All-Con
Encyclopedia
All-Con is a three-day event held annually in the Dallas, Texas
, area. All-Con provides an umbrella of content supporting fans of science fiction
, fantasy
, Renaissance, anime
, costuming, theater/performing arts, mystery, art, crafts, collecting, and filmmaking.
To help 'give back' there are several charity events at the convention every year. The All-Con motto is "We Serve The Fan Community." Since 2007, the anime programming has been provided by members of Mu Epsilon Kappa
's University of North Texas
chapter.
, author Troy Denning
, actor Bill Johnson
, comedian Barry Diamond
, plus Star Wars
actors Gerald Home
and Christine Hewett.
All-Con 2006 was held at the Sterling Hotel in Dallas on March 17-19, 2006. Guests included The Crow
creator James O'Barr
, artist Ben Dunn
, actor Ken Feinberg, actor James Horan
, actor Bill Blair
, plus Star Wars
actors Jay Laga'aia
and Nalini Krishan.
All-Con 2007 was held at the Crowne Plaza North Dallas in Addison, Texas
, on March 16-18, 2007. Guests included artist J. K. Woodward
, voice actor Neil Kaplan
, plus Battlestar Galactica
actresses Luciana Carro
and Kate Vernon
.
All-Con 2008 was held at the Crowne Plaza North Dallas in Addison, Texas, on March 7-9, 2008. Guests included Battlestar Galactica
actor Aaron Douglas
, Return of the Jedi actors Tim Dry
, Sean Crawford, and Mike Edmonds
, plus Blazing Saddles
actor Burton Gilliam
and Who Wants to be a Superhero?
contestant Tonya Kay
(aka Creature).
All-Con 2009 was held at the Crowne Plaza North Dallas in Addison, Texas, on March 13-15, 2009. Guests attending included Aaron Douglas
from Battlestar Galactica
, Peter Mayhew
(Chewbacca
) from Star Wars
, Ken Lally from Heroes
/ Albert Wesker
from Resident Evil
, Candace Kita
from Masked Rider
, and Burton Gilliam
from Back to the Future III and Blazing Saddles
. Ginny McQueen
was the Cosplay
Guest of Honor.
All-Con 2010 was held at the Crowne Plaza North Dallas in Addison, Texas, on March 12-14, 2010. Guests attending included actor John Billingsley
, actress Anne Lockhart, comic book writer/editor Larry Hama, manga artist Kazushi Hinoki, and Japanese filmmaker Keisaku Kimura.
All-Con 2011 was held at the Crowne Plaza North Dallas in Addison, Texas, on March 18-20, 2011. The theme was "steampunk
". Guests attending included Star Wars actress Orli Shoshan, Hardware Wars
actress Cindy Freeling, Battlestar Galactica actors Anne Lockhart and Richard Hatch
, plus voice actor Neil Kaplan
.
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, area. All-Con provides an umbrella of content supporting fans of science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
, fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
, Renaissance, anime
Anime
is the Japanese abbreviated pronunciation of "animation". The definition sometimes changes depending on the context. In English-speaking countries, the term most commonly refers to Japanese animated cartoons....
, costuming, theater/performing arts, mystery, art, crafts, collecting, and filmmaking.
To help 'give back' there are several charity events at the convention every year. The All-Con motto is "We Serve The Fan Community." Since 2007, the anime programming has been provided by members of Mu Epsilon Kappa
Mu Epsilon Kappa
The Mu Epsilon Kappa Society is an organization of nerd-interest oriented clubs which "strives to create a safe and accepting environment of inter- and intra-cultural communication in which people are welcome to express themselves and explore their interests without fear of ridicule or...
's University of North Texas
University of North Texas
The University of North Texas is a public institution of higher education and research in Denton. Founded in 1890, UNT is part of the University of North Texas System. As of the fall of 2010, the University of North Texas, Denton campus, had a certified enrollment of 36,067...
chapter.
Past conventions
All-Con 2005, the first All-Con event, was held at the Sterling Hotel in Dallas on February 4-6, 2005. Guests included artist Adam HughesAdam Hughes
Adam Hughes is an American comic book artist who has worked for companies such as DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Lucasfilm, Warner Bros...
, author Troy Denning
Troy Denning
Troy Denning is a fantasy and science fiction author and game designer.-Career:Denning joined TSR as a game designer in 1981, and was promoted a year later to Manager of Designers, before he moved to the book department...
, actor Bill Johnson
Bill Johnson
Bill Johnson may refer to:Arts and Entertainment*Bill Johnson , American actor known for The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2...
, comedian Barry Diamond
Barry Diamond (American comedian)
Barry Diamond is an American comedian who released one album, Fighter Pilot on IRS Records in 1983. He continues to perform stand-up comedy today....
, plus Star Wars
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, originally released as Star Wars, is a 1977 American epic space opera film, written and directed by George Lucas. It is the first of six films released in the Star Wars saga: two subsequent films complete the original trilogy, while a prequel trilogy completes the...
actors Gerald Home
Gerald Home
Gerald Home is the actor who played Tessek-Squid Head and the Mon Calamari Officer in Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi.-Early life:...
and Christine Hewett.
All-Con 2006 was held at the Sterling Hotel in Dallas on March 17-19, 2006. Guests included The Crow
The Crow
The Crow is a comic book series created by James O'Barr. The series was originally written by O'Barr as a means of dealing with the death of his girlfriend at the hands of a drunk driver. It was later published by Caliber Comics in 1989, becoming an underground success, and later adapted into a...
creator James O'Barr
James O'Barr
James O'Barr is an American graphic artist, best known as the creator of the comic book series The Crow.-Personal life:O'Barr, an orphan, was raised in the foster care system...
, artist Ben Dunn
Ben Dunn
Ben Dunn is an American comic book artist. Although born in Taiwan, he grew up in Kentucky, Taiwan and San Antonio, Texas. It was in Taiwan that he was first exposed to Japanese manga. In 1984 he founded Antarctic Press, an American comic book company specializing in Manga-style titles...
, actor Ken Feinberg, actor James Horan
James Horan
James Horan may refer to:* James Horan , American character actor.* James Horan , a late Parish Priest of Knock....
, actor Bill Blair
Bill Blair
Bill Blair may refer to:*Bill Blair , British barrister and brother of former Prime Minister, Tony Blair*Bill Blair , Major League Baseball player*Bill Blair , Negro league pitcher...
, plus Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
actors Jay Laga'aia
Jay Laga'aia
Jay Laga'aia is an actor and singer. He is best known internationally for his role as Captain Typho in the films Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones and Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.-Career:...
and Nalini Krishan.
All-Con 2007 was held at the Crowne Plaza North Dallas in Addison, Texas
Addison, Texas
Addison is a city in Dallas County, Texas . The population was 14,166 at the 2000 census, and 15,737 according to a 2009 estimate. Addison is a northern suburb of Dallas...
, on March 16-18, 2007. Guests included artist J. K. Woodward
J. K. Woodward
James Kenneth Woodward, known professionally as J.K. Woodward, is a comic book artist known for illustrating the monthly series Fallen Angel, published by IDW Publishing. Woodward has employed painting, digital assistance, as well as the more traditional pencil-and-ink and CMYK color method in his...
, voice actor Neil Kaplan
Neil Kaplan
Neil Kaplan is an American voice actor, entertainer and comedian.-Biography:Kaplan grew up in San Jose, California. He got his start as a comedian doing impressions of presidents such as Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. He also impersonated a little known journalist at the time, Dan Rather. He...
, plus Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American military science fiction television series, and part of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The show was developed by Ronald D. Moore as a re-imagining of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series created by Glen A. Larson...
actresses Luciana Carro
Luciana Carro
Luciana Carro is a Canadian actress best known for her appearance on the television series Battlestar Galactica and in movies such as Two for the Money and Dr. Dolittle 3.-Career:...
and Kate Vernon
Kate Vernon
Kate Vernon is a Canadian-born film and television actress. She is best known for her roles as Lorraine Prescott on the CBS soap opera Falcon Crest from , the stuck-up and popular Benny Hanson in the comedy film Pretty in Pink , Mary-John Lovejoy in The Lost Colony Feature of Lovejoy and...
.
All-Con 2008 was held at the Crowne Plaza North Dallas in Addison, Texas, on March 7-9, 2008. Guests included Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American military science fiction television series, and part of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The show was developed by Ronald D. Moore as a re-imagining of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series created by Glen A. Larson...
actor Aaron Douglas
Aaron Douglas (actor)
Aaron Douglas is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his role as Galen Tyrol on the Sci Fi Channel's television program Battlestar Galactica....
, Return of the Jedi actors Tim Dry
Tim Dry
Tim Dry is a mime artist, writer, songwriter and actor, best known for appearing in ‘Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi’ and for being half of a duo, Tik and Tok, that popularized robotic mime in the UK in the 1980s.-Early years:...
, Sean Crawford, and Mike Edmonds
Mike Edmonds
Mike Edmonds is an English actor with dwarfism, well-known for his role as Little Ron in the children's television show Maid Marian and Her Merry Men.Edmonds can also be seen dancing in the Men Without Hats music video "The Safety Dance"....
, plus Blazing Saddles
Blazing Saddles
Blazing Saddles is a 1974 satirical Western comedy film directed by Mel Brooks. Starring Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder, the film was written by Brooks, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Norman Steinberg, and Al Uger, and was based on Bergman's story and draft. The movie was nominated for three...
actor Burton Gilliam
Burton Gilliam
Burton Gilliam is an American actor.-Career:Prior to acting, Gilliam was a member of the Coast Guard's boxing team and reportedly posted a record of 201 wins out of 217 fights during his enlistment. Gilliam was credited with winning more Golden Gloves bouts than anyone in its history at that time...
and Who Wants to be a Superhero?
Who Wants to Be a Superhero?
Who Wants to Be a Superhero? is a reality show hosted by Stan Lee. Contestants dress up as comic book superheroes of their own invention. Each week, Lee challenges the contestants to represent what "superheroes are all about." One or more of the superheroes deemed the least deserving is eliminated...
contestant Tonya Kay
Tonya Kay
Tonya Kay is an American actress, television personality, and performance artist appearing in independent films and episodic television. Her background includes performing stunts and what she refers to as "danger arts", which consist of knife throwing and whip cracking...
(aka Creature).
All-Con 2009 was held at the Crowne Plaza North Dallas in Addison, Texas, on March 13-15, 2009. Guests attending included Aaron Douglas
Aaron Douglas (actor)
Aaron Douglas is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his role as Galen Tyrol on the Sci Fi Channel's television program Battlestar Galactica....
from Battlestar Galactica
Battlestar Galactica (2004 TV series)
Battlestar Galactica is an American military science fiction television series, and part of the Battlestar Galactica franchise. The show was developed by Ronald D. Moore as a re-imagining of the 1978 Battlestar Galactica television series created by Glen A. Larson...
, Peter Mayhew
Peter Mayhew
Peter Mayhew is an English actor known for playing the Wookiee Chewbacca in the Star Wars movies. His peak height was tall.-Career:...
(Chewbacca
Chewbacca
Chewbacca, also known as Chewie, is a character in the Star Wars franchise, portrayed by Peter Mayhew. In the series' narrative chronology, he appears in Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Episode IV: A New Hope, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi...
) from Star Wars
Star Wars
Star Wars is an American epic space opera film series created by George Lucas. The first film in the series was originally released on May 25, 1977, under the title Star Wars, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year...
, Ken Lally from Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
/ Albert Wesker
Albert Wesker
is a character in the Resident Evil franchise. Although portrayed as a supporting character in the first game, he was later established as the primary antagonist of the series; he usually manipulated story events behind-the-scenes and had a role in more games than the other main characters...
from Resident Evil
Resident Evil (film)
Resident Evil is a British-German 2002 horror film written and directed by Paul W.S. Anderson. The film stars Milla Jovovich, Michelle Rodriguez, Eric Mabius, and James Purefoy...
, Candace Kita
Candace Kita
Candace Kita real name Candace Bender, is a Japanese-American actress and former fashion model, who has appeared in roles in TV shows such as Complete Savages, Two and a Half Men, According to Jim, and Ugly Betty.-Acting:...
from Masked Rider
Masked Rider (TV series)
Masked Rider is an American adaptation of the Japanese television series Kamen Rider Black RX, the ninth in a line of series in the popular Kamen Rider Series franchise. It was produced by Saban and aired on FOX part of the Fox Kids program block from September 16, 1995 to August 31, 1996 and then...
, and Burton Gilliam
Burton Gilliam
Burton Gilliam is an American actor.-Career:Prior to acting, Gilliam was a member of the Coast Guard's boxing team and reportedly posted a record of 201 wins out of 217 fights during his enlistment. Gilliam was credited with winning more Golden Gloves bouts than anyone in its history at that time...
from Back to the Future III and Blazing Saddles
Blazing Saddles
Blazing Saddles is a 1974 satirical Western comedy film directed by Mel Brooks. Starring Cleavon Little and Gene Wilder, the film was written by Brooks, Andrew Bergman, Richard Pryor, Norman Steinberg, and Al Uger, and was based on Bergman's story and draft. The movie was nominated for three...
. Ginny McQueen
Ginny McQueen
Ginny McQueen, also known as "G-chan", is a cosplay model who makes her own costumes and has been cosplaying since 1998. Her first convention was Otakon 1998 where she wore a costume from Gunsmith Cats. Since then she has been featured in magazines, websites, and on MTV...
was the Cosplay
Cosplay
, short for "costume play", is a type of performance art in which participants don costumes and accessories to represent a specific character or idea. Characters are often drawn from popular fiction in Japan, but recent trends have included American cartoons and science fiction...
Guest of Honor.
All-Con 2010 was held at the Crowne Plaza North Dallas in Addison, Texas, on March 12-14, 2010. Guests attending included actor John Billingsley
John Billingsley
John Billingsley is an American actor, known for his role as Doctor Phlox on the television series Star Trek: Enterprise.-Career:...
, actress Anne Lockhart, comic book writer/editor Larry Hama, manga artist Kazushi Hinoki, and Japanese filmmaker Keisaku Kimura.
All-Con 2011 was held at the Crowne Plaza North Dallas in Addison, Texas, on March 18-20, 2011. The theme was "steampunk
Steampunk
Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction, fantasy, alternate history, and speculative fiction that came into prominence during the 1980s and early 1990s. Steampunk involves a setting where steam power is still widely used—usually Victorian era Britain or "Wild West"-era United...
". Guests attending included Star Wars actress Orli Shoshan, Hardware Wars
Hardware Wars
Hardware Wars is a short film parody of the classic science fiction film Star Wars. The thirteen-minute film, which premiered in theatres only seven months after Star Wars, consisted of little more than inside jokes and visual puns that heavily depended upon audience familiarity with the...
actress Cindy Freeling, Battlestar Galactica actors Anne Lockhart and Richard Hatch
Richard Hatch
Richard Hatch is an American actor. He is best known for his role as Captain Apollo in the original Battlestar Galactica television series, and also as Tom Zarek in the remake of Battlestar Galactica....
, plus voice actor Neil Kaplan
Neil Kaplan
Neil Kaplan is an American voice actor, entertainer and comedian.-Biography:Kaplan grew up in San Jose, California. He got his start as a comedian doing impressions of presidents such as Ronald Reagan and Richard Nixon. He also impersonated a little known journalist at the time, Dan Rather. He...
.