Steel City Con offers down-to-Earth fun
When one thinks of iconic movie duos, the pairing of C-3PO and R2-D2 from the "Star Wars" franchise has to rank near the top.
For more than a decade, however, Bryan Slusher's pairing was incomplete. He's had R2-D2 actor Kenny Baker's autograph for more than 10 years from a convention in Michigan.
But it took the Ohio resident until this weekend in the Valley to meet the other half.
Slusher was among throngs of sci-fi fans Saturday attending the second day of the three-day Steel City Con at Pittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena. Many were drawn by the appearance of C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels, who headlined a slate of celebrities from the realms of science-fiction, classic television and wrestling.
Slusher traveled here from his home in Akron to have Daniels sign the picture that Baker had signed for him, along with a "Star Wars"-themed Monopoly board.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime thing," Slusher said of the chance to meet Daniels. "He's a really nice guy, really personable."
Some 4,000 to 5,000 people from across the United States and Canada are expected to attend the show, now in its 20th year. Attendance is expected to have been up from prior years because of the rare appearance of Daniels.
The show -- originally called the Pittsburgh Toy, Comic and Childhood Collectibles Show -- features nearly 200 vendors selling all sorts of current and classic toys, comic books and collectibles.
"It's a walk down memory lane," said Dominic Alessandria, owner of Orangestone Promotions in Ross, which stages the convention.
Lines for autographs from Daniels, "Dukes of Hazzard" star Catherine Bach and professional wrestler Mick Foley snaked around the arena.
"They've been nonstop busy the entire day," Alessandria said. "I've never seen so many people come from so far away."
Among celebrities signing autographs and posing for pictures for fans was Herb Jefferson Jr., who portrayed Lt. Boomer in the original 1978 "Battlestar Galactica" series. He appears at conventions once or twice a month as his schedule allows.
"If someone would've told me I'd be standing here 30 years after doing a show I did for one season, I would've told them they were out of their mind," Jefferson said. "It's amazing. I guess we had some kind of an impact. I enjoy chatting and meeting with the fans."
Vendors such as brothers Gene and Troy Perkins, owners of Gene & Troy's Toys of Youngwood, said economic concerns aren't having much of an impact on their business in action figures and other collectibles.
"We've done a lot of buying, and we've done a lot of selling," Troy Perkins said.
A number of fans came to the convention in full costume -- most portraying various characters from the "Star Wars" films.
Lisa Walworth of Buffalo, N.Y., was dressed as a rebel pilot, accompanied by her friend, Larry Tetewsky, dressed as a Jedi knight.
"Most of us are professionals during the week," she said. "This is just something to break away from the mundane."
R2-D2 actor Baker wasn't at the show, but his droid character was -- thanks to John Stokes. The Rome, N.Y. resident is a member of the R2-D2 Builders Group, and he had his full-sized, remote-controlled R2 unit on display. At at one point, he rolled around with someone dressed as C-3PO.
Stokes said he completed his robot just late last year --- having spent about $2,000 to do it.
"We build the droids for the love of it. We love the movie, and we love the character," he said. "It's a life-sized movie prop."
Probably the only feature of the convention with real history behind it was that of the Lake Erie Pirates Costume Organization, featuring members dressed as characters from the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies.
Rodger Dobry of Erie founded the group after dressing up one Halloween as Captain Jack Sparrow -- portrayed in the movie by Johnny Depp -- of whom Dobry does a better-than-fair impersonation.
Not to be confused with the Somali pirates making headlines these days, his group focuses on the "Golden Age of Piracy" -- dating from the 1650s to the 1720s, Dobry said.
"We use this to bring them in and teach them the real history of pirates," Dobry said.
Additional Information:
If you go
What: Steel City Con
When: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. today
Where: Pittsburgh Indoor Sports Arena, 220 Rich Hill Road, Harmar
