SATURDAY, OCTOBER 19 - PART 2 CONTINUED...

LARA'S BIRTHDAY

Before Lara could take any more questions, Ed Lambese called her attention to the doors of the ballroom where a waiter, followed by Marie, Terry, and Diana, was wheeling in a cake with candles. Ed announced that it was Lara’s birthday and we all sang for her while Marie took pictures. After Ed helped Lara blow out the candles, she began to cut the cake (which featured a picture of her from Night of Dark Shadows) and the fans lined up to get a piece. Lara seemed very pleased with the surprise party and happily chatted away with the fans while passing out slices of cake.

DIANA MILLAY

After the party wound down, Diana Millay took the stage to talk about her work teaching troubled children as well as the upcoming trip to Romania.  She was very excited the trip, which costs the same amount as the trip to Egypt years before.  Though listed as lasting seven days on the fliers, it’s actually been extended to nine days since the price remains the same. There are about 30 spots open on the tour. Diana plans to start at the top of the list and take the first 30 people, so if this tour sounds like something that would interest you, I advise you to register as quickly as you can.

AUCTION

When Diana had finished talking, we were allowed a break of about 45 minutes until the auction began.  Diana played the auctioneer at that event since Ed could not be found and nobody really felt like waiting for him.  Terry played the Carol Merrill/Vanna White role, showing off each item with a flourish and walking them around the tables for everybody to see.  When the time came for Diana to auction the famous glittery blouse she had worn to the Night of Dark Shadows screening in Hollywood last October, Terry put on the blouse and flitted around the room, showing it off. There was a pretty good selection of items (such as a record album, several CD’s and cassettes of the of the DS music, two Marilyn Ross books, several comics based on the 1991 series, a signed copy of Angelique’s Descent, a book of David Selby’s poetry and a book-on-tape of him reading it as well as a couple of suspect ones - copies of the pilot episode script signed by nobody affiliated with DS; even Diana couldn’t read the autographs.  But unfortunately, not many people were bidding, and when they did, the prices never climbed very high.  I can only recall two items that passed the $20 mark, a signed copy of A View of Collinsport and Diana’s blouse.  At times, Diana would ask for an opening bid ("Do I hear $5.00?") and then go down.  (Do I hear $4.95? How about $3.50?") Considering what some of these things can go for at the Festivals, the prices were ridiculously low.  Near the end, Diana began combining items, giving away two comics for the price of one, or a soundtrack with a Marilyn Ross paperback.  I probably should have bid on as many items as I could at those favorable prices, then turned around and put them on e-bay, but it didn’t seem right.