Chapter Seven: conventions
(-CONTINUED FROM PART 3-)
* British National Conventions (Eastercons)
- 1960: [unnamed] (London), April 15-18, 1960
> hotel was the Kingsley
-- venue moved there in early 1960 after Ella Parker had discovered that
the original hotel, the Sandrinham, had cancelled the convention
booking without telling anyone
-- this was only the latest and last in a series of date and venue
changes for the convention; prior to that, the convention was
originally intended to be in London at Whitsun, then London at
Easter, then it was changed to Kettering at Easter, before being
moved back to London at Easter again
> GoH was Ted Carnell
> other notables attending included Sandy Sanderson, Joy Clarke, Don Ford
(who was TAFF delegate), Brian Aldiss, the Buckmasters
> Programme
-- TAFF candidate's quiz moderated by Doc Weir
-- slide show by Don Ford
-- "This is Your Life", hosted by Eric Bentcliffe; Norman Shorrock was
the very surprised subject
-- Doc Weir gave talk on Karel Capek
-- TAFF auction conducted by Ron Bennett
-- showing of a movie: THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL
- 1961: LXIcon ["Lexicon"] (Gloucester), Mar. 31-Apr. 3, 1961
> moved to Gloucester from Kettering due to site considerations
-- Gloucester was much closer to Cheltenham, where most of the committee
lived
-- no hotel in Kettering was thought to be large enough for the
convention
>> even in Gloucester, an overflow hotel turned out to be needed
--- convention hotel had booked too many non-convention guests
--- Eric Bentcliffe arrived to find no room for him, despite his
guaranteed booking, so he slept in a maid's room
> attendance was 77
> chairman was Eric Jones
> organized by Cheltenham group, a.k.a. Cheltenham Circle
> Kingsley Amis was GoH
-- recently published book, NEW MAPS OF HELL, given lots of publicity at
the convention
> Programming
-- Eric Bentcliffe gave talk on his TAFF trip
-- Eric Jones subject of fannish "This Is Your Life"
-- SF Club of London performed short play
-- there was a drinking/droughts competition, where a board was set up
with small shot glasses of liquor instead of checkers; when a player
captured a checker, he drank it. Not known who won, but it is not
believed many players finished their games
- 1962: The 1962 BSFA Easter Convention (Harrogate)
> organized by Ron Bennett
-- con became known as "Ronvention"
> attendance was 94
-- group of German fans attended, including Tom Schluck, Rolf Gindorf,
Wolfgang Thadewald, Thea Grade, Horst Margeit, and Guntrum Ohmacht
-- TAFF winner Ron Ellik attended
> GoH was Tom Boardman, editor of Mayflower SF series
> programme split between 2 hotels: West Park and Clarendon
-- most programming in Clarendon except fancy dress event, business
meeting and the one film that was shown
-- Ken Slater ran a sf quiz event and an auction
-- speech by Mike Rosenblum on development of British fandom over past
quarter century
> Ken Slater awarded 1963 convention over rival bid by Ella Parker
-- Slater's bid was assembled at the convention
-- Parker had proposed convention outside umbrella of BSFA, which
created some misgivings
> Doc Weir Memorial Fan Recognition Award created at this convention
-- money had been raised by fund to preserve Doc Weir's rumored large
SF collection
>> collection turned out to be mostly non-existent
-- fans voted to create continuing award, rather than turn money over
to Mrs. Weir
- 1963: Bullcon (Peterborough); April 12-15, 1963
> held at the Hotel Bull
> attendance was 130
-- was the largest British convention since the 1957 Worldcon
-- total paid registration was 167
> chairman was Ken Slater
> GoH was Edmund Crispin, who in real life was Bruce Montgomery, who
taught at one of the colleges of Oxford University (confirmation??)
> other notables present included Kingsley Amis, Michael Moorcock, Brian
Aldiss, John Brunner, Tedd Tubb, Harry Harrison, and Ted Carnell
> Programme
-- Harry Harrison's talk, "Sex and Censorship in SF"
-- fannish slide show by Eric Bentcliffe
-- fancy dress event on Saturday evening
>> covered by Anglia TV, which had been alerted to the presence of
Kingsley Amis at the convention
>> Best Costume prize won by a new fan, Harry Nadler, for what was
described as "a very nasty-looking mutant"
-- TAFF panel with Ethel Lindsay, Ron Bennett, Eric Bentcliffe
>> many suggestions from audience on how to improve the fund; only
only one with any concensus was doubling voting fee to five
shillings
>> suggestion was quickly adopted by TAFF administrators Ellik and
Lindsay; new U.S. voting fee is $1
-- "rousing auction" run by Ted Tubb
>> a highlight of the weekend, according to some attendees
> Doc Weir Award presented in absentia to Peter Mabey, for his work on the
BSFA lending library
> convention was successful and hotel management wanted convention back
-- was decided that 1964 convention would return to same site
- 1964: Repetercon (Peterborough); March 27-30, 1964
> attendance listed as 151, though one report listed only 125 as attending
-- ten members of Birmingham SF Group attended
> GoH was Tedd Tubb
> chairman was Tony Walsh
> attended by U.S. pros Edmond Hamilton and Leigh Brackett
> attended by TAFF delegate Wally Weber
-- he had a great time: "They wait on me hand, foot, and tentacle; the
only person in Britain reluctant to become my slave is Ella Parker"
>> reference to the Weber-Parker pseudofeuds of years past that had
brought on Ella's U.S. trip of 1961
> George Scithers, who was in Europe on military service, also attended
> even LASFS was there is spirit
-- the club sent a telegram, which was received with applause, and which
brought in 8 shillings at the auction
> Programme
-- pro authors "tribute to Nova", with Michael Moorcock, Ted Tubb, and
Ken Bulmer
>> Nova Publications had published NEW WORLDS magazine
--- went out of business in 1964
--- NEW WORLDS assumed by a different publisher after that
>> panel was tribute to Ted Carnell's editorship under Nova
> Doc Weir Award went to Archie Mercer
-- he thanked BSFA in a short speech which was described as "the
weekend's finest"
> site selection: Birmingham defeated Harrogate by a single vote, 27 to 26
-- Ron Bennett had championed the Harrogate cause
>> according to those who attended, it was a bad convention for
Bennett: besides losing the site selection vote, he had lost his
voice after the convention's first day, and worse, had incredibly
bad luck at Brag
- 1965: Brumcon 2 (Birmingham); April 16-19, 1965
> GoH was Harry Harrison
> chairman was Ken Cheslin
-- Cheslin was also Treasurer and Secretary of convention committee
> programme booklet listed 117 as members
-- only about 80 were on hand
>> committee did not achieve number of members necessary to get
convention space price discount from hotel
--- recriminations abounded about rampant free-loading
> movies shown: WHEN WORLDS COLLIDE and THE CONQUEST OF SPACE
> George Scithers and Dave Kyle from U.S. in attendance
-- each promoted 1966 worldcon bids they were supporting (Scithers for
Cleveland and Kyle for Syracuse)
> future site selections
-- Great Yarmouth chosen for 1966 convention
-- Tony Walsh given 1967 convention
- 1966: Yarcon (Great Yarmouth, Norfolk); April 8-11, 1966
> GoH was publisher Ron Whiting
> chairman was Dave Barber
> programme book listed 133 members
-- only about 100 attending
> Programming
-- New Authors panel with Ramsey Campbell, Terry Pratchett, Hank
Dempsey, James Colvin, Langdon Jones, Dave Busby
>> some authors came as their pseudonyms
-- first BSFA-sponsored British Fantasy Award given, to John Brunner
-- Knights of St. Fantony event
>> initiated were Harry Harrison, Brian Aldiss, Mike Rosenblum, and
Dave Barber
> last Eastercon that was officially held under auspices of BSFA
-- resulted from vote taken at BSFA's AGM
-- Dave Barber and Jill Bridges appointed as trustees to preserve the
convention's continuity from year to year
-- created controversy; was criticized by Ron Bennett in SKYRACK #88
-- however, 1967 Eastercon was more-or-less a BSFA convention (site had
been previously selected in 1965)
- 1967: Briscon (Bristol); March 24-26, 1967
> sponsored by BaD Group
-- Tony Walsh was chairman
-- Archie & Beryl Mercer handled pubications
-- Graham Boak in charge of room where art show, fanzine sales, and book
sales were housed
> GoH was John Brunner
> no attendance figures listed
> Programme
-- speeches by Brunner and Michael Moorcock
-- Knights of St. Fantony event
>> initiated were Ramsey Campbell, Charles Partington, Wendy Freeman,
and Jill Adams
-- two screenings of Ed Emshwiller's film RELATIVITY, which was billed
as not for the squeamish
>> film inspired short-lived fanzine of same name by two Welsh fans,
Jon Williams and Bryn Fortey
--- fanzine was later revived by Fortey in the 1970s
- 1968: ThirdManCon (Buxton in Derbyshire); April 12-15, 1968
> Organized by The Delta Group
> site was St. Ann's Hotel
> GoH was Ken Bulmer
> 215 registered, 160 in attendance
-- large U.S. contingent including Dave Kyle, Don Wollheim, and TAFF
delegate Steve Stiles
-- group of German fans attending to promote Heidelberg 1970 Worldcon
bid, including Waldemar Kumming, Tom Schluck, and Heinrich Arenz
> Programming
-- Bulmer gave humorous talk on trends in science fiction
-- Eric Bentcliffe did slide show
-- Dave Kyle spoke about the movie 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY
-- Knights of St. Fantony event
>> initiated were Doreen Parker, Ken McIntyre, and Beryl Mercer
-- British Fantasy Award shared by Phil Dick and Michael Moorcock
> Site selection
-- alternate site deemed necessary for 1969 Eastercon; suitable
accomodations were not available in Cambridge
>> committee put together to locate new site
-- no decision on site for 1970 was made, ending two-year planning cycle
- 1969: Galactic Fair (Oxford); April 4-6, 1969
> put on by The London Circle
-- chairman was Ted Tubb; committee also included John Brunner and Ken
Bulmer
> name of convention derived from committee's opinion that a convention
"should be more than international > it should be interstellar"
> site was Hotel Randolph in Oxford
> Programming
-- showing of prize winning films from Trieste SF Film Festival
-- realistic jousting match that resulted in loser being taken to
hospital to patch his wounds
> GoH Judith Merril carried into hall during opening ceremonies by honor
guard
-- was reclined on large butcher tray
>> someone in audience yelled "Where's the apple that should be in
her mouth?"
>> Merril *not* amused
* Other British conventions
- Minicon of June 1960
> held in Kettering
> 13 fans attended
> convention led to formation NotFans fan group of Nottingham University
> convention also led to formation of Young Science Fiction Readers Group
- London Minicon
> held Nov. 1967
> organized by Ella Parker, Ethel Lindsay, and Keith Otter
-- held in block of flats where Parker lived
> GoH was Ted Carnell
> other details lacking on attendees and events
- second London Minicon
> held Nov. 1968
> featured GoH James White
> marked the end of the SF Club of London
* Australian National Conventions
- re-established in mid-1960s (need lots and lots of information)
- 1966: Seventh Australian Science Fiction Convention (Melbourne);
April 9-11 (?) (Easter weekend)
> no guests
> chairman was John Foyster
> other committee included Merv Binns, Lee Harding, John Bangsund, Mervyn
Barrett, Paul Stevens, Dick Jenssen
> total membership was 76 fans
-- about 60 attended at least one session
-- average attendance was 45
> membership fee was A$1.50
> site was Melbourne SF Club clubrooms, 19 Somerset Place, Melbourne
-- described by attendee Charles Higham as "a ramshackle building that
appeared to have been put together out of barrel planks"
> notables attending included writers John Baxter, Lee Harding, Stephen
Cook, Doug Nicholson
> opened with an auction
-- about 100 items auctioned, mostly old magazines
-- some sold for as much as two dollars
> screened the films THE HAUNTING, METROPOLIS, DR.X, THE BEAST WITH FIVE
FINGERS, and THE BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN
> featured a writers panel with Baxter, Cook, and Harding
-- one of writers mentioned that when he had been asked to address a
Melbourne literary society on SF, he was asked to change the title
of his talk from Science Fiction to Prophetic Literature
-- panel included taped messages from overseas notables, including
Ted Carnell, who said that sex was creeping more and more into SF
-- consensus on need for Australian SF magazine to bring writers and
fans together
> convention was written up by Charles Higham in the April 23, 1966 issue
of THE BULLETIN, Australia's national news/literary magazine
-- besides covering the convention, did a creditable job of
introducing science fiction fandom to the public
-- mentioned the fannish gods Ghu and Roscoe
-- explained the terms `BNF', `neo', `sercon', `fanzine' and `TAFF'
-- gave condensed history of Australian fandom through the 1950s
-- printed a quote from "one of the earliest SF founders"... Claude
Degler
- 1968: (Melbourne) (Easter weekend)
> committee included Mervyn Binns, John Bangsund, Paul Stevens, Dick
Jenssen, Leigh Edmonds, Lee Harding, John Foyster, Diane Bangsund
- 1969: (Melbourne) (Easter weekend)
> committee included Diane Bangsund, (others)
* Swedish Conventions
- two Stocons were in 1956 (70 attendees) and 1958 (50 attendees)
- in 1959, there was also a Stockon 2.5, with 12 attendees and a new
spelling of its name
- no conventions at all in 1960, so in 1961, Stockon 3 (Stockholm) became
the first Swedish convention of the 1960s
> was a one-day convention in late February, chaired by Sam Lundwall
> 30 people braved the middle of Sweden's winter to attend
> program included some talks on sf, and a few films shown in 8mm format
- 1962 was another year without a convention in Sweden, but in 1963, the
fourth Stockon (Stockholm) was held (April 6-7, 1963)
> about 40 attendees
> Lundwall was again chairman
> program included more movies in 8mm format, a reading by Sture
Lonnerstrand, and Lundwall demonstrating his new walkie-talkie
- although these conventions were de-facto the National Convention, that
official designation did not exist until the mid 1970s
> since there was usually only one (at most) convention per year through
the decade of the 1960s, Swedish fans referred to any convention as
"this year's Swedish convention"
> there was no bidding system, and none was needed; any group that wanted
to put on a convention simply did so, and let others know through
fanzines and other printed publicity
-- there were few enough fans at that point where the first announced
convention plans discouraged any other group doing likewise, or made
them book a date far enough away on the calendar where fans could
recuperate both their stamina and their finances
- the Uppcon, in Uppsala, was a case in point
> it was a one-day convention in mid-November 1963, chaired by Ingvar
Svensson
> about 30 attendees
> program included a visit to the microgenetics laboratories at Upsala
University (where Svensson was a professor)
> even more interesting, however, was a roundtable debate on views of the
future in Swedish utopian/dystopian fiction
-- one of the participants was Arvid Rundberg, an avowed communist,
whose novel DEN RUNDA STADEN (THE ROUND CITY), which advocated
humanity living in totally identical apartments in collectively-run
arcologies, had just been published
> after the convention, the newspaper critic and non-fan Jonas Sima, who
was covering the convention, stated that he viewed fandom as "a
substitute for manhood"
-- John-Henri Holmberg later commented on the apparent factualness of
that statement: "The four or five most active fans during the decade,
Mats Linder, Bertil Martensson, Ingemar Nilsson, and myself, were all
probably late learners, and I can probably state as a fact that we
all stopped doing a thousand fanzine pages annually as soon as we
finally started getting laid with some regularity."
- in 1964, Swedish fandom maintained its 1960s tradition of not having a
convention in even-numbered years, the next convention, Stockon 5
(Stockholm) didn't occur until April 17-19, 1965 (ending on a Monday)
> the long drought between conventions did not bring out many fans; only
about 25 attended
> sponsored by a small group of fans within the newly-created Swedish SF
Convention Society who were tired of the lack of conventions in Sweden
-- chairman was John-Henri Holmberg
> program (began Saturday)
-- panel discussion on "Different Conceptions of Life"
-- panel discussion on what could be done to save Stf in Sweden
-- were some science-related items, included discussion between two
astronomers on the possibility of intelligent life on other worlds,
and a lecture on prehistoric animals
-- once again, some 8mm movies were shown
-- an auction raised about $100
> singing of Sam Lundwall, of songs from his forthcoming album, brought
rave reviews
- in 1966 Malcon II (Malmo) broke the trend of odd-numbered year conventions
> was last weekend in May, 1966
> numbered II because Malcon I, in 1959, was apparently a hoax
> chairman was Leif Andersson
> 29 attendees
-- included fans from Denmark and Norway
> program included a talk by invited author Sven Christer Swahn, yet more
8mm movies, and a visit to Lund University where Andersson was doing his
doctoral research in astronomy
> a special event was the presention of the Swedish Academy of Science
Fiction's annual S-F Award to Danish fan Jannick Storm
-- award had been founded to honor a deserving Scandinavian sf writer or
fan
-- was the first time the award had been presented at a convention;
the previous two awards, in 1963 and 1964, had been presented at the
annual meeting of the SFSF
- the only sf convention in Sweden in 1967 was the Gothcon, in Gothenburg
> chairman was Ingemar Nilsson
> the improving trend in attendance continued, with 45 fans there
> the Swedish Academy of Science Fiction's annual award was presented to
John-Henri Holmberg
> although this, by default, was the sf convention event of the year,
little else noteworthy happened
-- there was the usual mix of popular science and movies
-- only real exception was a moment of sercon: (someone?) gave an
impressive talk author James Blish, which was well received
- the sixth Stockon (Stockholm), in 1968, was once again, the only
convention in Sweden that year
> chairman was John-Henri Holmberg
> there 60 attendees, the most at a convention in Sweden since the very
first Stocon
> Bertil Martensson was presented the Swedish Academy of Science Fiction's
annual award
> the program was an eclectic mix, with talks on H.G. Wells, dinosaurs,
and modern art, and, of course, more movies
- it wasn't until 1969, at the Con 69 in Lund, that Swedish fandom tried
something different
> chairs were Mats Linder and Bertil Martensson
-- Linder himself was honored with the Swedish Academy of Science
Fiction's annual award
> 40 fans were in attendance
> what was different about the convention was the convention itself
-- instead of following the example of other conventions during the
decade, this one was arranged more as an informal `happening',
according to John-Henri Holmberg
-- there were impromptu talks, film shows, and performances
-- overall, it was different enough to be memorable, but maybe a little
too different for most fans there, as its format was tried only once
more, at another Lund convention in 1973, where it failed again
- as the 1960s ended, Swedish fans could look back at the growth in their
conventions over past decade, and ahead to a new decade of even more
interest; they were not disappointed
- Swedish conventions of the 1970s grew in attendance considerably,
especially those in Stockholm
> high water mark of 450 attendees at the Scancon of 1976
* German conventions
- Niederrhein-Con (March 21-22, 1964)
> GoH was Austrian fan Franz L. Rottensteiner
- Castle-Con (first weekend in August, 1964)
> German national convention
> organizer was Franz Ettl
> site was the thousand-year-old Castle of Marquartstein, in the village
of same name near the Austrian border
> 103 fans attended
-- British fans included Ina & Norman Shorrock, Norman Weedall, Archie
Mercer, Ethel Lindsay, George Locke, and Eddie Jones
-- U.S. visitors included writer George O. Smith
> program was in German, but some events were translated for English-
speaking fans by Tom Schlueck, Wolfgang Thadewald, Horst Evermann, and
Gary Kluepfel
-- British fans from London and Liverpool provided slide shows
-- Friday night featured public dance by a group of Bavarian dancers,
for con-goers seated in courtyard drinking beer and Kirschwasser
-- fancy dress event on Saturday night held in a medieval hall of the
castle
-- an unexpected event of the convention was the castle proprietor
>> first night of the convention, he got drunk and kept all the fans
awake all night
>> next morning, still drunk, he broke all the dishes: no breakfast!
- Francon (August 20-22, 1965)
> site was the Felbergof, located in Feldbergstrasse in Oberursel (near
Frankfurt)
> Edmond Hamilton, Leigh Brackett, George O. Smith, George Scithers from
U.S. attended
- 1967 Annual Convention of Gerfandom (August 1967)
> had originally been scheduled for Vienna, moved to Berlin
- Perkeo-Con (August 2-5, 1968)
> the annual convention of the Science Fiction Club Deutchland
> 1968 locale was Heidelberg
> attendance was about 80
-- included most of the Heidelberg 1970 worldcon bid committee
> program included a report on the recent Trieste Science Fiction Film
Festival and a four-part television documentary about science fiction
-- series was made by Brian Wood, an Englishman who was working for
Bavarian TV
-- many fans criticised the series, saying that after watching it, an
outsider wouldn't have any idea what science fiction was about, and
that much of the material covered didn't even have anything to do
with science fiction
> German equivalent of the Hugo Awards were presented
-- DUNE won as Best Translation
-- Peter Watkin's PRIVELEGE was selected as the Best SF film shown in
Germany
-- in the book category, `No Award' was the winner
> SFCD held its annual elections, with Gert Zach becoming the club's new
chairman
> there was also a St. Fantony Ceremonie, in which German fan Franz Ettl
was initiated
- 1969 SFCD Convention (August 1-4, 1969)
> site was Dusseldorf
* Other European conventions
- Wiencon (August 5-8, 1966)
> held in Vienna, Austria
> coach trip from Britain set up by Tony Walsh
> (need more details)
* Other international conventions
- there were two science fiction conventions in Argentina in the 1960s; the
first was held in Buenos Aires in December 1967, which led it to be called
the Bairescon
>> was organized by Hector Pessina
>> attendance figures have been lost, but convention was relatively small
>> was mainly serconnish, featuring discussions of books and writing
- in July 1968, a larger convention, the Mardelcon, was held in Mar Del
Plata
>> was organized by members of the Antelae SF Club of that city
>> this convention was far more upscale than the Bairescon
--- writers, editors, and book distributors attended
--- there were displays by magazine publishers, and even one by the
national UFO investigation center
--- local TV even took an interest
>> the program track featured discussion panels, debates, and performances
of plays
--- a local scientific expert, Dr. Armando Cocca, spoke about space law
--- there was a story contest for new writers, with the top award
presented to Magdalene Moujan Otano, who later went on to sell
stories to Spanish-language magazines such as Spain's NUEVA
DIMENSION
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