DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Spacewarp, v. 3, issue 4, July 1948

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Spacewarp, v. 3, issue 4, July 1948

Page 21

((Picking up where we left off on page 14 or so))

highest bidding came on Finlay's original for the June '48 FFM, the only cover painting on hand. Harry Moore finally got it for $70, which is also a record price for any item auctioned at a fanvention. In general, the originals brought from three to five bucks, although many of the larger and finer ones brought ten dollars or more. Young bought a Paul (The pp 36.37 from the May FN, I believe), while I got two illos -- the Handison from "Assignment in the Dawn" (PLANET, Fall 47, and the Orban which heads Pt. 2 of "Fury" in the June 47 ASF. I also got a Derleth-autographed copy of Strange Ports of Call.

Sunday evening came the moment for which everyone had been waiting -- the Tucker Report. Here again I will skip details. Not only will this appear in the TMB, but Bob is putting out his own summary of his findings sometime this fall. I might add that the printed page will never reproduce the rib-splitting manner in which Tucker read the comments and answers to his queries had netted, and his interpretation of the charts, he prepared to illustrate his remarks.

The evening concluded with a round-table discussion by a panel of experts, namely Chan Davis, Milton Rothman, Norman Stanley, and a fourth whom I can't for the life of me remember just now -- on how and why interplanetary travel will come. This didn't come off so well because it was supposed to be an audience-participation affair, and members of the audience speaking without a mike could not be heard all over the room.

Sunday night was the time of smoke-filled rooms and low-voiced phoning as the politics of locating the 49 convention were set into motion. With its large delegation at the Torcon, plus quite a number of pledged votes from midwestern unorganized fen, the MSFS was a factor to be considered. I suspect that we were a headache to the other fanclubs, who could predict each others' actions from prior experience, whereas the MSFS was an unknown quantity and might be expected to do anything. To step out of chronological order for a moment, it is safe to say that the award of the 1949 convention to Cincinnati was the finest decision that could have been made, and the MSFS is proud of having had the privilege of seconding the motion on the floor of the convention.

The session Monday opened with a talk by David H. Keller which should be read by every stf author and would-be author. Dr. Keller called for less doom and destruction in stf, and more stories which will point the way to a better world through practical application of the great constructive potentialities of science. Incidently, Dr. Keller has been made an honorary member of the MSFS, and Mrs. Keller has joined the club also.

Alger reports one of the priceless Singer incidents of the convention. It seems reminisces of the Philcon were being voiced at one of the bullsessions. Someone remarked that in the wee sma' hours of a Philadelphia morning several of the younger fen were chasing up and down hotel corridors in their birthday suits. At which point Singer interrupts breathlessly: "Their birthday suits? What's that? You mean they were in their underwear?"

To get back to the official program -- next came the business session. Sam Moskowitz introduced this by a short talk reviewing the history of fanventions and the continual battle they must fight to keep from being turned into mere commercial exploitations. The Cincinnati group were the only bidders for the 1949 convention, with Doc Barrett's motion being seconded by the MSFS and by EEEvans as a representative of the 

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((Picking up where we left off on page 14 or so)) highest bidding came on Finlay's original for the June '48 FFM, the only cover painting on hand. Harry Moore finally got it for $70, which is also a record price for any item auctioned at a fanvention. In general, the originals brought from three to five bucks, although many of the larger and finer ones brought ten dollars or more. Young bought a Paul (The pp 36.37 from the May FN, I believe), while I got two illos -- the Handison from "Assignment in the Dawn" (PLANET, Fall 47, and the Orban which heads Pt. 2 of "Fury" in the June 47 ASF. I also got a Derleth-autographed copy of Strange Ports of Call. Sunday evening came the moment for which everyone had been waiting -- the Tucker Report. Here again I will skip details. Not only will this appear in the TMB, but Bob is putting out his own summary of his findings sometime this fall. I might add that the printed page will never reproduce the rib-splitting manner in which Tucker read the comments and answers to his queries had netted, and his interpretation of the charts, he prepared to illustrate his remarks. The evening concluded with a round-table discussion by a panel of experts, namely Chan Davis, Milton Rothman, Norman Stanley, and a fourth whom I can't for the life of me remember just now -- on how and why interplanetary travel will come. This didn't come off so well because it was supposed to be an audience-participation affair, and members of the audience speaking without a mike could not be heard all over the room. Sunday night was the time of smoke-filled rooms and low-voiced phoning as the politics of locating the 49 convention were set into motion. With its large delegation at the Torcon, plus quite a number of pledged votes from midwestern unorganized fen, the MSFS was a factor to be considered. I suspect that we were a headache to the other fanclubs, who could predict each others' actions from prior experience, whereas the MSFS was an unknown quantity and might be expected to do anything. To step out of chronological order for a moment, it is safe to say that the award of the 1949 convention to Cincinnati was the finest decision that could have been made, and the MSFS is proud of having had the privilege of seconding the motion on the floor of the convention. The session Monday opened with a talk by David H. Keller which should be read by every stf author and would-be author. Dr. Keller called for less doom and destruction in stf, and more stories which will point the way to a better world through practical application of the great constructive potentialities of science. Incidently, Dr. Keller has been made an honorary member of the MSFS, and Mrs. Keller has joined the club also. Alger reports one of the priceless Singer incidents of the convention. It seems reminisces of the Philcon were being voiced at one of the bullsessions. Someone remarked that in the wee sma' hours of a Philadelphia morning several of the younger fen were chasing up and down hotel corridors in their birthday suits. At which point Singer interrupts breathlessly: "Their birthday suits? What's that? You mean they were in their underwear?" To get back to the official program -- next came the business session. Sam Moskowitz introduced this by a short talk reviewing the history of fanventions and the continual battle they must fight to keep from being turned into mere commercial exploitations. The Cincinnati group were the only bidders for the 1949 convention, with Doc Barrett's motion being seconded by the MSFS and by EEEvans as a representative of the 21