Karl Olsen

(????–????)

Karl Olsen, a New York fan, was one of the eager young 7th Fandomites whom Harlan Ellison gathered at the rallying HEcon in 1953 and led in procession, wielding the scarlet birdbath and proclaiming their advent over old and tired Sixth Fandom, at Midwestcon 4.

Later that year, at the 1953 Worldcon, Olsen served on the staff of the Philcon Reporter, one of the earliest convention newsletters. By 1954, he had gafiated, although he later returned to fandom.

Many years later, he lived in Saratoga, NY, and ran two genre bookstores, Saratoga SF and Mystery and Tales of Space and Crime, with Mary Southworth, and was a regular huckster at regional conventions.

7th Fandomites at Midwestcon 4, 1953, from left: Norman G. Browne, Ian T. Macauley, David Ish, Karl Olsen, Jack Harness. Photo by Dean Grennell.

---

Person

????—

This is a biography page. Please extend it by adding more information about the person, such as fanzines and apazines published, awards, clubs, conventions worked on, GoHships, impact on fandom, external links, anecdotes, etc. See Standards for People and The Naming of Names.