Difference between revisions of "James V. Taurasi"

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(8 December 1917 – 11 April 1991)
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[[File:James Taurasi.jpg|thumb|'''James V. Taurasi, 1938.''']]
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(December 8, 1917 – April 11, 1991)
  
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One of the creators of [[fandom]] as we know it.  In the late 1930s, '''James Vincent Taurasi''' -- '''Jimmy Taurasi''' -- was one of the [[Triumvirs]] and part of the leadership of the [[First Worldcon]], one of the originators of [[New Fandom]], founding member of the [[QSFL]] and the [[GNYSFL]]. He was generally on the opposite side of [[fan feuds]] from the [[Futurians]].  (At one point, [[John Michel]] called Turasi "[[il Duce of Flushing Flats]]".)
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One of the creators of [[fandom]] as we know it.  In the late 1930s, '''James Vincent “Jimmy” Taurasi''' was one of the [[Triumvirs]], part of the leadership of the [[First Worldcon]], one of the originators of [[New Fandom]], founding member of the [[QSFL]] and the [[GNYSFL]], and a member of the [[UK]]'s [[Science Fiction Association]] (SFA). He was generally on the opposite side of [[fan feuds]] from the [[Futurians]].  (At one point, [[John Michel]] called Taurasi "[[il Duce of Flushing Flats]].") He was active in [[fandom]] from the mid-1930s to the mid-60s.
  
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He was an avid reader following the [[prozines]] closely. He had many letters and essays published in SF prozines, including ''[[Astounding]]'', ''[[Amazing]]'', ''[[Startling Stories]]'', ''[[Famous Fantastic Mysteries]]'', ''[[Comet (US)|Comet]]'', and ''[[Super Science Stories]]''.
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He was fond of using [[pennames]], including '''Herman Von Tok''', [[Lane Stannard]] and [[J. Harry Vincent]].  
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In the 40s through the 60s, he was editor of [[Fantasy Times]] and [[Science Fiction Times]] an important [[newszine]] which was the ''[[Locus]]'' of its day (in fact, ''Locus'' was started to fill the vacuum left by the ending of ''[[Science Fiction Times]]'').  It which received the [[1955 Best Fanzine Hugo]], the [[1957 Best Fanzine Hugo]] and nominations for the [[1956 Best Fanzine Hugo]], the [[1959 Best Fanzine Hugo]] and the [[1960 Best Fanzine Hugo]] under his editorship).
 
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He was part of the [[Scientifilmakers]], an early [[fannish]] attempt to create a true [[SF]] (or, rather, [[stf]]) movie.  He was involved in the following [[publishing houses]]: [[Taurasi-Thompson Publications]], [[United Publications]], and [[Cosmic Publications]], which became Fandom House.  He was one of the leaders of the [[Fanvets]]. He was a member of [[ESFA]], the [[Lunarians]], [[FAPA]] and the [[Silvercon]] committee, attended the [[1938 Philadelphia Conference]], and received the [[Big Heart Award]] in 1963.  
 
  
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He was active in [[fandom]] from the mid-30s to the mid-60s.
+
He was an avid reader, following the [[prozines]] closely. He had many letters and essays published in [[SF]] [[prozines]], including ''[[Astounding]]'', ''[[Amazing]]'', ''[[Startling Stories]]'', ''[[Famous Fantastic Mysteries]]'', ''[[Comet (US)|Comet]]'', and ''[[Super Science Stories]]''.
  
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He was fond of using [[pennames]], including '''Herman Von Tok''', [[Lane Stannard]] and [[J. Harry Vincent]].  
+
In the 1940s through the ’60s, he was editor of ''[[Fantasy Times]]''/''[[Science Fiction Times]]'', an important [[newszine]] which was the ''[[Locus]]'' of its day (in fact, ''Locus'' was started to fill the vacuum left by the ending of ''[[Science Fiction Times]]''). Under Taurasi’s editorship, it received the [[1955 Best Fanzine Hugo|1955]] and [[1957 Best Fanzine Hugo]] and nominations for the Hugo in [[1956 Best Fanzine Hugo|1956]], [[1959 Best Fanzine Hugo|1959]] and [[1960 Best Fanzine Hugo|1960]].  
  
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For an early short biography, see {{WhosWho1940|page=13}}.
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He was part of the [[Scientifilmakers]], an early [[fannish]] attempt to create a true [[SF]] (or, rather, [[stf]]) [[movie]].  He was involved in the following [[publishing houses]]: [[Taurasi-Thompson Publications]], [[United Publications]], and [[Cosmic Publications]], which became Fandom House.  He was one of the leaders of the [[Fanvets]]. He was a member of [[ESFA]], the [[Lunarians]], [[Neofund]], [[FAPA]] and the [[Silvercon]] committee, attended the [[1938 Philadelphia Conference]], and received the [[Big Heart Award]] in 1963.  
  
 
==Fandom House==
 
==Fandom House==
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Founded in June, 1937 by Taurasi, Fandom House was his [[publishing house]]. Fandom House seems to have been more real than most [[fannish]] [[publishing houses]]. Like the others, it published [[fanzines]], though [[Taurasi]] affected that they were of a kind with the [[prozines]].
 
Founded in June, 1937 by Taurasi, Fandom House was his [[publishing house]]. Fandom House seems to have been more real than most [[fannish]] [[publishing houses]]. Like the others, it published [[fanzines]], though [[Taurasi]] affected that they were of a kind with the [[prozines]].
  
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It was not always named Fandom House. It began as [[Cosmic Publications]] (which see) and by 1945 had gone through the names '''Allied Publications''', '''Fantasy News Publishing Company''', '''Fantasy Times Publishing Company''', and '''Flushing-Taurasi Publishing Company''' before going back to [[Cosmic Publications]] which he kept until 1948 when he settled on '''Fandom House'''.
+
It was not always named Fandom House. It began as [[Cosmic Publications]] (which see) and by 1945 had gone through the names '''Allied Publications''', '''Cosmic News Service''', '''Fantasy News Publishing Company''', '''Fantasy Times Publishing Company''', and '''Flushing-Taurasi Publishing Company''' before going back to Cosmic Publications, which he kept until 1948 when he settled on '''Fandom House'''.
  
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The switch to Fandom House was triggered by the attempted merger of the monthly ''[[Fantasy Times]]'' with [[Will Sykora]]'s ''[[Fantasy News (Taurasi)]]'' with ''Fantasy News'' being weekly and ''[[Fantasy Times]]'' being a monthly recap.  This fell through, but Taurasi kept Fandom House.
+
The switch to Fandom House was triggered by the attempted merger of the monthly ''[[Fantasy Times]]'' with [[Will Sykora]]'s ''[[Fantasy News (Taurasi)]]'', with ''Fantasy News'' being weekly and ''[[Fantasy Times]]'' being a monthly recap.  This fell through, but Taurasi kept Fandom House.
  
 
Since ''[[Fantasy Times]]'' was the ''[[Locus]]'' of its day, it seems clear that Fandom House, while still essentially a [[fannish]] [[publishing house]], was easily the largest of them.
 
Since ''[[Fantasy Times]]'' was the ''[[Locus]]'' of its day, it seems clear that Fandom House, while still essentially a [[fannish]] [[publishing house]], was easily the largest of them.
  
 
Fandom House publications included:
 
Fandom House publications included:
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* ''[[Cosmic Tales Quarterly]]''
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* ''[[Cosmic Tales]]''
 
* ''[[Fantasy Times]]''
 
* ''[[Fantasy Times]]''
 
* ''[[Helios]]''
 
* ''[[Helios]]''
−
* ''[[D'Journal]]''
 
−
* ''[[Cosmic Tales]]''
 
−
* ''[[The Science Fiction Fan]]''
 
 
* ''[[The Tinplate Magazine]]''
 
* ''[[The Tinplate Magazine]]''
 
* ''[[Science Fiction Times Magazine]]''
 
* ''[[Science Fiction Times Magazine]]''
  
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[[Fancy 2]] reports (under [[Legal Matters]]) that "[[Taurasi]] was threatened in '56 by Random House, which alleged that [[JVT]]'s use of the name "Fandom House" in publishing [[Fantasy Times]] constituted unfair competition. Tho somewhat flattered, Jas decided not to fight it, having learned that simply bringing the case to court would rock him $300." Not only did he use the name (which he probably could have gotten away with), but for a time he used a logo which looked suspiciously like Random House's.
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[[Fancyclopedia 2]] reports (under [[Legal Matters]]) that "Taurasi was threatened in '56 by Random House, which alleged that JVT's use of the name "Fandom House" in [[publishing]] [[Fantasy Times]] constituted unfair competition. Tho somewhat flattered, Jas decided not to fight it, having learned that simply bringing the case to court would rock him $300." Not only did he use the name (which he probably could have gotten away with), but for a time he used a logo which looked suspiciously like Random House's.
 +
 
 +
==Personal Life==
 +
''[[Fantasy-News (Taurasi)]]'' 85 ([https://fanac.org/fanzines/Fantasy_News/Fantasy_News0407.pdf February 4, 1940]) reported that Taurasi was engaged to [[Rose Alberti]], [[Frances Alberti Sykora]]’s sister, but we haven’t found any evidence the marriage came off. 
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Jimmy Taurasi served in the [[Army]] from 1942–46.
 +
 
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He married Carmella “Millie” Di Palma (July 18, 1920–July 21, 1988) on September 27, 1943. They had two sons, James Vincent Taurasi, Jr., and Robert Alfonso, according to ''[[Fantasy Times]]'' 229 ([https://fanac.org/fanzines/Fantasy_Times/Fantasy_Times-times_229_v10n229_taurasi_1955-08-02.pdf August 1955]). (Oddly, Taurasi’s sister, who attended the [[first Worldcon]], was named [[Millie Taurasi|Carmela “Millie”]].)
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Taurasi seems to have launched a dynasty: His son James, Jr., married a woman named Lynn and they had a son named James Vincent Taurasi III, who is an active member of YouTube and Instagram. He and his wife, Amber McCaslin Taurasi, are the parents of James "Vinny" Taurasi IV, according to [https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/newsobserver/name/lynn-taurasi-obituary?n=lynn-taurasi&pid=198499273 Lynn’s obituary] in The News & Observer on May 2, 2021.
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* Early short biography in {{WhosWho1940|page=13}}.
  
 
{{fanzines}}
 
{{fanzines}}
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* ''[[Cosmic Tales]]'' [1937-41, aka ''Cosmic Tales Quarterly'' 18 issues including a First Worldcon Special, with [[John Giunta]], [[Louis Kuslan]] and [[Gertrude Kuslan]]
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* ''[[The Barsoomian]]'' [only issue #7, 1954]
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* ''[[Masked Spaceman]]'' [1938. one-shot]
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* ''[[Barsoomian Times]]'' [8 issues, 1964–65]
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* ''[[Queer Tales]]'' [1938]
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* ''[[Cosmic Tales]]'' [1937-41, aka ''Cosmic Tales Quarterly'' 18 issues including a [[First Worldcon]] Special, with [[John Giunta]], [[Louis Kuslan]] and [[Gertrude Kuslan]]
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* ''[[Science Fiction Scout]]'' [1937-38, at least 9 issues; with [[Alex Osheroff]]]
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* ''[[Fantasy-Comics]]'' [20 issues 1952–65]
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* ''[[Fantasy-Letter]]'' [1939]
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* ''[[Fantasy-News (Taurasi)]]'' [1938–39, first 77 issues]
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* ''[[Fantasy-Scout]]'' [1939]
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* ''[[Fantasy Times]]'' [1941, 269 issues, then becomes ''[[Science Fiction Times]]'' with #270 (1957) ending with issue #465, 1969. Taurasi was not involved after #435 (1966)]
 +
* ''[[Helios]]''
 +
* ''[[Masked Spaceman]]'' [1938, one-shot]  
 +
* ''[[Monster-Times]]'' [8 issues, 1961–64; not to be confused with the 1970s newsstand tabloid The Monster Times]
 +
* ''[[Original Science Fiction Stories]]'' [later issues in the run, 1961-63]
 +
* ''[[The Planeteer]]'' [1939] (final issue only)
 +
* ''[[Queer Tales]]'' [1938]
 +
* ''[[Science-Fiction Age]]'' [1960]
 +
* ''[[Science Fiction Scout]]'' [1937–38, at least 9 issues] (with [[Alex Osheroff]])
 +
* ''[[Science Fiction Yearbook]]'' [1957] (with [[Ray Van Houten]] and [[Frank R. Prieto, Jr.]])
 
* ''[[Solor]]'' [1938, at least 11 issues]
 
* ''[[Solor]]'' [1938, at least 11 issues]
 
* ''[[Space]]'' [1938]
 
* ''[[Space]]'' [1938]
 
* ''[[Spac-Lines Inc.]]'' [1938]
 
* ''[[Spac-Lines Inc.]]'' [1938]
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* ''[[Tales of Science]]'' [1938, one-shot]
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* ''[[Tales of Science]]'' [1938, one-shot]
 +
* ''[[Tinplate Railroading]]'' [1961-61, at least 10 issues]
 
* ''[[Weird and Fantasy Fiction]]'' [1938, at least 2 issues]
 
* ''[[Weird and Fantasy Fiction]]'' [1938, at least 2 issues]
 
* ''[[Wonder Fiction Annual]]'' [1938, one-shot]
 
* ''[[Wonder Fiction Annual]]'' [1938, one-shot]
−
* ''[[Fantasy-Letter]]'' [1939]
 
−
* ''[[Fantasy-Scout]]'' [1939]
 
−
* ''[[The Planeteer]]'' [1939] (final issue only)
 
−
* ''[[Fantasy Times]]'' [1941, 269 issues, then becomes ''[[Science Fiction Times]]'' with #270 (1957) ending with issue #465, 1969. Taurasi was not involved after #435 (1966)]
 
−
* ''[[Fantasy-Comics]]'' [20 issues 1952-65]
 
−
* ''[[The Barsoomian]]'' [only issue #7, 1954]
 
−
* ''[[Science Fiction Yearbook]]'' [1957; with [[Ray Van Houten]] and [[Frank R. Prieto, Jr.]]]
 
−
* ''[[Science-Fiction Age]]'' [1960]
 
−
* ''[[Original Science Fiction Stories]]'' [later issues in the run, 1961-63]
 
−
* ''[[Tinplate Railroading]]'' [1961-61, at least 10 issues]
 
−
* ''[[Monster-times|Monster-Times]]'' [8 issues, 1961-64; not to be confused with the 70's newsstand tabloid The Monster Times]
 
−
* ''[[Barsoomian Times]]'' [8 issues, 1964-65]
 
−
 
−
 
  
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{{recognition}}
 +
* 1955 — '''[[1955 Best Fanzine Hugo]]'''
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* 1957 — '''[[1957 Best Fanzine Hugo]]'''
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* 1963 — [[Big Heart Award]]
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* Nominations for the [[1956 Best Fanzine Hugo]], the [[1959 Best Fanzine Hugo]] and the [[1960 Best Fanzine Hugo]]
  
  

Latest revision as of 00:58, 29 August 2024

James V. Taurasi, 1938.

(December 8, 1917 – April 11, 1991)

One of the creators of fandom as we know it. In the late 1930s, James Vincent “Jimmy” Taurasi was one of the Triumvirs, part of the leadership of the First Worldcon, one of the originators of New Fandom, founding member of the QSFL and the GNYSFL, and a member of the UK's Science Fiction Association (SFA). He was generally on the opposite side of fan feuds from the Futurians. (At one point, John Michel called Taurasi "il Duce of Flushing Flats.") He was active in fandom from the mid-1930s to the mid-60s.

He was fond of using pennames, including Herman Von Tok, Lane Stannard and J. Harry Vincent.

He was an avid reader, following the prozines closely. He had many letters and essays published in SF prozines, including Astounding, Amazing, Startling Stories, Famous Fantastic Mysteries, Comet, and Super Science Stories.

In the 1940s through the ’60s, he was editor of Fantasy Times/Science Fiction Times, an important newszine which was the Locus of its day (in fact, Locus was started to fill the vacuum left by the ending of Science Fiction Times). Under Taurasi’s editorship, it received the 1955 and 1957 Best Fanzine Hugo and nominations for the Hugo in 1956, 1959 and 1960.

He was part of the Scientifilmakers, an early fannish attempt to create a true SF (or, rather, stf) movie. He was involved in the following publishing houses: Taurasi-Thompson Publications, United Publications, and Cosmic Publications, which became Fandom House. He was one of the leaders of the Fanvets. He was a member of ESFA, the Lunarians, Neofund, FAPA and the Silvercon committee, attended the 1938 Philadelphia Conference, and received the Big Heart Award in 1963.

Fandom House[edit]

Founded in June, 1937 by Taurasi, Fandom House was his publishing house. Fandom House seems to have been more real than most fannish publishing houses. Like the others, it published fanzines, though Taurasi affected that they were of a kind with the prozines.

It was not always named Fandom House. It began as Cosmic Publications (which see) and by 1945 had gone through the names Allied Publications, Cosmic News Service, Fantasy News Publishing Company, Fantasy Times Publishing Company, and Flushing-Taurasi Publishing Company before going back to Cosmic Publications, which he kept until 1948 when he settled on Fandom House.

The switch to Fandom House was triggered by the attempted merger of the monthly Fantasy Times with Will Sykora's Fantasy-News, with Fantasy News being weekly and Fantasy Times being a monthly recap. This fell through, but Taurasi kept Fandom House.

Since Fantasy Times was the Locus of its day, it seems clear that Fandom House, while still essentially a fannish publishing house, was easily the largest of them.

Fandom House publications included:

Fancyclopedia 2 reports (under Legal Matters) that "Taurasi was threatened in '56 by Random House, which alleged that JVT's use of the name "Fandom House" in publishing Fantasy Times constituted unfair competition. Tho somewhat flattered, Jas decided not to fight it, having learned that simply bringing the case to court would rock him $300." Not only did he use the name (which he probably could have gotten away with), but for a time he used a logo which looked suspiciously like Random House's.

Personal Life[edit]

Fantasy-News 85 (February 4, 1940) reported that Taurasi was engaged to Rose Alberti, Frances Alberti Sykora’s sister, but we haven’t found any evidence the marriage came off.

Jimmy Taurasi served in the Army from 1942–46.

He married Carmella “Millie” Di Palma (July 18, 1920–July 21, 1988) on September 27, 1943. They had two sons, James Vincent Taurasi, Jr., and Robert Alfonso, according to Fantasy Times 229 (August 1955). (Oddly, Taurasi’s sister, who attended the first Worldcon, was named Carmela “Millie”.)

Taurasi seems to have launched a dynasty: His son James, Jr., married a woman named Lynn and they had a son named James Vincent Taurasi III, who is an active member of YouTube and Instagram. He and his wife, Amber McCaslin Taurasi, are the parents of James "Vinny" Taurasi IV, according to Lynn’s obituary in The News & Observer on May 2, 2021.

Fanzines and Apazines:

Awards, Honors and GoHships:


Person 1917—1991
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.

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