Difference between revisions of "William S. Sykora"

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(1913 -- June 7, 1994)
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(August 16, 1913 – June 7, 1994)
  
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William Stephan ('''Will''') Sykora 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 [[GNYSFL|New York City chapter of the Science Fiction League]] in January 1935.  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.
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[[File:SykoraWill1950.jpeg|frame|right|'''Will Sykora at [[NorWesCon]], 1950'''. ''Photo by [[Martin Alger]].'' ]]
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'''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]].
  
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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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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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Skyora (along with Moskowitz, Wollheim, Michel and several others) was at the center of the epic battles which 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 entirely unbiased, history of the time.  He was a charter member of [[FAPA]] and attended the [[First Eastern]] [[convention]] in 1936.
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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.
  
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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, Sykora was called [[Oily Will]] and [[The Mikado of Long Island City]] by his opponents. (For example, the [[Wollheimists]] attempted to throw Sykora out of the [[GNYSFL]] at a meeting he 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]].) He was one of the [[Triumvirs]] who opposed the [[Quadrumvirate]] and who 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]].
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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]].
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[[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]].'' ]]
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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]].
  
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After [[World War II]] Sykora resurrected the [[Queens Science Fiction League]], which met at his home, sponsored the SF gatherings, and established a short-lived small press, [[The Avalon Company]], with Moskowitz.  He was the US representative of the [[Big Pond Fund]].
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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]].
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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]].
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==Personal Life==
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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).  
  
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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]].  
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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.
  
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[[Fanzines]] and [[APAzines]] included ''[[FFFFANEWSCARD]]'' in the 40s, ''[[Fanews]]'', ''[[Fantasy News]]''.
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“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.  
  
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In 1949, he promoted another [[New York]] [[Worldcon]] with the losing [[New York in '49]] [[bid]].
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* Early short biography in {{WhosWho1940|page=13}}.
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* Photo appears on page 203 of [[Harry Warner, Jr.]]'s ''A Wealth of Fable''.  
  
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His photo appears on page 203 of [[Harry Warner, Jr|Warner]]'s ''A Wealth of Fable''.  He was married to [[Frances Alberti Sykora]]. His sister, [[Frances Helen Sykora]] married fan [[Mario Racic]].  For an early short biography, see {{WhosWho1940|page=13}}.
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{{fanzines}}
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* ''[[FFF FANEWSCARD]]'' (1940s)
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* ''[[Fanews]]''
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* ''[[Fantasy News (Taurasi)]]''
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* ''[[Random Thoughts]]''
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* ''[[The Scientifilmaker]]'' (1930s)
  
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It is reported that later in life he spent time in prison after being convicted of child molestation and was shunned by both his family and fandom.  It is certainly the case that he was rarely seen in fandom after 1960.
 
  
 
{{person | born=1913 | died=1994}}
 
{{person | born=1913 | died=1994}}

Latest revision as of 21:51, 28 April 2023

(August 16, 1913 – June 7, 1994)

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.

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.

The majority of the attendees of the world's 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.

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.

Fanzines and Apazines:


Person 1913—1994
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