Thursday, September 1, 2011

Overview: the 1990s

Okay, so there was this convention in Atlanta called the Atlanta Fantasy Fair, and according to the internets it might as well not have existed. But exist it did, from 1975 until 1995. The following is an incomplete overview of the AFFs of the 1990s, when and where they were held, and who was there. Information has been culled from various sources including AFF program books, convention listings, usenet posts, and comments from readers. I will keep updating this post as more information comes in. If you have any data, image files of flyers or artwork, t-shirts, program books, please contact me at terebifunhouse@gmail.com.

Thanks to all those who have contributed!

1990 Atlanta Fantasy Fair XVI
August 17-19, 1990
Omni Hotel & World Congress Center
Guests: Jack Kirby, John deLancie, Sandahl Bergman, Catherine Hicks, Julie Schwartz, Sharon Green, Linda Thorson, Martin Caidin, Greg Theakston, Boris Vallejo, and Carl Macek.





1991 Atlanta Fantasy Fair XVII
July 26-28, 1991
Atlanta Hilton & Towers
Guests: Marina Sirtis, Dean Stockwell, Marc Singer, Matt Wagner, Julie Schwartz, Greg Bear. Sneak preview of "Beastmaster 2". Costume Contest, "Wheel Of Fantasy". 




1992 Atlanta Fantasy Fair XVIII 
June 19-21 1992
Hyatt Atlanta Airport & Georgia International Convention Center
Guests: Peter David, Bob Burden, Stephen R. Donaldson, Kim Cattrall, Lance Henrikson (cancelled) 


1993 Atlanta Fantasy Fair XIX 
June 25-27 1993
Hyatt Atlanta Airport & Georgia International Convention Center
Guests: David Prowse, Grace Lee Whitney, Caroline Munro, Monique Gabrielle, Jeff Rector, Gunnar Hanson, Irish McCalla. 
Memberships: $27 until 6/5, $30 at door.


1994 Atlanta Fantasy Fair XX
June 17-19, 1994
Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, Atlanta GA. 
Guests: Sarah Douglas, Bruce Campbell, Jeff Rector, Geraint Wyn Davies, John Russo, Ted V. Mikels. 
Memberships: $27 until June 5, $30 at door. Rooms $79 single/double, $99 triple/quad.


1995 Atlanta Fantasy Fair XXI, June 23-25
Castlegate Hotel, Atlanta GA.
Guests: Claudia Christian, Dirk Benedict, Dwight Schultz, Jeff Pittarelli, Don Hillsman II, Wayne VanSant, Joe Phillips. 
Memberships $35 for 3 days. Rooms $69.

So, as we can see, the convention went from being Atlanta's premier SF/Fantasy gathering with top-notch guests and venues (Stan Lee, Al Williamson, Jim Steranko, Ray Harryhausen, the Omni, the Hilton) to a confused mish-mash of scream queens, airbrush artists, and B-movie personalities, operating out of the Castlegate (!). More information about the Castlegate may be found here.

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