Patrice Bonnyrat of Griffen Films had slated Sunday afternoon for a series of interviews with selected ERB fans. The many-hatted Tracy Griffen conducted most of the interviews. Footage of the Huckster room and guests of honour had been shot earlier in the weekend and much more filming was planned in various locations around America for the coming months. Eventually Tracy would help with the script and Lydie Denier and Bruce Boxleitner would serve as hosts for what would be a three-hour PBS bio documentary. Patrice had contacted me months before and had sent a number of topics for me to prepare.

1. Describe your professional or artistic link to Edgar Rice Burroughs

2. How is his influence reflected in your work?

3. What do you feel was Burroughs' greatest contribution to society?

4. What do you think the future holds for the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs?"

After the final planned convention event, the Burroughs Bibliophile auction, we joined the Spargurs and Brian Bohnett for our second unforgettable eating experience with the mighty Ghak, Steve Wadding. Jerry's Deli was hopping when we arrived. Our waitress, Bubbles from New York, put up with our antics only because she took an immediate liking to Steve. Ghak's prowess with a knife and fork has been well documented in previous convention reports and he lived up to his reputation as Bubbles brought on dish after dish of culinary delights -- all served with a bubbly exuberance. 

Having heard of Jerry Spannraft's collection of Coke and diner memorabilia, we knew we had to somehow smuggle out one of the deli's impressive, oversized menus to add to his collection. Bubbles proved to be a fine accomplice in this as she escorted us out to the parking lot and showed us how to avoid the security cameras. Our final image of the diner is one of Bubbles waving fetchingly from the curbside as Ghak's car pulled out of the lot onto Ventura Boulevard.

It was with some melancholy that my Princess and I finally tucked ourselves in under our new jungle quilt. We realized that tomorrow would bring only farewells and a tedious day-long journey by shuttle, air and car. Our only regrets were that we didn't have more time to visit with special ERB friends or to explore the wonders of Southern California. An early Monday flight forced us to decline Bob and Lindy's invitation to visit their home and a chance to revel in the amazing Zeuschner collection... and to swap guitar licks and tall tales.

We would like to send out thanks and congratulations to the organizers of ECOF 2002: Rob Greer, Bob Zeuschner, Tracy Griffin, Jim van Hise, and all the participating LA SubERBs and Capitol Panthans. A special thanks goes out to Danton Burroughs for opening so many doors throughout the event: ERB, Inc. offices, Tarzana Ranch, and his personal treasure trove of ERB rarities.

Winner of this year's "Find JoN's Camera" contest is Bruce Wood who found it cleverly hidden on the front desk in the Holiday Inn lobby. Bruce "Abner Perry" Wood is a longtime Burroughs collector and scholar, who has assembled a comprehensive online Atlas of maps illustrating the many ERB empires. He also has produced a series of replica dust jackets that are much in demand by ERB book collectors.