Difference between revisions of "Early Conventions"
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(Mainecon's exact date is well-attested in participants' reports, most explicitly Widmer's. Please do not vandalise this work of fanhistory, it may yet be useful) |
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− | The first ten years of [[SF convention]]s were a mixed bag, but even the largest was small by modern standards, and some were literally a few guys getting together for a day. But travel was difficult and the tendency of the time was to call nearly ''any'' planned get-together (of [[fans]] from different cities a "convention" (or a "[[conference]]." See the ''[[Fancyclopedia 2]]'' article on “[[con]]” for the baroque early terminology). | + | The first ten years of [[SF convention]]s were a mixed bag, but even the largest was small by modern standards, and some were literally a few guys getting together for a day. But travel was difficult and the tendency of the time was to call nearly ''any'' [[fan visit|planned get-together]] (of [[fans]] from different cities a "convention" (or a "[[conference]]." See the ''[[Fancyclopedia 2]]'' article on “[[con]]” for the baroque early terminology). |
[[Anglofan]] historians tend to take a hard line on what was or wasn’t a [[convention]] (they would omit the [[First Convention]] if they could). We are inclined to take the participants’ estimation, even if they declared conhood after the event. | [[Anglofan]] historians tend to take a hard line on what was or wasn’t a [[convention]] (they would omit the [[First Convention]] if they could). We are inclined to take the participants’ estimation, even if they declared conhood after the event. | ||
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<tab head=top> | <tab head=top> | ||
Year || Date || Convention || Size || Location || Notes | Year || Date || Convention || Size || Location || Notes | ||
− | '''1936''' || October 22|| [[First Convention]] || | + | '''1936''' || October 22 || [[First Convention]] || 12–18 || [[Philadelphia]] || later called the [[First Eastern]] |
'''1937''' || January 3|| [[Other First Convention]] || ~20 || [[Leeds, UK]] || | '''1937''' || January 3|| [[Other First Convention]] || ~20 || [[Leeds, UK]] || | ||
|| February 21 || [[Second Eastern]] || 30–40 || [[New York]] || | || February 21 || [[Second Eastern]] || 30–40 || [[New York]] || | ||
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|| May 29 || [[Newark Convention]] || >100 || [[Newark, NJ]] || aka [[Fourth Eastern]] aka [[First National]] | || May 29 || [[Newark Convention]] || >100 || [[Newark, NJ]] || aka [[Fourth Eastern]] aka [[First National]] | ||
|| October 16|| [[1938 Philadelphia Conference]] || > 25 || [[Philadelphia]] || | || October 16|| [[1938 Philadelphia Conference]] || > 25 || [[Philadelphia]] || | ||
− | '''1939''' | + | '''1939''' || May 21|| [[Third British Convention]] || ~40 || [[London]] || |
|| July 2–4|| [[NyCon I]] || 150–<wbr />200 || [[New York]] || the first [[Worldcon]] | || July 2–4|| [[NyCon I]] || 150–<wbr />200 || [[New York]] || the first [[Worldcon]] | ||
|| Fall || [[Philcon 1939]] || || [[Philadelphia]] || | || Fall || [[Philcon 1939]] || || [[Philadelphia]] || | ||
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|| April 23–26 || [[Midvention 1]] || 14 || Leicester, UK || i. e. over Easter | || April 23–26 || [[Midvention 1]] || 14 || Leicester, UK || i. e. over Easter | ||
|| April 26–27 || [[Midgicon]] ("Midget Chicon") || 8 || [[Chicago]] || [[Al Ashley]] et al. on [[book]]buying spree, moots [[Slan Center]] | || April 26–27 || [[Midgicon]] ("Midget Chicon") || 8 || [[Chicago]] || [[Al Ashley]] et al. on [[book]]buying spree, moots [[Slan Center]] | ||
− | || May 16|| [[Staplecon 1]] || ~12 || [[San Francisco]] || | + | || May 16 || [[Staplecon 1]] || ~12 || [[San Francisco]] || |
− | || | + | || June 26/28 – July 1 || [[Mainecon]] or Maine Stf Conference || 3 || Rockland, ME || [[Art Widner]], [[Russ Chauvenet]] bike to [[Norm Stanley]]’s |
|| Early July || [[Mainecon, Jr.]] || 2 || Rockland again || visit by [[Claude Degler]] | || Early July || [[Mainecon, Jr.]] || 2 || Rockland again || visit by [[Claude Degler]] | ||
|| Mid-1943 || [[Schenectacon]] || 2-4 || [[Schenectady, NY]] || | || Mid-1943 || [[Schenectacon]] || 2-4 || [[Schenectady, NY]] || |
Revision as of 12:20, 15 September 2022
The first ten years of SF conventions were a mixed bag, but even the largest was small by modern standards, and some were literally a few guys getting together for a day. But travel was difficult and the tendency of the time was to call nearly any planned get-together (of fans from different cities a "convention" (or a "conference." See the Fancyclopedia 2 article on “con” for the baroque early terminology).
Anglofan historians tend to take a hard line on what was or wasn’t a convention (they would omit the First Convention if they could). We are inclined to take the participants’ estimation, even if they declared conhood after the event.
See also the Fancyclopedia 2 (1959) articles on Con, fan visits and fan gatherings.
Fanhistory | 1936—1946 |
This is a fanhistory page. Please add more detail. |