Difference between revisions of "William S. Sykora"
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(August 16, 1913 – June 7, 1994) | (August 16, 1913 – June 7, 1994) | ||
| − | '''William Stephan “Will” Sykora''', called “[[The Mikado of Long Island City]]” and “[[Oily Will]]” by his detractors, started reading [[sf]] in 1924 and was a charter subscriber to ''[[Amazing Stories]]'' and his first [[fanac]] was a letter to the January 1930 ''[[Science Wonder Stories]]''. He attended several meetings of [[The Scienceers]] before joining the five-member | + | [[File:SykoraWill1950.jpeg|frame|right|'''Will Sykora at [[NorWesCon]], 1950'''. ''Photo by [[Martin Alger]].'' ]] |
| + | '''William Stephan “Will” Sykora''', called “[[The Mikado of Long Island City]],” “'''Psykora'''” and “[[Oily Will]]” by his detractors, started reading [[sf]] in 1924 and was a charter subscriber to ''[[Amazing Stories]]'' and his first [[fanac]] was a letter to the January 1930 ''[[Science Wonder Stories]]''. He attended several meetings of [[The Scienceers]] before joining the five-member New York City chapter of the [[Science Fiction League]] in January 1935; he was SFL member #208. The other members were [[Donald A. Wollheim]], [[John Michel]], [[Conrad Ruppert]], and [[Julius Schwartz]]. Sykora also joined a branch of the [[International Cosmos Science Club]] (later the [[ISA]]), a group devoted to both science and [[SF]].) He served as its [[president]]. | ||
According to [[Sam Moskowitz]], Sykora "epitomized the [[Gernsbackian]] ideal that all [[readers]] of the genre should consider the advancement of science their serious aim." The [[ISA]] embodied this idea. He also joined the [[Manhattan SFL]] and the [[Queens SFL]]. | According to [[Sam Moskowitz]], Sykora "epitomized the [[Gernsbackian]] ideal that all [[readers]] of the genre should consider the advancement of science their serious aim." The [[ISA]] embodied this idea. He also joined the [[Manhattan SFL]] and the [[Queens SFL]]. | ||
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The battles were fought with the intensity that only a young fan can muster — Sykora who was in his 20s then, was one of the ''older'' players (!). For example, the [[Wollheimists]] attempted to throw Sykora out of the [[GNYSFL]] at a meeting he was absent from. When the [[president]] ruled this out of order, the Wollheimists got him impeached and Sykora ejected, resulting in the collapse of the [[GNYSFL]]. Sykora was one of the [[Triumvirs]] who opposed the [[Quadrumvirate]]. | The battles were fought with the intensity that only a young fan can muster — Sykora who was in his 20s then, was one of the ''older'' players (!). For example, the [[Wollheimists]] attempted to throw Sykora out of the [[GNYSFL]] at a meeting he was absent from. When the [[president]] ruled this out of order, the Wollheimists got him impeached and Sykora ejected, resulting in the collapse of the [[GNYSFL]]. Sykora was one of the [[Triumvirs]] who opposed the [[Quadrumvirate]]. | ||
| + | [[File:1stcon1936.jpeg|thumb|right|upright=1.5| '''The majority of the attendees of the world's [[First Convention|first science fiction convention]] in 1936, from left: [[Oswald Train]], [[Donald A. Wollheim]], [[Milton A. Rothman]], [[Frederik Pohl]], [[John B. Michel]], William S. Sykora (holding the [[NYB-ISA]] flag), [[David A. Kyle]], and [[Robert Madle]]. They're standing in front of Independence Hall in [[Philadelphia]].''' ''Photo by [[Herbert E. Goudket]].'' ]] | ||
He organized a number of the [[early conventions]], including the [[First National]] (also known as the [[Newark Convention]]) and the [[Second Eastern States Science Fiction Convention]]. He attended the [[First Convention]] and the [[1938 Philadelphia Conference]] and was a member of [[New Fandom]]. | He organized a number of the [[early conventions]], including the [[First National]] (also known as the [[Newark Convention]]) and the [[Second Eastern States Science Fiction Convention]]. He attended the [[First Convention]] and the [[1938 Philadelphia Conference]] and was a member of [[New Fandom]]. | ||
As a member of the [[Triumvirs]], Sykora helped plan and run the [[First Worldcon]]. | As a member of the [[Triumvirs]], Sykora helped plan and run the [[First Worldcon]]. | ||
| − | After [[World War II]], Sykora resurrected the [[Queens Science Fiction League]], which met at his home, sponsored the [[fan gatherings]], and established a short-lived [[small press]], [[The Avalon Company]], with Moskowitz. He was the [[US]] [[agent]] of the [[Big Pond Fund]]. He belonged to the [[N3F]]. | + | After [[World War II]], Sykora resurrected the [[Queens Science Fiction League]], which met at his home, sponsored the [[fan gatherings]], and established a short-lived [[small press]], [[The Avalon Company]], with Moskowitz. He was the [[US]] [[agents|agent]] of the [[Big Pond Fund]]. He belonged to the [[N3F]]. |
Beginning in the late 1930s, Sykora made several attempts to create groups for producing [[movies|SF films]]. He published the [[fanzine]] ''[[The Scientifilmaker]]'' in the 1930s. He also participated in the [[SFCC]]. | Beginning in the late 1930s, Sykora made several attempts to create groups for producing [[movies|SF films]]. He published the [[fanzine]] ''[[The Scientifilmaker]]'' in the 1930s. He also participated in the [[SFCC]]. | ||
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In 1949, he promoted another [[New York]] [[Worldcon]] with the losing [[New York in '49]] [[bid]]. | In 1949, he promoted another [[New York]] [[Worldcon]] with the losing [[New York in '49]] [[bid]]. | ||
| − | He | + | ==Personal Life== |
| + | He married [[Frances Alberti Sykora]] in 1940; they had six children: Annabelle (b. June 18, 1942), Charles Frank (b. March 9, 1947), Caroline (b. September 10, 1948), Hope Sibyl (September 3, 1954), Frances Ann (b. March 23, 1960) and Sally Beth (b. ca. 1967). | ||
| − | + | His sister, [[Frances Helen Sykora]], married fan [[Mario Racic]]. Both Franceses, along with [[C. Sykora|Sykora’s parents]], had attended the [[first Worldcon]]. His younger brother, Joseph, married fan [[Margaret Skiffington]] in April 1940. | |
| − | * | + | “Sykora was discredited,” [[Jack Speer]] [[Triumvirs|wrote]] in [[Fancyclopedia I]], “after the [[Chicon]] by the report circulated there that he had been arrested, and released with a warning, in a charge involving a little girl.” He was rarely seen in fandom after 1960. Later, reports spread of another child molestation charge. Frances divorced him in 1970. |
| − | * | + | |
| + | * Early short biography in {{WhosWho1940|page=13}}. | ||
| + | * Photo appears on page 203 of [[Harry Warner, Jr.]]'s ''A Wealth of Fable''. | ||
{{fanzines}} | {{fanzines}} | ||
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* ''[[Fanews]]'' | * ''[[Fanews]]'' | ||
* ''[[Fantasy News (Taurasi)]]'' | * ''[[Fantasy News (Taurasi)]]'' | ||
| + | * ''[[Random Thoughts]]'' | ||
* ''[[The Scientifilmaker]]'' (1930s) | * ''[[The Scientifilmaker]]'' (1930s) | ||
Latest revision as of 21:51, 28 April 2023
(August 16, 1913 – June 7, 1994)
William Stephan “Will” Sykora, called “The Mikado of Long Island City,” “Psykora” and “Oily Will” by his detractors, started reading sf in 1924 and was a charter subscriber to Amazing Stories and his first fanac was a letter to the January 1930 Science Wonder Stories. He attended several meetings of The Scienceers before joining the five-member New York City chapter of the Science Fiction League in January 1935; he was SFL member #208. The other members were Donald A. Wollheim, John Michel, Conrad Ruppert, and Julius Schwartz. Sykora also joined a branch of the International Cosmos Science Club (later the ISA), a group devoted to both science and SF.) He served as its president.
According to Sam Moskowitz, Sykora "epitomized the Gernsbackian ideal that all readers of the genre should consider the advancement of science their serious aim." The ISA embodied this idea. He also joined the Manhattan SFL and the Queens SFL.
Skyora (along with Moskowitz, Wollheim, Michel and several others) was at the center of the epic feuds that shaped (and shook) fandom in the late ’30s. At the root was the SF (and science) focus of Sykora and Moskowitz versus the left-wing political focus of the Futurians such as Michel and Wollheim. (See Sam Moskowitz' Immortal Storm for a comprehensive, though not unbiased, history of the time.) Sykora was a charter member of FAPA and attended the First Eastern convention in 1936.
The battles were fought with the intensity that only a young fan can muster — Sykora who was in his 20s then, was one of the older players (!). For example, the Wollheimists attempted to throw Sykora out of the GNYSFL at a meeting he was absent from. When the president ruled this out of order, the Wollheimists got him impeached and Sykora ejected, resulting in the collapse of the GNYSFL. Sykora was one of the Triumvirs who opposed the Quadrumvirate.
He organized a number of the early conventions, including the First National (also known as the Newark Convention) and the Second Eastern States Science Fiction Convention. He attended the First Convention and the 1938 Philadelphia Conference and was a member of New Fandom.
As a member of the Triumvirs, Sykora helped plan and run the First Worldcon.
After World War II, Sykora resurrected the Queens Science Fiction League, which met at his home, sponsored the fan gatherings, and established a short-lived small press, The Avalon Company, with Moskowitz. He was the United States agent of the Big Pond Fund. He belonged to the N3F.
Beginning in the late 1930s, Sykora made several attempts to create groups for producing SF films. He published the fanzine The Scientifilmaker in the 1930s. He also participated in the SFCC.
In 1949, he promoted another New York Worldcon with the losing New York in '49 bid.
Personal Life[edit]
He married Frances Alberti Sykora in 1940; they had six children: Annabelle (b. June 18, 1942), Charles Frank (b. March 9, 1947), Caroline (b. September 10, 1948), Hope Sibyl (September 3, 1954), Frances Ann (b. March 23, 1960) and Sally Beth (b. ca. 1967).
His sister, Frances Helen Sykora, married fan Mario Racic. Both Franceses, along with Sykora’s parents, had attended the first Worldcon. His younger brother, Joseph, married fan Margaret Skiffington in April 1940.
“Sykora was discredited,” Jack Speer wrote in Fancyclopedia I, “after the Chicon by the report circulated there that he had been arrested, and released with a warning, in a charge involving a little girl.” He was rarely seen in fandom after 1960. Later, reports spread of another child molestation charge. Frances divorced him in 1970.
- Early short biography in Who's Who in Fandom 1940, page 13.
- Photo appears on page 203 of Harry Warner, Jr.'s A Wealth of Fable.
- FFF FANEWSCARD (1940s)
- Fanews
- Fantasy-News
- Random Thoughts
- The Scientifilmaker (1930s)
| Person | 1913—1994 |
| 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. |
