Golden Con, the world’s premier convention for fans of The Golden Girls was back in Chicago for its second year.
Following a successful 2022 event at Navy Pier in Chicago, this year’s conference kick-started on Friday, March 31, and concluded on Sunday, April 2, 2023, and was hosted at the Sheraton Grand Chicago Riverwalk.
For three days, fans celebrated the legacy and spirit of The Golden Girls with special guests, activities, and exclusive merchandise.
Golden Con’s special guests included actors, writers, and family members
With the passing of Betty White in 2021, all of the main Golden Girls cast members – Bea Arthur, Rue McClanahan, and Estelle Getty – have now left us. But their legacy of love, laughter, and LGBTQ+ advocacy lives on through this annual celebration.
One of our favorite sessions was “Rue’s Wish: The life and wishes of Rue” as told by the late star’s only sister Dr. Melinda McClanahan. During the presentation, Melinda shared many family photos, handwritten notes, and memories of her and Rue. She even showed off a quilt she made from a collection of Rue’s shoulder pads:
We also heard from the actors and actresses who played Rebecca Devereaux, Carol Weston, and Sven during a panel entitiled “Golden Gabfest with Shawn Schepps, Dinah Manoff, Stan Zimmerman, and Doug Cox.”
Bea Arthur’s personal assistant Dan Watt even spilled the tea on how Bea never really talked about the show when she wasn’t on set, the sustained relationships she had with the other girls after the show ended, as well as her disdain for shoes. Who knew?!
Contests, impersonations, drag queens & Golden Gays
The conference also featured a Golden Girls themed costume contest; a series of trivia competitions that tested fans on their knowledge of the show; a live podcast recording of Out on the Lanai with Sadie Pines and Kerri Doherty; and a Mother of Solid Gold Dancer Disco hosted by the Golden Gays.
Here are some of our favorite looks that were served by super-fans and hosts of the show:
Sophia and Blanche
King George Prophylactics
A life-sized Fifi the Therapy Monkey and Stan
Sunshine Cadets
Freida Claxton and the oak tree
Sadie Pines as Mrs. Haha
The Golden Gays as the Golden Girls
Until the next Golden Con!
Golden Con really turned up for a second time and we loved to see all The Golden Girls fandom on display. The panels were amazing and the excitement was electric. We can’t wait to see what Golden Con has in store for next time!
Tell us your favorite Golden Girls moments in the comments. And if you’re interested, sign up for daily updates on the latest in LGBTQ+ entertainment and pop culture by subscribing to the Queerty newsletter.
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The next GG Con should be in Florida……….with tons of little kids who also love ths show and who enjoy drag queens. I’d love to see the ”new shrreiff in town” raid a Golden Girl celebration. I am LOVING what Disney is doing to Dee Dee Sanitssssssss. Shmuck.
Excuse me, Bea. I just wanted to let you know that FreddieW never liked you. Now. Go back to resting in peace. Everyone else LOVED YOU. You will live on. Your legacy is astounding.
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abfab
The next GG Con should be in Florida……….with tons of little kids who also love ths show and who enjoy drag queens. I’d love to see the ”new shrreiff in town” raid a Golden Girl celebration. I am LOVING what Disney is doing to Dee Dee Sanitssssssss. Shmuck.
abfab
Excuse me, Bea. I just wanted to let you know that FreddieW never liked you. Now. Go back to resting in peace. Everyone else LOVED YOU. You will live on. Your legacy is astounding.