Committee

Scott Anderson / Director / Contact

Scott Anderson was still a youth when he discovered role-playing games (Dungeons and Dragons), and was immediately swept away by a consuming interest. That same fascination led him to his first convention, Windycon in the 1980s. Con-going became almost a second home for Scott, as the conventions further stoked his appreciation for wondrous things and wonderful people. Scott has attended many conventions, and of all types, but it was not until the late-1990s that Scott learned the gratification that comes with running a Con.

Scott is a man of many interests. Technology, both as topic and gadget, tickles his fancy. Scott qualifies easily as an "early adopter;" typically the first in his neighborhood, and city, to have the newest gizmo. And he can tell you all about his newest toy. But watch out when he gets that maniacal gleam in his eye; he is about to convince you to spend $100s of your money to buy the same toy -- something you never even knew existed until Scott told you.

It seems fitting, then, that Scott enjoys science fiction, in addition to fantasy, horror, and movies. Each, like technology, traffics in the field of the imagination; to create something where nothing was before. Scott's interests in podcasting, networking, and professional exhibits come from his storied career. Scott understands the nature, and the necessity, to promote, publicize, and merchandise to achieve success no matter the endeavor. It is all this, plus Scott's fondness for a good party, as exemplified by the participant's smiles, that cause Scott to create Xanadu Las Vegas, a happy marriage between Scott's personal interests and professional experiences. In fact, Scott met professional artist, Lubov, at the 1999 Windycon in Chicago. As Scott says, "Conventions have given me so much happiness and joy that I feel it is time for me to return the favor; to give back to the community."

Welcome to Xanadu Las Vegas, the convention of fascinating technology, great literature, and interesting people. And only the first of many Xanadu conventions over the years and decades to come.

Big Al / Website / Programming / Things of a Graphical Nature / Contact

It was 1960 Big Al discovered a new world of sordid pleasures between the pages of "Famous Monsters of Filmland" magazine. In 1963 and '64 he put on what is arguably the first Fan-media conventions. He produced a series of fanzines, dabbling with the folly of mimeography and yet, being a glutton for punishment, joined Dr. Donald A. Reed's "Count Dracula Society" becoming Vice President and producing a slew of publications.

He was working with Kustom Kar King Ed "Big Daddy" Roth in 1969 at MovieWorld in Buena Park till moving to Los Angeles doing T-Shirt designs by day and managing "The Holly Cinema" movie theatre on Hollywood Blvd. by night. He even worked a number of years at the infamous "Collectors Book Store" also on the boulevard plus a brief career in modeling and TV commercials but in 1972 began designing advertising material for several motion picture companies which lasted 20 years.

It was a dark and stormy night at the home of Dr. Reed when the two of them drew up plans for "The Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films". Together, they produced several television presentations of their annual award ceremonies and the Academy is still operating today.

Returning as Art GoH at StarCon 2 in Leicester, England, Big Al worked on many of the infamous "Bob Burns Halloween Extravaganzas", even playing a Morlock in the Time Machine presentation written by and starring David Gerrold. Meanwhile, back in fandom, won several awards for Best Fantasy Art and a Walt Disney award for Best Photography.

Giving up studio work and leaving the big city for Palm Springs where he wrote a weekly, internationally syndicated movie review column and produced graphics for a number of independent printing concerns. With the advent of personal computers found his next love affair with the Mac, producing some of the first entirely computer generated fanzines. Most notably, Airwaves and Delineator. It was also in this small desert community, he met and married DeDee; in fact, they were the first couple married at the Excalibur Hotel in Las Vegas opening day, 1990.

The next few years Big Al dealt with a series of medical calamities, from a mild stroke, kidney stones, to prostate cancer, which after several surgeries is still recovering.

Ever the dilettante, he has produced several podcast interviews with cult movie favorites from years gone by, cover art for a number of magazines and books, performed in and around a number of movies and now working with the marvelous Xanadu Las Vegas. He hopes to see you there.

IMDB / When Prostates Go Bad / Fansite 1

Lubov / Art Show Director / Website HERE / Contact

Lynne Kourtidis / Registration Lead / Public Relations / Contact

Lynne Kourtidis was one of those numerous kids who fell in love with Star Trek during syndication in the 1970s. She attended her first Star Trek convention in 1976 in Washington DC where nearly all the showºs actors were guests -- it was heaven on earth! (For a long time her most prized possession was a 16mm Star Trek blooper reel she bought at the convention.) Who knew that that 16-year old kid would one day grow up, move to Los Angeles and start working at Paramount studios? The Writers Strike of 1988 provided her with a lucky break as she landed as an administrative assistant to Gene Roddenberry on Star Trek: The Next Generation second season, also known as the season of the "bad doctor."

After ST:TNG, Lynne worked on various TV productions for among others Burton Armus (of the "Armus" creature fame), Carol Mendelsohn (currently of CSIs), Joel Surnow (currently of 24) and Glen A. Larson (formerly Knight Rider). Following TV production, she slid naturally into Web site production for various studios. During her time at Entertainment Tonight Online and Star Trek.com, she served as the celebrity typist for many online chats. When the dot com bust spit her out onto the sand, she decided a fresh start was in order and headed to the flashing lights to Las Vegas.

Lynne says, "Vegas has been 'berry berry' good to me because that's where I ran into people like Scott, Lubov and Big Al. Mmmmm, come to think of it, hope they never offer to take me for a ride in the desert!"

Gene Kelly / Indie Film Liaison / Website HERE / Contact

Gene has been a Park Ranger, Chief of Police, Death Investigator for the Las Vegas Coroners Office working with CSI, and a published author and independent film producer. Juggling between the dual career tracks of kellylasvegas.com/consult/index.html and kellylasvegas.com/filmography.html has led to wearing many hats and a schizophrenic pace for Gene, who is Co-ordinating the Film Festival for Xanadu Las Vegas, and also Directing episodes of X-Cast. Gene and his wife, writer and photographer Joan Kelly moved from a gray/cold/dismal/humid Chicago suburb to sunny/hot (but its a dry heat!) Las Vegas four years ago, and wouldn't dream of living and working anywhere else. As is obligatory for authors, they have one very vocal orange cat named Raja who believes it is his house, and Gene and Joan are his domestic live in help.

Jolie LaChance / Tech Liaison / Contact

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