LOS ANGELES, Calif., Sept. 27, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- NostalgiaCon’s ‘80’s Pop Culture Convention (http://www.nostalgiacon80s.com/) is poised to become one of the most memorable events ever for thousands of attendees from Southern California and across the country ‘when the decade’s most beloved and enduring stars take center stage for a 2-day extravaganza happening this Saturday and Sunday at the Anaheim Convention Center.
On the eve of the show, NostalgiaCon has added musical performances with Tony Lewis of The Outfield; Dokken; Annabella of BowWowWow; When In Rome UK; and The Flux Capacitors. Stars that will appear at the event now also include Jamison Newlander (“The Lost Boys”) and a special panel with Don Dokken, who will treat fans to free photos and autographs. Tony Lewis of The Outfield and Annabella of BowWowWow will also participate in panels. In partnership with The Frida, NostalgiaCon will also special panels and screenings of two films, “The Last Dragon” and “Chopping Mall”.
For all those who experienced the ‘80’s first-hand – as well as those now enjoying the decade’s resurgence in today’s most popular films and television series – NostalgiaCon’s ‘80’s Pop Culture Convention is an absolute must-attend – as the stars that made the ‘80’s so memorable, together with the decade’s top music acts, and first-time-ever sessions are presented all weekend long.
For all the convention info visit, http://nostalgiacon80s.com/experiences/schedule/; to keep updated on the celebrities click http://nostalgiacon80s.com/featured-talent; and for the latest list of music performers visit: http://nostalgiacon80s.com/concerts/.
Talent that will speak, sign photos and autographs include: Cary Elwes (“The Princess Bride” – “Stranger Things”); Christopher Lloyd (“Back To The Future” / “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?”); Sean Astin (“The Goonies,” “Stranger Things,” “Lord Of The Rings”); Val Kilmer (“Top Gun” – “Real Genius”); Mark Goodman, MTV VJ; Nina Blackwood MTV VJ; Alan Hunter, MTV VJ; Steve Guttenberg (“Police Academy”); John Schneider (“The Dukes Of Hazzard”); Catherine Bach (“The Dukes Of Hazzard”); Loni Anderson (“WKRP In Cincinnati”); Howard Hesseman (“WKRP In Cincinnati”); Charlene Tilton(“Dallas”); Patrick Duffy (“Dallas”); Linda Gray (“Dallas”);Matt Frewer (Max Headroom); Taimak (“The Last Dragon”); Cindy Williams (“Laverne & Shirley”) Eddie Mekka (“Laverne & Shirley”); Michael Chambers (Turbo From ``Breakin' `` And ``Breakin' 2: Electric Boogaloo``); Cindy Pickett (“Ferris Bueller's Day Off”); Lyman Ward (“Ferris Bueller's Day Off”); Dawn Wells (“Gilligan's Island”); The Original GLOW (Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling): MTV; Roxy Astor; Sunny Cal; Gremlina; and JB; and many more!
The NostalgiaCon complete weekend schedule features the following:
Saturday, September 28
New Wave Concert Night
Saturday night is a major music treat for New Wave fans with a line-up that features ABC, The Motels, When In Rome UK, Tony Lewis of The Outfield, and Annabella of BowWowWow.
Of Time Travel and Taxis: A Sit-down with Christopher Lloyd
In celebration of the 30th anniversary of “Back to the Future II”, NostalgiaCon is proud to present an in-depth sit-down with all-time ‘80s fan favorite Christopher Lloyd. Join us as we discuss BTTF as well as several of his most iconic role, including Judge Doom in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit?” and Reverend Jim Ignatowski on TV’s “Taxi.”
The Goonies Reunion with Sean Astin and Corey Feldman
Ah, man, reunion panels don’t get any better than Sean Astin and Corey Feldman on stage dishing out about arguably every ‘80s pop culture fan’s favorite kids pirate movie adventure.This is the first time they’ve reunited in California for a California convention!
Musings and Crazy Remembrances from the Original MTV VJs
In the annals of ‘80s pop culture, few individuals can say they impacted an ENTIRE music generation as much as the original MTV VJs – and NostalgiaCon is proud to bring you three of them – Mark Goodman, Nina Blackwood, and Alan Hunter. This is the first time they have EVER appeared at a convention together and oh, have they got stories to tell!
For the Love of Boomboxes: A Retrospective Look at Their Impact in Hip Hop Culture and How to Collect Them
Boomboxes not only helped birth today’s Hip Hop culture, they were also the urban fireplaces for millions of kids who played, danced and made friends with them outdoor from L.A. to New York and many parts in between. In this session, you’ll hear about the impact of these metallic machines, how they evolved and why their footprints are all over today’s Hip Hop culture. “Breakin’” and “Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo” star Michael ‘Boogaloo Shrimp’ Chambers, who gained worldwide fame for creating the liquid animation style of dance, is moderating.
Yo, Yo, Yo: The B-Boys Are in the House!
Breakdancing became such an instant and sustained hit in the ‘80s that it spawned numerous movies, TV shows and fashion trends – some of which continue today. In this session, two of the world’s top hip hop dance innovators, including Michael “Boogaloo Shrimp” Chambers of “Breakin” team up to share the stories behind their enigmatic dances.
They Came and They Conquered: A Fun Retrospective on the Second British Invasion
We might be bias but the Second British Invasion was definitely larger and more over the top with music that spanned EVERY genre and fashion trends that weren’t left behind. New Wave music legend Martin Frye of ABC, Martha Davis of The Motels, and Monie Love join us for a fun and no holds barred look at the last great British Invasion.
‘WKRP in Cincinnati’ Reunion with Loni Anderson and Howard Hessman
If may not have been MTV, but when it came to minting music stars for pop culture, the scrappy sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati” was notorious for finding some great ones. That’s because everyone who was watching the wacky sitcom about life in a radio station were just as closely listening to the songs the show was spinning and that formula helped bands like Blondie, Devo and The Cars become as big as they are today in pop history. Join us for a retro reunion with stars Loni Anderson (“Jennifer Marlowe”) and Howard Hessman (aka “Johnny Fever”) as they unpack stories about one of the “smartest” and most influential comedies of all time.
A Conversation with ‘Gilligan’s Island’ Dawn Wells
No ‘80s kids could survive the decade’s limited TV offerings without watching reruns of the “Gilligan’s Island” sitcom. In this session, we’ll take a “fateful trip” as we sit down with Dawn Wells, who played the show’s pony-tailed country bumpkin Mary Anne.
‘80s Cosplay Fashion Show and Competition
The ‘80s will be visually celebrated in an epic way with an event-wide cosplay fashion show and competition that is sure to light up social media. This instrumental part of NostalgiaCon is being produced in partnership with the veteran cosplay organization Nerd Mafia. Some of the real celebrities inspiring NostalgiaCon’s cosplay will actually be in attendance at show.
How the West Coast not only represented but flipped the 80s Rap Game!
Representing West Coast 80s rap, we have pioneering hip hop legends Arabian Prince (Founding Member of N.W.A.), Rodney O (“This Is For The Homies”), Sir Jinx (Rapper and Producer, including Ice Cube’s AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted album), E-Love (LL Cool J’s right hand man) and the Godfather Of Spanglish Hip Hop himself, Mellow Man Ace (“Mentirosa”). Our resident Pop-Culture expert and actor, Lizza Monet Morales will be moderating a deep dive conversation about how each of these trailblazers changed the game and as a result, paved the way for many musical acts and genres today.
What The Goonies, Doc, and Ferris Bueller Teach Us About Life – and Business!
When it comes to ‘80s movies, Chris Clews has seen it all – and distilled lots of practical wisdom and fun business insights. Join the author of the “What 80s Pop Culture Teaches Us About Today’s Workplace” book series as he takes an irreverent look at the life and work wisdom that can be learned from “The Goonies, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, “Back to the Future” and more iconic 80s movies. Chris’ talk will inspire you with insights about inclusion, leadership, vision, embracing life and more from the movies and icons that defined the ‘80s.
The ABCs of the ‘80s And Some Cool Ways to Get Your Kids to Embrace Your Passion for the ‘80s
Ok, parents, let’s all come clean here. You are stuck in love with the ‘80s and you NEED your kids to love, bond and fully embrace that side of your favorite pop culture decade. If you thought you were alone, you just haven’t met “ABCs of the ‘80s” author Erin Campbell Dunkerley and illustrator Desi Moore. Come close for this quirky talk about how to parent to raise up truly ‘80s kids and other stories.
‘80s Car Show
The show will feature an ‘80s Car Show with some of the most iconic vehicles of films and real life, including the Delorean from “Back to the Future” and an Ecto-1 from “Ghostbusters.” The car show runs both days of the event.
National Boombox Museum
NostalgiaCon will see the debut of the National Boombox Museum, one of this year’s shows most iconic exhibitions and one that will feature many of the decade’s coolest music machines. The museum will operate both days of the event.
What The Goonies, Doc, and Ferris Bueller Teach Us About Life – and Business!
When it comes to ‘80s movies, Chris Clews has seen it all – and distilled lots of practical wisdom and fun business insights. Join the author of the “What 80s Pop Culture Teaches Us About Today’s Workplace” book series as he takes an irreverent look at the life and work wisdom that can be learned from “The Goonies, “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, “Back to the Future” and more iconic 80s movies. Chris’ talk will inspire you with insights about inclusion, leadership, vision, embracing life and more from the movies and icons that defined the ‘80s.
Sunday, September 29
‘80s Mixed Tape Day Concerts
It’s hard to do justice to the full range of unbelievable music genres that the ‘80s produced but we’re gonna try anyway with an ‘80s Mixed Tape Night that already features The Sugar Hill Gang, Monie Love, TKA, Doug E Fresh. The day closes with a special hard rock concert with Dokken.
CHIPS Reunion with Erik Estrada and Larry Wilcox
‘As You Wish’: A Sit Down with Cary Elwes
Q&A and Fan Photograph and Autograph Special with Don Dokken
Rock fans, you’re in for a special treat as legendary rocker Don Dokken is sitting down SoCal’s own DJ legend Poorman for an intimate look at ‘80s Glam Rock history. Even more rad? Dokken is gonna offer fans as many photos and autographs as can be crammed into his session.
‘You’ll Shoot Your Eye Out, Kid’ and Other Musings from the Cast of ‘A Christmas Story’
As the holidays fast approach, we take an in-depth look at ‘A Christmas Story’ with the beloved movie’s cast mates Scott Schwartz and Zack Ward.
Get Your Trivia Powers Ready! Home Game Entertainment is Hosting Throwback Live Edition of ‘Remote Control’
“Remote Control” was a popular TV show that aired on MTV in the late ‘80s. At the convention Home Game Entertainment will focus the entire game around ‘80s trivia with prizes for first, second and third place that will be held on Sunday, September 29.
Who You Gonna Call? Ghostbusters Costume and Prop-Making
Are you troubled by strange noises in the night? Do you experience feelings of dread in your basement or attic? Have you or your family ever seen a spook, spectra or ghost? If so, then it’s time to call the professionals…the Southland Ghostbusters!
If you’ve ever wanted to build a Proton pack or a life-size Ectomobile, this in-depth workshop has got you covered with the tools and talent that will help you become a part of a ghostbusting crew accurately, cheaply and easy – and just in time for next summer’s reboot of “Ghostbusters”!
How the West Coast Represented – and flipped the 80s Rap Game!
Representing West Coast 80s rap, we have pioneering hip hop legends Rodney O (“This Is For The Homies”), Sir Jinx (Rapper and Producer, including Ice Cube’s AmeriKKKa’s Most Wanted album), E-Love (LL Cool J’s right hand man) and the Godfather Of Spanglish Hip Hop himself, Mellow Man Ace (“Mentirosa”). Pop-Culture expert and actor, Lizza Monet Morales will be moderating a deep dive conversation about how each of these trailblazers changed the game and as a result, paved the way for many musical acts and genres of today.
EEK, It’s the Sleestaks – and a totally Awesome ‘Land of the Lost’ Cast Reunion
Philip Paley (Chaka), Wesley Eure (Will), and Kathy Coleman (Holly) join us for a behind-the-scenes look at one of the campiest TV shows that most ‘80s kids loved from rerun heaven and that they could never get enough of.\
I Said a Hip Hop…The Incredible Story Behind the World’s First Hip Hop Smash Hit
The Sugar Hill Gang may not have given birth to Hip Hop but they sure introduced something wonderfully strange to the world in 1980, when they catapulted Hip Hop worldwide with their smash hit single “Rapper’s Delight”. This is the story behind THE song story that helped make Hip Hop what it is today.
Intrigue, Hate, Greed: Yep, it’s a Dallas Reunion!
If the ‘80s is the Decade of Decadence, Greed and Puffy Hair, no top-rated show exemplified the over the top style attitude and selfishness better than “Dallas”. Patrick Duffy (Bobby Ewing), Linda Gray (Sue Ellen Ewing), and Charlene Tilton (Lucy Ewing) unite to dish on one of the “dishable” shows of them all and, yes, they’ll make JR proud.
Origins of the Black Action Hero: A Conversation with Taimak, Star of ‘The Last Dragon’
Even though “The Karate Kid” was a larger commercial success, the ‘80s also gave us another martial arts champion icon with Taimak as Bruce Leroy in the cult classic “The Last Dragon”. This is the movie that brought us the first Black Action Hero in movie history and Taimak joins for a special retrospective on the kooky urban film some credit for blazing the trail to “Black Panther” today.
Smack, Whack, Bam: It’s The Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling!
Hulk Hogan, Randy “The Macho Man” Savage and Andre “The Giant” may be biggest household names of ‘80s wrestling but for legions of cult fans, the top stars were over in the female side of ring: The Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling (G.L.O.W.). Today, GLOW is also the name of a wildly popular, fictionalized Netflix series but in this panel you’ll hear the stories from some of the original legends, including Roxy Astor, Gremlina, and MTV, among others.
Great Scott! You Can Build a ‘Back to the Future II’ Hoverboard - This is How You Do It
The original hoverboard from “Back to the Future II” may be safely tucked away in the Chicago Sports Museum but fortunately for fans, there is a way for you to make your own hoverboard. Jerry Lopez has cracked the code on how to do just that and in this workshop, he’s going to unpack the secrets to creating and celebrating the most famous hoverboard of all time – just in time for the 30th anniversary of the film this year. This session is a part of a conference-wide tribute that NostalgiaCon is paying event-wide to the Back to the Future trilogy.
Everything You Always Wanted to Know about DeLoreans, the Most Famous Pop Culture Car in Movie History
Thanks to a beloved blockbuster movie franchise and legions of fanatical owners, DeLoreans have become engrained as one of the most iconic cars of all American pop culture. In this panel, we’ll explore the stories behind these glorious time machines, their creator John DeLorean, and how their passionate owners are ever-building on their movie star cars’ notoriety. If you’re a DeLorean Geek, this one’s for you!
Schlimazel! Hasenpfeffer Incorporated! Join us for the ‘Laverne & Shirley’ Reunion
We could not get enough of Laverne (the late Penny Marshall) & Shirley (Cindy Williams). They were polar opposites but defined the meaning of true friendship in a sometimes unfair and zany world. Even though we sadly lost Marshall earlier this year, we’re hosting a “Laverne & Shirley Reunion” with the one and only Shirley Feeny (Cindy Williams) and Carmine “The Big Ragu” Ragusa (Eddie Mekka), and it’s gonna be a real treat as they dish on all the hijinks behind the two-time Golden Globe Awards and a Primetime Emmy Award winning sitcom. We’re gonna make your dreams come true!
Champagne, Catfights, and Couture: A Live Recording of the 'Dynasty As They Wanna Be' Podcast
"Dynasty" defined the '80s with big shoulder pads and bigger hairdos. You are cordially invited to attend a recording of the world's first and only podcast about "Dynasty." The sassy hosts of "Dynasty As They Wanna Be" will be dishing the dirt live at NostalgiaCon on the soapy drama and glamorous fashions of Alexis, Krystle, and the other members of the catfighting Carrington clan. Audience participation is encouraged, so dress to impress and don't you dare burn the champagne, darling.
About NostalgiaCon
With offices in downtown Miami, NostalgiaCon (www.NostalgiaCon80s.com) is a global fan conventions company wholly focused on celebrating the pop culture icons, influencers, music, newsmakers, entertainers, shows, films, sports, fads, toys, foods and more, that fans feel the most fond of. NostalgiaCon is the first platform ever created to fully scale and monetize the decades both in the United States and internationally through conventions, concerts, events, privately licensed entertainment, social media, and more. On September 28 and 29, the Anaheim Convention Center will host NostalgiaCon, where the 1980’s will be captured in its full glory, capitalizing on the powerful force of nostalgia via the people, trends and moments that define entire generations.
NostalgiaCon is the brainchild of serial entrepreneurs Manny Ruiz, creator and producer of the nationally renowned Hispanicize event, and Sean Wolfington, Chairman and CEO of The Wolfington Companies and Chairman and CEO of CarSaver, Walmart’s exclusive auto buying platform.
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