Cinecon 43 in Pictures

Sunday Evening - The Celebrity Banquet

Excitement mounted as banquet time approached. Everyone always looks forward to the banquet as a time to socialize with friends and mingle with celebrities. This year the Cinecon Career Achievement awards would be given to 4 wonderful actors Piper Laurie, Alan Young, John Saxon, and Dick Miller. Besides those entertainers being honored many of our former honorees and their friends also attended the event.

The cocktail reception began at 7:30 and it didn't take long for small groups of Cinephiles to start gathering.

And the celebrities also began to arrive.

Here's Mariette Hartley surrounded by fans wanting to talk to her and take pictures. She was invited to present one of the evening's awards.

Honoree, John Saxon, shares a laugh with another of the evening's presenters, Elliott Gould.

Almost a Cinecon regular, actress Ann Rutherford poses with a fan. She appeared in scores of films while under contract at MGM including the classic Gone with the Wind

Another Career Achievement honoree, TV and film actor Alan Young gathers with friends including his former TV co-star Connie Hines.

Alan is joined by actress Elena Verdugo. Although Ms. Verdugo appeared in many films and TV shows she is probably best remembered for co-starring on the hit TV show Marcus Welby, M.D..

Honoree Dick Miller and wife Lanie visit with old friend and past honoree producer/director Roger Corman.

Cinecon VP Marvin Paige seems to be having a serious conversation with Elliot Gould.

A trio of classic film actresses get together for a visit, Marsha Hunt and Jane Withers with Jean Porter in the back mugging for the camera.

Many of the celebrities who attend the banquet look forward to seeing old friends as well as meeting the fans.

And our Cinephiles get the chance to spend time with people they haven't seen since the last show. Here Cinecon volunteer coordinator Stella Grace gets her photo snapped with old friend, film authority and preservationist Rusty Castleton.

Actress Stefanie Powers smiles for the camera. This is a first time visit to Cinecon for the star of Hart to Hart and The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.

Here the gracious Ms. Powers takes a few moments to chat with a fan.

Stage, film and TV actor H. M. Wynant and his wife Paula are back for another visit to Cinecon.

As banquet time approached People slowly began making their way into the ballroom.

Just seated at her table Jean Porter gets a hug from former child actor Ted Donaldson.

Connie and Alan are seated together at the main table to wait for the dinner to start.

And Dick and Lanie have taken their places on the dais as well.

Soon there's a buzz of activity in the ballroom as people find their tables and take their seats.

Here's a table full of our hard working Cinecon volunteers. It's their turn to take a break and enjoy the dinner and show.

It isn't long before the waiters begin bringing out the food.

After dinner Cinecon president Bob Birchard
opened the award portion of the banquet with
a few remarks and then introduced the
music act.

The Wegter family sang original songs that paid tribute to classic films. Several members of the family also served as Cinecon volunteers over
the weekend.

M.C. Stan Taffel joked with the audience as he introduced the celebrities in attendance. Then he introduced the first presenter, director Joe Dante..

Joe Dante was looking forward to presenting the first Career Achievement award of the evening
to his favorite character actor, Dick Miller.

Dick Miller has been playing supporting rolls in motion pictures for more than 50 years appearing
in many films most notably working for Roger Corman and Joe Dante.

He thanked Cinecon for the award and then
shared some light-hearted advice for getting
along in the world which had the audience
laughing by the end of his speech.

Mariette Hartley introduced our next guest of
honor, John Saxon.

They shared a laugh as she handed him his award.

This was John's first visit to Cinecon and he said that he enjoyed the experience.

He said he was pleased to receive an award from
a group like Cinecon that cares about film preservation.

Stage, screen and television actor Elliott Gould spoke about our next career achievement
honoree, Piper Laurie.

He happily presented the award to her.

As she thanked Cinecon for inviting her she looked around the room full of fans and celebrities She spoke about the influence that many talented actors had had on her career...

...and mentioned Jane Withers in particular as
sparking her interest in becoming an actress and noted that she was pleased to see her in the audience.

Connie Hines was on hand to talk about her one time TV husband Alan Young.

Good friends for many years, the two worked together on 1960s TV show about a talking
horse, Mr. Ed

A consummate entertainer, Alan joked with the audience and had them laughing.

Then he thanked Cinecon for the award and
spoke about what it meant to him to be honored
by our group.

After Alan finished speaking Stan made a few final remarks before bringing the banquet to a close. Slowly people started getting up and milling around. There was still time for fans to get another autograph from or picture of their favorite star

Piper Laurie shows off her award after
the banquet

John Saxon smiles for the camera with his
award.

Dick Miller and his lovely wife Lanie display his new award.

And Alan Young and Connie Hines show his.

Stefanie Powers congratulates old friend Alan.
The two worked together on an episode of her
TV series Hart To Hart

John Saxon and Joe Dante have a conversation.

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

After their great performance during the banquet the Wegter family stop for a picture with volunteer coordinator Stella Grace.

A lucky fan gets an autograph from Jane Withers.

Actor Robert Forester and his wife stop for a
photo after the banquet.

Betty Garrett is flanked by a brother and sister
who came all the way from Scotland to attend Cinecon.

After talking about Jane Withers in her speech
Piper got the chance to meet with her.

They enjoyed talking to each other and shared an extended conversation.

Marsha Hunt and Warren Stevens stop to chat
with Ann Jeffreys.

Cinecon staff get into the act as Mike Schlesinger poses with Elena Verdugo...

...and Stan Taffel smiles for the camera with dancer Altovise Davis (widow of the late great Sammy Davis Jr.)

Slowly but reluctantly people made their way
toward the door.

There was still so much to talk about that no one wanted to leave but eventually all good things must come to an end and so another Cinecon Career Achievement Award banquet becomes history. As we headed off to bed we had only one more day of great films to look forward to.