Festivention

Festivention, the popular name of what was more properly the Festival Convention or Science Fiction Festival Convention, was held in London over Whitsun, May 10–14, 1951, at the White Horse and Royal Hotel. The guests of honour were Forrest J Ackerman, Wendayne Ackerman, and Lyell Crane. The committee were E. J. Carnell, Charles Duncombe, A. Vincent Clarke, Audrey Lovett, F. E. Arnold, Jim Ratigan, Ken Bulmer, Fred Brown, and Ted Tubb. The name was a tie-in to the Festival of Britain, also in 1951.

Festivention was always intended as an international convention and was sometimes referred to as European International Convention or the EUCON. While it clearly wasn't a Worldcon in the technical sense, it was more international than any Worldcon to date and contemporary fanwriters did occasionally use the term 'World Convention'.

Festivention was included on the canonical list of Eastercons produced for Eastercon 22 in 1971 and it was only promoted out of the list in 1989 on the basis that it was explicitly planned as an international convention. Additionally, the re-discovery of Cytricon III, omitted from the 1971 list, meant that something had to give to avoid the numerical embarrassment of Eastercon 22 being the 23rd Eastercon.

Preparation

The conventions in 1948 and 1949 had been organised at short notice with little or no advance publicity, presumably being advertised by word of mouth. By contrast, publicity for Festivention started about a year in advance with Ken Slater reporting:

good news for European fandom is word from Ted Carnell (editor of fan-produced professional magazine New Worlds) that a European convention will be organized in London for 1951, to coincide with the Festival of Britain. Probable dates will be around Whitsun, but more definite information will come later.

Ted Carnell promoted the convention in an editorial for New Worlds #8 (Winter 1950). The proposed venue was then the Bull and Mouth Hotel in Bury Place. This was still being cited as the venue in Sludge #1 and Slant #5, both dated 'Spring 1951'.

The convention issued two progress reports, referred to as Convention News. A copy of the first hasn't been located as at 2024, and the second isn't dated but was likely issued close to the convention. It reported that memberships had exceeded 100 and that the original venue had been dropped as too small and the convention would now be at the The Royal Hotel. Membership of the convention society was 2/6 (two shillings and sixpence) while attendance on the main days (Saturday and Sunday) was 7/6 per day so full attendance was 17/6. It was printed by the Slant team.

L. Sprague de Camp had been due to attend as a guest but had to send regrets in February due to 'family affairs'.

Venue

Festivention was making the first hotel-based UK convention. The main venue for the Saturday and Sunday was The Royal Hotel on Russell Square in London. It would later be the venue for the London SF Con in 1952 and SCI-CON 70 in 1970. It has since been demolished. The Royal National Hotel now stands on the site.

Preliminary sessions were held at the White Horse pub in Fetter Lane on the Thursday and Friday, the venue for the 1948 Whitcon.

The Bull and Mouth Hotel, the original planned venue, was later renamed the Falkland Arms, reverted to its original name in 1998 and closed in 2006. It is now a Chinese restaurant.

Attendees

There is no published membership list and estimates of numbers vary: 'over 120' in Science Fantasy News #8; '150' in Fantasy Times #130; 'over 200' in Journal of Science Fiction #1 and 'between 200 and 300' according to Ted Carnell in Bloomington News Letter #21.

The following are people named in one of the convention reports, who appear in photos, and/or whose names appear on an extensively signed copy of the programme book.

Named marked * are family members of attendees who it is thought were not fans per se.

1. Ben Abas
2. Barbara Abas
3. Forry Ackerman
4. Wendayne Ackerman
5. Bruce Angrave
6. Frank Arnold
7. P. A. Astley
8. B. A. Baker
9. Eric Bentcliffe
10. Sid Birchby
11. John Birchby
12. Leonard Borston
13. Syd Bounds
14. Fred Brown
15. Daphne Buckmaster
16. Ron Buckmaster
17. Ken Bulmer
18. Jim Burch
19. Bert Campbell
20. Mrs Campbell *
21. Paul Capon
22. Ted Carnell
23. M. Chambaz
24. Mdm. Chambaz *
25. Ken Chapman
26. Joan Chapman *
27. George Charters
28. Vin¢ Clarke
29. Arthur C. Clarke
30. Dave Cohen
31. Robert Conquest
32. Mrs Conquest *
33. Michael Corper
34. Lyell Crane
35. John Keir Cross
36. C. D'Alessio
37. Rick Dalton
38. Mimi Dalton *
39. Ron Deacon
40. Philip Duerr
41. Charles Duncombe
42. Fred Fairless
43. Frank Fears
44. Bob Foster
45. J. Fowler
46. Les Flood
47. Georges Gallet
48. Kerry Gaulder
49. W. Arthur Gibson
50. Walter Gillings
51. David Griffiths
52. John Beynon Harris
53. George Hay
54. Phil Hetherington
55. Mr Hill
56. Arthur F. Hillman
57. Alan Hunter
58. Joyce Hunter *
59. Lee Jacobs
60. Bill Jesson
61. Leslie J. Johnson
62. K. Johnstone
63. Ralph A. Keyes
64. John Kippax
65. Max Leviten
66. Audrey Lovett
67. Prof. A. M. Low
68. Colling Leybourn
69. Douglas W. F. Mayer
70. Frank Milnes
71. Lew Mordecai
72. Dan Morgan
73. Joni Murray
74. Sigvard Östlund
75. Mrs Ostlund *
76. Terry Overton
77. John C. Park
78. Mary Patchett
79. Peter Phillips
80. Derek Pickles
81. Mavis Pickles
82. Owen Plumridge
83. Ken Paynter
84. Jim Ratigan
85. Peter J. Ridley
86. Fred Robinson
87. J. Michael Rosenblum
88. Alan Shalders
89. C. Sharpe
90. D. Sharpe
91. Bob Shaw
92. Walter Shaw
93. Mike Tealby
94. Bill Temple
95. Tony Thorne
96. Ted Tubb
97. Norman Wansborough
98. Norman Weedall
99. A. Wenham
100. P. A. Weston
101. R. V. Weston
102. James White
103. A. E. "Taffy" Williams
104. Walt Willis
105. Madeleine Willis
106. Mike Wilson
107. Sam Youd

Additional known attendees include Ben Abas's brother (name unknown) and somebody whose name appears to be Daphne Mac-something. There are a number of other names that appear on a signed copy of the programme that can't be identified, including that of a Mystery American. One signature is followed by the letters 'USA'. It does not appear to be that of either of the Ackermans or of Lee Jacobs but it's unclear who it is. No other Americans are mentioned in convention reports.

Writing in Fantasy Times #128 (April 2, 1951), Forrest J Ackerman, already arrived in London in advance of the convention, said that 'Amongst notables attending will be S. Fowler Wright'. Vin¢ Clarke's preliminary report confirms that he did not attend. Ackerman also says 'The New Zealand fan is already in London' and the second progress report mentions one Don Mathieson but there are no mentions of him or any other New Zealand fan in any convention reports (although see the note above about John C. Park). The progress report also mentioned the expected attendance of Julian May.

Another notable absentee was Ken Slater who was unable to attend due to his military duties in Germany.

The Convention

From left, Mike Tealby, Derek Pickles, Fred Robinson, Walter Willis, Bob Foster, Vincent Clarke and Ken Bulmer at the International Science Fantasy Con, 1951.

The first preliminary meeting on Thursday May 10 saw the 'White Horse' packed to capacity, with well over 60 visitors being present during the course of the evening. The second session on Friday May 11 was a little smaller with 40 or so attendees.

Ted Carnell summarised proceedings in his report for Bloomington News Letter #21 (July 1951)

London, England: Over May 11th to the 14th, between 200 and 300 professional and amateur enthusiasts of science-fiction, rep­resenting eight countries, met in the ballroom of the Royal Hotel (London), to celebrate the first International Science-Fiction Convention ever held. Highlight of this largest - ever British gathering was a surprise award promulgated by the London Circle for the best fiction book and best technical book of 1950. The panel of critics chose George R. Stewart's EARTH ABIDES (Random House) for fiction, and Willy Ley & Chesley Bonestell's CONQUEST OF SPACE (Viking Press) for the technical award. Forrest Ackerman accepted the two awards on behalf of his countrymen.

The awards, conceived only two weeks prior to the convention, went on the drawing board immediately and a twelve-inch spaceship taken from the Bonestell design on the February 1951 GALAXY cover has been approved; It will be mounted on an oak base complete with ornate lighter. Actual awards will be fashioned of heavy chrome for the fiction class, and bronze for the technical. Owing to the shortage of time, exact replicas were used in place of the models — not expected to be ready for some weeks. It is intended that these awards will be made annually, and planned to embrace other fields of science-fiction, including the films. A special Fantasy Fund Award has been opened whereby any­ one may donate. At present, the Award Fund Committee are using the Nova Publications address. 

The Sunday afternoon (13th) session included a three-hour coverage of the S-F fields by all overseas guests; Crane, Canada; Ackerman and Jacobs, the States; Gallet, France; Abas, Holland; Ostlund, Sweden; Willis, Ireland; Paynter, Australia; and Arnold for Britain. (Cpl. Jacobs flew in from his station in Versailles, France.) In addition, Frank Arnold reported on the Italian and Russian fields, while Wendayne Ackerman spoke on the German. A proposal was made by Lyell Crane to set up an International S-F movement outside the United States and the United Kingdom.

The convention followed similar lines to American affairs in that two auctions proved it a moneymaker. There were debates and discussions by prominent professionals, and Milton Rothman's two soap-operas "Life Can be Horrible" and "Who Goes Where?" were re-scripted for British consumption with outstanding success. These and other major items were wire-recorded. Wendayne Acker­man gave an outline of dianetics to a packed hall.

Film shows each evening included Doyle's feature, "The Lost World", Tucker's cutting-room floor epic, "Monsters of the Moon", three short films brought over by Ackerman, and a technicolor rocket film supplied by Arthur C. Clarke. Science-fiction "art" vied with Victorian paintings adorning the walls.

Publications

As well as the two progress reports, there was a 12-page programme booklet produced by Vin¢ Clarke. Clarke also produced A Preliminary Convention Report, a precursor to a proper souvenir booklet although there is no evidence that one was ever produced.

Future conventions

Ted Carnell concluded his report in the Journal of Science Fiction #1 (Fall 1951):

The general consensus of opinion was that London should stage a yearly Convention, the city being better adapted for out-of-town delegates to reach than any other in the country. While the Committee at the moment say 'Never again!' they will, undoubtedly, as soon as the back aches disappear, start planning for 1952.

Links

• Overview of Festivention at fiawol.org including links, photos and report extracts.
• Report in Science Fantasy News #8 (July 1951) at fanac.org..
• The Harp in England ebook, includes 'The Harp in England London 'Festivention' 1951, a conrep by Walt Willis.
• Various convention report transcripts at fiawol.org.uk
• Progress Report #2 at fiawol.org.uk.
• The Festivention Programme Book (transcript) at fiawol,org.uk.

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Convention
	1951

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