Monsterpalooza

34.1808°N 118.3090°W / 34.1808; -118.3090

Monsterpalooza
StatusActive
GenreHorror, Multi-genre
Location(s)Los Angeles, California
CountryUnited States
Websitehttp://www.monsterpalooza.com/
Display of the Abominable Snowman creature at Monsterpalooza 2011

Monsterpalooza is an American multigenre convention focusing on horror, creatures and makeup work. The convention takes place every spring in Los Angeles, California, most recently in the Pasadena Convention Center. A smaller offshoot convention, "Son of Monsterpalooza" is held in Burbank in the fall.

History

After a successful trial run in New Jersey in 2008, Monsterpalooza was organized on the West Coast by Eliot Brodsky in 2009, and held at the Marriott Burbank Convention Center.[1] It has been held annually since then, and usually takes place in March, April or May. The spring event moved from Burbank to the Pasadena Convention Center in 2016, and became the venue's most attended event.[2] A smaller offshoot convention, "Son of Monsterpalooza" is still held in Burbank in September.[3]

Programming
James Hong at Monsterpalooza 2011, dressed as David Lo Pan from Big Trouble in Little China.

Convention programming includes presentations, panels, and workshops. The spring Monsterpalooza event features a museum which displays screen-used props, masks, life-size figures and movie creatures from participating Hollywood FX studios and artists.[4] Workshops focus on the craft; makeup demonstrations and creature effects. The emphasis is on classic horror, including characters from B movies of Hollywood's Golden Age and modern horror, science fiction and fantasy films.[5] Panels have included behind the scenes looks at films such as The Shape of Water, The Predator, Godzilla: King of the Monsters and more.

Over the years, Monsterpalooza has hosted several famous actors and industry personalities, including Robert Englund, Bruce Campbell, Michael Dougherty, Kane Hodder, Jennifer Tilly, George Romero, Martin Landau, James Remar, Sonny Chiba, and Linda Blair.

Reception

Monsterpalooza draws tens of thousands of attendees and is also visited by various horror celebrities and others from the film industry. Director Guillermo del Toro said on his Twitter that Monsterpalooza is "the monster convention I dreamt could be possible as a kid".[6] Director J. J. Abrams said in an article with CNN's Marquee Blog that Monsterpalooza "is a total blast".[7] Brian Collins from Birth. Movies. Death. calls it the "best horror convention of all".[8]

Monsterpalooza was featured on Jeopardy! as part of a question in September 2022.

References
  1. "Meet Monsterpalooza’s Eliot Brodsky", Ryan Turek, March 8, 2010.
  2. "Werewolves, Zombies and Mutant Hamsters at Monsterpalooza 2016", by Star Foreman, April 25, 2016
  3. All Monsters Welcome: Son of Monsterpalooza, Alysia Gray Painter, NBC4 Los Angeles, Sep 16, 2015.
  4. Podcast Episode 73: Monsterpalooza 2016, April 29, 2016, Beth Accomando, KPBS.
  5. "That's Not CGI: At Monsterpalooza, Monsters Are Real", Beth Accomando, April 20, 2012, NPR.
  6. @RealGDT (19 April 2016). "MONSTERPALOOZA is coming to Pasadena this weekend!! The Monster convention I dreamt could be possible as a kid is real again!! GO!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  7. ""J.J. Abrams on 'Super 8' and readying more 'Trek'"". Archived from the original on 2019-07-06. Retrieved 2019-07-06.
  8. "Collins’ Crypt: Monsterpalooza Is The Best Horror Convention Of All", Brian Collins, for Birth.Movies.Death.
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