Difference between revisions of "Contoon"
Mark Plummer (talk | contribs) (Created page with "A '''Contoon''' is a large, wall-mounted fannish cartoon with accompanying text displayed at a convention. It was briefly in vogue in UK fandom in the late...") |
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Next to Ken [Slater]'s stand, on the wall, was the yearly Convention Cartoon by Ken McIntyre. This covered a space some five feet long by three feet high<ref>Questionable, as in photos it looks as if it's four times as wide as it is high.</ref> and was [[auction]]ed on Sunday and bought by [[Norman Shorrock]] for the [[Liverpool Group|Liverpool S-F Society]]'s [[clubroom]], | Next to Ken [Slater]'s stand, on the wall, was the yearly Convention Cartoon by Ken McIntyre. This covered a space some five feet long by three feet high<ref>Questionable, as in photos it looks as if it's four times as wide as it is high.</ref> and was [[auction]]ed on Sunday and bought by [[Norman Shorrock]] for the [[Liverpool Group|Liverpool S-F Society]]'s [[clubroom]], | ||
| − | An earlier example is more curious. It was presumably produced either for display at or to promote [[Loncon I|Loncon]], the 1957 [[Worldcon]], as it's headed 'So this is the 1957 Worldcon? – [[Ghod]] help ya!' Remarkably, it's survived and as of 2024 is in the possession of Susie Haynes, [[Ken Slater]]'s daughter. However, it's not in evidence in any of the (many) photos of Loncon in [[Rob Hansen]]'s possession and neither is it mentioned in any contemporary accounts, and nor is it visible or mentioned in photos or reports from [[Cytricon II]] or [[Cytricon III]], the 1956 and 1957 [[Eastercon]]s. Was it perhaps prepared for Loncon and somehow left behind? In 1957 McIntyre lived in the London suburb of Plumstead, about 14 miles from the convention site, so presumably it wouldn't have been that difficult to go back to get it. Absent any evidence it remains unknown whether it was ever | + | An earlier example is more curious. It was presumably produced either for display at or to promote [[Loncon I|Loncon]], the 1957 [[Worldcon]], as it's headed 'So this is the 1957 Worldcon? – [[Ghod]] help ya!' Remarkably, it's survived and as of 2024 is in the possession of Susie Haynes, [[Ken Slater]]'s daughter. However, it's not in evidence in any of the (many) photos of Loncon in [[Rob Hansen]]'s possession and neither is it mentioned in any contemporary accounts, and nor is it visible or mentioned in photos or reports from [[Cytricon II]] or [[Cytricon III]], the 1956 and 1957 [[Eastercon]]s. Was it perhaps prepared for Loncon and somehow left behind? In 1957 McIntyre lived in the London suburb of Plumstead, about 14 miles from the convention site, so presumably it wouldn't have been that difficult to go back to get it. Absent any evidence it remains unknown whether it was ever displayed at the time although it was brought along to [[Cytricon V]] in 2008. |
No further examples are known although the ''Vector'' mention of 'the yearly Convention Cartoon' implies that it had been done before. | No further examples are known although the ''Vector'' mention of 'the yearly Convention Cartoon' implies that it had been done before. | ||
Latest revision as of 07:21, 21 December 2024
A Contoon is a large, wall-mounted fannish cartoon with accompanying text displayed at a convention. It was briefly in vogue in UK fandom in the late 1950s and the term was probably coined by fanartist Ken McIntyre.
There are two known examples, both produced by McIntyre. The second, and the example that coins the term, is from Brumcon, the 1959 Eastercon in Birmingham. It's visible in at least two photographs taken at the convention and is headed 'The first[1] BSFA Contoon' and 'Imperial Hotel Birmingham 1959 ' although other details are indistinct. The convention report in Vector #4 (Spring 1959) says:
Next to Ken [Slater]'s stand, on the wall, was the yearly Convention Cartoon by Ken McIntyre. This covered a space some five feet long by three feet high[2] and was auctioned on Sunday and bought by Norman Shorrock for the Liverpool S-F Society's clubroom,
An earlier example is more curious. It was presumably produced either for display at or to promote Loncon, the 1957 Worldcon, as it's headed 'So this is the 1957 Worldcon? – Ghod help ya!' Remarkably, it's survived and as of 2024 is in the possession of Susie Haynes, Ken Slater's daughter. However, it's not in evidence in any of the (many) photos of Loncon in Rob Hansen's possession and neither is it mentioned in any contemporary accounts, and nor is it visible or mentioned in photos or reports from Cytricon II or Cytricon III, the 1956 and 1957 Eastercons. Was it perhaps prepared for Loncon and somehow left behind? In 1957 McIntyre lived in the London suburb of Plumstead, about 14 miles from the convention site, so presumably it wouldn't have been that difficult to go back to get it. Absent any evidence it remains unknown whether it was ever displayed at the time although it was brought along to Cytricon V in 2008.
No further examples are known although the Vector mention of 'the yearly Convention Cartoon' implies that it had been done before.
- 'The Contoon' at fiawol.org.uk.
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| Fanspeak | 1957—1959 |
| This is a fanspeak page. Please extend it by adding information about when and by whom it was coined, whether it’s still in use, etc. |
