I just returned from Cherry Hill, New Jersey this weekend after attending my first Monster Mania Horror convention and I’m happy to report the trip was worth it.

Started by Dave Hagen, Monster Mania presents horror conventions is presented  a few times each year not only in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, but also Hunt Valley, Maryland. The Hunt Valley Monster Mania 23 is having a show on September 28th-30th and has some pretty cool guests lined up so far. There is still time to purchase tickets.

Both Monster Mania conventions feature top name film talent in horror & sci fi, artists, rock stars, pro wrestlers, movies, celebrity panel Q&A, multiple vendors selling art, rare collectibles, DVD’s, music CD’s, and more.

This years Monster Mania 22 in Cherry Hill, featured a Hellraiser cast reunion, with Ashley Laurence, Doug Bradley, Clare Higgins, Simon Bamford, Barbie Wilde, & Nicholas Vince. The cast greeted fans, signed autographs and posed for photos. They also took part of an hour long panel where they shared stories of filming Hellraiser and Hellraiser 2, as well as answered questions presented by attending convention fans.The panel was funny & insightful and everyone had a great time.

In the autograph room I met the attending Hellraiser cast members and had a lot of fun talking with them. The beautiful Ashley Laurence was friendly and is always fun to talk to. As well as being a talented actress, Ashley is also an accomplished artist. Check out her exciting artwork for sale on her web site coming soon.

This was my first time meeting Clare Higgins and she was one hilarious and friendly lady who is not only a talented actress, but a very down to earth person. I hope she does a few more conventions in the states as she was really cool to meet and talk with.

Actor, Simon Bamford, who played the Butterball Cenobite, was having a great time meeting fans and very personable with them (as he and the rest of the cast always are). He did some magic for the lucky people visiting him.

Nicholas Vince, who played the Chatterer Cenobite was also having a good time talking to fans and showing them his new book, ‘What Monsters Do’ .

Barbie Wilde, who played the Female Cenobite, told me her first novel, ‘The Venus Complex’, a fictionalized diary of a serial killer, will be published by Comet Press on November 1st, 2012. I can’t wait to check it out.

Barbie’s, Simon’s, &  Nicholas’s tables had a very special treat for attendees of Monster Mania 22. Very rare, original, screen used props and costume elements from Hellraiser !

Barbie’s table had an original, screen used, lament star configuration box from Hellraiser 4 & 5, and Simon and Nicholas table had the only known surviving original screen used masks from each of their characters from Hellraiser 1 , the original film ! The items were brought to the convention by Hellraiser collector, PJ Rubal, who has one of the coolest original Hellraiser collections around.

Here is the screen used Butterball mask worn by Simon

Simon Posing with the Hellraiser Butterball mask

One of the many fans who wanted a pic with Simon and his screen used mask

Original screen worn Chatterer mask used in Hellraiser

Nicholas and PJ Rubal with PJ’s screen used Hellraiser Chatterer mask

Both Hellraiser screen used masks and Hellraiser Star Lament Configuration puzzle-box

Finally, Pinhead himself, actor, Doug Bradley, spoke with fans, signed autographs, and took time posing for pics for the many people visiting him.

All of the Hellraiser cast had long lines of excited fans waiting to meet them and every one of them took their time with each person whocame. I have met the cast at a few other conventions before and I have to say at each one they were always a lot of fun and very easy going and friendly.

I also had the pleasure of meeting author and actor, John A Russo. Mr. Russo was one of the co writers of the original (and best) of the zombie films, “Night of the Living Dead”. He had many fans meeting him and spoke with each and every one of them. He has written some very in depth books about the NOTLD film as well as others, so check out his books on Amazon.

Another very popular guest (their were many), was the lovely & talented actress, Nancy Allen from such films as Carrie, Blowout, Dressed to Kill,  the Robocop series, & I Wanna Hold Your Hand. I am sure readers have more than one favorite role that Nancy has played from her vast career. I have also met Nancy before and she is always so kind and friendly to everyone who meets her. She too had a long line of happy fans getting her autograph, photo, and asking her questions. I asked Nancy about the charity she runs, weSpark, which was started by her friend, the late actress, Wendi Jo Sperber. Nancy told me that the charity was opened in 2001 by Wendi and that the origination offers free cancer support services for patients, their families, and friends. Nancy is the Executive Director of weSpark and those interested in either donating or volunteering can do so HERE.

Finally, Monster Mania had a very special guest at MM22. Actor, Carl Weathers ! Mr. Weathers of course is best known for his role as Apollo Creed in the Rocky films. His line and panel at MM was mobbed.

I had the pleasure of attending his standing room panel and really enjoyed hearing his stories about his vast film career. Mr. Weathers was funny, friendly, and he shared some funny stories about his experiences in the entertainment field. The audience had a great time.

Of course no convention would be complete without a vendors room, and Monster Mania did not disappoint. There was something for everyone.

I really enjoyed artist Terry Cruikshank’s creations. He sculpts mini figures/dolls of some of the most famous monsters, characters, and actors that are familiar with anyone who loves movies and he is well known and respected in his field. One talented guy.