PLATTSBURGH — The 802 Ghostbusters were at the Plattsburgh Card and Collectible show, drawing a steady crowd with their replica gear, movie-accurate uniforms and a fully loaded Ecto-Jeep parked outside the venue.
“We are a fan community very passionate about these movies, and we do a lot for the greater good, “ said Hayes Johnson, a member of the group, who added that the 802 is a franchise of Ghost Corps, a worldwide fan group dedicated to replicating costumes and props.
The group attends about 15 events a year, from parades to fundraisers, often raising money for local causes.
“A lot of people really connect with these movies and have fond memories and feelings,” Johnson said. “It’s rewarding to take a passion and share it.”
The 802 Ghostbusters offered pictures with kids and families, with an available donation jar to raise funds for the JCEO Backpack and Fostering Komfort programs.
Based in Vermont and part of the worldwide Ghost Corps fan community, the group was invited to add some cinematic flair to the show.
Kids posed for photos with proton packs, while adults swapped memories of watching the original films.
“There’s a lot of big reactions,” Adam Giulette, Plattsburgh Card and Collectible show organizer said.
It started with the release of Ghostbusters (2016) which “kick started the nostalgia,” for Stashia Dziubek and her sister.
The two decided to turn their childhood love of the Ghostbusters cartoon into a cosplay hobby.
“It just kind of grew into a community of lifelong friends,” she said.
Matt Haley, another 802 Ghostbuster, helped engineer the team’s “Ectomobile,” inspired Jeep, a project eight years in the making.
“It goes on and comes off between one and two hours,” he said.
As a daily-driver, all the decorations and electronics were designed to be removable.
“Every year we improve it little by little.” Haley said.
“At first it took about a week, or week and a half, to get it all on.”
The group’s favorite part about being a Ghostbuster is “Seeing the kids get excited. That never gets old,” according to Dziubek.
Johnson echoed that sentiment.
“One kid came into a convention with his mom, and he ended up getting his own costume and a proton pack, he was really into it,” Johnson said.
According to Haley, the card show offered a “different atmosphere,” compared to their usual gigs.
“We usually attend ticketed events, so people coming in knew what they were there for. But here, it’s like a different atmosphere. People keep coming up and getting excited. It’s great,” he said.