This past weekend the famous Loews theater in Jersey City,NJ held a horror expo from March 19th- March 21st. The event was similar to Comic Con and they offered one day passes or weekend passes for $25-55.

   Upon arriving with my best friend we instantly realized what a good idea it was to go and check this out. As soon as you entered  through the front doors they had vendors set up in the main lobby. The first one we visited was selling vintage comics, books, movies and even vintage Star Wars action figures. The other vendors there were selling everything from movie props, masks, action figures, vintage Fangoria magazines, movie posters, everything our nerdy hearts could desire. One of our favorites was a vendor selling movie props from Indiana Jones, The Fifth Element, Resident Evil and replica ID cards and passes from movies like Jurassic Park, Resident Evil, Terminator 2 and so on. In the theater behind the vendors they were showing a continuous loop of original Twilight Zone episodes on the 35mm projector.

   After mingling in the main lobby for a while, we decided to make our way to the second floor. On the second floor they had a special effects makeup artist and vendors selling horror DVD’s. The part of the second floor I really enjoyed was meeting the entire cast of the original Night of the Living Dead. For a small fee you could buy autographs or memorabilia featuring their face or likeness. 

      The autograph I truly wanted was from Tom Savani. Tom Savani is the man behind the make up and effects on Night of the Living Dead, Dawn of the Dead, Friday the 13th and other classics. He’s also acted in movies such as From Dusk Till Dawn and was the director behind the 1990’s remake of Night of the Living Dead.  I finally found his table and upon it he had multiple pictures for autographing and books on make up effects and other memorabilia. He was extremely nice and we talked about the haunted house he used to have in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, but unfortunately it closed down a few years ago.

   My friend Phil and I then went out to get Slurpees on the corner before the main event was going to start. A 35mm presentation of the original Night of the Living Dead with the cast present in the audience. We made it back sat in our seats and the presentation began with the cast talking a little bit about the movie. Then it was time for the viewing and I have to say it really was a different experience to view it on 35mm.  This was also my friends first time seeing the original and lucky him he got to see it with the original cast .

   The event overall was a great experience on friday and we both enjoyed it a lot. unfortunately we weren’t able to make it the rest of the weekend. They had even grater events such as an autograph session with the zombie god himself George Romero and a 35mm screening of Dawn of the Dead and Creepshow. Also on sunday they had a contest for two people to win zombie makeovers and have a private photo session with George Romero himself.

   Hopefully the expo will be back next year at the theater. The events website is  Saturdaynightmares.com.  

  More information on the theater and its other events can be found at the official website http://loewsjersey.org/alt/.