Gary Berman

Creation Entertainment is an American for-profit entertainment company located in Glendale, California, which produces fan conventions for fans of various films and television series, mainly in the science fiction, horror, and fantasy genres. Creation Entertainment hosts about 20 conventions annually in various locations such as Chicago, Illinois; and Burbank, California. Creation was founded in 1971 by comic book fans Gary Berman and Adam Malin in New York City. Since then, it has organized over 2,300 conventions.

Creation hosts the largest ''Star Trek'' convention in the world, which occurs annually during the summer in Las Vegas, Nevada; they previously produced Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors conventions. The company has the "official" convention rights for such properties as ''Twilight'',
'' Stargate SG-1'', ''Star Trek'', and '' Xena: Warrior Princess''. The company is also a licensee of merchandise for many genre television series, including ''Star Trek'', ''The X-Files'', ''Xena'', '' Stargate SG-1'', '' Stargate Atlantis'', ''Lost'' and ''Supernatural'', producing souvenir items such as T-shirts, hats, mugs, autographed items and calendars.

Events and guests

Creation conventions consist of on-stage celebrity appearances, Q&A sessions, parties and cabaret performances featuring celebrities and charity auction breakfasts. Attendees may also purchase autographs and photo ops that allow fans to be photographed with celebrities.

Creation collects additional money at their shows through limited-attendance functions not included in the ticket prices, including celebrity food functions, photo opportunities, and slower-paced autographing sessions.

Over the years, hundreds of actors, directors, producers and writers have appeared at Creation Entertainment conventions to speak to and meet their fans.

Comics guests who have appeared at Creation Conventions over the years include Stan Lee, Vaughn Bodé, Ralph Bakshi, Jenette Kahn, Michael Kaluta, Jeff Jones, Gil Kane, Steve Gerber, Nicola Cuti, Bob Smith, Alex Niño, Martin Pasko, Marv Wolfman, Jim Steranko, Howard Chaykin, Joe Staton, Jerry Iger, Len Wein,Fratz, Doug. "TNJ Listings," ''The New Nostalgia Journal'' #28 (Aug. 1976), p. 39. George Pérez,Cummings, Judith
"Comic Book Collectors Take Funnies Seriously,"
''New York Times'' (Nov. 26, 1977). Frank Miller, John Byrne, Herb Trimpe, Gray Morrow, Bob Larkin, John Romita, Sr., John Romita, Jr., Gene Colan, Archie Goodwin, Rudy Nebres, Tom Yeates, Bob Wiacek, Terry Austin,Mastrangelo, Joseph P. "Browsing for Comic Books," ''Washington Post'' (June 29, 1981). Jim Shooter, and Chris Claremont.

Media guests who have appeared at Creation Conventions over the years include Tom Savini, Robin Curtis, Frank Ashmore, Terrance Dicks,"Weekender Guide,"
''New York Times'' (Nov. 29, 1985). Lucy Lawless, Arnold Schwarzenegger, George Lucas, Ron Howard, James Cameron, Vincent Price, Tim Conway, Carl Reiner, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Walter Koenig, James Doohan, Harlan Ellison, Isaac Asimov, David Prowse, Joe Dante, Nicholas Meyer, Patrick Stewart, William Gaines, Peter Jackson, Scott Bakula, Gillian Anderson, Chris Carter, Rob Zombie, Avery Brooks and Kate Mulgrew.

History

New York comic cons

The first Creation comic book convention was held on November 26–28, 1971, at the New Yorker Hotel, New York City,Beerbohm, Robert
"Update to Comics Dealer Extraordinaire Robert Beerbohm: In His Own Words,"
Comic-Convention Memories (June 24, 2010). produced by 14-year-old Queens schoolboys Adam Malin and Gary Berman. The official guest was star comics creator Jim Steranko.

Creation Con II took place at the Statler Hilton Hotel in New York City on November 24–26, 1972. The guests of honor were Philip José Farmer and Frank Kelly Freas. Other guests included Vaughn Bodé, Jim Steranko, Gray Morrow, Michael Kaluta, Neal Adams, Howard Chaykin, John Severin, Frank Brunner, Isaac Asimov, Ron Goulart, Roy Krenkel, and Hans Stefan Santesson.

From that point, Creation Entertainment continued producing large annual conventions in New York City (under such colorful names as "Big Comicon Creation Convention," "Creation Comic Book & Pop Culture Convention," and "Creation '78"), usually taking place over the weekend following Thanksgiving.Grant, Steven
"Permanent Damage: Issue #43,"
''Comic Book Resources'' (July 10, 2002). A popular venue for the Thanksgiving cons was the Statler Hilton Hotel. In the mid-1970s, attendance at the New York Creation conventions averaged around 5,000 fans; the admission was around $5/day.

Expansion

Beginning around 1980, Creation expanded their conventions beyond New York, producing cons in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. In 1983, Creation produced conventions in St. Louis, Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh, Anaheim, New York City, and Houston.

By 1983, Creation Entertainment was the leading producer of comic book conventions nationwide. According to long-time comics editor Diana Schutz, "Creation, at that time, used to run a comic book show virtually every weekend in some part of the country. It was then . 1983that I met my future . . . husband, Bob Schreck, who was working for Creation in those days."Thomas, Michae
"Reining in a Dark Horse: An Interview with Diana Schutz"
Comic Book Resources. December 20, 2001. Accessed March 17, 2008

Branching out

In 1984, Creation branched out from the comics world into the horror and science fiction genres. They teamed up with ''Fangoria'' to produce annual horror movie conventions in Los Angeles, New Jersey, and Chicago known as the Weekend of Horrors.

From 1984–1986, Creation produced regular conventions dedicated to ''Doctor Who'' and other science fiction shows and movies. in 1984, Creation produced ''Doctor Who''-focused conventions in Philadelphia (February 11–12, June 9–10, and Nov. 3–4), Rochester (May 26–28), San Francisco (June 2–3 and Oct. 6–7), Washington, D.C., (June 16–17), Boston (June 22–23, July 14–15, and Oct. 6–7), Detroit (June 30–July 1), Denver (July 7–8), Chicago (July 21–22 and Sept. 29–30), New Orleans (Sept. 22–23), Atlanta (Oct. 13–14), and St. Louis (Oct. 20–21). In 1985, Creation held ''Doctor Who''-themed conventions in Boston (Jan. 12–13 and Aug. 24–25), San Francisco (Jan. 26–27, June 8–9, and Oct. 26–27), Philadelphia (Feb. 9–10, August 10–11, and November 9–10), New York City (March 16–17 and July 27–28), Rochester (March 23–24), Chicago (April 27–28 and Sept. 7–8), Los Angeles (May 25–27), and Tampa (June 29–30). In 1986, Creation held ''Doctor Who''-themed shows in Chicago (Jan. 11–12), Washington (Jan. 18–19), Boston (Jan. 25–26 and July 12–13), San Francisco (Feb. 1–2), New York City (February 22–23 and May 10–11), Oakland (March 8–9), Orlando (March 22–23), and Trenton (March 23). Frequent guests of the Creation Entertainment ''Doctor Who'' conventions included Patrick Troughton, Nicholas Courtney, Mark Strickson, Matthew Waterhouse, Mary Tamm, Elisabeth Sladen, and Terrance Dicks.

The comics-focused Creation '84 was held November 23–25, 1984, at the Omni Park Central Hotel, New York City. November 30–December 1, 1985, were the dates of the 15th annual Creation Comic Book Convention, held at the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City. Guests include Jim Shooter, Chris Claremont, Robin Curtis, Frank Ashmore, and Terrance Dicks.

In 1986 Creation produced large-scale comics conventions in at least six cities, including Philadelphia (July 19–20), Los Angeles (August 9–10), New York City (August 23–24), San Francisco (also August 23-24), Washington, D.C. (September 6–7), and New Brunswick, New Jersey (September 20–21). The New York show featured a special tribute to Marvel Comics' 25th anniversary; guests included Stan Lee and Jim Shooter."Comic Book Conventions 1986," ''Star Brand'' #2 (Nov. 1986), p. 18.

Creation Convention '87 was held June 27–28 at New York's Roosevelt Hotel. 1988 saw two New York Creations Cons, on June 25–26 and November 25–27, both held at the Penta Hotel."Summer Comic Conventions," ''The Comics Journal'' #122 (June 1988), pp. 26–27. These were the last Creation comic conventions held in New York City; after 1988, Creation shifted focus from comics conventions to horror and science fiction shows (although they hosted one last Creation Comic Book & Pop Culture Convention in Pasadena, California, on January 31–February 2, 2003).

"Official" science fiction cons

In 1991, Creation Entertainment received its first license from Paramount Pictures for the ''Star Trek'' property, becoming the first studio licensee for photographic still reproduction.

In 2001, Creation hosted the first annual ''Star Trek'' convention in Las Vegas, Nevada.

A ''Star Trek'' "Grand Slam" event was held in Pasadena in March 2004.

Creation Entertainment's '' Stargate SG-1'' conventions were marketed as "The Official ''Stargate SG-1'' and '' Stargate Atlantis'' Tour", which mostly took place in the United States until the company acquired the ''SG-1'' license for Vancouver, British Columbia, conventions in 2005. A Creation Stargate Convention took place in Los Angeles on November 16, 2006.

Creation teamed up with TheOneRing.net to present The One Ring Celebration (ORC) in 2005, 2006, and 2007.

In 2008, Creation added Austin, Texas, to the Weekend of Horrors circuit; but in 2009 Fangoria broke ties with Creation.

2013 Guinness World Record

In 2013, the 12th Annual Official Star Trek Convention, held in the United States (in Las Vegas, Nevada), broke the previous Guinness World Record for the largest gathering of people dressed as ''Star Trek'' characters, having counted 1,085 people.

Criticism

Creation Entertainment has been criticized in the past by fans for reasons including rushed autograph lines and little to no personal time with celebrity guests allowed both during and outside of the scheduled events.

References

External links

* {{official website, http://www.creationent.com

Entertainment companies based in California
Companies based in Glendale, California
Entertainment companies established in 1971
1971 establishments in California