Visions (convention)

Panels The main attraction of each convention was the hour-long question and answer sessions with the celebrities. There were also smaller gatherings run by fans called fan panels. Variety show The cabaret (renamed "variety show" in 1992) was 90-120 minute show featuring celebrity guests performing a variety of acts. A separate admission fee was charged for this event. Dealers' room Video rooms Video rooms (one in 1990, two thereafter) ran television shows and movies, concentrating on programs that attending celebrities appeared in. A third room featuring fan-made videos was added in 1996. Autographs and photographs Each fan was given the opportunity to meet the celebrities and receive and autograph and a photograph. Costume contest/masquerade ball Art show Auction Each year fans participated in an auction of science fiction memorabilia. Proceeds went to Lambs Farm and the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Gaming ==Publications==

Program book A program book was given to each attending fan. The book included biographies of the guests, a map of the hotel, a schedule of the weekend's events and general convention rules. Newsletter ReVisions was published 4-6 times a year and contained news about the past and/or upcoming convention. Rookie guide The Visions Rookie Guide was written for first-time attendees of Visions. ==Websites==

The original website was at http://www.xnet.com/~tardis. A second, http://hme-visions.com, was added in northern autumn 1998. ==Merchandise==

T-shirts T-shirts featuring that year's logo were available for purchase by mail or at the convention. Videos Video tapes of selected panels and variety shows were available for purchase by mail. ==Special events==

• Attendees of ''Visions '92'' were given the chance to help in the development of the Doctor Who pinball machine. At least one machine was available for play during the convention. • To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Doctor Who the BBC broadcast a specially-made episode called Dimensions in Time. Producer John Nathan-Turner brought a copy to ''Visions '93'' and showed it Friday and Saturday nights. • The 1996 convention saw the premiere performance of Mysterious Theatre 337 (MT337). An homage to Mystery Science Theater 3000, MT337 performed to Doctor Who episodes instead of B movies. Additional performances occurred in 1997 and 1998 and continue at Chicago TARDIS and Gallifrey One. ==Other conventions==

Visions followed earlier conventions held in the Chicago area around Thanksgiving. Brit TV was held in 1988 (in Lincolnwood, Illinois) and 1989 (in Rosemont, Illinois). Spirit of Light Enterprises ran Doctor Who conventions in the mid-1980s. Following the demise of Visions Chicago TARDIS took over the Thanksgiving slot beginning in 2000. ==Notes and references==