Keith Wilton reports on 1992’s Convention in issue 24 of Film for the Collector magazine, published Spring 1993.
BLACKPOOL OR BUST
KEITH WILTON LIFTS THE LID OFF THE 1992 NORTHERN FILM COLLECTORS CONVENTION AND TRIES TO ‘MURDER’ DON WALKER TOO!
When a colleague informed me that the Blackpool hotel (near to ‘The Cliffs’) at which I was booked was reminiscent of ‘Faulty Towers’, I was naturally more than a little concerned. Some of my concern prove to be founded, but ultimately due more to the fact that Don Walker also stayed there (and seated next to me at mealtimes!), rather than the strict mealtime regime and the gloomy little room assigned to me. But more of that later perhaps, for despite these shortcomings it was a most enjoyable weekend!
For most Northerners, the Blackpool weekend is the climatic highlight of the year, there being little else for them to feast upon, and they therefore make the most of it. Those travelling down from Scotland find it considerably easier to reach than other events such as Derann’s Dudley Open days, or the British Film Collectors Conventions in Ealing, which for some are perhaps, just that little bit too far.
For most the weekend starts, after arriving on Saturday, with meeting friends and colleagues at The Cliffs, then attending the dinner and cabaret that evening, with the actual convention, complete with dealers and film shows, taking place the following day. Many returning home sometime Sunday evening. A small number make a longer break of the weekend and this year Gary Watson of CEC arranged a minibus to collect film fanatics from north London and deposit them at Blackpool mid-afternoon on the Friday and to return to London mid-Monday morning.
It was a mainly uneventful journey, but then I wasn’t travelling with Don Walker in the minibus! I had been invited to accompany Gary Watson in his car – but even then we did not entirely escape the machinations of Mr. Walker, who, on a motoway refreshment stop littered the foyer area (and so I’m reliably informed, the ladies toilets!) with handbills for his forthcoming Westminster Film fairs. Obviously his notoriety for such exploits has spread beyond the immediate range of the conventions for, as the minibus picked him up at Cockfosters station (on leaving London), a roadsweeper, armed with a broom, appeared at his side ready for scattered handbills! If you think I exaggerate, this scene is faithfully captured on the ‘Hollywood UK!‘ video.
The Blackpool convention dinner, organised by Derann Films, started with guests being greeted by the members of the Derann staff. The ballroom was soon packed to capacity, some 289 paying guests in attendance – an all-time record. It’s difficult to imagine how many more could be accommodated at this venue – it was very, very noisy, with an exciting atmosphere.
After the excellent meal there followed the cabaret in which various ‘guests’ were persuaded to take to the stage. Peter John (of Rank Films), Mike Dimmock (Derann) and Charlotte Locke gamely shrugged off the verbal slings and arrows flung by the cabaret ‘artist’, and in the process gave everyone else a most entertaining time!
After the boss’s (Derek Simmonds) big speech, during which he thanked a number of people, including his wife Anne, for their splendid efforts on behalf of the collectors (even I came in for some praise for the BFCC’s — he must have been in a liquidy generous mood — but it was appreciated anyway!) the evening concluded with showings of a selection of the latest Derann releases, with of course, Disney extracts much in evidence, and much appreciated too. A party of German collectors certainly enjoyed the dinner and film show, though they didn’t follow the live entertainment quite so easily!
The Sunday convention was equally successful, with more dealers than I’ve seen before (some were private collectors selling collections) packed into two whole rooms, and with a public attendance to match – the place was bursting at the seams. Derek combined the usual film auction format with that of a Dutch sale, with bidding in reverse – a couple of lucky collectors obtained some superb bargains this way. The auction was great fun and most enjoyable better than any cabaret!
Downstairs in a smaller room Ace Magazine’s 1992 Ten Best Film Award ceremony was taking place in the capable hands of ACE’s editor, John Shearsmith, with trophies donated by Derann for Best Film, Best Sound (Cresta) and Best Editing (CEC). I was honoured with the task of presenting the actual Ten Best Awards and I was pleased to see film collecting colleague Rod Willerton as one of the winners. One such winner travelled from Malta to collect his award and this made the job of dishing out the various awards seem even more worthwhile. It’s a pity the films do not get a wider appreciation than just this one occasion.
This was certainly the most enjoyable Blackpool I’ve attended, even if it was largely a working weekend (shooting “Hollywood UK!’ – and hard work too). I didn’t travel back to London on the Monday with the CEC party, but returned with friends on Sunday evening. I was very tired, but had some very good footage to play with, including Don Walker at the top of the Tower – did I push him or not? – I’m afraid you’ll have to get the video for the answer to that! However, I did get satisfaction from misleading him over what room I was staying in. Suspicious of his repeated reasons for wishing to know the number, I quoted a fictitious one. Next morning at breakfast, Don, smirking, asked me if I had received the Film Fair handbills he’d pushed under the door during the night, to which I replied: “No – but those two old ladies over there did, and they are very mystified – I heard them asking the hotel manager why wads of toilet paper had been shoved under their door at night”!
Good old Donald – good old Blackpool.
Keith Wilton
Editor’s footnote:
Due to my move ‘down South’ this was the first Blackpool convention I’d missed in ten years!
For those who have never attended they really are worth making the effort for. Take a look at Keith’s video ‘Hollywood UK!’ and you’ll see why. (Dave Worrall)
Derann’s Derek Simmonds also gave his thoughts on the Convention in the same issue of Film for the Collector.
PUBLISHER’S VIEWPOINT with Derek Simmonds
BLACKPOOL ’92 ENDS WITH A BANG AS DERANN MIKE BRINGS THE HOUSE WALL DOWN!
Oh yes, they all knew when we left Blackpool, but more of that later…
Last year’s Blackpool convention will surely go down as being one of the most successful ever.
Bookings for the evening, this despite the recession, were brisk. For the first time we managed to squeeze in 239 guests for the dinner, including collectors from Germany who, although arrived at the last minute, were found a place due to the miracles of the hotel staff!
The evening was, without a doubt, a success. Some thought the comedian was not as good as previous artists, but this didn’t stop everyone having a really good time. The evening went all too quickly and before we knew it, it was time for the film show. In response to requests, I made this particular programme run longer than usual. I worried that for some, the evening would be too long – I shouldn’t have — people asked why it ended so soon!
The superb extract from The King & I brought a tear to the eyes of some ladies, whilst the Disney extracts brought loud rounds of applause, and in some cases, cheers! All too soon the evening came to an end. Many collectors graced the bar until the early hours – I have it on good authority (probably Mike and Steve proping the bar up – Ed) that the last collector finally retired at 4.30am!
So dawned a cold and windy Sunday morning – up at 6.15am – down to breakfast by 7.00. The Derann team arranged the dealers tables, and soon a steady stream of people were carrying in boxes, cans of film, projectors and the like. I soon became aware of that ‘convention atmosphere’ taking over. The doors opened 15 minutes earlier than advertised, the steady stream of collectors, wives, family and friends seemed endless. Soon nearly 600 people had entered the halls, there was standing room only in the 350-seater cinema, and the majority of the ACE Ten Best Awards shows being held downstairs, were full too! How good it was to see film ‘makers’ rubbing shoulders with film ‘presenters’ – even people from as far afield as Malta and France were in attendance – the atmosphere was electric. Never have I seen The Cliffs so busy, and everyone was in high spirits. One London collector, on his first visit, said “Had I known it was like this I’d have come years ago. I’ll never miss another”
Auction time soon came around – all two and a half hours of it! Plenty of bargains were snapped up, and there was lots of fun. Keith Wilton nearly made a mistake by video taping himself making a bid for – Women Mud Wrestlers – I bet that’s not on his video! I hope Keith got some nice footage of the chap who won the colour TV in the raffle – that was something he never bargained for.
During the day I had the pleasure of taking two visitors, who had arrived from Malta, down into the ‘Ten Best Cinema’ to meet John Shearsmith. It was a treat to see John’s beaming face welcome his two visitors from such a distance.
All too soon the day came to a close, and slowly but surely, The Cliffs hotel began to breathe a sigh of relief as 600 collectors departed – many broke – but all, so happy!! Not one single complaint has been received from anyone about the day – apart from the hotel, that is! – for as we left, Mike Dimmock, who was driving a large van, decided to demolish the hotel car park wall!
Will Blackpool ever be the same again? Here’s to this year’s “bash’ (pardon the pun) – I hope that tower is secure!
D.S.
Blackpool Film Collectors' Convention 