Difference between revisions of "Last and First Fen"
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'''''Last and First Fen''''' was a [[tapera]], an audio taped show, created by [[Liverpool]]’s [[MaD Productions]] in 1956, based (we think) on a script by [[Jack Speer]]. “Eighteen months in the making, and a quite fabulous thing,” according to [[Eric Bentcliffe]] in ''[[Waldo (Bentcliffe)]]'' no. 1 ([http://www.fanac.org/fanzines/Waldo/Waldo01.pdf December 1959]). The tape ran 45 minutes long and premiered at [[Cytricon II]]. | '''''Last and First Fen''''' was a [[tapera]], an audio taped show, created by [[Liverpool]]’s [[MaD Productions]] in 1956, based (we think) on a script by [[Jack Speer]]. “Eighteen months in the making, and a quite fabulous thing,” according to [[Eric Bentcliffe]] in ''[[Waldo (Bentcliffe)]]'' no. 1 ([http://www.fanac.org/fanzines/Waldo/Waldo01.pdf December 1959]). The tape ran 45 minutes long and premiered at [[Cytricon II]]. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ''Last and First Men'' is the title of a 1930 novel by [[Olaf Stapledon]]. And we could be totally wrong, and the [[LāSFāS]] [[fans]] may have written their own [[burlesque|parody]] instead of using Speer’s by then 10-year-old [[fannish play]]. | ||
[[Jack Speer]]’s script can be found [https://efanzines.com/UpToNow/N4SouvenirBook_SpeerExcerpt.pdf online here]. Speer’s introduction:<blockquote> | [[Jack Speer]]’s script can be found [https://efanzines.com/UpToNow/N4SouvenirBook_SpeerExcerpt.pdf online here]. Speer’s introduction:<blockquote> | ||
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*[[BFS]]ers would have been members of the [[British Fantasy Society]]. | *[[BFS]]ers would have been members of the [[British Fantasy Society]]. | ||
*[[MFS]] is, of course, the [[Minneapolis Fantasy Society]]. | *[[MFS]] is, of course, the [[Minneapolis Fantasy Society]]. | ||
− | *The Nitrosynthetic (it was [[Nitrosyncretic]] in my manuscript) voice must have been [[Abby Lu Ashley]], but I don’t remember why that word. | + | *The Nitrosynthetic (it was [[Nitrosyncretic]] in my manuscript) voice must have been [[Abby Lu Ashley]], but I don’t remember why that word.<ref>''“[[Nitrosyncretic Lab]]” was the name of the kitchen in [[Abby Lu Ashley]]’s house, the original [[Slan Shack]].''</ref> |
*Incidentally, it was [[Joe Kennedy|X.J. “Joe” Kennedy]], its original [[publisher]], who named the play. I submitted it titleless. | *Incidentally, it was [[Joe Kennedy|X.J. “Joe” Kennedy]], its original [[publisher]], who named the play. I submitted it titleless. | ||
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
− | + | ||
+ | <references /> | ||
{{show|year=1956}} | {{show|year=1956}} | ||
[[Category:UK]] [[Category:US]] [[Category:fanzine]] | [[Category:UK]] [[Category:US]] [[Category:fanzine]] |
Revision as of 14:10, 17 April 2021
Last and First Fen was a tapera, an audio taped show, created by Liverpool’s MaD Productions in 1956, based (we think) on a script by Jack Speer. “Eighteen months in the making, and a quite fabulous thing,” according to Eric Bentcliffe in Waldo no. 1 (December 1959). The tape ran 45 minutes long and premiered at Cytricon II.
Last and First Men is the title of a 1930 novel by Olaf Stapledon. And we could be totally wrong, and the LāSFāS fans may have written their own parody instead of using Speer’s by then 10-year-old fannish play.
Jack Speer’s script can be found online here. Speer’s introduction:
A United Press story in 1945 quoted Major P. C. Calhoun, “head of the A.A.F. guided-missile branch,” as saying that they expected to be able to shoot a rocket to the moon within 18 months, and within five years “to have a rocket that will carry men outside the Earth’s atmosphere and return safely.” Some stefinists were not so sanguine: in Gerry de la Ree’s polls of SF readers, authors, and editors, the majority estimated a date of 1950 or sooner for manned flight to the moon or another planet.
I ran with that idea in the following. This is what’s now called faan fiction, i.e., fiction about sfans.
- The Captain is Arthur C. Clarke, who was nicknamed Ego.
- Starfasci is Larry Farsaci, who was stationed at Tule Lake during the war.
- Stuff is “Juffus.”
- Ole must be E. Everett Evans.
- One-Face is 4SJ (Ackerman), sometimes known as “#1 Face.”
- The Mad Scientist is Milton A. Rothman.
- Joke is Joe Kennedy.
- The Youngfans were not specific persons.
- Ninety-four is Al Ashley, AA-194 (his score on a test, which an excerpt in the NESFA Press book will explain).
- Gallop is Art Widner, the Poll Cat.
- BFSers would have been members of the British Fantasy Society.
- MFS is, of course, the Minneapolis Fantasy Society.
- The Nitrosynthetic (it was Nitrosyncretic in my manuscript) voice must have been Abby Lu Ashley, but I don’t remember why that word.[1]
- Incidentally, it was X.J. “Joe” Kennedy, its original publisher, who named the play. I submitted it titleless.
- ↑ “Nitrosyncretic Lab” was the name of the kitchen in Abby Lu Ashley’s house, the original Slan Shack.
Show | 1956 |
This is a show page for fannish plays and musicals. Please extend it by adding more information about who wrote it, who performed in it and where it was staged/screened. |