters he unleashes, and his assistant Crawford Tillinghast
must prove he is innocent of murder by completing the experiment. Stars Jeffrey Combs,
Barbara Crampton, Ken Foree, Ted Sorel. Based on “From Beyond” by H.P. Lovecraft
(which is enacted in its entirety by the end of the opening credits!). (90
min.) |
|
| 6:30 PM |
| 7:00 PM |
| 7:30 PM |
Call of Cthulhu Game: Session
#3
Note: Those who wish to participate in a gaming session must sign
up ahead of time in the game room. [Fred Behrendt (Keeper)] |
|
The Music of Erich Zann (1980)
A student
short film which is an amazingly faithful adaptation of the Lovecraft short story. A real
rarity! (20 min.) |
|
| 8:00 PM |
Guest of Honor
Interview
[Ramsey Campbell, Peter Atkins
(Moderator)] |
|
alt.horror.cthulhu
Since everyone
else is talking about the Internet, what about Lovecraft on the ’net? [Donovan
Loucks, David E. Schultz, John Tynes (Moderator)] |
|
Necronomicon (1993)
Directed by
Brian Yuzna, Shusuke Kaneko, Christophe Gans. An anthology film with adaptations of
Lovecraft’s “Cool Air,” (somewhat loosely) “The Whisperer in
Darkness” and (downright promiscuously) “The Rats in the Walls,” hosted by
none other than Jeffrey Combs as H.P. Lovecraft himself! Also stars Richard Lynch, Bruce
Payne, David Warner, Bess Meyer, Signy Coleman, Obba Babatunde (what a great name!). This
film will have small Japanese subtitles—the film is English throughout. This film will
be shown in the letterboxed theatrical format. (97 min.) |
|
| 8:30 PM |
| 9:00 PM |
Reading
[Darrell
Schweitzer] |
|
Arkham, Dunwich,
and—Foxfield?
New Englanders discuss their favorite mythical Lovecraftian
sites. [Donald R. Burleson, Will Murray (Moderator), Faye
Ringel] |
|
| 9:30 PM |
| 10:00 PM |
Reading: Nazarill (a
novel-in-progress)
[Ramsey Campbell] |
|
|
In the Mouth of Madness
(1994)
Directed by John Carpenter. What if HPL was alive today—and writing
the same sort of stories he always did—except that they weren’t fiction!? When
famed horror author Sutter Cane disappears, the detective sent to track him down discovers
that fiction can be stronger than truth. Stars Jurgen Prochnow, Sam Neill, Charlton Heston.
This film will be shown in the letterboxed theatrical format. (95
min.) |
|
| 10:30 PM |
| 11:00 PM |
|
|
| 11:30 PM |
| Late Night |
| Time |
Longford (A/V Room) |
| 12:00 M |
Horror Hotel (1960)
Directed by
John Llewellyn Moxey. A young woman studying for her thesis on witchcraft ends up in a New
England village where that Olde Time Religion is in full swing; although not based on
Lovecraft, it has an exceedingly Lovecraftian mood and locale. Stars Christopher Lee, Dennis
Lotis, Betta St. John. Also known as The City of the Dead. This film will be shown in
the letterboxed theatrical format. (76 min.) |
|
| 12:30 AM |
| 1:00 AM |
| 1:30 AM |
X Minus One: “A Gun for Dinosaur” (7 March
1956; audio)
By L. Sprague de Camp, adapted by Ernest Kinoy. X Minus One
(and its predecessor Dimension X) were NBC’s strong attempt to appeal to the
science fiction market on radio during the 1950s. (30 min.) |
|
| 2:00 AM |
Lurking Fear (1994)
Directed by
C. Courtney Joyner. The town of Lefferts Corner is under siege by burrowing monsters who
only attack during thunderstorms; when a group of townspeople band together to destroy the
menace, they are interrupted by gangsters. Stars Ashley Lauren (Laurence), Jeffrey Combs,
Jon Finch, Blake Bailey, Jon Mantee. Based on “The Lurking Fear” by H.P.
Lovecraft. (78 min.)
Will be followed by a 15-minute making-of
segment. |
|
| 2:30 AM |
| 3:00 AM |
| 3:30 AM |
| 4:00 AM |
The Thing (1981)
Directed by John
Carpenter. Adaptation of the 1951 SF classic pits a handful of humans against a bleak, empty
Antarctic world and a shapechanging monster from outer space that would do any Shoggoth
proud. Stars Kurt Russell, Wilford Brimley, Richard Masur, Keith David, and the spectacular
(and gross) effects of Rob Bottin. Based on J.W. Campbell’s “Who Goes
There?”, which was written as a tribute to At the Mountains of Madness. This
film will be shown in the letterboxed theatrical format. (127 min.) |
|
| 4:30 AM |
| 5:00 AM |
| 5:30 AM |
| 6:00 AM |
Cthulhu Mansion (1991)
Directed
by J.P. Simon. A group of rather old ‘juvenile delinquents’ take over a
magician’s house and loose something terrible. Nice title. Stars Frank Finlay, Marcia
Layton, Melanie Shatner. Vaguely based on “The Diary of Alonzo Typer” and
“The Terrible Old Man” by H.P. Lovecraft. (95 min.) |
|
| 6:30 AM |
| 7:00 AM |
| 7:30 AM |
Cthulhu for President (1992)
What if
Cthulhu’s mansion was the White House? At a gaming convention in Texas, the “Call
of Cthulhu” role-playing crowd got together and sponsored a “Cthulhu For
President” rally. The crowd was challenged to come up with ‘campaign
speeches’ for Cthulhu, and they did pretty darn well! (30 min.) |
|
Sunday, August 20, 1995
- 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM – Dealers’/Art Rooms (King Edward and King Richard)
| Morning and Afternoon |
| 10:00 AM to 12:00 N – Cthulhu Prayer Breakfast
(Grand Tara Ballroom) |
| Time |
Buckingham |
Camelot |
King Henry |
Longford (A/V Room) |
| 8:00 AM |
|
|
|
Night Gallery
A trio of Weird
Tales’ adaptations. HPL’s “Cool Air”: Directed by Jeannot Szwarc. A
man extends his life with refrigeration techniques. Stars Barbara Rush, Henry Darrow.
HPL’s “Pickman’s Model”: Directed by Jack Laird. A painter who creates
visions of monsters has an interesting method of inspiring his creativity. Stars Bradford
Dillman, Louise Sorel. Clark Ashton Smith’s “The Return of the Sorcerer”:
Directed by Jeannot Szwarc. A man is hired to translate a magical Arabic manuscript. Stars
Bill Bixby, Vincent Price. Plus the short “Professor Peabody’s Last Lecture”:
Directed by Jerrold Freedman. A college professor gives a talk debunking Lovecraftian gods,
despite the protests of students Robert Bloch and August Derleth! Stars Carl Reiner. (2
hr.) |
|
| 8:30 AM |
| 9:00 AM |
| 9:30 AM |
| 10:00 AM |
Call of Cthulhu Game: Session
#4
Note: Those who wish to participate in a gaming session must sign
up ahead of time in the game room. [David S. Hammann (Keeper)] |
|
Lovecraft’s
Letters
What’s the big deal with Lovecraft’s letters? They may be more
interesting than his fiction... [S.T. Joshi (Moderator), Steven J. Mariconda,
David E. Schultz] |
|
The Sect (1991)
Directed by
Michele Soavi. A young woman finds herself mysteriously involved—or even
connected—with a cult that worships Yog-Sothoth, in this creepy Lovecraft-flavored tale.
Stars Kelly Curtis, Herbert Lom. Also known as The Devil’s Daughter. (112
min.) |
|
| 10:30 AM |
| 11:00 AM |
| 11:30 AM |
| 12:00 N |
Signing
[Ramsey Campbell,
Catherine Crook de Camp, L. Sprague de Camp] |
|
Lovecraftian Media (without
Lovecraft)
A look at Lovecraftian media not based on any of his stories.
[Frank Hummel, Friday Jones (Moderator), Robert H. Knox] |
|
Conan the Barbarian
(1982)
Directed by John Milius. Tired of hanging out with those wimpy Lovecraft
fans? Watch Arnold Schwarzenegger cut his bloody swath through history and avenge his
parents’ death in this rousing sword & sorcery tale with excellent production
values! It’ll put hair on your chest! Also stars Sandahl Bergman, James Earl Jones,
Mako. Based on the character created by Robert E. Howard. This film will be shown in the
letterboxed theatrical format. (115 min.) |
|
| 12:30 PM |
| 1:00 PM |
|
In Memoriam: Frank Belknap
Long
[Donald R. Burleson, Peter Cannon, Stefan Dziemianowicz (Moderator), Perry
M. Grayson] |
|
| 1:30 PM |
| 2:00 PM |
|
|
The Music of Erich Zann (1980)
A
student short film which is an amazingly faithful adaptation of the Lovecraft short story. A
real rarity! (20 min.)
Ghostbusters (1984)
Directed by Ivan Reitman. Or,
as we prefer to call it, National Lampoon’s Call of Cthulhu. Three men who set
themselves up in a ghost-catching business find themselves running afoul of an ancient
Sumerian deity who has been summoned to destroy Mankind! Stars Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd,
Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, Rick Moranis, Ernie Hudson. This film will be shown in the
letterboxed theatrical format. (98 min.) |
|
| 2:30 PM |
| 3:00 PM |
| 3:30 PM |
|
