Al Schuster
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| Name: | Al Schuster |
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| Fandoms: | Star Trek |
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Al Schuster was a Star Trek fan, turned for-profit promoter.
(Al Schuster is not to be confused with publisher of science fiction media books and magazines, Hal Schuster.)
Schuster had been a science fiction fan since 1947. He was a member of the science fiction society of City College of New York and published the SF zine "Engram." In 1971, he became a Star Trek: TOS fan.
He was active in the 1970s and most known for being a member of the original The Committee, and for his procon series of cons, the Schuster Star Trek Conventions. In 1972, he leveraged his involvement in the Star Trek Lives! cons to other cons. See Detroit Triple Fan Fair and "Free Beer!".
In 1974, Schuster was quoted in the mainstream press about the Star Trek Lives! cons:
At the first New York based convention three years ago... the fans only totaled a paltry, by comparison, 2500. No one had counted on such a turn-out. Al Schuster, the organizer of the convention, and an entrepreneur, hadn't even originally planned on a "Star Trek" convention.
"I did it for ego," he said. "You see, three years back I bid on the World Science Fiction Convention. A number of people bid on it, and my bid was too low, so I lost. But to prove I could do it, I had a "Star Trek" convention. It was supposed to be perhaps two hundred and fifty people, and instead 2500 people came. Since then, I couldn't care less about the Sci-Fi conventions because this is bigger than that ever was.[1]
Schuster was also involved in the bid to host the 1974 Worldcon (to be called NYCon 4) in New York City. He, and Art Saha, were to be co-chairs. The NYCon 4 Bid withdrew at the last minute leaving DC in '74 the winner
John Townsley was an oft-partner in Schuster's various later promotions.
According to an August 19, 1976 letter to the "Philadelphia Daily News," Schuster planned to attend a mini-con in 1976 as a guest of honor
Schuster: Video Interview
See Al Schuster, along with Harlan Ellison, DeForest Kelley, James Doohan, and Walter Koenig discuss cons, the "cult" of Star Trek, fan exploitation, violence in Star Trek, and a whole lot more.
- Star Trek cast on Tom Snyder's Tomorrow, 1976, Part 4, Schuster appears at about 2:12
- Star Trek cast on Tom Snyder's Tomorrow, 1976, Part 5, Schuster appears at about 5:03
Fan Comments
In the Beginning, there was Al Schuster, and the Committee. And the two would be split, and briefly each would offer up a different event, before Schuster would reign alone as the King of New York. His Heir Apparent was a man named John Townsley, who inherited the multitudes which Schuster and the Committee had grown.
Conventions in the Schuster era were notable only for the masses of pilgrims who came willingly to each one. Al Schuster was a promoter, an entrepreneur who staged "shows" much like today's Creation Cons. There was no "programming" to speak of, nothing past 5PM except Costume Call, no panels, no use of fannish talent. There were only the actor guests, but for those of us who had never had an opportunity to get up close and personal with any of our beloved Trek idols, that was enough. And we knew no different kind of convention experience.
New York wasn't the only venue for Schuster. He staged smaller cons in Washington, DC, in Philadelphia (at the hotel later known for the "Legionnaire's Disease"), and in other cities farther removed from me. At these "smaller" cons, the guest list would be shorter and the con would last only two days. And the reign of Schuster was only for a few years, although it seemed longer at the time. But it was John Townsley who put on the Show of All Shows – Bi-Centennial Ten – which was in 1976, only three years after Schuster started with the Committee in 1973.[2]
"Well, to put it quite bluntly... I don't like Al Schuster. I know what's really been going on, the con game he's been pulling. And when I first heard about 'Al Schuster's Fourth Annual International STAR TREK Convention', I said,"Okay, that's it!" I decided I wanted to "stick it to him" at his own con, in a way that was not illegal, not immoral, and nobody would get hurt." [3]
References
- ^ from "Making a Trek to See the Stars", an article by Peter David for "Philadelphia Inquirer," reprinted (with the content that was edited out of the mainstream press publication) in Space-Time Continuum #5 (April 1974)
- ^ from Reminisce With Me/The Big New York Cons, Part II
- ^ The interviewee was "Warlock," which is a pseud for Winston Howlett. He states that he decided to enter the costume contest as a female character. His entry card read: "Barbra Wheadon...New York City...as Dracona, the vampire queen of Ka-Lahn" -- from The Conning of a Con (OR THE "OH MY GOD THE MUGATU WANTS TO PLAY GAMES!" Syndrome)