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Photos Added: Jun 12 '99
Sentinel Con '98, the first Sentinel convention, was held
over the weekend of April 3-5, 1998. The event took place at the Vancouver
Renaissance Hotel, site of several Sentinel location shoots (Love
Kills; Foreign Exchange; Vendetta) and was attended by guests of honor
Richard Burgi, Garett Maggart, Bruce A. Young, Anna
Galvin, Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo. Accompanying them
were a large contingent of crew and production staff, all eager to share
their pride and joy -- The Sentinel -- with an appreciative audience.
The proceeds of the convention and its charity auctions were donated to
the Vancouver Ronald McDonald House.
Sentinel Con '98 was the scene of several memorable introductions including
the debut of Anna Galvin (who had just joined the cast as Inspector
Megan Connor), an impressive demonstration by John Sampson (Richard
Burgi's stunt double) and his stunt team, displays of props and special
effects pieces, and the hugely popular Blooper Tape. Ryf Van Rij,
Richard's stand-in as well as supporting cast-member (Detective
Rafe), proved to be a fan favorite as the weekend progressed.
** Sentinel Con '98 -- VIP Guest Q&A **
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LEFT: Richard and Garett were greeted with
enthusiastic cheering and applause when they entered the ballroom. Richard's
movement towards the stage was the signal for the start of an exciting
demonstration put on by his stunt double, John Sampson, and the
rest of the Sentinel stunt team. (John, in full stunt double
mode, was dressed in clothing identical to Richard's).
(Photo: Barbara
Nice-Miller)
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| RIGHT: Danny Bilson, Garett Maggart and Richard
Burgi share a laugh as Danny recounts one of the many hilarious
"behind the scenes" tales told at Sentinel Con.
(Photo: Ann
Teitelbaum)
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LEFT: Garett waits expectantly for Richard's
response to one of Danny's comments. Judging from the devilish grin
and rocking chair, Richard's reply was probably both tongue-in-cheek
and outrageous.
(Photo: Ann Teitelbaum)
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| RIGHT: Richard appears lost in thought while Garett
Maggart listens attentively as producer Danny Bilson fields
a question during the Q&A.
(Photo: Ann Teitelbaum)
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** Sentinel Con '98 -- Charity Auction **
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LEFT: In an effort to spur the bidding on Ellison's
flannel boxers, Richard pulled them on over his pants and launched
into a series of bodybuilding poses. The ploy worked -- the bids skyrocketed
to the point that items were added to the "lot" by the astonished
guests in an effort to give bidders more value for their money. (Anna
Galvin is shown here displaying the Sentinel softball jersey
and color photocopy of the "News Update" magazine cover added
to the lot). Naturally, this drove the bidding even higher.
(Photo: Ann Teitelbaum)
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| RIGHT: The charity auction saw a wide variety
of Sentinel memorabilia put on the block. Richard is seen
here delivering a Sentinel softball jersey to the winning bidder.
Before handing it over he checked the tag to see what size the shirt was
in an effort to identify its original owner.
(Photo: Sherry
Zoeller)
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RIGHT: Richard takes a look at the color photocopy
of Jim Ellison's Cascade PD identification sheet before turning it over
to the winning bidder.
(Photo: Barbara Nice-Miller)
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** Sentinel Con '98 -- Autograph Line **
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LEFT: The autograph line gets under way. Richard
made a point of chatting a bit with each attendee as he personalized and
autographed photos and con programs.
(Photo: Ann Teitelbaum)
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| RIGHT: Richard and his fellow Sentinel
coworkers became the embodiment of the term "trouper" at the
Sentinel Con autograph line. The line of fans waiting for a chance
to say hello and secure an autograph was some 300 people strong and Richard
manned his table for several hours non-stop, chatting with fans while personalizing
and signing photos for them.
(Photo: Sherry Zoeller)
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