Cinecon 41 in Pictures

Sunday Evening - The Celebrity Banquet

Excitement mounted as Banquet time approached. This was the night that we would be honoring the filmmakers who spent time with us at special screenings over the course of the weekend, Patricia Neal, Delbert Mann, Marjorie Lord, Nanette Fabray and Diane Baker. Besides the celebrities being honored this year many former honorees and their friends also came to the event.

One of the best things about the banquet aside from seeing celebrities up close, is the opportunity to sit down and socialize with our fellow Cinephiles, to visit with old friends and make new ones.

The cocktail reception began at 7:30. Fans gathered in the entry area to the reception with cameras ready for the celebrity arrivals.

It was a time to socialize over drinks and meet with friends. Here honoree Delbert Mann talked with friends including Cinecon VP Marvin Paige.

Banquet honoree Patricia Neal was surprised to see actor Billy Gray who played her son in the Sci Fi classic The Day The Earth Stood Still. They shared memories before the dinner.

Once the doors to the banquet hall opened people began to find the way to their tables.

Here TV & film actors Doris Roberts and Warren Stevens stop to talk to a friend on their way in.

One of Cinecon's favorite film directors, Vincent Sherman, prepares to take his seat. The 99 year old Mr. Sherman began directing films at Warner Bros. studios in the 1930s.

Famed dancer Fayard Nicholas of the Nicholas Brothers sits with his wife Katherine Hopkins in one of his last public appearances

When everyone was seated the waiters began to serve the delicious Wolfgang Puck-created dinner.

After desert and coffee the awards portion of the banquet began.

Cinecon president Bob Birchard opened the
banquet with a few remarks and introduced
m.c. Ron Masak.

Ron has been the master of ceremonies for the
Cinecon Career Achievement Awards banquet
for the last 4 years.

The first presenter of the evening was actress
Shelley Fabares who was presenting the award
to her "aunt Nan" Nanette Fabray.

Nanette received a standing ovation from
enthusiastic fans.

Nanette accepted the award and spoke to the audience.

Former child actress Angela Cartwright was on
hand to present the award to her one time TV
mom, Marjorie Lord.

Angela played Marjorie's daughter on Make
Room for Daddy from 1957 to 1965.

Marjorie accepted the award graciously and
thanked the Society of Cinephiles for it.

Television and film actress Patricia Barry
presented the award to Delbert Mann. The two
worked together on the film Dear Heart.

Due to his limited mobility Mr. Mann accepted
the award from his seat on the dais.

Producer Richard Shepherd presents the award
to Patricia Neal. The two worked together
when he produced Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Patricia received a standing ovation. She
thanked the audience for their eager response.

Writer and former president of the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Fay Kanin, presented the award to her friend Diane Baker.

Diane gave Fay a warm hug as she went up to
receive the award

Diane accepted the award from Fay and thanked
the Society for Cinephiles for the honor.

Ron made a few final remarks and thanked
everyone for coming.

Even though the banquet was over it was hard to clear out the room because fans still wanted to get one last autograph or photo of the celebrities before leaving.

Film actress Marsha Hunt talks to a friend as others
in the background gather at the head table to photograph and get autographs from the honorees.

Actor Billy Gray chats with a fan.

Paramount executive and long time Cinecon
friend A. C. Lyles has a conversation with
Miles Kreuger

Small groups of people enjoyed talking to each
other after the dinner.

There was still so much to talk about that people didn't want to leave but slowly the crowds thinned out and eventually they all left for the evening and another Cinecon Career Achievement Award banquet was history.

Cinecon 41 in Pictures

Monday - One last day of films before heading home

The last day of Cinecon is usually a quieter day with many of the out-of-state Cinephiles having to use Monday as a travel day to get back to work by Tuesday. For those of us who could stay on day five the focus was on film and maybe one more trip to the dealers' room for that last minute poster or DVD.

And so blurry eyed Cinephiles had spent another wonderful Labor Day weekend indulging in their favorite past time of watching vintage films. It was time to make their way home to rest up for next year.