The Cthulhu Mythos Convention August 15-17, 1997 Providence, Rhode Island at the
Marriott
Guests of Honor
Guest of Honor: |
Brian Lumley |
Special Guest: |
Dirk W. Mosig |
Convention Committee Members
David Hammann, Franklin Hummel, Friday Jones, Marc A. Michaud, Charles D. Morgan, and Joan C.
Stanley.
Program Participants
James Anderson, Scott David Aniolowski, Toren Atkinson, Fred Behrendt, Fred Blosser, Rusty
Burke, Don D’Ammassa, Les Daniels, DeVille, Paul DiFilippo, Ken Faig, W. Paul Ganley, David S.
Hammann, Daniel Harms, C.J. Henderson, Friday Jones, S.T. Joshi, Robert H. Knox, Allen Koszowski,
Geoff Leatham, Donovan K. Loucks, Brian McNaughton, Marc A. Michaud, Robert Murch, Will Murray,
Adam Niswander, Roberta Piedmont, Robert M. Price, Dr. Faye Ringel, Philip Robinson, Kevin Ross,
David E. Schultz, Darrell Schweitzer, John Stanley, Gary Sumpter, Jason Thompson, John Tynes, Aaron
Vanek, and Robert Waugh.
Programming Schedule
Friday, August 15, 1997
- 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM – Special Exhibit at the John Hay Library
- Brown University’s John Hay Library, 20 Prospect St., will have a special exhibit of
Mythos-related items on display. [Stanley (Librarian)]
- 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM – Dealers’/Artists’ Room (Reprisal, Britannia, and
Defiance)
Afternoon |
- 12:00 N to 3:00 PM – Long Walking Tour #1 (Meet in
Lobby)
- HPL’s biographer S.T. Joshi leads a walking tour of Lovecraftian sites on
College Hill, with a stop at the Hay Library. [Joshi (Guide)]
- 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM – Long Walking Tour #2 (Meet in
Lobby)
- alt.horror.cthulhu’s FAQ-Keeper Donovan Loucks leads a tour of College
Hill’s Lovecraftian sites with a stop at the Hay Library. [Loucks (Guide)]
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Time |
Bounty |
Constitution |
Enterprise (A/V Room) |
Lincoln |
Republic |
Resolution |
Washington |
12:00 N |
Gaming: Call of Cthulhu Tournament Game
(#1-1) Opening Round/Session #1: “Still Life.” Can the investigators
destroy an ancient evil menacing a quiet town in New York? (Cthulhu Now) [Sumpter
(Keeper)] |
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12:30 PM |
1:00 PM |
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. |
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Lovecraft and Religious
Belief Lovecraft was an atheist. Yet some with deeply-held religious beliefs
admire the man and his writings. Why and how? [Faig, Hammann (Moderator), Mosig,
Price] |
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Gaming: Call of Cthulhu Tournament Game
(#1-2) Opening Round/Session #2: “Still Life.” Can the investigators
destroy an ancient evil menacing a quiet town in New York? (Cthulhu Now) [Behrendt
(Keeper)] |
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1:30 PM |
2:00 PM |
Gaming: Call of Cthulhu Tournament Game
(#1-3) Opening Round/Session #3: “Still Life.” Can the investigators
destroy an ancient evil menacing a quiet town in New York? (Cthulhu Now) [Ross
(Keeper)] |
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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. (108 min.) |
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Gaming: Call of Cthulhu Tournament Game
(#1-4) Opening Round/Session #4: “Still Life.” Can the investigators
destroy an ancient evil menacing a quiet town in New York? (Cthulhu Now) [Aniolowski
(Keeper)] |
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Signing #1 by Brian Lumley Guest
of Honor Brian Lumley signs autographs. [Lumley] |
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2:30 PM |
3:00 PM |
DiFilippo as a Mythos
Writer Prof. Faye Ringel discusses with author Paul DiFilippo his use of the
Mythos in his writings. [DiFilippo, Ringel (Moderator)] |
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3:30 PM |
4:00 PM |
Reading by Darrell
Schweitzer Author and editor Darrell Schweitzer reads some of his works.
[Schweitzer] |
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Lovecraft, Buddhism, and Quantum
Reality A solo discussion by Special Guest Dirk Mosig.
[Mosig] |
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Me, The Cthulhu Mythos, and Like
That... Guest of Honor Brian Lumley gives a solo presentation on the
Mythos, related subjects, and himself. [Lumley] |
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4:30 PM |
5:00 PM |
Reading by Robert M.
Price Crypt of Cthulhu and Chaosium Mythos Cycle series editor
Robert M. Price reads his works. [Price] |
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The Unnamable (1988) Directed by
Jean-Paul Ouellette. A group of Miskatonic University students looking for a place to make
out enter a deserted house stalked by a demon. Stars Mark Kinsey Stephenson, Alexandrea
Durrell. Hardly at all based on “The Unnamable” by H.P. Lovecraft. (87
min.) |
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Howard and Lovecraft A look at
the relationship and the correspondences between authors Robert Howard and H.P. Lovecraft.
[Blosser, Joshi, Schultz (Moderator)] |
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5:30 PM |
6:00 PM |
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Evening |
- 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM – Reception for NecronomiCon Attendees
(Courtyard)
- Meet our Guests and participants. There will be coffee and a cash bar. No
autographs please. (Held indoors if poor weather.) [Lumley, Mosig, and all
participants]
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Time |
Constitution |
Enterprise (A/V Room) |
Grand Ballroom |
Republic |
Resolution |
6:30 PM |
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“The Dunwich Horror”
(audio) Great radio adaptation from the classic series Suspense of the
Lovecraft short story. (30 min.) |
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7:00 PM |
“The Dream-Quest of Unknown
Kadath” (audio) A concept album entirely dedicated to the Lovecraft novel. It
employs diverse musical styles to reflect the ever-changing moods and landscapes as Lovecraft
has described in his story. From Rainer Schmidt and Payne’s Gray of Germany. (70
min.) |
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7:30 PM |
8:00 PM |
8:30 PM |
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 and Lon Chaney, Jr. Based on The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. (87
min.) |
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9:00 PM |
9:30 PM |
10:00 PM |
Gaming: “Black Waters” CoC
Game This Call of Cthulhu game is set on the 1920’s Easter Island. (4 hours)
[Thompson (Keeper)] |
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Quatermass and the
Mythos Lovecraftian themes in Nigel Kneale’s Quatermass films are
discussed. The movie Five Million Years to Earth, also known as Quatermass and the
Pit, will be shown. [Behrendt (Moderator), Ross] |
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Reading by Brian Lumley Brian
Lumley reads his short story “The Mirror of Nitocris.”
[Lumley] |
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Whither alt.horror.cthulhu? Is it
time a rec.arts.books.lovecraft newsgroup was created on Usenet? [Harms, Loucks
(Moderator), Tynes] |
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Gaming: “Hounded” CoC
Game A Call of Cthulhu adventure which takes place at Miskatonic University in the
1920s. (4 hours) [DeVille (Keeper)] |
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10:30 PM |
11:00 PM |
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11:30 PM |
Saturday, August 16, 1997
- 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM – Dealers’/Artists’ Room (Reprisal, Britannia, and
Defiance)
- 12:00 N to 4:00 PM – Special Exhibit at the John Hay Library
- Brown University’s John Hay Library, 20 Prospect St., will have a special exhibit of
Mythos-related items on display. [Stanley (Librarian)]
Morning |
- 10:00 AM To 11:00 AM – Bus Trip to H.P. Lovecraft’s Gravesite #1
(Meet at Main Entry)
- First bus trip to Swan Point Cemetery, where Lovecraft is buried.
Please go to the Registration Desk for further information and tickets.
- 11:00 AM To 12:00 N – Bus Trip to H.P. Lovecraft’s Gravesite #2 (Meet
at Main Entry)
- Second bus trip to Swan Point Cemetery, where Lovecraft is buried.
Please go to the Registration Desk for information and tickets.
- 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM – Short Walking Tour #1 (Meet in
Lobby)
- Prolific author Will Murray leads a walking tour of Lovecraftian sites on
College Hill with a stop at the Hay Library. [Murray (Guide)]
- 12:00 N To 1:00 PM – Bus Trip to H.P. Lovecraft’s Gravesite #3 (Meet
at Main Entry)
- Third bus trip to Swan Point Cemetery, where Lovecraft is buried.
Please go to the Registration Desk for information and tickets.
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Time |
Bounty |
Constitution |
Enterprise (A/V Room) |
Lincoln |
Republic |
Resolution |
Washington |
10:00 AM |
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Gaming: “Uncle Smitty’s
Cabin” CoC Game This game takes place in the Miskatonic Valley in the 1920s.
(4 hours) [Piedmont (Keeper)] |
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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.” This film will be shown in the letterboxed theatrical format. (80
min.) |
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The Father of Modern Lovecraft
Studies Special Guest Yozan Dirk Mosig helped begin a new era of Lovecraftian
scholarship. His influence and contributions are examined. [Joshi, Price, Schultz
(Moderator), with Mosig in audience) |
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How Not to Write Mythos
Fiction Most Mythos fiction is really lousy. What are its writers doing wrong?
[Aniolowski (Moderator), D’Ammassa, Schweitzer] |
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Gaming: The Mythos Card
Game A demonstration of how to play Chaosium’s Mythos card game. This
will be followed by actual game playing. [Robinson (Moderator)] |
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10:30 AM |
11:00 AM |
Reading by Brian McNaughton
Author Brian McNaughton reads two of his short stories: “Meryphillia” and
“Mud.” [McNaughton] |
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Other Providence Writers Three
Rhode Island residents and writers whose names begin with “D” discuss their works
and following in Lovecraft’s footsteps. [D’Ammassa, Daniels, DiFilippo, Ringel
(Moderator)] |
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The Lumley Mythos Brian Lumley
has shaped and developed HPL’s Mythos, often radically. What exactly is the
“Lumley Mythos”? [Anderson, Aniolowski, Ross (Moderator), with Lumley in
audience] |
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11:30 AM |
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12:00 N |
Sculpting the Mythos A talk by
“Call of Cthulhu” miniatures sculptor Robert Murch on his artwork and his vision of
the Mythos. [Murch] |
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The Making of The Outsider on
Film Filmmaker Aaron Vanek discusses the making of and shows his short film The
Outsider based on Lovecraft’s famous story; we also will be showing The Music of
Erich Zann. [Vanek] |
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An Interview with Dirk Mosig A
personal interview with one of the world’s leading Lovecraft scholars, Dirk Mosig.
[Faig (Moderator), Mosig] |
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Before the Mythos: Arthur
Machen A look at the famous British writer Arthur Machen and his influence on H.P.
Lovecraft’s writings. [Joshi, Ross, Schweitzer
(Moderator)] |
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How to Write Mythos Fiction What
makes a Mythos story a good Mythos story? What makes it work? Are Lovecraftian stories
better than Mythos stories? [Lumley, McNaughton, Niswander, Price
(Moderator)] |
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12:30 PM |
Afternoon |
- 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM – Bus Trip to H.P. Lovecraft’s Gravesite #4 (Meet
at Main Entry)
- Final bus trip to Swan Point Cemetery, where Lovecraft is buried.
Please go to the Registration Desk for further information and tickets.
- 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM – Short Walking Tour #2 (Meet in
Lobby)
- Necronomicon Press publisher Marc Michaud leads a tour of College Hill’s
Lovecraftian sites, including the John Hay Library. [Michaud (Guide)]
- 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM – Short Walking Tour #3 (Meet in Lobby)
- Author
and editor Darrell Schweitzer leads the final tour of College Hill’s Lovecraftian sites,
with a stop at the Hay Library. [Schweitzer (Guide)]
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Time |
Bounty |
Constitution |
Enterprise (A/V Room) |
Lincoln |
Republic |
Washington |
1:00 PM |
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Gaming: “Uncle Smitty’s Cabin”
CoC Game (cont.) |
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Dark Intruder (1965) 1960s TV
program featuring heavy Lovecrafitan overtone. (60 min.) |
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1:30 PM |
2:00 PM |
Gaming: “Close to Home” CoC
Game This game is set in New York in the ’20s, where Lovecraft and his
friends investigate a mystery. [Thompson (Keeper)] |
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The Maze (1953) Directed by
William Cameron Menzies. Mysterious goings-on at a Scottish castle. An amazingly
Lovecraftian film up to...well...you’ll know when. Stars
Richard Carlson, Veronica Hurst, Hillary Brooke. (81 min.) |
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2:30 PM |
Reading by Adam
Niswander Arizonan author Adam Niswander reads from his soon to be published
Mythos-themed novel, The Sand Dwellers. [Niswander] |
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On ‘The Outsider’: Reading and
Discussion Dirk Mosig reads Lovecraft’s short story “The Outsider.”
This will be followed by a panel discussion of the story. [Waugh (Moderator), Mosig,
Schultz, Price] |
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Gaming: Writing for “Call of
Cthulhu” Published “Call of Cthulhu” authors discuss the dos and
don’ts of scenario writing for the role-playing game. [Aniolowski, Behrendt, Ross,
Sumpter (Moderator), Tynes] |
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Signing #2 by Brian Lumley Guest
of Honor Brian Lumley signs autographs. [Lumley] |
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3:00 PM |
3:30 PM |
BBC H.P. Lovecraft Special A documentary
on the author, created as part of a series for British television, and never shown in the
States previously. (30 min.) |
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4:00 PM |
The Necronomicon Hoaxes A
presentation of the many hoaxes involving that infamous, non-existing book, the
Necronomicon, and how you can take part in one yourself.
[Harms] |
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Transylvania Twist
(1990) Directed by Jim Wynorski. A librarian from Transylvania must collect the
fines on a 200 year overdue book, The Book of all Evil (hint: it’s filed under
Alhazred, Abdul). Yes, it’s a screwball Lovecraft/vampire comedy. Stars Monique
Gabrielle, Angus Scrimm, Brinke Stevens, Robert Vaughn, Forrest J.
Ackerman. |
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An Introduction to the Howard
Mythos A discussion of Conan’s creator Robert Howard’s own Mythos and
its crossover aspects with the Cthulhu Mythos. [Blosser, Burke, Henderson
(Moderator)] |
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Gaming: Tips for Keepers and
Players An open discussion for all “Call of Cthulhu” players on ideas of
how to improve playing and experiencing the game. [Hammann (Moderator) and
others] |
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An Interview with Brian Lumley A
personal interview with NecronomiCon’s Guest of Honor, Brian Lumley. [Anderson
(Moderator), Lumley] |
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4:30 PM |
5:00 PM |
Reading by C.J. Henderson Horror
and mystery writer C.J. Henderson reads some of his own work.
[Henderson] |
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Macabre Art: Why We Do It Who are
these odd folks and why do they draw such weird things? [Atkinson, Knox (Moderator),
Koszowski, Murch] |
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The Mythos and the Small
Press Much Mythos survives and appears thanks to the efforts of small press
publishers. A look at the past, present, and future of some of them. [Aniolowski, Ganley,
Michaud (Moderator), Tynes] |
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The Psychology of Lovecraft From
Jung to Ying-Yang, a look at the man and the mind of Howard Phillips Lovecraft. [Anderson
(Moderator), Joshi, Mosig, Price] |
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5:30 PM |
Evening |
Time |
Constitution |
Enterprise (A/V Room) |
Lincoln |
Resolution |
Washington |
6:00 PM |
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Equinox (1971) Directed by Dennis
Muren, Jack Woods II. Students discover a mysterious old man guarding a magic book (three
guesses as to the title) and a stop-motion monster. An amateur production made over a period
of some years. Stars Edward Connell, Barbara Hewitt, Frank Bonner and author Fritz Leiber,
Jr. (80 min.) |
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Gaming: Call of Cthulhu Tournament Game
(#2-1) Final Round: “Out of the Ages.” The death of a former US Senator
brings the investigators face-to-face with horror. (Cthulhu Now) [Sumpter
(Keeper)] |
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6:30 PM |
7:00 PM |
7:30 PM |
8:00 PM |
Gaming: “Return of the Nibelungen”
CoC Game This adventure takes place in Berlin, Germany, in the 1920s. [Hammann
(Keeper)] |
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The Hunger: “Necros” (TV
movie) Directed by Russell Mulcahy. A vacationing doctor pursues an exotic lover
of an aged man the town locals suspect is a vampire. Adaptation of a Brian Lumley short
story. The Twilight Zone: “Gramma” (TV series) A little boy is
left alone with the corpse of his grandma. Adaptation of a Mythos short story by Stephen
King. Monsters: “The Space Eaters” (TV series) A man claims
that aliens have eaten his brain. Adaptation of a Mythos short story. |
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Why Mythos Films Stink Why are so
many Mythos films so damn BAD? [Blosser (Moderator), Jones,
Ross] |
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Alhazred VII and a Reading by Brian
Lumley The comedy sketch “Alhazred VII” is presented by Robert Knox and
Robert Price. Mr. Lumley will then read “The House of Cthulhu.” [Knox,
Lumley, Price] |
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8:30 PM |
9:00 PM |
How I Would Make a GOOD Mythos
Film I know how to do it right if only those film producers would listen to me!
[Atkinson, Daniels (Moderator), Loucks, Vanek] |
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9:30 PM |
10:00 PM |
The Beyond (1981) Directed by
Lucio Fulci. An old hotel is built on top of the door to the beyond. A young woman who is
heir of the hotel wants to restore it, and bloody mayhem results. A very gory
Lovecraft-influenced film. Also known as Seven Doors of Death. Stars David Warbeck,
Sarah Keller, Antoine Saint-John, Veronica Lazar. Shown in the letterboxed format; in
English with Japanese subtitles. (82 min.) |
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Gaming: “Powerful Spirits” CoC
Game This Call of Cthulhu game is set in 1920s Hawaii. (4 hours) [Leatham
(Keeper)] |
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The Dreamlands: From Dunsany to
Lumley The development and nature of The Dreamlands, from Lord Dunsany to Brian
Lumley, as discussed by those who have been there. [Price, Ross (Moderator), Schweitzer,
Thompson] |
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10:30 PM |
11:00 PM |
Sex, Drugs, and HPL Taking the
Mythos to the #$*@#%* extreme! [Atkinson, Knox, McNaughton, Tynes
(Moderator)] |
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11:30 PM |
The Whisperer in Darkness An independent
adaptation of the Lovecraft short story. (35 min.) |
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12:00 M |
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The Independently-Adapted Lovecraft Film That
Dare Not Speak Its Name We won’t tell you what it is or who made it, but
you won’t see it anywhere except at NecronomiCon! (12 min.) |
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Sunday, August 17, 1997
- 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM – Dealers’/Artists’ Room (Reprisal, Britannia, and
Defiance)
Morning and Afternoon |
- 9:30 AM to 12:00 N – The Cthulhu Prayer Breakfast (Grand
Ballroom)
- Guests Brian Lumley and Dirk Mosig speak, followed by a “sermon”
by the Rev. Bob Price. Tickets are NOT available at the convention. [Joshi, Lumley, Mosig,
Price]
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Time |
Bounty |
Enterprise (A/V Room) |
Lincoln |
Republic |
Resolution |
9:00 AM |
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The Real Ghostbusters: “Collect Call of
Cthulhu” and “Russian About” An animated version of the Cthulhu
Mythos? Why not? (60 min.) |
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9:30 AM |
10:00 AM |
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. This film will be shown in the letterboxed
format. (86 min.) |
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Gaming: To Be Announced CoC
Game A Call of Cthulhu game the details of which are to be announced. [Hammann
(Keeper)] |
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10:30 AM |
11:00 AM |
Reading by Paul DiFilippo Author
Paul DiFilippo reads some of his writings. [DiFilippo] |
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11:30 AM |
12:00 N |
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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.) |
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Tune In, Turn On, Lovecraft A
look back at what Lovecraft fans and studies were like in the 1960s. [Blosser, Faig,
Murray (Moderator), Ringel] |
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Lovecraft the Plagiarist? How
much of other writers’ works did Lovecraft “steal”? Did he improve these
ideas? [Joshi, Schultz, Schweitzer (Moderator)] |
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12:30 PM |
1:00 PM |
McNaughton as a Mythos Writer Dr.
Robert Price discusses with author Brian McNaughton his use of the Mythos in his writings.
[McNaughton, Price (Moderator)] |
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Signing #3 by Brian Lumley Guest
of Honor Brian Lumley signs autographs for the last time at NecronomiCon.
[Lumley] |
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1:30 PM |
2:00 PM |
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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.” (78
min.) Will be followed by a 15-minute making-of segment. |
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2:30 PM |
3:00 PM |
3:30 PM |
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