Difference between revisions of "Pacificon I Reminiscence (Ackerman)"
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| − | {{DISPLAYTITLE:Pacificon I Reminiscence}} | + | {{DISPLAYTITLE:Forrest J Ackerman's Pacificon I Reminiscence}}1946 -- [[Pacificon I]], [[Los Angeles]]<br> |
| − | 1946 -- [[Pacificon I]], [[Los Angeles]] | + | by [[Forrest J Ackerman]]<br> |
| − | by [[Forrest J Ackerman]] | ||
From the [[Noreascon Three]] [[PB]] | From the [[Noreascon Three]] [[PB]] | ||
| − | After a 4-year [[wartime]] hiatus the Angele–os were gungho to go with the interrupted Pacificon (again my name) of 1942. I had survived 3 years 5 months & 29 days of [[WW2]] (altho | + | After a 4-year [[wartime]] hiatus the [[LA|Angele–os]] were gungho to go with the interrupted Pacificon (again my name) of 1942. I had survived 3 years 5 months & 29 days of [[WW2]] (altho |
| − | my brother got killed) and so my collection had not become the [[Fantasy Foundation]] that had been envisioned if I had lost my life. I think some people were disappointed. | + | my brother got killed) and so my [[collection]] had not become the [[Fantasy Foundation]] that had been envisioned if I had lost my life. I think some people were disappointed. |
| − | So a clamor arose: why wait for the demise of [[Efjay the Terrible]], why not establish the Foundation at the Pacificon with my collection as the, er, foundation? I thought we should offer potential participants more than empty promises so I decided to get busy and catalog my hardcover collection -- all 1300 titles. (Now, including paperbacks, about 40,000 volumes.) So I began recording the names of the books on stencils. Then I thought, as long as I'm at it I might as well record whether they are First Editions or what. Include whether they had jackets. Why not be more considerate for collectors, bibliophiles, would-be readers, and give a helpful hint as to the contents: prehistoric, futuristic, interplanetary, supernatural, sequel, Atlantean, whatnot. Pretty soon I was burning the proverbial candle at both ends and included the middle as well when I decided to add a list of the magazines of the year. I burned myself out, as we shall soon learn. | + | So a clamor arose: why wait for the demise of [[Efjay the Terrible]], why not establish the Foundation at the Pacificon with my collection as the, er, foundation? I thought we should offer potential participants more than empty promises so I decided to get busy and catalog my hardcover collection -- all 1300 titles. (Now, including paperbacks, about 40,000 volumes.) So I began recording the names of the [[books]] on [[stencils]]. Then I thought, as long as I'm at it I might as well record whether they are First Editions or what. Include whether they had jackets. Why not be more considerate for [[collectors]], [[bibliophiles]], would-be readers, and give a helpful hint as to the contents: prehistoric, futuristic, interplanetary, supernatural, sequel, Atlantean, whatnot. Pretty soon I was burning the proverbial candle at both ends and included the middle as well when I decided to add a list of the magazines of the year. I burned myself out, as we shall soon learn. |
Bright and early the first day of the [[Con]], I was practically the first one in the hall. As a humorous note, I exhibited a copy of [[Lovecraft]]'s ''The Outsider and Others'' with a steel chain around it attached to a brick. I lasted till 4 in the afternoon, at which time I collapsed with cold chills and fever, shaking uncontrollably. I was in bed for 20 days with physical exhaustion. But not before I accomplished two important things: | Bright and early the first day of the [[Con]], I was practically the first one in the hall. As a humorous note, I exhibited a copy of [[Lovecraft]]'s ''The Outsider and Others'' with a steel chain around it attached to a brick. I lasted till 4 in the afternoon, at which time I collapsed with cold chills and fever, shaking uncontrollably. I was in bed for 20 days with physical exhaustion. But not before I accomplished two important things: | ||
| + | |||
(1) I put in the pitch for the [[Fantasy Foundation]] and all kinds of [[fans]] & [[professional|pro's]] volunteered donations on the spot: a copy of the ''[[Amazing Stories Annual]]'', a copy of the ''[[fancyclopedia 1|Fancyclopedia]]'', an [[Arkham House]] book...that sort of thing. | (1) I put in the pitch for the [[Fantasy Foundation]] and all kinds of [[fans]] & [[professional|pro's]] volunteered donations on the spot: a copy of the ''[[Amazing Stories Annual]]'', a copy of the ''[[fancyclopedia 1|Fancyclopedia]]'', an [[Arkham House]] book...that sort of thing. | ||
| − | (2) I sowed the seeds for the [[TransAtlantic Fan Fund]] of the 1950s, with its precursor the [[Big Pond Fund]] which was instrumental in "importing" the first [[fan]]/[[pro]] from abroad, the late [[Edward "Ted" Carnell]] of [[London]], England. | + | |
| + | (2) I sowed the seeds for the [[TransAtlantic Fan Fund]] of the 1950s, with its precursor the [[Big Pond Fund]] which was instrumental in "importing" the first [[fan]]/[[pro]] from abroad, the late [[Edward "Ted" Carnell]] of [[London]], [[England]]. | ||
The last thing I remember on the afternoon of the first day of the first 4-day Worldcon was [[Bob Bloch]]'s opening remarks: | The last thing I remember on the afternoon of the first day of the first 4-day Worldcon was [[Bob Bloch]]'s opening remarks: | ||
| − | "I made 3 sales before I left Milwaukee for this convention: | + | |
| − | "My typewriter... | + | "I made 3 sales before I left [[Milwaukee]] for this convention:<br> |
| − | "My winter coat... | + | "My typewriter...<br> |
| − | "And my automobile." | + | "My winter coat...<br> |
| + | "And my [[automobile]]."<br> | ||
So, as they say in Show Biz: Always leave them laughing. | So, as they say in Show Biz: Always leave them laughing. | ||
| + | |||
{{fanhistory | year=1946}} | {{fanhistory | year=1946}} | ||
[[Category:worldcon]] | [[Category:worldcon]] | ||
[[category:US]] | [[category:US]] | ||
Latest revision as of 02:57, 2 February 2021
1946 -- Pacificon I, Los Angeles
by Forrest J Ackerman
From the Noreascon Three PB
After a 4-year wartime hiatus the Angele–os were gungho to go with the interrupted Pacificon (again my name) of 1942. I had survived 3 years 5 months & 29 days of WW2 (altho my brother got killed) and so my collection had not become the Fantasy Foundation that had been envisioned if I had lost my life. I think some people were disappointed.
So a clamor arose: why wait for the demise of Efjay the Terrible, why not establish the Foundation at the Pacificon with my collection as the, er, foundation? I thought we should offer potential participants more than empty promises so I decided to get busy and catalog my hardcover collection -- all 1300 titles. (Now, including paperbacks, about 40,000 volumes.) So I began recording the names of the books on stencils. Then I thought, as long as I'm at it I might as well record whether they are First Editions or what. Include whether they had jackets. Why not be more considerate for collectors, bibliophiles, would-be readers, and give a helpful hint as to the contents: prehistoric, futuristic, interplanetary, supernatural, sequel, Atlantean, whatnot. Pretty soon I was burning the proverbial candle at both ends and included the middle as well when I decided to add a list of the magazines of the year. I burned myself out, as we shall soon learn.
Bright and early the first day of the Con, I was practically the first one in the hall. As a humorous note, I exhibited a copy of Lovecraft's The Outsider and Others with a steel chain around it attached to a brick. I lasted till 4 in the afternoon, at which time I collapsed with cold chills and fever, shaking uncontrollably. I was in bed for 20 days with physical exhaustion. But not before I accomplished two important things:
(1) I put in the pitch for the Fantasy Foundation and all kinds of fans & pro's volunteered donations on the spot: a copy of the Amazing Stories Annual, a copy of the Fancyclopedia, an Arkham House book...that sort of thing.
(2) I sowed the seeds for the TransAtlantic Fan Fund of the 1950s, with its precursor the Big Pond Fund which was instrumental in "importing" the first fan/pro from abroad, the late Edward "Ted" Carnell of London, England.
The last thing I remember on the afternoon of the first day of the first 4-day Worldcon was Bob Bloch's opening remarks:
"I made 3 sales before I left Milwaukee for this convention:
"My typewriter...
"My winter coat...
"And my automobile."
So, as they say in Show Biz: Always leave them laughing.
| Fanhistory | 1946 |
| This is a fanhistory page. Please add more detail. |
