* Los Angeles
- LASFS
> at the start of the decade, fandom in Los Angeles centered around LASFS
-- club was formed in October 1934; one of primary early movers was Forry Ackerman
-- by late 1950s, things had changed, with Ackerman moving on to prodom with his FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND
and related projects
>> Bjo Trimble had inherited the role as the lifeforce of the club
-- at start of decade, many of LASFS lived in so-called Fan Hilton
>> according to Ted Johnstone, it was "a big old house on Eighth Street. It had once been a rooming
house, and sported seven bedrooms upstairs, two huge gathering rooms, a studio, a back
workroom, a large kitchen, and miscellaneous closets downstairs. It was more or less love at first sight."
>> full-time residents included Bruce Pelz, Ted Johnstone, Bjo and John Trimble, Jack Harness, and
Ernie Wheatley
>> there were many part-time and transient residents, including the improbable Karu Beltran
--- Karu was a magician by trade, and an accomplished sleight-of-hand artist
--- Karu was also an accomplished cook, which made him invaluable to the residents of the Fan Hilton
>>> was once sketched by Bjo standing at the stove over a huge pot, with a tentacle writhing over
the edge
--- Karu had an old car parked behind Fan Hilton, which was said to contain at least one of everything in
the world
>>> once, Bjo needed a mortar and pestle for a spice recipe she was working on, and Karu had one in
the car's glove compartment
>>> another time, the fans in the Hilton wanted to watch a special TV program that had been
advertised, but they didn't have a TV set. Karu excused himself, and returned from his car with one.
>>> "Just a minute, I think I've got one in my car" became a catchphrase in L.A. fandom
>> was site of much fan activity, from fanzines to convention planning to parties
--- many fanzines were produced in the former dining room, and duplicated by mimeograph in an area of the
house that used to be a back hallway
>> LASFS met in the large downstairs living room
--- (could use a reprinted quote of some kind here, about the Fan Hilton as a LASFS meeting site)
>> in 1961, fans were forced to move out, as the building was torn down for redevelopment.
--- Ted Johnstone later wrote, "The night we finished moving out, I came back with Bruce Pelz for a last
look around. The electricity had been turned off for the last time, and we went in the wide open front door with
a flashlight. I stood in the hall downstairs and looked around, and thought about what a lot of fun we had had
in this house, and all the wonderful things that had gone on in there in the last year and a half. Fandom was
poorer for its loss."
> LASFS held its meetings every Thursday night
-- (locations of meeting sites?)
-- in April 1965, amendment to LASFS constitution was presented that moved meeting night to Fridays
>> was supported by many active members
--- Thursday night meetings were inconvenient
>> voting on amendment took place in November
--- 44 votes cast, 25 in favor, 19 against
--- was defeated; did not get necessary 3/4 needed to pass
--- Bruce Pelz laconically reported in RATATOSK: "And the status... ...remains quo."
--- LASFS continued to meet on Thursday nights for decades
> LASFS building fund
-- intention was to buy a clubhouse as a meeting spot
-- LASFS Clubhouse Fund debuted the summer of 1964, as an amendment to the LASFS constitution
>> first manager of the fund was Paul Turner
-- collected revenues from auctions, donations, grants from Westercons
>> initial pledges got the fund off to a good start, with over $700
>> one year later, money in the fund totaled over $2,000
> in May 1965, club voted to impeach LASFS secretary Jack Harness for non-feasance
-- had been late for 7 of previous 8 meetings
-- at meeting where impeachment was voted on, was so late that both the debate and final voting were over by
the time he arrived
-- he was thrown out of office
>> was first successful impeachment of LASFS officer in the decade
-- following impeachment, election was held for a new secretary
>> Harness elected by a good majority
> Fanquet
-- event held yearly to honor the club member who during the past year had achieved the greatest income as a
beginning professional
-- 1961: Chuck Neutzel
-- 1965: Larry Niven (event held in July)
-- 1966: Bill Ellern and Ted Johnstone (April 29)
>> 29 in attendance
>> Guest Speaker was Larry Niven
> Halloween parties
-- resembled small conventions without programming
>> always featured costume contests
-- held at member's homes
-- 1965 party (held October 30th) was interrupted by three gunshots being fired from outside into the
building where party was being held
>> earlier in the evening, two party crashers had been evicted
>> Dian Pelz slightly hurt by flying wood splinters
--- one bullet had passed between Dian and Bill Rotsler as they sat talking
>> police took down information, but no arrests ever made
-- 1966 party had a theme of "come as some other LASFSian"
>> two people came as Jack Harness
>> prizes for Most Authentic (male) went to Len Bailes as Ted Johnstone and Most Authentic (female) to
Helen Smith as Hilda Hoffman
--- latter, in spite of fact that Smith *hadn't* come as Hoffman; judges decided she *looked* like Hilda and
awarded the prize anyway
see some of Helen Smith's memories of LA Fandom
>> prize for Most Humorous went to Hilda Hoffman as The LASFS Itself--The Snake Pit of Fandom
--- costume was complete with two live snakes
>> everyone was reported to have a good time, undoubtedly due in part because no brawls resulted
because of the theme
> Anniversary Meetings
-- 28th Anniversary, in October 1962
>> featured Fritz Leiber, who read in his all-pervading voice, Chesterton's romantic poem "Lepanto"
--- was such a masterful performance, nobody thought to ask what it had to do with science fiction
>> 4th Annual Evans-Freehafer Award, for service to the club, went to Virginia Mill (reason??)
>> in attendance was Dr. C. L. Barrett, all the way from Ohio
-- 29th Anniversary, in October 1963, held at home of Jack Harness and Owen Hannifen on Halloween
>> 5th annual Evans-Freehafer Award presented to Leland Sapiro, with a certificate of recognition to
Redd Boggs
>> Dale Hart spoke of the late F. T. Laney, said that Laney was "a man who embraced all that we hold
dear"
--- other LASFS members present later stated that Hart spoke for no one but himself
-- 30th Anniversary, on November 5, 1964
>> Paul Turner presented with Evans-Freehafer Award for his work in setting up and administering the
LASFS clubhouse fund
--- at the time of the meeting, fund totalled almost $1,000
-- 31st Anniversary meeting, October 28, 1965 (meeting no. 1472)
>> guest speaker was Robert Bloch
>> other notables included Forry Ackerman and Walt Daugherty
>> Evans-Freehafer Award, for Outstanding Service to LASFS over past year, given to Fred Patten for
work as Official Collator of APA-L
-- 32nd Anniversary meeting, October
>> guest speaker was Ray Bradbury
--- spoke on the making of the movie FAHRENHEIT 451
>> 8th annual Evans-Freehafer Award given to Bruce Pelz
>> newly-created award, the Forry Award, given to Bradbury for his long service to the SF field
> publications
-- SHAGGY
>> begun in 1941 as a one-sheet page of news and publicity under the title of SHANGRI-L'AFFAIRES
>> during the 1940s, was edited by a series of very well-known fans, including Forry Ackerman, Walter
Daugherty, Francis Towner Laney, and Charles Burbee
--- page count gradually increased, including material other than news, becoming a general interest fanzine
--- by end of 1940s, name had been shortened to SHANGRI-LA
>> during the 1950s, most fans had come to know the fanzine by a further shortened the name, SHAGGY
--- by mid 1950s, fanzine had started appearing sporadically, until influence of Bjo provided a
revitalization
>> another factor in its late decade resurgence was that a group of L.A. fans pooled some money and
bought a new Gestetner mimeograph, solving a continuing problem on how to get larger numbers of a
substantially-sized fanzine published
--- last issue of 1950s, a Christmas 1959 issue, featured a large art supplement, and Bjo's fan fiction "The
Littlest Fan"
>> by mid 1960s, SHAGGY was edited by Ted Johnstone
>> in 1965, new policies set up that restricted the fanzine's availability
--- no longer available for trade with other fanzines
--- contribution, subscription, LoC only way for outsiders to get an issue
--- still free to LASFS members, but only if they pick up issue within 2 meetings of publication
-- LASFS NEWSLETTER
>> begun by Bjo Trimble in 1960
--- she and a couple of co-ditors had control through issue 10 (April 1962)
>> Dian Girard soon assumed editorship, until issue 17 (June 1963)
>> Redd Boggs continued the NEWSLETTER, after a lapse, in 1963
--- published three issues, #18-20
>> Bill Blackbeard became editor in October 1963, followed by Ted Johnstone
>> ceased publication in 1965, after issue 27
--- replaced by a new LASFS newszine, DE PROFUNDIS
-- DE PROFUNDIS
>> begun in the summer of 1965 by Bjo and John Trimble
- The Blackguards
> a LASFS in-group
> members included Chuck Crayne, (others?)
> formed in January 1967
> in theory, independent of LASFS
-- had its own treasury
> planned a convention, Blackguardcon I, on Easter weekend, 1967
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