Saturday, June 19, 2021

It was a GREAT Howard Days!



While it has taken us nearly a week to recover from Howard Days 2021, we are happy to announce that our 2021 version was a spectacular event!

Attendance was very high, maybe unexpectedly so, but not nearly as high as the enjoyment of the attendees. After missing 2020 due to we-all-know-what, Howard fans came out in force to celebrate the Life and Legacy of Ol' Two-Gun Bob Howard! We owe a debt of gratitude (as we do every year) to the wonderful work of the folks of Project Pride of Cross Plains. They are the backbone and inspiration for all of us coming to Howard Days! Thank you!

Roy Thomas made for a near-perfect Guest of Honor: so very personable and open, his panels were engaging and entertaining, and his presence was no doubt a factor in the increased attendance.

The Robert E. Howard Museum shone in the hot Texas sun, a beacon for Howard fans from 26 states (and France - thanks, Dr. Louinet). We'll look for more foreign attendees next year, of course, and really celebrate our international family reunion. 

One of the highlights of this Howard Days was the unveiling of an on-site plaque monument devoted to REH, provide by the Texas State Historical Commission. The legitimacy of the Robert E. Howard legacy continues to grow.

The Bus, Walking and Grounds Tours were all well-received and pre-eminent Howard Scholar Rusty Burke did his usual masterful job conducting them. The Pavilion was packed both days and folks enjoyed many hot dogs and much tender brisket to go along with the fine Howardian Fellowship that Howard Days is famous for. The brilliant postal cancellation image graced many a postage stamp, the Cross Plains Library hosted many a fan gazing at original Howard typescripts, the REH Foundation Press set-up in the yard, along with several dealers, was buzzing with activity both days. And the Gift Shop in the Museum was darn near empty at the end of the festivities.

The Silent Auction at the Celebration Banquet brought in near record dough for Project Pride and we are happy to report no knife fights broke out during the frenzied bidding! Overall, between the Banquet, Silent Auction, Gift Shop and generous donations, Project Pride made up for the HD's missing year!

A big shout out goes to Mark Finn (author of the REH bio  BLOOD and THUNDER) for his wonderful job as both moderator of the REH in Comics panel and for his going solo on our perennial favorite Fists at the Icehouse panel. And he also read the English portion of "Cimmeria" at Porchlight Poetry!

All in all, Howard Days 2021 was a much needed event for all who attended. A big Thank You goes out to you all! We're certain that now that the healing has begun, we can look forward to better times ahead.

And we can guarantee that Howard Days 2022 will be here before we know it! Conan the Cimmerian turns 90 in '22, so we'll have to be on alert for what this iconic literary figure created by the incomparable Robert E. Howard will bring to Howard Days 2022! Y'all come!

Saturday, June 5, 2021

Howard Days Starts Thursday June 10!

 While Howard Days "officially" starts on Friday, June 11th - there are activities at the Museum and in Cross Plains on Thursday the 10th.

The Robert E. Howard Museum is open to all on Thursday from 2 to 4 p.m. and the adjacent Alla Ray Morris Pavilion is open to attendees all day that Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

There are no docents on hand on Thursday, but the Gift Shop will be open. You may tour the house and grounds at your leisure and there will certainly be enough folks on hand to answer any questions you may have. There is no cost for any activities for the entire weekend (only if you have a Banquet reservation is there a cost) so feel free (pun intended) to enjoy yourself at the Museum!

And help support the Senior Center in Cross Plains by attending the Thursday Fish Fry fundraiser from 5 to 7. Eight bucks gets you some delicious fish fry, all the fixings, drinks and desert!

Here is a 90% accurate revised schedule, as up to date as we can make it. With any event like this, unforeseen factors may occur, so let's roll with it and have some fun at Howard Days.

We sure hope to see you there.

2021 HOWARD DAYS SCHEDULE

“Celebrating 51 Years of REH in Comics”

 

THURSDAY JUNE 10

2:00 – 4:00 pm: The Robert E. Howard House and Museum is open to the public. There are no docents on duty but the Gift Shop will be open and the grounds and Pavilion are available to all.

5:00 – 7:00 pm: Fish Fry at the Cross Plains Senior Center.

The Pavilion will be open and available all day until late night on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

 

FRIDAY JUNE 11

8:30 am until gone: Coffee and donuts at the Pavilion, compliments of Project Pride

9 am – 4 pm: Robert E. Howard House Museum and Grounds open to the public. The adjacent Alla Ray Morris Pavilion will be open all day until late night.

9 am – 4 pm: REH Postal Cancellation Souvenir-Cross Plains Post Office. FRIDAY ONLY.

9:15 am – 12 Noon: Bus Tour of Cross Plains & Surrounding Areas. FRIDAY ONLY.

10 am to 4 pm: REH Foundation Press canopy and Dealers Area open on grounds east of Museum.

10 am – 4 pm: Cross Plains Public Library open. Original Robert E. Howard typescripts along with original Weird Tales magazines will be on display.

NOON: Hot Dog Lunch hosted by Project Pride at the Pavilion. Donations are welcome!

12:45 p.m.:  Historical Marker Presentation at the REH Museum.

1:30 pm: PANEL: REH in the Comics. This overview panel will discuss the history of Howard characters and stories presented in a comic book format. Mark Finn moderates Roy Thomas, Fred Blosser, Patrice Louinet, Jay Zetterberg.  AT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

Following this panel: Presentation of the 2020-2021 Robert E. Howard Foundation Awards.

3:00-4:00 pm PANEL: Roy Thomas Autograph Session. AT THE PAVILION.

5:30 – 6:30 pm: Silent Auction items available for viewing & bidding at Banquet site

6:30 pm: Robert E. Howard Celebration Banquet & Silent Auction at the Family Life Center of the Baptist Church on Main Street. Guest of Honor Speaker: Roy Thomas.

9:00 pm PANEL: Fists at the Ice House. Our perennial favorite panel about Howard’s boxing (and most prolific) writings. Panelists Mark Finn, Patrice Louinet

Afterward there will be Howard Fellowship at the Pavilion.  All are welcome and adult beverages are allowed.

 

SATURDAY JUNE 12

9 am – 4 pm: Robert E. Howard House Museum open to the public. The adjacent Alla Ray Morris Pavilion will be open all day until late night.

9:15 am – 10:30 am: Cross Plains Walking Tour, conducted by Rusty Burke. Meet at the Ice House (Reed Construction) on Main Street and walk in the steps of Bob Howard.

10 am – 3 pm: Cross Plains Public Library open. Original Robert E. Howard typescripts along with original Weird Tales magazines will be on display.

10 am to 4 pm: REH Foundation Press canopy and Dealers Area open on grounds east of Museum.

11:00 am – 12:30 pm PANEL: The Roy Thomas Interview. Come hear an engaging chat and a Q&A session with our Guest of Honor. AT FIRST UNITED METHODIST CHURCH.

1:00-2:00 pm PANEL: Roy Thomas Autograph Session. AT THE PAVILION.

2:30 pm PANEL: What’s Up with REH? This is our wrap-up panel, devoted to All Things Going On with Robert E. Howard in 2021. AT THE PAVILION

4:00 pm: Tour of REH House Grounds. Rusty Burke will lead a tour around the outside of the Howard Museum.

5:00 pm: Sunset BBQ at the Pavilion. Come and enjoy a real Texas chuck-wagon barbeque!

After BBQ: Porchlight Poetry: Listen to a multi-language reading of Howard’s poem “Cimmeria” + more REH poetry read aloud from the Museum porch. We have a microphone this year!

Afterward there will be Howard Fellowship at the Pavilion.  All are welcome and adult beverages are allowed.

NOTE: There will be special announcements, surprise guests and extemporaneous events:”pop-up” panels, readings, book signings and REH related happenings throughout Friday and Saturday at the Pavilion. Howard Fellowship at its finest!

REGARDING ROY THOMAS’ AUTOGRAPH SESSIONS:

- Roy will be signing ONLY on Friday 3 to 4 pm and Saturday 1 to 2 pm at the Pavilion

- Limit 10 items to sign at a time. You may get in line more than once.

- You are requested to make a donation to Hero Initiative (www.heroinitiative.org) each time you                         

  go through the line.

- No personalization autographs - Roy's signature only

- An "exclusive 'official' Marvel Roy Thomas Appreciation print” will be available for $20: Roy will

   personalize these. (A portion of proceeds will be donated to Project Pride.)

 

REGARDING DEALERS TABLES: There will be 8 tables available in the yard, FCFS, one per dealer @ $25.00 for the weekend. NO DEALERS IN THE PAVILION. Thank you.