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This Memorial Day weekend I will be headed out to the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington MA as part of the press covering Gary Sohmers Pop Culture Expo for the IssuesProgram.com. I can only imagine that the sites sounds and aromas will flood memories into my conscious like the canals that flood Bravos. It will bring me straight back to my childhood. Just thinking about going already has started to trigger those feelings.

I can remember the Delicious Smell of hot dogs and popcorn wafting through the whole auditorium throughout the entire day. Even after scarfing down enough of the food from the concession stand to put down the largest of men on thanksgiving, this slightly large 10 year old little boy still had enough energy to walk the isles and stands for hours on end, browsing the endless booths of antique toys, Countless boxes comic books, tables fully laden with cases of baseball and football hero’s.

I remember this was where I saw my first Fangoria Magazine an issue with The Creature from the Black Lagoon on the cover seemingly staring back at me with his black eyes. My Dad and brothers scattered through the building no doubt just as lost in the awe of their own childhood memories or future fantasies. I remember my dad with his set of cards “Cars from the Future” that he had kept since he was a kid and how he was promised flying cars by the year 2000. One brother thumbing through his full set of Star Trek cards packed nicely in his 3*9 binder and the other reading his new Boris the bear comic while sitting in the bleachers completely shutting out the buzz of all the fans dancing around the tables of celebrity and sport icons from throughout the past few decades.

This year Gary Sohmers has Brought with him to the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington MA the Pop Culture Expo an All Star line up of celebrities for pictures and autographs and events that are too numerous to list here but of course you should check out the full line up for yourself. You are almost guaranteed to find a person or two you are a super fan of and one or two didn’t even know you were a fan of. To me there is no better way to spend a weekend than to go out and meet some of the people that have entertained me for so many years. In attendance will range from Pete Best (the Beatles) to Kristian Nairn and Esme Bianco (Hodor and Roz on Game of Thrones) to Ernie Hudson and Ecto1 (Ghost Busters). If Movies Music and HBO not your thing come to check out voice actors Billy West (Futurama, Ren and Stimpy), Rachel Robison (Final Fantasy) and Tom Wayland (Pokemon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Still not fully sold on coming to the event yet? I know my dad wasn’t but once I mentioned to him that Mark Goodard (Lost In Space) and John Provost (Lassie) where going to be there, that was all he needed to be in. I think he was just playing hard to get but was actually super psyched that I invited him to come to the show for the day and I know that he is thinking about all those trips out to the Shriners Auditorium when me and my brothers where just kids.

The Guest stars are just the beginning of the attractions there will also be vendors and activities to fill your day with plenty of entertainment and a concessions stand to keep you fed I hope you will join me and the IssuesProgram.com this Memorial day weekend at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington MA for PCX 2014. Please keep checking back with the issuesprogram.com for our continuing coverage leading up to and through this event.

Talk a bit about the foundation of Pop culture, How do you define its origins?

In my opinion, Pop Culture began with Mark Twain and PT Barnum … both became incredibly popular with the public as entertainment … anything that is cultural and popular could qualify as Pop Culture … so many facets that it is now all-encompassing.

What prompted you to create an amazing event like Pop culture expo?

Having produced hundreds of events over the past 409 years, the time was right to merge all the fun aspects of Pop Culture into an event that fans and families would enjoy, where you could meet a diverse selection of celebrities and spend a day being totally entertained.

What are some of challenges you have faced along the way creating this event?

The Fan Convention marketplace has become dominated by corporate events like out of town traveling events that care little about the fan and the way too numerous overly crowded hotel shows, so the challenge has been creating something different that includes technology to ease long waits in lines and a large enough venue so that everyone is comfortable … we have succeeded with both of our goals.

How has the role of pop culture evolved over time in our society and the global society?

The Internet is a grandchild and evolutionary being of Pop Culture … everything on the Internet can become popular and the comedy and tragedy, the good, the bad and the ugly, all have a chance to make a permanent impact on the world and the future … creating pop culture appears to now be as important as appreciating it.

As a kid what are some of the first shows, books, films, music/radio, etc that really moved you?

I am from the first TV generation and have seen black and white merge into color, witnessed the acceptance of records, cassettes, 8 tracks, CDs, DVDs, downloads and streaming as a progression based on demand from the market I was a part of … and took the time during the past 5 decades to study, immerse and prosper from my love of Pop Culture … I am a Disney geek and a Dr. Seuss Nerd … I am a walking cartoon and know the values of 100,000 useless objects.

Working on the Antique roadshow must be an interesting experience could you talk a bit about how you got involved with it and some of the more interesting things you have found while doing the show?

I appeared for 13 seasons as an appraiser of Collectibles, Toys and Pop Culture on the program and had fun meeting people and sharing my knowledge with the viewing public … some of my favorite appearances are constantly in repeats including the Frank Zappa Oil Painting, Beatles Butcher Cover,, star Wars action figures, Hot Wheels, and the collection of original Peanuts art by Charles Schulz.

What are a few things you personally look forward to the most at the PCX?

I will be hosting the Voice Actors Script Read and hope that everyone comes out to see/hear the greatest voices in an amazing presentation. I also look forward to seeing the impact the NAO Robot has on solving problems for children with learning disabilities in the future .. this robot is very important to me, the show and to families with Autistic children.

The Pop Culture Expo May 24-25 at the Shriners Auditorium in Wilmington, MA
Buy Tickets Here