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I arrived in Seattle Thursday afternoon after “borrowing” an extra three hours on the way out (I’ll need to pay them back when I go home) and a short stop in Minneapolis/St. Paul. I was met at the airport by a representative of REPS, who took me to my hotel and kindly pointed out to me on a map where the heck I was relative to the buildings in the Seattle Center where the bulk of the convention was taking place. It wasn’t until I walked it the first time I realized how close the hotel is to everything… especially on a beautiful early-summer day.

After parking my bags in the hotel room, I decided to check out the area before freshening up; I figured the walk would do me good clearing the last of the stale airplane gases from my system, so I wandered up Roy Avenue in the general direction of the Seattle Center.

First mistake…for those unfamiliar with the area, Roy Avenue about a block from the hotel has a cacophony of restaurants along the street. Thai, Japanese, vegetarian, you-name-it…there’s even a Quiznos a ways up if you haven’t already succumbed to the symphony of aromas that assault you.

I bravely passed all these temptations and found the Northeast Buildings, and the rooms where the Convention is to be held. The first person I saw was Martin Grams, Jr. - Martin lives about a half-hour away from me in Pennsylvania, and about the only time we see each other is when we drive four hours, ten hours, or fly across the country to go to an OTR convention…go figure. We chatted a bit, and ran into Joy Jackson, Showcase Chair, producer, and all-around workaholic, who gave us our convention packets and, more importantly, suggestions for places to eat (beginning to note a theme?). Marilyn Wilt found us and gave us more than one of her delightful laughs, by which time I had forgotten the rather boring flight across the country.

After walking back to the hotel together, Martin and I parted company. I freshened up a bit, and left the hotel again to wander the immediate vicinity of the hotel, finding all sorts of places to eat and drink, coffee shops galore, and even “Bartell’s Drugs,” which made me chuckle wondering what Harry would have to say about that.

I grabbed some stuff at a local market, a sandwich at a local shop, and returned to the hotel, tired but excited about what the next day would bring.

Donnie Pitchford hosts a discussion on Lum and Abner, with Barbara Fuller, Sam Edwards, and Dick Beals.	Barbara Fuller, Sam Edwards, and Dick Beals.	Sam Edwards and Ray Erlenborn discuss their activities during World War II.	Jim Dolan and Showcase Chair Joy Jackson preparing for the weekend.
David Parker and Martin Grams, Jr. awaiting the Green Hornet recreation.	Martin Grams, Jr. introduces The Green Hornet - “What Price Glamor?”	Director Dick Beals.	Frank Buxton and Tommy Cook.
Ray Erlenborn performing sound effects.	Cliff Carpenter, Barbara Fuller, and Frank Buxton.	A panel on Carlton E. Morse, moderated by Martin Grams, Jr. with Sam Edwards, Jean Rouverol Butler, Barbara Fuller, and Millie (Mrs. Carlton E.) Morse.	Sam Edwards, Jean Rouverol Butler, and Barbara Fuller.