Difference between revisions of "Harry Schmarje"
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| − | ( | + | (December 27, 1925 – June 27, 1990) |
| − | '''Harris M. Schmarje''' was a thin-skinned [[ | + | '''Harris M. Schmarje''' was a thin-skinned [[fan]] from Muscatine, [[Iowa]], active in the early 1940s. He [[published]] the [[fanzine]] ''[[Starlit Fantasy]]'' and founded the [[Midwest Fan Society]] with [[Charles McNutt]], but the two had a falling out over money. |
| − | He attended the [[1942 Michiconference]] and behaved gauchely enough to disgust [[Walt Liebscher]], who already didn’t think much of him — Schmarje embellished his letters with self-important green [[stickers]] reading | + | He attended the [[1942 Michiconference]] and behaved gauchely enough to disgust [[Walt Liebscher]], who already didn’t think much of him — Schmarje embellished his letters with self-important [[green]] [[stickers]] reading “[https://www.fanac.org/fanzines/Southern_Star/Southern_Star05.pdf#page=33 Harris M. Schmarje, Author, Columnist, Critique]”; his [[Midwest Fan Society]] proposed to run a “Chicon”; he smoked with pretentious mannerisms; and, unasked, he availed himself of a ride to [[Chicago]] with [[Jane Tucker]], annoying Jane. (“Harris” was apparently a [[fan name]]. In all of his official documents, including his gravestone, he was simply “Harry.”) |
| − | In ''[[Le Zombie]]'' 50 ([https://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/islandora/object/ui%3Ahevelin_11386_2_2 December 1942]), | + | In ''[[Le Zombie]]'' 50 ([https://digital.lib.uiowa.edu/islandora/object/ui%3Ahevelin_11386_2_2 December 1942]), Liebscher wrote a smart-assed [[conrep]] full of mild and not-so-mild insults about those in attendance; about Schmarje, he was especially cutting: “Harris M. Schmarje (Author, Columnist, Critique) is the great grandfather of all jerks.” |
| − | Schmarje took it badly and wrote angst-filled letters to both [[Bob Tucker]] (the [[faned]]) and Liebscher. Tucker replied in the [ | + | Schmarje took it badly and wrote angst-filled letters to both [[Bob Tucker]] (the [[faned]]) and Liebscher. Tucker replied in the [https://fanac.org/fanzines/Le_Zombie/lezom51-01.html following issue’s] [[lettercol]] with well-meant direct advice (“be extrovert enough not to care what fans think of you”), while Liebscher wrote at length about what he did think. |
| − | Schmarje seems to have [[gafiated]] after that. In ''[[Le Zombie]]'' 53 ( | + | Schmarje seems to have [[gafiated]] after that. In ''[[Le Zombie]]'' 53 ([https://fanac.org/fanzines/Le_Zombie/lezom53-13.html June 1943]), Tucker reported, “Harry Schmarje resigns from the [[FAPA]], and probably the rest of [[fandom]].” Schmarje had previously written to ''[[VOM]]'' 23 ([https://www.fanac.org/fanzines/VOM/Voice_of_the_Imagi-Nation-of-the-imagi-nation-23-ackerman-morojo-1942-06.pdf June 1942]), “Will you please announce in VOM ... that I am resigning - from fandom,” but it seems as if he finally meant it. |
| + | * [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/155742352/harry-schmarje FindaGrave entry. ] | ||
| − | {{person}} [[Category:fan]] [[Category:US]] | + | |
| + | {{person|born=1925|died=1990|locale=Muscatine, IA}} [[Category:fan]] [[Category:US]] | ||
Latest revision as of 09:38, 11 May 2023
(December 27, 1925 – June 27, 1990)
Harris M. Schmarje was a thin-skinned fan from Muscatine, Iowa, active in the early 1940s. He published the fanzine Starlit Fantasy and founded the Midwest Fan Society with Charles McNutt, but the two had a falling out over money.
He attended the 1942 Michiconference and behaved gauchely enough to disgust Walt Liebscher, who already didn’t think much of him — Schmarje embellished his letters with self-important green stickers reading “Harris M. Schmarje, Author, Columnist, Critique”; his Midwest Fan Society proposed to run a “Chicon”; he smoked with pretentious mannerisms; and, unasked, he availed himself of a ride to Chicago with Jane Tucker, annoying Jane. (“Harris” was apparently a fan name. In all of his official documents, including his gravestone, he was simply “Harry.”)
In Le Zombie 50 (December 1942), Liebscher wrote a smart-assed conrep full of mild and not-so-mild insults about those in attendance; about Schmarje, he was especially cutting: “Harris M. Schmarje (Author, Columnist, Critique) is the great grandfather of all jerks.”
Schmarje took it badly and wrote angst-filled letters to both Bob Tucker (the faned) and Liebscher. Tucker replied in the following issue’s lettercol with well-meant direct advice (“be extrovert enough not to care what fans think of you”), while Liebscher wrote at length about what he did think.
Schmarje seems to have gafiated after that. In Le Zombie 53 (June 1943), Tucker reported, “Harry Schmarje resigns from the FAPA, and probably the rest of fandom.” Schmarje had previously written to VOM 23 (June 1942), “Will you please announce in VOM ... that I am resigning - from fandom,” but it seems as if he finally meant it.
| Person | 1925—1990 |
| 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. |
