Difference between revisions of "Art Widner"

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(September 16, 1917 -- April 17, [[2015]])
 
  
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Art Widner was one of the founding members of [[The Stranger Club]], the pioneers of [[Boston]] [[fandom]], and chaired [[Boskone I]] and [[Boskone II]] (1941 and 1942), the first two Boston [[SF conventions]]. He was one of the five people attending [[Boskone IV]].
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(September 16, 1917 – April 17, 2015)
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[[File:R. Twidner at LAcon 4.jpg|thumb|left|'''R. Twidner at [[LAcon 4]].''' ''Photo by [[Mark Olson]].'']]
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Big, bearded '''Arthur L. Widner, Jr.''', aka '''Arlawi''' and “[[YHOS|yhos]]” (“your humble and obedient servant”; when signing or referring to himself, he used lowercase), was one of the founding members of [[The Stranger Club]], the pioneers of [[Boston]] [[fandom]]. He often signed his name with a variation of '''R. Twidner''' (R! Twidner).
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He [[chaired]] [[Boskone I]] and [[Boskone II]] (1941 and 1942), the first two Boston [[SF conventions]]. He was one of the five people attending [[Boskone IV]] and of the three at [[Mainecon]] in 1943, where the spelling ''[[fen]]'' was "unanimously resolved."
  
 
Along with the other members of [[The Stranger Club]], he was [[Fan GoH]] at [[Noreascon 3]].  He was nominated for the [[1946 Best Fan Writer Retro Hugo]] at [[L.A.con III]] in 1996.
 
Along with the other members of [[The Stranger Club]], he was [[Fan GoH]] at [[Noreascon 3]].  He was nominated for the [[1946 Best Fan Writer Retro Hugo]] at [[L.A.con III]] in 1996.
  
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In 1941 he organized a car pool from the East Coast to [[Denvention I]], a very adventurous undertaking in those days which was immortalized as the [[Widneride]].  (He was an old practitioner of the ancient [[fannish]] practice of naming cars, having driven the [[Skylark of Foo]], the [[Skylark of Woo-Woo]], and the [[FooFoo Special]] (and he published ''[[Cruise of the Foo Foo Special]]''.) In his younger days he was reported to be [[Built Like a Gorilla]].
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Widner appeared in the 1940 [[Worldcon]] [[masquerade]] as Giles Habibula (from [[Jack Williamson]]'s ''Legion of Space''), his costume constructed from “[[Pogo]]’s hat, [[Trudy Kuslan]]’s pillow, and an anonymous bar-tender’s wine bottle.” He returned in 1941 as “Old Granny” from ''[[Slan]]''.
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[[File:Art Widner (1940s). Courtesy of Rob Hansen.jpg|thumb|right|'''Art Widner (1940s).''' ''Courtesy of [[Rob Hansen]]''.]]
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In 1941, he organized a car pool from the [[East Coast]] to [[Denver]] for [[Denvention]], a very adventurous undertaking in those days, which was immortalized as the [[Widneride]].  (He was an old practitioner of the ancient [[fannish]] practice of naming [[automobiles|cars]], having driven the [[Skylark of Foo]], the [[Skylark of Woo-Woo]], and the [[FooFoo Special]] (and he published ''[[Cruise of the Foo Foo Special]]'').  In his younger days, he was reported to be [[Built Like a Gorilla]].
  
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He published over 160 [[fanzines]], the longest running of which was ''[[YHOS]]'' (1940-45] and 1979-2001 for [[FAPA]]). He helped to published [[The Stranger Club]] [[fanzine]] ''[[Fanfare]]''. He also published ''[[Quaro]] for [[SAPS]]
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He [[gafiated]] about 1948, becoming [[revenant]] in the late 1970s, and resuming [[pubbing]] ''[[YHOS]]'' after a gap of 34 years.  
  
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He helped found the [[N3F]] edited ''[[Bonfire]]'' in 1941 and 1944, and was president in 1947. He briefly ran [[Bodacious Publications]] and published ''[[Poll Cat]]''. He investigated the [[Pseuicide]]. He was a member of the [[FAPA]] [[Brain Trust]].
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He [[published]] over 160 [[fanzines]], the longest running of which was ''[[YHOS]]'' (1940–45 and 1979–2001 for [[FAPA]]). He helped to published [[The Stranger Club]] [[fanzine]] ''[[Fanfare (Paro)]]''. He also published ''[[Quaro]]'' for [[SAPS]]. His [[publishing house]] was [[Bodacious Publications]].  
  
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He invented one of the first science fiction board [[games]], ''[[Interplanetary]]''. It was never published commercially, but handmade versions were played at [[Boskone III]] and many later conventions.
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[[File:Art Widner Auctioning (2007). Thanks to Mike Ward..jpg|thumb|left|Art Widner Auctioning (2007). Thanks to Mike Ward.]]He helped found the [[N3F]] edited ''[[Bonfire]]'' in 1941 and 1944, and was [[president]] in 1947.  He published ''[[Poll Cat]]''. He investigated the [[Pseuicide]].  He was a member of the [[FAPA]] [[Brain Trust]].
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He invented one of the first science fiction board [[games]], ''[[Interplanetary]]''. It was never published commercially, but handmade versions were played at [[Boskone III]] and many later [[conventions]].
  
 
A member of [[First Fandom]] and the [[First Fandom Hall of Fame]], he was honored with the [[Big Heart Award]] in 1989, was the 1991 [[DUFF]] delegate and, in 2001, was selected as [[Past President of the Fan Writers of America]] for 2000.  He received a Special Lifetime Achievement Award at [[Corflu]] in 2011.  
 
A member of [[First Fandom]] and the [[First Fandom Hall of Fame]], he was honored with the [[Big Heart Award]] in 1989, was the 1991 [[DUFF]] delegate and, in 2001, was selected as [[Past President of the Fan Writers of America]] for 2000.  He received a Special Lifetime Achievement Award at [[Corflu]] in 2011.  
  
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He often signed his name with a variation of '''R. Twidner''' (R! Twidner).
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His single [[prozine]] sale, “The Perfect Incinerator”, appeared under the name '''Arthur Lambert''' in the December 1942 issue of [[Robert Lowndes]]’ ''[[Science Fiction Quarterly]]''.
  
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In 1998 the [[tributezine]] ''[[Art Appreciation]]'' was published by [[Andy Hooper]] in his honor.  [[Ditto 19|ArtCon]] and [[ArtCon Millennium Edition]] were held in his honor.  He was a long-time member of [[FAPA]] and in 2014 was made its first (and so far only) Life Member.  On August 19, 2011, while attending a birthday party for [[Randy Smith]] at [[Renovation]], he claimed to be the World's [[Oldest Living Fan]].  He published ''[[Quaro]]'' and ''[[Short Shrift]]''.
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[[Karen Cooper]] and [[Minicon 25]] published ''[[Remember When]]'' in his honor in 1990 and in 1998, the [[tributezine]] ''[[Art Appreciation]]'' was published by [[Andy Hooper]] in his honor.  [[Ditto 19|ArtCon]] and [[ArtCon Millennium Edition]] were held in his honor.  He was a longtime member of [[FAPA]] and, in 2014, was made its first (and so far only) Life Member.  On August 19, 2011, while attending a birthday party for [[Randy Smith]] at [[Renovation]], he claimed to be the World's [[Oldest Living Fan]].
  
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A remembrance of Widner by [[Jon D. Swartz]] was published in the May, 2015 issue (Volume 74, Number 5) of ''[[The National Fantasy Fan]]''.  An illustrated "In Memorium" by Swartz was also published in the New Series #44, 2nd Quarter 2015 issue of Scientifiction:  The First Fandom Report.
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{{fancy1|text=
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'''Arlawi''' [[Nickname]] of [[Art Widner]], invented in the mistaken belief that it was [[Esperanto]].  
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}}
  
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{{link | website=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJvjkRx0v38|text=Video of Rusty Hevelin Interviewing Art Widner}}
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==='''See:'''===
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* [https://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/ea.cgi?157355 Bibliography at ISFDB.]
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* {{File770 | issue=165 | page=30| text=Extensive obituary}} ([https://file770.com/art-widner-1917-2015/ web version]) by [[Mike Glyer]].
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* Remembrance of Widner in the May, 2015, issue (Volume 74, Number 5) of ''[[The National Fantasy Fan]]''. 
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* [[The Stranger Club by Art Widner|Art’s reminiscence of The Stranger Club.]]
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* An illustrated "In Memorium" in the New Series #44, 2nd Quarter 2015 issue of ''[[Scientifiction: The First Fandom Report]]''.
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* {{link | website=https://www.thevoicesoffandom.com/mp3/art_widner_n3f_and_more_2007.mp3|text=Art Widner audio}}: An mp3 of Art recorded at [[Corflu]] 25 (April 2008), [[Las Vegas]], [[Nevada]]. (Audio courtesy of {{link | website=https://www.TheVoicesOfFandom.com | text=TheVoicesOfFandom.com}}.) Widner describes the founding of the [[N3F]] and along the way gives a general personal history including anecdotes regarding his [[fanzine]] ''[[YHOS]]'', his 34-year [[gafia]], his years as a teacher, the game [[TSOHG]] and more.
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*{{link | website=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJvjkRx0v38|text=Video}} of [[Rusty Hevelin]] interviewing Art at [[MagiCon]], 1992.
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{{fanzines}}
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* ''[[Bonfire]]'' [1941, 44] (some issues)
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* ''[[Boskonian]]'' [1942]
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* ''[[Fanfare (Paro)]]'' [1940-43] (some issues)
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* ''[[Fighting Fan]]'' [1943]
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* ''[[Poll Cat]]'' [early 40s]
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* ''[[Quaro]]'' [1990s-2000s]
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* ''[[Short Shrift]]''
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* ''[[YHOS]]'' [1941-2003]
  
 
{{recognition}}
 
{{recognition}}
 
* 1945 -- [[Boskone IV]]
 
* 1945 -- [[Boskone IV]]
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* 1946 -- [[1946 Best Fan Writer Retro Hugo|Best Fan Writer Retro Hugo]] nominee
 
 
* 1983 -- [[Norwescon VI]]
 
* 1983 -- [[Norwescon VI]]
 
* 1986 -- [[Baycon '86]]
 
* 1986 -- [[Baycon '86]]
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* 1989 -- [[Big Heart Award]], '''[[Noreascon 3]]'''
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* 1989 -- '''[[Noreascon 3]]''', [[toastmaster]] at [[Ditto 2]], [[Big Heart Award]]
 
* 1990 -- [[Westercon 43]], [[Minicon 25]]
 
* 1990 -- [[Westercon 43]], [[Minicon 25]]
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* 1991 -- [[DUFF]]
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* 1991 -- [[1991 DUFF Race|DUFF]]
 
* 1992 -- [[First Fandom Hall of Fame]]
 
* 1992 -- [[First Fandom Hall of Fame]]
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* 1996 -- [[1946 Best Fan Writer Retro Hugo]] nominee
 
* 1999 -- [[Corflu 16]]
 
* 1999 -- [[Corflu 16]]
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* 2000 -- [[Past president of the FWA]]  
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* 2001 -- [[Past president of the FWA]]  
 
* 2007 -- [[Ditto 19]]
 
* 2007 -- [[Ditto 19]]
 
* 2011 -- [[FAAn Award]] Lifetime Achievement
 
* 2011 -- [[FAAn Award]] Lifetime Achievement
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{{person | born=1917 | died=2015}}
 
{{person | born=1917 | died=2015}}
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[[Category:first_fandom]]
 
[[Category:first_fandom]]
 
[[Category:US]]
 
[[Category:US]]
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[[Category:fancy1]]

Latest revision as of 09:42, 1 October 2023

(September 16, 1917 – April 17, 2015)

R. Twidner at LAcon 4. Photo by Mark Olson.

Big, bearded Arthur L. Widner, Jr., aka Arlawi and “yhos” (“your humble and obedient servant”; when signing or referring to himself, he used lowercase), was one of the founding members of The Stranger Club, the pioneers of Boston fandom. He often signed his name with a variation of R. Twidner (R! Twidner).

He chaired Boskone I and Boskone II (1941 and 1942), the first two Boston SF conventions. He was one of the five people attending Boskone IV and of the three at Mainecon in 1943, where the spelling fen was "unanimously resolved."

Along with the other members of The Stranger Club, he was Fan GoH at Noreascon 3. He was nominated for the 1946 Best Fan Writer Retro Hugo at L.A.con III in 1996.

Widner appeared in the 1940 Worldcon masquerade as Giles Habibula (from Jack Williamson's Legion of Space), his costume constructed from “Pogo’s hat, Trudy Kuslan’s pillow, and an anonymous bar-tender’s wine bottle.” He returned in 1941 as “Old Granny” from Slan.

Art Widner (1940s). Courtesy of Rob Hansen.

In 1941, he organized a car pool from the East Coast to Denver for Denvention, a very adventurous undertaking in those days, which was immortalized as the Widneride. (He was an old practitioner of the ancient fannish practice of naming cars, having driven the Skylark of Foo, the Skylark of Woo-Woo, and the FooFoo Special (and he published Cruise of the Foo Foo Special). In his younger days, he was reported to be Built Like a Gorilla.

He gafiated about 1948, becoming revenant in the late 1970s, and resuming pubbing YHOS after a gap of 34 years.

He published over 160 fanzines, the longest running of which was YHOS (1940–45 and 1979–2001 for FAPA). He helped to published The Stranger Club fanzine Fanfare. He also published Quaro for SAPS. His publishing house was Bodacious Publications.

Art Widner Auctioning (2007). Thanks to Mike Ward.

He helped found the N3F edited Bonfire in 1941 and 1944, and was president in 1947. He published Poll Cat. He investigated the Pseuicide. He was a member of the FAPA Brain Trust.

He invented one of the first science fiction board games, Interplanetary. It was never published commercially, but handmade versions were played at Boskone III and many later conventions.

A member of First Fandom and the First Fandom Hall of Fame, he was honored with the Big Heart Award in 1989, was the 1991 DUFF delegate and, in 2001, was selected as Past President of the Fan Writers of America for 2000. He received a Special Lifetime Achievement Award at Corflu in 2011.

His single prozine sale, “The Perfect Incinerator”, appeared under the name Arthur Lambert in the December 1942 issue of Robert Lowndes’ Science Fiction Quarterly.

Karen Cooper and Minicon 25 published Remember When in his honor in 1990 and in 1998, the tributezine Art Appreciation was published by Andy Hooper in his honor. ArtCon and ArtCon Millennium Edition were held in his honor. He was a longtime member of FAPA and, in 2014, was made its first (and so far only) Life Member. On August 19, 2011, while attending a birthday party for Randy Smith at Renovation, he claimed to be the World's Oldest Living Fan.

From Fancyclopedia 1, ca. 1944
Arlawi Nickname of Art Widner, invented in the mistaken belief that it was Esperanto.


See:[edit]

Fanzines and Apazines:

Awards, Honors and GoHships:


Person 1917—2015
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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