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Actor Ari Lehman, who portrayed the original Jason in “Friday the 13th” enjoyed his visit to On Site Computer in Ocean Grove. He is pictured with business owner Dave Matteo and his son Ryan.
By DENISE HERSCHEL
It didn’t happen on Friday the 13th but rather Sunday the 13th as approximately 50 die-hard fans of the horror film cult classic “Friday the 13th” came out to meet the original Jason; Ari Lehman.
Standing in a line inside and outside of On Site Computer Service in Ocean Grove, dozens of horror movie aficionados were eager to have a moment to chat with Lehman as he signed autographs for fans.
Thirteen-year-old Brick Township resident Mason Watson said he has seen the movie “so many times” that he has lost count.
“I watched it again last week,” he said. “I love horror movies. I can’t wait to meet the original Jason.”
Hillsboro residents Justin Kulick and Melanie Henderson were equally as excited saying that they are “huge horror fans.”
“We are big fans of Ari too,” Henderson said. “This is the first time we are coming to one of these meet and greets.
“We saw the information online and decided that we had to come,” Melanie said.
As the first Jason from the “Friday the 13th” cult classic Lehman greeted fans at the PopStop and Pokemon Shop at On-site Computer Service, Lehman said that he was 14-years-old when he was cast as the first actor to portray Jason Voorhees as a child in the inaugural movie of the franchise.
“I remember every moment of it. Next year it will be 45 years that the movie was released in theaters on May 9, 1980. It was a great part,” he said.
“Friday the 13th” was a major box office success, grossing $59.8 million worldwide. The movie is about a group of teenage counselors who are murdered one by one by an unknown killer while trying to reopen an abandoned summer camp. Jason Voorhees first appeared in the movie, portrayed in the memories of his mother and as a hallucination of the protagonist.
Dave Matteo, owner of Onsite Computer Service said he was pleased with the number of people who showed up for the event.
“It went well for our first one. I am into horror stuff and I love Halloween. I met Ari online and I asked him if he wanted to come to the shop and he said sure. He was really personable and fun. I had hockey masks, machetes and Jason masks which he signed,” he said. “I still have many signed items at the shop available for purchase. I look forward for more to come. It was fun to put together,” he said.
