Difference between revisions of "Early Conventions"
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− | The first ten years of [[SF | + | 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 (see [[fan visit]]) 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 | + | [[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. |
<tab head=top> | <tab head=top> | ||
− | Year || Date || Convention || | + | Year || Date || Convention || Size || Location || Notes |
− | 1936 || October 22, 1936 || [[First Convention]] || | + | 1936 || October 22, '''1936''' || [[First Convention]] || 12–20 || [[Philadelphia]] || later called the [[First Eastern]] |
− | 1937 || January 3, 1937 || [[Other First Convention]] || ~20 || [[Leeds, UK]] || | + | 1937 || January 3, '''1937''' || [[Other First Convention]] || ~20 || [[Leeds, UK]] || |
− | || February 21, 1937 || [[Second Eastern]] || | + | || February 21, 1937 || [[Second Eastern]] || 30–40 || [[New York]] || |
− | || October 30, 1937 || [[Third Eastern]] || || [[Philadelphia]] || | + | || October 30, 1937 || [[Third Eastern]] || ~30 || [[Philadelphia]] || |
− | 1938 || April 10, 1938 || [[Second British Convention]] || || [[London]] || | + | 1938 || April 10, '''1938''' || [[Second British Convention]] || 43 || [[London]] || called Necronomicon in '57 |
|| May 29, 1938 || [[Newark Convention]] || >100 || [[Newark, NJ]] || aka [[Fourth Eastern]] aka [[First National]] | || May 29, 1938 || [[Newark Convention]] || >100 || [[Newark, NJ]] || aka [[Fourth Eastern]] aka [[First National]] | ||
− | || October 16, 1938 || [[1938 Philadelphia Conference]] || > | + | || October 16, 1938 || [[1938 Philadelphia Conference]] || > 25 || [[Philadelphia]] || |
− | 1939 || 1939 || [[Third British Convention]] || || [[London]] || | + | 1939 || May 21, '''1939''' || [[Third British Convention]] || ~40 || [[London]] || |
− | || July | + | || July 2–4, 1939 || [[NyCon I]] || 150–<wbr />200 || [[New York]] || the first [[Worldcon]] |
|| Fall 1939 || [[Philcon 1939]] || || [[Philadelphia]] || | || Fall 1939 || [[Philcon 1939]] || || [[Philadelphia]] || | ||
|| Early June 1939 || [[OSA Pow-Wow]] || 3 || [[Tulsa, OK]] || [[Oklahoma]] state convention | || Early June 1939 || [[OSA Pow-Wow]] || 3 || [[Tulsa, OK]] || [[Oklahoma]] state convention | ||
− | 1940 || Early 1940 || [[Washington Confabulation 1]] || 3 || [[Washington, DC]]|| | + | 1940 || Early '''1940''' || [[Washington Confabulation 1]] || 3 || [[Washington, DC]]|| |
|| April 1940 || [[Third Chicago Conference]] || 4 || [[Chicago]] || | || April 1940 || [[Third Chicago Conference]] || 4 || [[Chicago]] || | ||
|| September 1-2, 1940 || [[Chicon I]] || 128 || [[Chicago]] || | || September 1-2, 1940 || [[Chicon I]] || 128 || [[Chicago]] || | ||
|| November 10, 1940 || [[Phillycon 1940]] || || [[Philadelphia]] || | || November 10, 1940 || [[Phillycon 1940]] || || [[Philadelphia]] || | ||
− | 1941 || late February 1941 || [[Boskone I]] || ~25 || Winchester, MA || at [[the Swishers]]’ home | + | 1941 || late February '''1941''' || [[Boskone I]] || ~25 || Winchester, MA || at [[the Swishers]]’ home |
|| May 4, 1941 || [[All-Eastern Science Fiction Conference]] || || [[Newark, NJ]] || May not have been held | || May 4, 1941 || [[All-Eastern Science Fiction Conference]] || || [[Newark, NJ]] || May not have been held | ||
− | ||Summer 1941 || [[Washington Confabulation 2]] || | + | || Summer 1941 || [[Washington Confabulation 2]] || 6? || [[Washington, DC]] || issued Washington [[Manifesto]] |
|| July 4-6, 1941 || [[Denvention I]] || ~100 || [[Denver]] || | || July 4-6, 1941 || [[Denvention I]] || ~100 || [[Denver]] || | ||
|| September 20-21, 1941 || [[Bombcon]] || 13 || [[London]] || | || September 20-21, 1941 || [[Bombcon]] || 13 || [[London]] || | ||
|| November 16, 1941 || [[1941 Michiconference]] || || [[Jackson, MI]] || | || November 16, 1941 || [[1941 Michiconference]] || || [[Jackson, MI]] || | ||
− | 1942 || <s>January 1942</s> || <s>[[PhilCo 1942]]</s> || || <s>[[Philadelphia]]</s> || Belatedly announced | + | 1942 || <s>January 1942</s> || <s>[[PhilCo 1942]]</s> || || <s>[[Philadelphia]]</s> || Belatedly announced, called off in favor of Boskone II |
− | || February 22, 1942 || [[Boskone II]] || 25 || Boston, MA || | + | || February 22, '''1942''' || [[Boskone II]] || 25 || Boston, MA || |
|| September 27, 1942 || [[1942 Michiconference]] || ~25 || [[Jackson, MI]] || | || September 27, 1942 || [[1942 Michiconference]] || ~25 || [[Jackson, MI]] || | ||
|| November 29, 1942 || [[Hastings S-F Conference]] || v. small || [[Hastings, MN]] || possibly a [[drinking]] party | || November 29, 1942 || [[Hastings S-F Conference]] || v. small || [[Hastings, MN]] || possibly a [[drinking]] party | ||
− | || November 22, 1942 || [[Bloomington Conference]] || 9 || [[Bloomington, IL]] || possibly a poker game | + | || November 22, 1942 || [[Bloomington Conference]] || 9 || style="white-space:nowrap" | [[Bloomington, IL]] || possibly a poker game |
− | || Late 1942 || [[Pacificon Jr.]] || || [[Los Angeles | + | || Late 1942 || [[Pacificon Jr.]] || || [[Los Angeles]] || |
− | 1943 || February 28, 1943 || [[Boskone III]] || 14 || [[Boston, MA]] || | + | 1943 || February 28, '''1943''' || [[Boskone III]] || 14 || [[Boston, MA]] || |
− | || | + | || April 23–6, 1943 || [[Midvention 1]] || 14 || Leicester, UK || i. e. over Easter |
− | || | + | || April 26–7, 1943 || [[Midgicon]] ("Midget Chicon") || 8 || [[Chicago]] || [[Ashley]] et al. on bookbuying spree, moots [[Slan Center]] |
− | || | + | || Spring 1943 || [[Live Oak Conference]] || 3 || Live Oak, FL || A [[Cosmic Circle]] event |
|| May 16, 1943 || [[Staplecon 1]] || ~12 || [[San Francisco]] || | || May 16, 1943 || [[Staplecon 1]] || ~12 || [[San Francisco]] || | ||
− | || | + | || June 26/28 – <br/> July 1, 1943 || [[Mecon (ME)]] or Mainecon || 3 || Rockland, ME || [[Widner]], [[Chauvenet]] bike to [[Norm Stanley]] |
− | || | + | || early July 1943 || [[Mainecon Jr.]] || 2 || Rockland again || visit by (pseud.) [[Degler]] |
|| mid 1943 || [[Schenectacon]] || 2-4 || [[Schenectady, NY]] || | || mid 1943 || [[Schenectacon]] || 2-4 || [[Schenectady, NY]] || | ||
|| October 30, 1943 || [[1943 Michiconference]] || 22 || [[Battle Creek, MI]] || | || October 30, 1943 || [[1943 Michiconference]] || 22 || [[Battle Creek, MI]] || | ||
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|| "around the end" 1943 || [[Fancon]] || || [[Bloomington, IL]] || | || "around the end" 1943 || [[Fancon]] || || [[Bloomington, IL]] || | ||
|| late 1943? ||[[Councilcon]]||||[[Newcastle, IN]]|| Possibly occurred only in [[Claude Degler]]’s imagination | || late 1943? ||[[Councilcon]]||||[[Newcastle, IN]]|| Possibly occurred only in [[Claude Degler]]’s imagination | ||
− | || December 31, 1943 | + | || {{nowrap| December 31, 1943}} – January 2, 1944 || [[Norcon (UK)]] || small || [[Manchester, UK]] || |
− | 1944 || April 8-9, 1944 || [[Eastercon 1944]] || || [[London]] || | + | 1944 || April 8-9, '''1944''' || [[Eastercon 1944]] || || [[London]] || |
|| May 28, 1944 || [[Staplecon 3]] || 9 || [[San Francisco]] || | || May 28, 1944 || [[Staplecon 3]] || 9 || [[San Francisco]] || | ||
|| June 17-19, 1944 || [[Michicon 4]] || 23 || [[Battle Creek, MI]] || | || June 17-19, 1944 || [[Michicon 4]] || 23 || [[Battle Creek, MI]] || | ||
|| August 27, 1944 || [[Dovention]] || 11 || [[Dover, NJ]] || | || August 27, 1944 || [[Dovention]] || 11 || [[Dover, NJ]] || | ||
− | || September 1–2, 1944 || [[Midvention 2]] || || | + | || September 1–2, 1944 || [[Midvention 2]] || 6–8 || Leicester, UK || or "Midventionette" |
|| October 7-9, 1944 || [[Little Chicon]] || "small" || [[Chicago]] || | || October 7-9, 1944 || [[Little Chicon]] || "small" || [[Chicago]] || | ||
− | || | + | || ? || [[Bufflocon]] || || [[Buffalo, NY]] || [[slan shack]] visiting [[Krueger]] |
− | || December 29, | + | || December 29, 1944 – January 1, 1945 || [[Norcon (UK)]] 2 || small || [[Manchester, UK]] || Announced — did it occur? |
− | 1945 || February 3-4, 1945 || [[Boskone IV]] || 5 || [[Winchester, MA]] || at [[the Swishers]]’ home | + | 1945 || February 3-4, '''1945''' || [[Boskone IV]] || 5 || [[Winchester, MA]] || at [[the Swishers]]’ home |
|| July 7-8, 1945 || [[1945 Michiconference]] || 15-20 || [[Battle Creek, MI]] || | || July 7-8, 1945 || [[1945 Michiconference]] || 15-20 || [[Battle Creek, MI]] || | ||
|| September 2, 1945 || [[Boskone V]] || 9 || [[Salem, MA]] || AKA [[First New England SF Conference]] | || September 2, 1945 || [[Boskone V]] || 9 || [[Salem, MA]] || AKA [[First New England SF Conference]] | ||
− | 1946 || March 3, 1946 || [[FPWESFC]] || || [[Newark, NJ]] || | + | 1946 || March 3, '''1946''' || [[FPWESFC]] || || [[Newark, NJ]] || |
|| April 6–7, 1946 || [[First Post-Radar-Contact-with-the-Moon Con]] || 16 || [[Chicago]] || | || April 6–7, 1946 || [[First Post-Radar-Contact-with-the-Moon Con]] || 16 || [[Chicago]] || | ||
|| July 4-7, 1946 || [[Pacificon I]] || 130 || [[Los Angeles]] || | || July 4-7, 1946 || [[Pacificon I]] || 130 || [[Los Angeles]] || | ||
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</tab> | </tab> | ||
− | See the [[Fancyclopedia 2]] article on [[Conventions]]. | + | See also the ''[[Fancyclopedia 2]]'' (1959) article on [[Conventions]] as well as [[fan visit]]s. |
{{fanhistory | start=1936 | end=1946}} | {{fanhistory | start=1936 | end=1946}} |
Revision as of 06:14, 12 August 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 (see fan visit) 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.
Year | Date | Convention | Size | Location | -Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1936 | October 22, 1936 | First Convention | 12–20 | Philadelphia | later called the First Eastern |
1937 | January 3, 1937 | Other First Convention | ~20 | Leeds, UK | |
February 21, 1937 | Second Eastern | 30–40 | New York | ||
October 30, 1937 | Third Eastern | ~30 | Philadelphia | ||
1938 | April 10, 1938 | Second British Convention | 43 | London | called Necronomicon in '57 |
May 29, 1938 | Newark Convention | >100 | Newark, NJ | aka Fourth Eastern aka First National | |
October 16, 1938 | 1938 Philadelphia Conference | > 25 | Philadelphia | ||
1939 | May 21, 1939 | Third British Convention | ~40 | London | |
July 2–4, 1939 | NyCon I | 150– |
New York | the first Worldcon | |
Fall 1939 | Philcon 1939 | Philadelphia | |||
Early June 1939 | OSA Pow-Wow | 3 | Tulsa, OK | Oklahoma state convention | |
1940 | Early 1940 | Washington Confabulation 1 | 3 | Washington, DC | |
April 1940 | Third Chicago Conference | 4 | Chicago | ||
September 1-2, 1940 | Chicon I | 128 | Chicago | ||
November 10, 1940 | Phillycon 1940 | Philadelphia | |||
1941 | late February 1941 | Boskone I | ~25 | Winchester, MA | at the Swishers’ home |
May 4, 1941 | All-Eastern Science Fiction Conference | Newark, NJ | May not have been held | ||
Summer 1941 | Washington Confabulation 2 | 6? | Washington, DC | issued Washington Manifesto | |
July 4-6, 1941 | Denvention I | ~100 | Denver | ||
September 20-21, 1941 | Bombcon | 13 | London | ||
November 16, 1941 | 1941 Michiconference | Jackson, MI | |||
1942 | Belatedly announced, called off in favor of Boskone II | ||||
February 22, 1942 | Boskone II | 25 | Boston, MA | ||
September 27, 1942 | 1942 Michiconference | ~25 | Jackson, MI | ||
November 29, 1942 | Hastings S-F Conference | v. small | Hastings, MN | possibly a drinking party | |
November 22, 1942 | Bloomington Conference | 9 | Bloomington, IL | possibly a poker game | |
Late 1942 | Pacificon Jr. | Los Angeles | |||
1943 | February 28, 1943 | Boskone III | 14 | Boston, MA | |
April 23–6, 1943 | Midvention | 14 | Leicester, UK | i. e. over Easter | |
April 26–7, 1943 | Midgicon ("Midget Chicon") | 8 | Chicago | Ashley et al. on bookbuying spree, moots Slan Center | |
Spring 1943 | Live Oak Conference | 3 | Live Oak, FL | A Cosmic Circle event | |
May 16, 1943 | Staplecon 1 | ~12 | San Francisco | ||
June 26/28 – July 1, 1943 |
Mecon or Mainecon | 3 | Rockland, ME | Widner, Chauvenet bike to Norm Stanley | |
early July 1943 | Mainecon Jr. | 2 | Rockland again | visit by (pseud.) Degler | |
mid 1943 | Schenectacon | 2-4 | Schenectady, NY | ||
October 30, 1943 | 1943 Michiconference | 22 | Battle Creek, MI | ||
November 21, 1943 | Staplecon 2 | San Francisco | |||
"around the end" 1943 | Fancon | Bloomington, IL | |||
late 1943? | Councilcon | Newcastle, IN | Possibly occurred only in Claude Degler’s imagination | ||
December 31, 1943 – January 2, 1944 | Norcon | small | Manchester, UK | ||
1944 | April 8-9, 1944 | Eastercon | London | ||
May 28, 1944 | Staplecon 3 | 9 | San Francisco | ||
June 17-19, 1944 | Michicon 4 | 23 | Battle Creek, MI | ||
August 27, 1944 | Dovention | 11 | Dover, NJ | ||
September 1–2, 1944 | Midvention 2 | 6–8 | Leicester, UK | or "Midventionette" | |
October 7-9, 1944 | Little Chicon | "small" | Chicago | ||
? | Bufflocon | Buffalo, NY | slan shack visiting Krueger | ||
December 29, 1944 – January 1, 1945 | Norcon 2 | small | Manchester, UK | Announced — did it occur? | |
1945 | February 3-4, 1945 | Boskone IV | 5 | Winchester, MA | at the Swishers’ home |
July 7-8, 1945 | 1945 Michiconference | 15-20 | Battle Creek, MI | ||
September 2, 1945 | Boskone V | 9 | Salem, MA | AKA First New England SF Conference | |
1946 | March 3, 1946 | FPWESFC | Newark, NJ | ||
April 6–7, 1946 | First Post-Radar-Contact-with-the-Moon Con | 16 | Chicago | ||
July 4-7, 1946 | Pacificon I | 130 | Los Angeles | ||
October 12–13, 1946 | Centracon | 25 | Chicago | ||
October 27, 1946 | Phillycon 1946 | Philadelphia |
See also the Fancyclopedia 2 (1959) article on Conventions as well as fan visits.
Fanhistory | 1936—1946 |
This is a fanhistory page. Please add more detail. |