DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Fanfare, whole no. 10, December 1943

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Fanfare, whole no. 10, December 1943

Page 40

THE RISE of Joe Fann Racketeer
by Bob Tucker

   Joe first became known in fandom at the Chicon. Even then he was laying nefarious plans to assume powers & defraud fandom. The Chicon officials were eager to book a scientific lecturer who could speak to the convention on some popular phase of science, presumably one having a close connection with then-current magazine fiction. 
   Joe convinced the officials he was an authority on the coming ice age, & quoted savants & displayed technical charts to prove it. He was a hit at the convention. So great were his powers of oratory, his keenness of concentration, his knowledge of facts, that the assembled fans were convinced the next ice age was upon them.
   Joe then opened a crate he had brot with him, & passed among the fans hawking fur coats. He made several sales.
   His next major move was at the Denvention. Here he varied his tactics somewhat, not wanting to be blatantly commercial.
   On the 9th floor, opposite the elevators, he dug away the plaster to expose a brick in the outer wall. Then with a magnifying-glass, he peered & exclaimed over the brick, carrying on until quite a crowd of fans & bellboys had collected around him.

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THE RISE of Joe Fann Racketeer by Bob Tucker Joe first became known in fandom at the Chicon. Even then he was laying nefarious plans to assume powers & defraud fandom. The Chicon officials were eager to book a scientific lecturer who could speak to the convention on some popular phase of science, presumably one having a close connection with then-current magazine fiction. Joe convinced the officials he was an authority on the coming ice age, & quoted savants & displayed technical charts to prove it. He was a hit at the convention. So great were his powers of oratory, his keenness of concentration, his knowledge of facts, that the assembled fans were convinced the next ice age was upon them. Joe then opened a crate he had brot with him, & passed among the fans hawking fur coats. He made several sales. His next major move was at the Denvention. Here he varied his tactics somewhat, not wanting to be blatantly commercial. On the 9th floor, opposite the elevators, he dug away the plaster to expose a brick in the outer wall. Then with a magnifying-glass, he peered & exclaimed over the brick, carrying on until quite a crowd of fans & bellboys had collected around him.