Gaynor, Chakiris, McCormack, Hunt, honored at annual Cinecon Classic Film Festival

HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (KABC) -- The annual Cinecon Classic Film Festival is a celebration of the past. It presents plenty of movies (some rarely seen in public) and there are plenty of special programs and celebrity guests.

Mitzi Gaynor, best known for the 1950s film "There's No Business Like Show Business," was one of this year's honorees at the festival's opening.

Cinecon honored Gaynor, who will turn 91 on Sept. 4, with a Legacy Award.

"It's a wonderful thing. It really is," said the actress.

Other Cinecon Legacy honorees include George Chakiris of "West Side Story" and "The Bad Seed" herself, Patty McCormack.

"I'm amazed at the fact that it's had such a long life and continues to do so. It's very peculiar," said McCormack.

Jimmy Hunt, the child star of 1953's "Invaders from Mars," was also honored.

"I thought my fan base had all died off but it's coming back. It's coming back!" said Hunt. "It was a real pleasure that Cinecon would honor me for this and I appreciate it a lot."

Stan Taffel, the president of Cinecon, said that's his goal.

"We are scouring the archives of the world in order to bring back the excitement and magic that once was movies and bring it back to people today," he said.

Actress Ruta Lee, a former Cinecon Legacy honoree, also finds the celebration just as exciting.

"I used to stand as an usherette at Grauman's Chinese at the top of the aisle with my little flashlight staring at Mitzi Gaynor, aching to be Mitzi Gaynor," said Lee. "And to think that she became my friend? Wow!"

Cinecon runs through Monday, Sept. 5, at The Hollywood Legion Theater.