Happy Holidays to all our friends and family. 2019 has been another incredibly fun-filled year for us. During 2019, we took some more trips to some neat places, and attended various autograph/nostalgia conventions along with a couple of other treats.
In January we spent New Years in Cape May, New Jersey at the historical “Congress Hall” celebrating my retirement after 30 years with the NJ Division of Taxation.
Helen & Johnny in Cape May, New Jersey at the historical “Congress Hall”
We celebrated Helen’s birthday in February with an extended weekend in Philadelphia. We saw two Shows with the talented Frank Ferrante, “A Comedy of Tenors” and “An Evening with Groucho“. While in Philly, we also visited the Reading Terminal Market and toured the Mütter Museum. Also in February, with my retirement, I added an additional radio show to “Radio Once More” entitled “Woo-Hoo Extra“. Unlike “Woo-Hoo Wednesday” which airs Wednesday evenings, “Woo-Hoo Extra” is a quick (usually only an hour long) show that can air any time, mornings, evenings, overnight, etc. on the internet radio station “Radio Once More“.
Helen & Johnny clowning around with Frank Ferrante as he brings to life…..”The One, the only…………Grouch Marx” after another one of his “An Evening with Groucho” performances
“Woo-Hoo Extra” on “Radio Once More”
In March, we again attended the “Monstermania Convention” where Helen and I met various celebrities including Dolph Lundgren and Dylan McDermott among others. Also in March, as part of our “Woo-Hoo Extra” on “Radio Once More“, we partnered up for the first time with the internet radio station “Yesterday USA“, and had a simulcast with Walden Hughes. Walden and I were broadcasting on both “Radio Once More” and “Yesterday USA” at the same time. This was a joy!!! Together we had a blast chatting, sharing stories, playing music and “Old Time Radio” shows, and taking phone calls from the listeners. We are now doing this on a regular basis every month or so, and sometimes some of the other gang joins in including Helen, and from Yesterday USA, Patricia, John & Larry Gassman, and Big John Matthews as well. Sometimes we stay on all night until 6AM……you never what can happen on Live Radio!!!!!
We’ve done a number of simulcasts with our good buddy Walden Hughes along with some of the other gang at “YesterdayUSA”
April featured our first “Chiller Theatre Convention” of 2019 where met many friends and got some great photos and autographs from various celebrities including Anson Williams, Don Most, Donna Pescow, William Katt & John Davidson.
Helen & Johnny with William Katt (Carrie, The Greatest American Hero)
Helen & Johnny with Donna Pescow (Saturday Night Fever)
Helen & Johnny with veteran entertainer, John Davidson
In May, Helen and I were invited to The Rod Serling Archive at The Bundy Museum in Binghamton, New York where we gave a mini presentation of “An Evening of Old Time Radio” in connection with a Rod Serling radio presentation. Big thanks to Rod Serling archivist Mike Pipher from the Bundy Museum for the kind invitation. Also in May, Helen and I also accepted an invitation to give an “Old Time Radio” presentation at the “Burlington County Lyceum of History and Natural Sciences“. Helen and I presented an overview of “Old Time Radio” programs entitled “Remembering the Golden Age of Radio” This went quite well and the many attendees seemed to enjoy the presentation. Thanks to the staff of the “Burlington County Lyceum” for this wonderful opportunity.
Johnny at The Rod Serling Archive at The Bundy Museum in Binghamton, New York where we gave a mini presentation of “An Evening of Old Time Radio” in connection with a Rod Serling radio presentation
Helen & Johnny at The Rod Serling Archive at The Bundy Museum in Binghamton, New York where we gave a mini presentation of “An Evening of Old Time Radio” in connection with a Rod Serling radio presentation
Big thanks to Rod Serling archivist Mike Pipher from the Bundy Museum for the kind invitation to us
Thanks to the staff of the “Burlington County Lyceum” for this wonderful opportunity to share “Old Time Radio” programs with the community with our presentation entitled “Remembering the Golden Age of Radio”
June brought us the bittersweet task of finalizing the sale of our late Mother’s home. It was very surreal to say “good-bye” to the house that I grew up in, and spent 27 years living in. However, in retrospect, it was amazing that almost 55 years ago, a young family of 5 including a newborn baby boy, moved into this house to begin a new chapter in their lives in Mount Holly. That baby boy was yours truly, Johnny Boy. And in June a young family of 5 including a newborn baby boy, moved into this same house and is starting their new lives together in 2019. I wish them many happy years of Laughing, Living, and Loving!!!! I’m sure that Mom & Dad are looking down with pride as they witness the circle of life continuing. I hope this family has as much fun and joy as I had growing up there, and later on spending time with Mom, Dad, and the entire family. I wish them all well in their new chapter of life!!!!! Also in June, Helen and I celebrated our 5 year anniversary of our “Woo-Hoo Wednesday” radio show on the internet radio station “Radio Once More“. If you haven’t had the chance to listen to us yet, we invite you to tune in on Wednesday evenings, 9PM (eastern time) for some nostalgic fun at www.RadioOnceMore.com.
The Holmes home from 1964 to 2019
Happy 5 Year Anniversary of our “Woo-Hoo Wednesday” radio show on the internet radio station “Radio Once More”.
Johnny Boy enjoying retirement and his new retirement glasses
Helen and I celebrated our 16th Wedding Anniversary in July with a get-a-way extended weekend to Ocean City, NJ. We had a relaxing celebration and enjoyed walking the boardwalk, and taking in the beautiful sights and sounds of the Jersey Shore, while reflecting upon our joys and blessings of our 16 years of marriage.
Celebrating our 16th Wedding Anniversary in Ocean City, New Jersey
In August Helen and I celebrated Helen being 15 years Cancer Free. A wonderful milestone and a major…..Woo-Hoo!!!!! We also attended our 2nd “Monstermania Convention” of the year where we met Ron Perlman, Beverly D’Angelo, and author Clive Barker. Also in August Helen and I gave our first “Old Time Radio” presentation at a senior center. We had the opportunity to present the “Best of Benny” at the “Brookdale Senior Living” center in Richboro, PA. We had a great time and enjoyed a rewarding experience at the senior center.
Beverly D’Angelo with Johnny
Clive Barker with Helen
In September Helen and I had a brainstorm to broadcast a 24 hour marathon “Woo-Hoo Extra” on “Radio Once More” for Labor Day. We were successful with our marathon and we named this marathon our…….“Radio Once More 24 Hour Labor Day Woo-Hoo Palooza”.
We celebrated Labor Day with our “Radio Once More 24 Hour Labor Day Woo-Hoo Palooza”
Our humble studio where we broadcasted our “Radio Once More 24 Hour Labor Day Woo-Hoo Palooza”
Also in September, we attended the Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention in Hunt Valley, MD and had a great time seeing old friends and meeting celebrities including Loni Anderson, Tatum O’Neal and Tom Berenger.
Helen & I wearing our “Gilligan Island” T-Shirts at the “Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention” in Hunt Valley, MD
Helen & I wearing our “Flintstone” T-Shirts at the “Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention” in Hunt Valley, MD
An “Old Time Radio” recreation from the series “Dragnet” at the “Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention” in Hunt Valley, MD
Helen & I at the Saturday evening banquet at the “Mid-Atlantic Nostalgia Convention” in Hunt Valley, MD
A screen grab image from the 1983 film “Eddie and the Cruisers” featuring actor Tom Berenger and in the background, RVRHS student…..Johnny Boy. Thanks so much to Tom Berenger for signing this wonderful memory
October brought us back to Binghamton, New York, where we attended SerlingFest2019. We got to again hang out with many of our “Twilight Zone” fans and attended an interesting seminar at the “Bundy Museum of History“. The event also included many authors/speakers discussing various aspects of Rod Serling’s career at three different venues, (including Rod’s High School), and we also enjoyed screenings of original “Twilight Zone” episodes and the “Night Gallery” pilot film. We had loads of fun and we look forward to heading back in 2020 for another celebration of the work of Rod Serling. Also in October, our “Fright Night” Presentation at “Breaking Grounds Coffee and Cafe” marked our 7th Anniversary and 43rd presentation of “An Evening of Old Time Radio“. More fun in October had us attending our 2nd “Chiller Theatre” Convention of the year where we met Hayley and Juliet Mills, and enjoyed a mini “Barney Miller” reunion, and also met Richard Anderson of “MacGyver” fame.
SerlingFest2019 in Binghamton, New York
“Johnny Boy acting goofy………..thrilled and happy to be spending time with all of our “Twilight Zone” friends!!!
Our October “Fright Night” Presentation at “Breaking Grounds Coffee and Cafe” marked our 7th Anniversary and 43rd presentation of “An Evening of Old Time Radio” in downtown Mount Holly, New Jersey
Wizard Johnny at “Breaking Grounds Coffee and Cafe” celebrating our 7th Anniversary and 43rd presentation of “An Evening of Old Time Radio” in downtown Mount Holly, New Jersey
Juliet and Hayley Mills with Helen & Johnny
A mini Barney Miller reunion with Max Gail and Hal Linden with Helen & Johnny
Richard Anderson of “MacGyver” with Helen
November brought us to Hollywood, California. We had a blast taking the Sony, Warner, Paramount, and Universal studio tours. We also took a few bus tours, and enjoyed seeing many of the sites of the Hollywood-Los Angeles area, and seeing many of the stars on Hollywood Boulevard and toured the famous “Grauman’s Chinese Theatre” and “Dolby Theatre”. This was certainly a trip of a lifetime. After leaving Hollywood, we headed to Costa Mesa, California where we attended the SPERDVAC Old Time Radio convention. We reconnected with old friends and met many new friends while enjoying numerous presentations and recreations. While attending one of the dinner banquets, Helen and I were presented with an Achievement Award from SPERDVAC for our coffee shop presentations and for our work on the internet radio station “Radio Once More“. We were absolutely shocked about this reward. We had no idea about this presentation and are extremely honored, humbled and thankful for this award and for everyone’s kind words and allowing us to share the nostalgia from the “Golden Age of Radio“.
Helen & Johnny were presented with an Emmy and an Oscar at the Sony Studio Tour
The historical “Grauman’s Chinese Theatre” in Hollywood, California
Helen & Johnny at the “Dolby Theatre”
So they loaded up the truck and they moved to Beverly……..Hills, that is. Swimming pools, movie stars.
The famous Hollywood sign
Helen & Johnny taking a tour of some of the beautiful scenery in the Los Angeles-Hollywood area of California
Helen & Johnny at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour
Helen & Johnny at the Paramount Pictures Studio Tour
Helen & Johnny at the Universal Studios Hollywood Tour
Helen & Johnny attending the SPERDVAC convention (The Society To Preserve and Encourage Radio Drama, Variety and Comedy)
Walden Hughes with Helen & Johnny
Larry & John Gassman with Helen & Johnny
The very talented Brad Zinn with Helen & Johnny
Helen and I were extremely honored, humbled and thankful to be presented with an Achievement Award from SPERDVAC for our coffee shop presentations and for our work on
the internet radio station “Radio Once More”. We were shocked and had no idea about the presentation of this award. Thanks so much for everyone’s kind words and for allowing us to share the nostalgia from the “Golden Age of Radio”.
Helen and I spent Thanksgiving weekend away on a Starr Tour to Virginia Beach/Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia. We enjoyed a wonderful Thanksgiving buffet at “The Founders Inn” along with a relaxing cruise on “The Spirit of Norfolk”. We also enjoyed an entire day touring and enjoying “Colonial Williamsburg”, ending a truly enjoyable getaway Thanksgiving weekend.
“The Spirit of Norfolk”
Helen in the stockade in Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
The replica of the Virginia State Capitol Building in Colonial Williamsburg
It’s hard to believe we’ve reached the end of another year. Helen and I are planning a trip to the Carolinas in 2020. Feel free to visit the ‘Holmsey Blog’ at https://JHolmsey.wordpress.com/ (where we are now approaching 11,100 visitors) and our home page www.JohnnyHolmes.net.
Again, we wish you all a Wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year in 2020. Please keep in touch and our very best to all of you!!!!!
Happy Holidays!!!
Helen & Johnny Holmes
Posted by JHolmsey 
The Holmsey Blog 