Difference between revisions of "Robert Bloch"

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(April 5, 1917 – September 23, 1994)
 
(April 5, 1917 – September 23, 1994)
  
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'''Robert Bloch''' was a major early [[fan]] who was one of the people responsible for creating modern [[fandom]]. He also — very successfully — turned [[pro]].  He is best known for his 1959 novel ''Psycho'', which became the Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name.
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'''Robert Bloch''' was a major early [[fan]] and one of the people responsible for creating modern [[fandom]]. He also — ''very'' successfully — turned [[pro]].  He is best known for his 1959 novel ''Psycho'', which became the Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name.
  
 
He was born in [[Milwaukee]] and in 1935 joined the [[Milwaukee Fictioneers]].  He was an early and active member of [[Wisconsin Fandom]] and [[Midwest fandom]] before moving to [[LA]] around 1960.   
 
He was born in [[Milwaukee]] and in 1935 joined the [[Milwaukee Fictioneers]].  He was an early and active member of [[Wisconsin Fandom]] and [[Midwest fandom]] before moving to [[LA]] around 1960.   
  
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He was one of the earliest pros to go on the [[Auction Bloch]].  He railed against the [[Beanie Brigade]].  He wrote for a large number of [[fanzines]] and some of his best [[fan writing]] was collected in ''[[The Eighth Stage of Fandom]]'', published in 1962 by [[Advent Publishers|Advent:Publishers]].  He was a perennial member of a poker game, at one installment of which he won [[Marty Greenberg]]'s shirt.
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Bloch was one of the earliest pros to go on the [[Auction Bloch]].  He railed against the [[Beanie Brigade]].  He wrote for a large number of [[fanzines]] and some of his best [[fan writing]] was collected in ''[[The Eighth Stage of Fandom]]'', published in 1962 by [[Advent Publishers|Advent:Publishers]].  He was a perennial member of a poker game, at one installment of which he won [[Marty Greenberg]]'s shirt.
  
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Unfortunately for fandom, after about 1960 he became so immersed in his professional career (see [[Vile Pro]]) that he had little time for [[fanac]], though he never forgot his fannish roots.  He was a frequent [[Worldcon]] [[toastmaster]], [[Hugo]] presenter, or foil for his friend [[Isaac Asimov]].  He was heavily influenced by [[H. P. Lovecraft]] and was a member of the [[Lovecraft Circle]].
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Unfortunately for fandom, after about 1960 he became so immersed in his professional career (see [[Vile Pro]]) that he had little time for [[fanac]], though he never forgot his fannish roots.  He was a frequent [[Worldcon]] [[toastmaster]], [[Hugo]] presenter, or foil for his friend [[Isaac Asimov]].  He was heavily influenced by [[H. P. Lovecraft]] and was a member of the [[Lovecraft Circle]]. He was a member of [[FAPA]] and [[Vanguard]].
  
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[[Fannish]] publications included: ''[[The Birth of a Notion]]'' (a [[fannish play]]), ''[[Is Science Fiction in a Rut?]]'', ''[[Lagniappe]]'', ''[[Neo Fan's Guide]]'', ''[[Science Fiction Fifty Yearly]]'' (for [[FAPA]]).  He was a member of [[FAPA]] and [[Vanguard]].
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{{fanzines}}
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* ''[[The Birth of a Notion]]'' (a [[fannish play]])
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* ''[[Is Science Fiction in a Rut?]]''
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* ''[[Lagniappe]]''
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* ''[[Neo Fan's Guide]]''
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* ''[[Science Fiction Fifty Yearly]]'' (for [[FAPA]]).   
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* ''[[The Science-Fiction World (Bloch)]]'' [[1955-57) (with [[Bob Tucker]])
  
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For a short description of him in 1954, see [[Peter Vorzimer]] in ''[[Abstract]] #8'' p62. Bloch was married twice, to [[Marion Bloch|Marion Holcombe]] (1940–63), with whom he had a daughter, Sally, and later to [[Elly Bloch|Eleanor Alexander]], whom he married in 1964.
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For a short description of Bloch in 1954, see [[Peter Vorzimer]] in ''[[Abstract]] #8'' p62. Bloch was married twice, to [[Marion Bloch|Marion Holcombe]] (1940–63), with whom he had a daughter, Sally, and later to [[Elly Bloch|Eleanor Alexander]], whom he married in 1964.
  
 
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{{fancy2|text=
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{{recognition}}
 
{{recognition}}
 
* 1948 -- '''[[Torcon 1]]'''
 
* 1948 -- '''[[Torcon 1]]'''
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* 1959 -- '''[[1959 Best Short Story Hugo|Best Short Story Hugo]]''' for "That Hell-Bound Train"
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* 1959 -- '''[[1959 Best Short Story Hugo]]''' for "That Hell-Bound Train"
 
* 1960 -- [[Big Heart Award]]
 
* 1960 -- [[Big Heart Award]]
 
* 1973 -- '''[[Torcon 2]]'''
 
* 1973 -- '''[[Torcon 2]]'''
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* 1975 -- [[BYOB-Con 5]], [[1st World Fantasy Convention]]
 
* 1975 -- [[BYOB-Con 5]], [[1st World Fantasy Convention]]
 
* 1977 -- [[Clayton Con]]
 
* 1977 -- [[Clayton Con]]
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* 1978 -- [[Loscon 5]], [[Lunacon 21]], [[Rivercon IV]], [[Fantasy Faire VIII]], [[Coscon 5]], [[1978 Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo|Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo]] nominee
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* 1978 -- [[Loscon 5]], [[Lunacon 21]], [[Rivercon IV]], [[Fantasy Faire VIII]], [[Coscon 5]], [[1978 Best Dramatic Presentation Hugo]] nominee
 
* 1979 -- [[Unicon 5]]
 
* 1979 -- [[Unicon 5]]
 
* 1980 -- [[Archon 4]]
 
* 1980 -- [[Archon 4]]
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* 1992 -- [[Rhinocon 2]], [[Arcana 22]]
 
* 1992 -- [[Rhinocon 2]], [[Arcana 22]]
 
* 1993 -- [[NecronomiCon Providence 1993 |NecronomiCon, 1st Edition]]
 
* 1993 -- [[NecronomiCon Providence 1993 |NecronomiCon, 1st Edition]]
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* 1994 -- [[1994 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo|Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo]] nominee for his autobiography, ''[[Once Around the Bloch -- An Unauthorized Autobiography]]''
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* 1994 -- [[1994 Best Non-Fiction Book Hugo]] nominee for his autobiography, ''[[Once Around the Bloch -- An Unauthorized Autobiography]]''
 
* 2003 -- [[Torcon 3]] ([[Ghost of Honor]])
 
* 2003 -- [[Torcon 3]] ([[Ghost of Honor]])
  

Revision as of 09:27, 10 December 2020

(April 5, 1917 – September 23, 1994)

Robert Bloch was a major early fan and one of the people responsible for creating modern fandom. He also — very successfully — turned pro. He is best known for his 1959 novel Psycho, which became the Alfred Hitchcock film of the same name.

He was born in Milwaukee and in 1935 joined the Milwaukee Fictioneers. He was an early and active member of Wisconsin Fandom and Midwest fandom before moving to LA around 1960.

Bloch was one of the earliest pros to go on the Auction Bloch. He railed against the Beanie Brigade. He wrote for a large number of fanzines and some of his best fan writing was collected in The Eighth Stage of Fandom, published in 1962 by Advent:Publishers. He was a perennial member of a poker game, at one installment of which he won Marty Greenberg's shirt.

Unfortunately for fandom, after about 1960 he became so immersed in his professional career (see Vile Pro) that he had little time for fanac, though he never forgot his fannish roots. He was a frequent Worldcon toastmaster, Hugo presenter, or foil for his friend Isaac Asimov. He was heavily influenced by H. P. Lovecraft and was a member of the Lovecraft Circle. He was a member of FAPA and Vanguard.

Fanzines and Apazines:

For a short description of Bloch in 1954, see Peter Vorzimer in Abstract #8 p62. Bloch was married twice, to Marion Holcombe (1940–63), with whom he had a daughter, Sally, and later to Eleanor Alexander, whom he married in 1964.

From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959
The name of a vile pro. "Bloch is the Only True Ghod" was the gospel initiated by Vernon McCain, who received the Revelation in 1955 but, Bloch reports, was singularly lax in sacrificing any virgins. "Bloch is Superb" is the motto of Blochists; its popularity reached horrid heights when Dick Ellington had a rubber-stamp made with this phrase and Jack Harness had a set of pencils blazoned with the slogan. (To date no authenticated instances of tattooing have been uncovered.) This traces back to a letter in which Walt Willis was supposed to have suggested making up a rubber stamp with that legend, an obvious timesaver when commenting on any fanzine with Bloch material in it. But Dean Grennell, checking his back files, finds that in the original instance Willis' words were "Bloch was brilliant. (Will you makes me a rubber stamp for this?)" All fandom could be plunged into war [divided into two camps, the Superbists and the Brilliantinees] over a thing like this. In the mythology of congoing, Bloch, Korshak, Esbach and Evans were an inseparable fannish poker group; this idea was invented and popularized by Bob Tucker in 1952.

from Fancyclopedia 2 Supplement ca. 1960: Dick Ellington's rubber stamp says "Bloch was superb", not "is".

Awards, Honors and GoHships:

Person 1917—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.

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