Dr. Jack Beven's Images of Visions '96

I. Introduction

The Visions science fiction convention used to be held annually at Thanksgiving Weekend in Chicago, Illinois. I attend when possible, and I've had a pretty good time. Here's some pictures I took at the 1996 Visions.

By the way, I apologize for some of the problems in a few of these pictures that look like they have dust on them. Something showed up during the scanning that wasn't visible on the original prints. It's either from the scanner or from my camera lens. :-(

II. The Celebrities and Me (1996 Style)


Phil & Yee-Jee (36K JPG)	Ben & Mark (48K JPG)	Deborah & Lalla (64K JPG)


Richard & Claudia (40K JPG)	Sarah & Colin (41K JPG)	Stephen & Michael (42K JPG)

Visions featured many chances to get your picture taken with the celebrities. This sequence shows myself with the various guests. The first picture (36K JPG) is me with Philip Segal and Yee Jee Tso. Phil was the producer of the May 1996 Doctor Who movie, while Yee Jee played Chang Lee in the movie. Yee Jee seemed to have a good time at the con. One night he apparently stayed out so late partying that he fell asleep during his panel session the next day. Another time, I saw him trying out a martial arts skill machine that was demonstrated at the con.

The second picture (48K JPG) is me with Ben Bass and Mark Ryan. Mark (who has a tremendous singing voice) is best know in sci-fi/fantasy circles for his role as the Saracen Nasir in the Robin of Sherwood series. Ben is best known to that community as the vampire Javier Vachon in the last season of the series Forever Night. Notice the green wrist band I'm wearing. That was the substitute that the Visions staff came up with for name badges in 1996. It may have worked for them, but it made it hard for us and the guests to know who was who. Fortunately, I had an old badge with me, as can be seen in other pictures.

The third picture (64K JPG) is me with Deborah Watling and Lalla Ward. Deborah and Lalla both have had many roles in British stage and screen, including Doctor Who. Deborah played the Second Doctor's companion Victoria, while Lalla played the second incarnation of the Time Lady Romana. By the way, that's my Florida State University Meteorology shirt. I wore it on Saturday afternoon after FSU's victory over Florida!

The fourth picture (40K JPG) is me with Richard Biggs and Claudia Christian. Richard is best known in sci-fi circles for his role as Dr. Steven Franklin in Babylon 5. Claudia is well known for her portrayal of Commander Susan Ivanova in that show. Both of them (and most of the rest of the B5 cast from what I saw on the blooper reel) are first class cut-ups!

The fifth picture (41K JPG) is me with Sarah Sutton and Colin Baker. Sarah played the Fourth Doctor's companion Nyssa of Traken, while Colin played the 6^th Doctor in all his technicolor glory!

The last picture (42K JPG) is me with Stephen Grief and Michael Keating from the British science fiction drama Blakes 7. Stephen was one of two actors to play the villainous Travis, while Michael played the somewhat cowardly Vila. On Monday after the con, I got to ride in the same airport shuttle with Michael and got to hear some of his interesting tales of other cons and other actors.

III. A Couple of Views From the Autograph Line


Mark & Ben (41K JPG)	A Gag! (43K JPG)

Visions also featured chances to get the autographs of your favorite celebrities. I took a couple of pictures while waiting in the line. The first picture (41K JPG) shows Mark Ryan and Ben Bass busy signing autographs. The second (43K JPG) requires a little more explanation! I was waiting for an autograph session to start while another session (Deborah Watling and Lalla Ward) was ending ahead of me. Suddenly, I see Colin Baker sneaking into the end of the line! Sure enough, he gives the ladies a BIG surprise by asking for their autographs! I snapped a picture of the event, but unfortunately I was too far away to see it well.

IV. Some Friends


More r.a.drw Crew! (51K JPG)	Meeting in the lobby (58K JPG)	Room Party (64K JPG)

One reason for attending this convention was to meet in person the people that I'd been acquainted with from the USENET newsgroup rec.arts.drwho. The first picture (51K JPG) shows some of the USENETers in attendance. From left to right are Chris Heer, Chris Elliot, Jason A. Miller, Elsa Frohman, and Trina Short.

The second picture (58K JPG) is a group of us gathered under a large statue that graces the lobby of the Hyatt. Elsa Frohman and Trina Short are in front, and to Trina's right is Kim Weatherford. Jon Blum is kneeling with his back to the camera, and kneeling behind him is Chris Elliot. To the right of Trina in the pink shirt is Greg McElhatton. Sitting to Greg's right in the background is ?. Standing along the back row are ?, Mike Doran, Michael Lee, Nicole Yates, and Gregg Allinson.

The third picture (64K JPG) is of a quiet room party (especially when compared to many room parties at a Visions con). Sitting in the left foreground is Judi Grant. Sitting behind Judi is Greg McElhatton. The cluster at the end of the far bed includes Chris Elliot (front), Jennifer Tifft (barely visible in the middle), and Michael Lee (back). They are clustered around Jon Blum and his laptop. The laptop is visible, but Jon isn't! Sitting in the right foreground with her back to the camera is ?.

If anyone I couldn't identify sees these pictures, please drop me a line and let me know who you are. I'd forget my own face if I didn't see it everyday!

V. Some Miscellaneous Images


Excellent! (48K JPG)	EX-TER-MIN-ATE! (91K JPG)	SNEAUX! (54K JPG)	Holidays! (108K JPG)

Here are a few other pictures I took at Visions. The first (48K JPG) is of someone roaming the fan dealers room in a Cyberman costume (from Doctor Who). The second (91K JPG) is a notorious Doctor Who Dalek! The third (54K JPG) was a rare site for this southern boy - a 1 inch snowfall that occurred Saturday night and Sunday morning. The last (108K JPG) is a holiday decoration that is displayed annually in front of the Hyatt's main restaurant. There used to be a train running on those tracks, but it was absent in both 1996 and 1997. :-(

Visions '95 Pictures

Visions '97 Pictures

Back to Jack's Home Page