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Spaceways, v. 3, issue 6, whole no. 22, August 1941

16  SPACEWAYS

MY FIRST TWO THOUSAND MILES

there wasn't a fan in sight,   Widner and I attempted to find the phone numbers
of Wigglns or Martin—to no avail. Just as we were   about to give up the ghost,
Olon F. Wiggins appeared—as if from nowhere. After the usual greetings were
taken care of, Olon escorted us to Walt Daugherty's room,   wherein there were a
bunch of fans milling around.
      Immediately upon entering Mr. & Mrs. Daugherty's bridal suite (the Denvention was their honeymoon trip), we were pulled over to the recording outfit and said a few words for posterity. Some of the fans present at this time were Daugherty, Lowndes, Wollheim, Ackerman, Dale Hart, etc.
      Thursday evening was spent in drinking. After a futile attempt to find a
place where every one could be served (including Lew Martin) we headed back for the hotel. Upon arriving, the Futurians were found in front of the hotel—most of them walking around in a semi-stupor. They were set upon beating someone up
—I happened to be the target of their affections. S. D. Gottesman, professional author, seemed to me to be in a bad way, I've always claimed that authorities
should be more rigid. At any rate, nothing serious came of this little meeting,
several fans having decided to stlck with RAM.
     The convention finally swung into activity early Friday afternoon. There
were close to seventy present during the main portion of the convention. Among the celebrities were: Robert A. Heinlein, Mrs. Heinlein, Ackerman, Morojo, Freehafer. Yerke, Daugherty, Fortier, Lowndes and Futurians, Hart, Korshak, Al McKeel, Bronson, D. B. Thomson, Unger, Widner, Rotnman, E. E. Evans, Millard, knight, Willard E. Hawkins, Edmond Hamilton, Julius Schwartz, etc.
      It might be mentioned that the Denvention was, by far, the most representative convention yet held. There were fans present from all parts of the country. Also, it was, more or less, strictly a fan convention. There were very few professionals present at any time, and of those who were present, Heinlein, for one, is certainly a fan. Another thing—it surprised me to note how many fans
attended who had had no previous connection with fandom. Rust E. Barron hitchhiked from California, Charles Massion came from Salt Lake City, Elmer Meukel and David Dawson came from Spokane, young Bill Deutch hailed from New York City, etc.
     The first official session of the convention consisted of the usual speeches of welcome; introduction of everyone present by the chairman, and Robert
Heinlein's speech. Heinlein displayed himself as being an excellent speaker,
capable of holding the attention of the audience for an indefinite length of
time. His speech, which followed no definite trend, consumed nine records. Oh, yes—I forgot to mention that Walt Daugherty recorded the entire convention, using 65 discs, and will probably soon place individual records on sale. It will be a great opportunity actually to attend the convention once more—via the recording machine. Heinlein discussed the "scientific method", which, while used by stf. fans and authors, could never be used by the average person. The entire speech was chock full of complimentary remarks directed at scientific fiction
fans.
     E. Everett Evans, of Battle Creek, Mich., delivered an excellent speech also. Evans advocates a United Fandom: working as he says "together on a definite, long-range program". He desires fan feuds to be abolished, and thinks fans should assist in such worthwhile projects as publishing fan magazines on time, assisting Speer with his "fancyclopedia"— and helping Rothman with his "Statistical History of the Future" , etc. He invites anyone to write to him at 191 Capital Avenue.
      The Friday evening session opened with the costume party. Several fans went to enormous expense with their costumes. E. E. Evans attended in a masterfully executed costume, which he called "A Bird Man from Rhea". I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say that he looked like something from an Amazing Stories back cover come to life. Evans copped first prize with his excellent costume. Walt Daugherty attended as a space-pilot from Venus. His excellently executed costume consisted of plastic glass covering his head and shoulders

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16 SPACEWAYS MY FIRST TWO THOUSAND MILES there wasn't a fan in sight, Widner and I attempted to find the phone numbers of Wigglns or Martin—to no avail. Just as we were about to give up the ghost, Olon F. Wiggins appeared—as if from nowhere. After the usual greetings were taken care of, Olon escorted us to Walt Daugherty's room, wherein there were a bunch of fans milling around. Immediately upon entering Mr. & Mrs. Daugherty's bridal suite (the Denvention was their honeymoon trip), we were pulled over to the recording outfit and said a few words for posterity. Some of the fans present at this time were Daugherty, Lowndes, Wollheim, Ackerman, Dale Hart, etc. Thursday evening was spent in drinking. After a futile attempt to find a place where every one could be served (including Lew Martin) we headed back for the hotel. Upon arriving, the Futurians were found in front of the hotel—most of them walking around in a semi-stupor. They were set upon beating someone up —I happened to be the target of their affections. S. D. Gottesman, professional author, seemed to me to be in a bad way, I've always claimed that authorities should be more rigid. At any rate, nothing serious came of this little meeting, several fans having decided to stlck with RAM. The convention finally swung into activity early Friday afternoon. There were close to seventy present during the main portion of the convention. Among the celebrities were: Robert A. Heinlein, Mrs. Heinlein, Ackerman, Morojo, Freehafer. Yerke, Daugherty, Fortier, Lowndes and Futurians, Hart, Korshak, Al McKeel, Bronson, D. B. Thomson, Unger, Widner, Rotnman, E. E. Evans, Millard, knight, Willard E. Hawkins, Edmond Hamilton, Julius Schwartz, etc. It might be mentioned that the Denvention was, by far, the most representative convention yet held. There were fans present from all parts of the country. Also, it was, more or less, strictly a fan convention. There were very few professionals present at any time, and of those who were present, Heinlein, for one, is certainly a fan. Another thing—it surprised me to note how many fans attended who had had no previous connection with fandom. Rust E. Barron hitchhiked from California, Charles Massion came from Salt Lake City, Elmer Meukel and David Dawson came from Spokane, young Bill Deutch hailed from New York City, etc. The first official session of the convention consisted of the usual speeches of welcome; introduction of everyone present by the chairman, and Robert Heinlein's speech. Heinlein displayed himself as being an excellent speaker, capable of holding the attention of the audience for an indefinite length of time. His speech, which followed no definite trend, consumed nine records. Oh, yes—I forgot to mention that Walt Daugherty recorded the entire convention, using 65 discs, and will probably soon place individual records on sale. It will be a great opportunity actually to attend the convention once more—via the recording machine. Heinlein discussed the "scientific method", which, while used by stf. fans and authors, could never be used by the average person. The entire speech was chock full of complimentary remarks directed at scientific fiction fans. E. Everett Evans, of Battle Creek, Mich., delivered an excellent speech also. Evans advocates a United Fandom: working as he says "together on a definite, long-range program". He desires fan feuds to be abolished, and thinks fans should assist in such worthwhile projects as publishing fan magazines on time, assisting Speer with his "fancyclopedia"— and helping Rothman with his "Statistical History of the Future" , etc. He invites anyone to write to him at 191 Capital Avenue. The Friday evening session opened with the costume party. Several fans went to enormous expense with their costumes. E. E. Evans attended in a masterfully executed costume, which he called "A Bird Man from Rhea". I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say that he looked like something from an Amazing Stories back cover come to life. Evans copped first prize with his excellent costume. Walt Daugherty attended as a space-pilot from Venus. His excellently executed costume consisted of plastic glass covering his head and shoulders