Robur the Conqueror and Agent John Strock are ready to do battle once more with ignorance and conformity!

Grab your pith helmets! Polish your boots! Get the boiler stoked and ready! It’s time for…

The 5th Annual

STEAM EXPLORERS’ CONSORTIUM!!

Saturday – December 10, 2011

AT

THE GREAT DICKENS CHRISTMAS FAIR

The Cow Palace

2150 Geneva Avenue  Daly City, CA 94014

Yes, Mr. Phileas Fogg has teamed up with Captain Nemo, Impey Barbicane, Princess Aouda and even the fabled Steam Man to expose the world to the wonders of Science, Exploration, and Imagination! Now…he is looking for new “recruits”. Think you can take on a Giant Squid? Think you can survive the Journey to the Center of the Earth? Think your skills of invention and ingenuity can propel you into the 20th Century? Then we want you!

Come to the halls of Legion Fantastique at the Great Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco’s Cow Palace on December 10th, 2011 and test your mettle with us!

Usually…we thought we could judge someone on how nicely polished their Ethereal Copper Blast Pack was…but several explosive incidents have changed our minds (and our layout, apparently). SO…THIS YEAR IS NOT JUST A COSTUME CONTEST!!

Last year’s grand prize winner won because of her fine embodiment of Science, Exploration and Imagination. Miss Emma Etherington performed a marvelous “catch and release” procedure on a fabled green fairy on the Legion doorstop…an act that stole the show and earned her first place!

“So, how does the contest work?”

STEP ONE: Come to the Dickens Christmas Fair!

STEP TWO: Come to Legion … and MINGLE!!

First – visit our “recruitment desk” and fill out an application form. Then…feel free to roam about Legion Fantastique and get to know your fellow explorers!

The Legion Fantastique Secret Recruitment Committee is loose! They may seem like ordinary members of Legion Fantastique (as indicated by their specially decorated Legion Fantastique badges), but there are hidden judges among them! It could be Captain Nemo. It could be Miss Grant. It could be our maid! Even we don’t know who they all are. So be polite. You are going to have to come to Legion Fantastique anytime on December 10th from 10am – 5pm and chat with various members of Legion and tell them of your exploits, show them your artifacts, and let them question your theories! The more members you meet, the greater the chances are that you’ve met one of the L.F.S.R.C.! So, don’t be shy…be bold! There’s a brave chap! The committee will then secretly meet at 5pm in their private chambers and determine the winners of this year’s Consortium prizes!

STEP THREE: COME TO THE AWARD CEREMONY

The Award Ceremony will be held at Legion Fantastique this year – AT 5:30pm!!

All persons who wish to submit themselves for a prize MUST BE PRESENT at award ceremony – NO EXCEPTIONS!! Yes, we know you would like to go see “rampant totty” at Mad Sal’s or Naughty French Postcards…but you MUST be at Legion to collect your prize or it will be forfeit to the next “runner up”.

“What are the prizes?”

You may well ask…

We can’t tell you what all of them are…but the grand prize is scheduled to be a piece of original concept art from the motion picture “League of Extraordinary Gentlemen” (along with a few other surprises)!*

*Prizes subject to availability.

We may even have a few surprise guests as well!

Anything can happen…and probably will…at the 5th Annual Steam Explorer’s Consortium!

"Look here...Finding the Dickens Fair is easy!"

VISITORS!

We will be opening our doors to visitors at our halls in the Great Dickens Christmas Fair on November 28, 2011. Please come and visit anytime.

RECRUITS!

Unfortunately, we are unable to accept new full time recruits this year. However, we are looking for several new recruits to become “Legion Fantastique Regulars”.  We’re looking for some people to be brave, intrepid jungle safari guides!  Interested?

Then read on, my friends – READ ON!!

“EGADS! GADZOOKS!”

Thanks to the generous offering of Dickens Fair management, and a little twist of fate, Legion Fantastique has been given the opportunity to operate the Jungle Adventure Carousel at this year’s Dickens Christmas Fair! Proceeds will aid Legion in their quest to fund further adventures into Science, Exploration and Imagination! So we’re goosing things up a bit, and putting our own Legion Fantastique touch on the carousel this year.

Although the cast of Legion would, I’m sure, love to take this job on singlehandedly – many of us will be very busy this year. So, we are recruiting some extra hands! We’re looking with people who are ready to put on a pith helment and have some fun and become part of the Legion Fantastique family (Jungle Division).

• Are you over 18 years of age?
• Are you good with children?
• Are you a ham?
• Are you looking for a fun gig at Dickens Fair that won’t take up your entire day?
• Are you ready to have fun?
• Are you willing to let the vicious cries of creatues of the jungle (i.e. parents) wash over you?
• Are you willing to have no shame with puns?
• Are you willing to don a pith helmet and become one of our elite Legion Fantastique Jungle Safari Guides?

Then we’re looking for you!

Legion Fantastique will be holding auditions this Saturday (Nov. 5) at the Dickens Christmas Fair Workshops. After the “big meeting” we’ll announce the time and location of the auditions. Prepare to read a bit of our jungle patter…and be ready to ham it up!

Duties Include:

• Handling of change
• Safe loading and unloading of children from safari animals
• Committing to 1-2 hour stints on a regular/semi-regular basis (once per day)
• Entertaining/narrating riders and observers.

FAQ

Q: “Do I need a full, new, jungle safari outfit?”

A: Not necessarilly. We have resources on how to stay period, and “safari up” with various levels of commitment. Some of us have full uniforms…others just have a helmet and a whip.

Q:”What’s the pay like?”

A: As this is a fundraising effort for Legion Fantastique, we are unable to offer this as a paid position at this time. This is a nice way to get acquainted with Dickens Fair, however, and a way to get to know the madcap crew of Legion Fantastique.

Q:”Will I be a full fledged Legion Fantastique cast member?”

A: Sort of. Due to cast size limitations this year, we’re unable to cast full-time cast members into Legion Fantatique. But we love playing with new, enthusiastic people. So, by joining the Safari, you will be a part-time Auxiliary Member of LF – the “Jungle Safari Division” as it were. Due to the fact the carousel and LF will be direct neighbors…There will certainly be a lot of interaction between the teams. Plus this is a great way to get your feet wet, if you’re new to Dickens, and maybe try a few other things at fair when you’re not spinning kids around in a circle.

If you are new to Dickens Fair, you MUST attend Workshops to participate…Here is info on how to participate:

http://www.dickensfair.com/involved

and

http://www.cattaylor.com/workshop_directions.html

If you have any questions…please contact Legion Fantastique’s director, Peter Overstreet, at: poverstreet@gmail.com.

“Legion Fantastique….dead?”

There has been some speculation, as of late, as to whether or not Legion Fantastique is dead or defunct.

“Vicious lies!” exclaims Phileas Fogg, “All of them! Rest assured, that Legion Fantastique is still on the never ending quest for new vistas in Science, Exploration and Imagination!”

Many of the members have merely been out having a plethora of adventures, and have been slowly returning to London. Mr Fogg, himself, has returned from Stockholm, Sweden, where he has been assisting a prominent museum regarding recent journeys to The Moon!

Legion Fantastique will return, as always, to the Dickens Christmas Fair in San Francisco this November – with some all new surprises! Recruitment (i.e. “auditions”) will be taking place early this year (as Mr. Fogg will be going abroad again, and needs as many hands on deck as possible) – sometime in July. Some of the surprises include a newly expanded clubhouse, new members, new specimens…and an announcement of stratospheric proportions!

Keep checking #7 Saville Row for audition dates, and announcements – all coming soon!

CLICK FOR A PRINTABLE COPY!

SATURDAY – December 11, 2010

Held at this year’s Great Dickens Christmas Fair, in San Francisco, CA, the Steam Explorers’ Consortium is a competition to reward the greatest explorers in Science, Exploration and Imagination!

Report to: Legion Fantastique
Judging begins @ 12 NOON
Winners announced @ 6pm

THIS YEAR … Judges are looking  for MORE than just a pretty costume and a shiny pair of goggles!  Participants will be judged on their ADVENTUROUS NATURE as
well … We want to see photos, logs, artifacts…scars! We may even have a mighty task or two to perform!

There will be prizes, adventure, fun!

We hope to see you all there!

Legion Fantastique Auditions – 2010

Sept.14 – 7pm-10pm

It’s true, Legion Fantastique has moved to new digs this year at the Dickens Christmas Fair, in San Francisco! We’re bigger, “badder”, and ready for another round of adventure! With that comes a couple of open spots for people who want to join us in our adventures in Science, Exploration, and Imagination!

We have a VERY limited number of open spots availble this year…but we would like to see your best adventurer’s face forward!! If you think you’ve got what it takes to wrestle giant squids, dig for dinosaur bones, and avoid getting blown up by Professor Flockmocker…we need you!

We’re currently looking for especially energetic, motivated folk (Bay Area residents) who won’t mind “being big” on and off stage (we need people who can project vocally), as well as people who would like the opportunity to be featured in one of our many shows (including the “Giant Squid Feeding” show)!

SHOWS INCLUDE (BUT NOT LIMITED TO):

1. The Ice Sphinx – A mysterious show that ends in frozen magic.

2. The Giant Squid Feeding – Our hit returns, with some new surprises in store.

3. From the Earth to the Moon – A photoplay of Mr. Verne’s novel!

Actors interested in being cast in our stage shows must be willing to rehearse (beginning late September/early October).

Both Male and Female roles are still available, especially for people who are ready to KNOCK OUR SOCKS OFF!

SPECIFIC CHARACTERS WE’RE LOOKING TO CAST:

Mr. Jules Verne – This is a VERY important role at Legion…so important that we have yet to find someone to fill Mr. Verne’s shoes…but we’re ALWAYS looking.

From “Around the World in 80 Days”

1. Passpartout – Fogg’s “right hand man”. We’re looking for an energetic young man (21+ please) to become part of a duo. This is another role we are hoping to fill this year!
2. Inspector Fix – A determined Scotland Yard officer always trying to catch Fogg in illegal activity. We’re looking for a strong comedic actor for this role.

From “From the Earth to the Moon”

1. James T. Marston – this is an “over-the-top” character. Another role for a strong comedic actor.

From “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea”

1. Prof. Pierre Arronax – Eccentric French scientist who may wind up being one of the chief lecturers of “The Giant Squid” show.

From  ”Journey To The Center Of The Earth”

1. Axel Lidenbrock – Nephew to Prof. Lidenbrock, adventurous youth.
2. Hans Bjelke – Danish hunter and guide to Lidenbrock expedition.

Misc.

If you are interested in auditioning for one of the coveted spots, please contact us at: legionfantastique@gmail.com. Please give us your name, contact info, and any specific talents you may have (oh yes, and DON’T FORGET to add “LF Auditions 2010″ in your subject header). We will send you a list of characters we are specifically looking for, and your timeslot.

Thank you all! We’re looking forward to seeing you there!

Sincerely,

Phileas Fogg

legionfantastique@gmail.com

Artwork Copyright 2010 Peter Overstreet

Guests were given the chance to meet creatures of the deep with Captain Nemo, discover new minerals with Prof. Liddenbrock and Miss Edgerton, Explore the wonders of flight with Prof. Flockmocker and his lovely test pilot – Mistress Branican,  marvel at Robur The Conquerer’s wondrous weaponry, and even experience the “demon of electricity” with Mr.Phileas Fogg and Princess Aouda!

“We were awed by the sheer number of highly intelligent children who wandered into our exhibit,” exclaimed Senora Paz of Peru, “they seemed amazed by the exhibits that Senor Fogg and Captain Nemo had brought with them…but were even more amazed by how much they had to teach us.”

Professor Phineas J. Flockmocker III had this to say – “Ah, yes! These tykes are the future here in the present, and their knowledge of the past will affect their lives in the future!”

Legion Fantastique had arrived in Nemo’s Nautilus (the Mark 2) and had just enough room to bring that amazing troupe of vocalists – Brass Farthing!

“They were pleasant enough,” exclaimed French adventurer Michel Ardan, “but I just can’t get ‘Bertha’s Mussels’ out of my head! Zut Alors!”

One of the stars of the evening was Legion’s Wimshurst Engine. Several LF members fascinated visitors with the flashy static electricity generator!

What does the future have in store for the amazing alliance between Legion and The Exploratorium? Who can say? Fun was certainly had by all, and as they left, the guests seemed ready to pursue further adventures into Science, Exploration, and Imagination!

Photo Courtesy of Princess Aouda!

The owner and proprietor of Legion Fantastique, at #7 Saville Row, will finally have a chance to meet his biographer, Mr. Jules Verne, in person. Mr. Phileas Fogg will be taking a journey to Nantes, France this month!

Setting sail aboard the fabled luxury yacht, The Pearl of the Pacific, Fogg hopes to finally add France to the long list of exotic lands he has explored…as, according to him, “nothing could be more exotic than France”.

He will be sending us updates and photographs as he makes his way along the northwest countryside of France.

We wish him “Bon Voyage”, and look forward to seeing what destiny will present to Mr. Fogg.

It is with great honor that we induct into our “Honorary Legionnaire” Hall, renowned oceanographer, diver, and adventurer – Capt. Scott Cassell!

As a young boy, Scott was influenced by the movie version of “20,000 Leagues Under The Sea” to probe further into the realm of underwater exploration and became a diver at the age of 15. He has since accumulated well over 12,000 hours underwater as a mixed-gas commercial diver, 20-plus-year veteran of rebreather technologies, U.S. Coast Guard-qualified submersible pilot, counterterrorism diver, U.S. Navy-qualified diving supervisor and diving medical technician.

What makes Scott unique in the world of Oceanography is his extensive work with real monsters of the deep – Giant Humboldt Squid. His encounters with these fascinating and dangerous creatures have yielded incredible amounts of information about how these creatures live, feed, are affected by and affect the ecosystems of the oceans of the world.

It is largely through his work with the Humboldt Squid that Legion Fantastique has been able to develop techniques to capture, and maintain a giant squid in its tanks, specially designed by Captain Nemo, in the offices of #7 Saville Row. Unlike harpooneer, Ned Land, who believes that these creatures are nothing more than monsters to be slain, Cassell has begun work with members of Legion to educate the public on how these creatures are one of the strongest indicators of the effects of man’s misuse of the world’s oceans.

Cassell is now the President and CEO of the Undersea Voyager Project. The Undersea Voyager Project is a non-profit organization established to circumnavigate and study the Earth’s oceans (27,000 miles) at depths of 100–1,000 feet utilizing human piloted submersibles. The Project will advance and communicate scientific understanding of the oceans, their interrelationship with climate, and human impact on the marine environment to a global audience.

Capt. Cassell happened upon Legion Fantastique during his recent visit to London, and has been accepted into the ranks of of Honorary Legionnaire. Legion Fantastique looks forward to helping Cassell with spreading the word about his endeavors. Welcome aboard, Captain!

To learn more about the Undersea Voyager Project, please visit:

http://www.underseavoyagerproject.org

Mistress Dolly Branican, originally from San Diego, CA, found herself on the hunt for her long lost husband, Captain Branican of the U.S.S. Franklin,  in the deepest “Outback” of Australia! Once thought to be clinically insane (long since disproved by her peers), Mistress Branican became an advocate for the aboriginal peoples of Australia. She has made a study of these amazing people and their culture, and hopes to bring her knowledge to the people of the world by joining Legion Fantastique.

Her charter in Legion began when she was attempting a return voyage to North America aboard the ship, The Magelania, and she found herself amongst the rescuers of Captain Cyrus Harding and his fellow castaways. After nursing the men back to health, it was Harding and Branican who learned that a mysterious man that Harding  encountered on Lincoln Island was not the infamous “pirate”, Captain Nemo – but an impostor! The real Captain Nemo was found on the shores of Jamaica, already crafting a small, sea-worthy vessel. 

As the Magelania reached the harbor in Monterey, California, Branican & Nemo soon found themselves in the company of Mr. Phileas Fogg and his valet, Passepartout. After intense debates, Fogg convinced Captain Nemo to join his quickly growing brotherhood of explorers and thinkers. But it was Branican who convinced Nemo to finally provide Legion with the means to create the Nautilus Mark III – a fearsome machine that, at first glance, looked like it was armed for war…but was, in fact, the ultimate undersea exploration vehicle.

Mistress Branican’s tough exterior hides a nurturing soul – determined to bring understanding between the peoples of the world. Her skill with a firearm is formidable, as is her abilities with an aboriginal boomerang. Any man who underestimates Branican’s stalwart nature is doomed to feel the sting of her tongue…or the heel of her boot.

Professor Abner Perry, one of Prof. Phineas J. Flockmocker III’s comrades in the secret labs of Legion Fantastique, reactivated his patented Time Pack and attempted to send Legion’s test pilot, Captain Nicholas Dakota forward in time. Unfortunately, Nick overshot his mark and sucked the entire lab through the time stream – into 2009!

"Damn you, Dakota!"

The team soon found themselves at the Maker Faire in San Mateo, California – surrounded by thinkers, inventors, craftspeople and just plain freaks! It was apparent, that Perry’s Time Pack had also pulled dozens of sister scientific organizations through the vortex as well. The Neverwas Haul, Kinetic SteamWorks, and many others found themselves clustered together for safety amid the rabid denizens of the 21st Century.

Photo courtesy of "pewtersmith"... Thanks, Kevin!

The natives were restless as they hunted our team down with their maniacal chant of “Kin-I-Takur-Piktur! Kin-I-Takur-Piktur! Kin-I-Takur-Piktur!” – forcing our team into the various exhibit halls for safety!

Robur the Conqueror, Agent John Strock, Sara Paz, Miss Kitty Taylor, Princess Aouda, Master Evan Wever, Nova Robb, Lady Munro, Impey Barbicane, and Michael Ardan scoured the Maker Faire for an appropriate power source to refuel Perry’s Time Pack … but only finding giant mouse traps, fire artists, fancy lights for bicycle wheels, sparking electrical towers, and automated cupcakes! 

Finally, with the help of the crew of the Neverwas Haul, and the ever resourceful Master Wever, found an appropriate power source for the birilium sphere in the Time Pack – Mentos & Diet Coke! With a woosh they were all returned to present time – 1871. With such a disturbing glance into the future, one wonders what amazing inventions may come to life in the halls of #7 Saville Row.

Master Evan - The Hero of the Day!