MACABREDAILY DESCENDS ON MONSTERPALOOZA 2022!

Here There Be Monsters…

This past weekend, Macabre Daily was excited to attend and celebrate the art of Monsters and Movie Magic with fellow horror-geeks, freaks, and all in between in beautiful Pasadena, California, for the grand return of Monsterpalooza. For the first time since 2019, the event took place in person at the Pasadena Convention Center; which ran from June 3rd-5th 2022. This marks the 5th time the event returned to The Pasadena Convention Center and the 13th Monsterpalooza with the event being previously held at the Marriott in Burbank, CA - now home to Son Of Monsterpalooza.

This year's event held back no punches when it came to patron satisfaction, with more than 450 exhibitors of the industry's best artists and creators. Astonishing makeup demos and tutorials are brought to life right before our very eyes, from schools and studios like; Premier Products Inc., Stan Winston School Of Character Arts, Cinema Makeup School, and MUD (Makeup Designery) just to name a few.

Cinema Makeup School - Photo By Tony Ace

The Monsterpalooza Museum also returned with an extraordinary labyrinth of monstrous spectacles on display by some of the industry's most recognizable names. Such artists included were, Almogamated Dynamics Inc., Monster City Studios, Illusion Industries, Alchemy Studios, and Ironhead Studio.

The Official Monsterpalooza After LIFE Party also made its twenty twenty-two post-COVID comeback (that's a mouthful), hosted by PPI. It was the 5th annual Monsterpalooza afterlife party to be exact, with a special homage and celebration of makeup Fx artist and designer Todd Masters. His company MASTERSFX hosted the celebration to recognize his achievements in the industry of "thrills and chills", now reaching a milestone of Thirty-five years. No Monsterpalooza celebration could ever be completed without a live performance by the KISS tribute band GODS OF HORROR. (Get it? Cuz KISS has a song title “God of Thunder”…very clever.)

Did we mention there were live and in-depth panels with behind-the-scenes moments of iconic movies and TV shows were abundant at this years event. All panel presentations were hosted by the lovely Ivonna Cadaver. There were star-studded CELEB PHOTO- OPs and autographs from film and TVs personalities such as; Tim Curry (Rocky Horror Picture Show, IT), David Naughton (An American Werewolf In London), Doug Bradley (Hellraiser, Night Bread), Kane Hodder (Friday The 13th, Hatchet), Mark Dacascos (The Crow, John Wick 3), Heather Langenkamp (A Nightmare On Elm Street), Billy Zane (Demon Knight, The Phantom), Robin Tunney (The Craft), Shawnee Smith (The Blob, Saw), Dee Wallace (The Howling, E.T) just about the entire cast of the original Scream: Neve Cambell, Jaime Kennedy, Matthew Lillard, Skeet Ulrich and many more.

Monsterpalooza welcomed us back with open "bat wings", and it was just what we expected as things are getting back to normal. Along with the normality of events, also long lines, outrageous crowds, overpriced concession stands, lots of walking, and fatigue awaited us. Across-the-board an excellent turnout, I wouldn't have it any other way.

We would like to thank Monsterpalooza for having us and the organizers have just announced the next convention, Son Of Monsterpalooza, The event will take place October 8-11, 2021 at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Convention Center. We hope to see you there!

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