Claire Zulkey

"We Believe... Chercago!" is the motto that greets Saturday entrants to the Congress Plaza Hotel. And while it might seem unbelievable, fans streamed in, ready to plunk down $12 for a chance to attend the Cher Convention 2000.

Why? "We met over the original Cher Website," says Kim Werdman, who started the event with two friends. "And we started talking, and just figured after a while, 'Why not have a convention?' We're all just huge crazy fans." An apt description for Cher devotees, coming from as far as Mexico and Germany, whose entrance fees went to Cher's favorite charity, the Children's Craniofacial Association, with which she became involved after starring in the movie "Mask." But donating to Cher's charity only gets you a chance to see exhibits from the personal Cher museum of Columbus, Illinois' Sally Johnson ("I've got a twenty-six-foot room full of pieces at home, with full-size paintings over my fireplace, in my dining room and in my bedroom"). However, you also get a shot at Cher Bingo, a Cher Movie Seminar, Cher Karaoke, Cher Trivia, a Cher Silent Auction and, oh yes, a Cher Impersonator Show, with awards given in the categories of seventies Cher, eighties Cher and Cher of Today.

"You know, she's just such a pure person," gushes Wayne Smith, aka Eighties Cher. "She's so real." "She's totally cool," agrees Jeffrey Thomas, Cher of Today. "She's just this mother figure." By the way, Jeff, of all the different Chers, why the current one? "Well, I was the eighties Cher for about thirteen years, but then, you know, I decided it was time I branched out. You know, it was the millennium--time for a change."

(07/20/2000)


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