BASH (Boston Star Trek con)
| Star Trek Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | BASH |
| Dates: | 1978 until at least 1987 |
| Frequency: | annual |
| Location: | Boston, MA |
| Type: | fancon, celebrity guests |
| Focus: | Star Trek, science fiction |
| Organization: | Boston Star Trek Association |
| Founder: | |
| Founding Date: | |
| URL: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
BASH was a Star Trek (mainly) and media science fiction con held in the Boston, MA area.
"While no one remembers how the tradition was started, the word "BASH" is usually written in all capital letters." [1]
Some History
From the 1987 program book:
The BASH turns 10. Question: how does a quaint part for a few close friends turn into an event that attracts science-fiction enthusiasts by the hundreds?
ANSWER: very slowly.
It does seem that the BASH has moved cautiously from its first appearance as a simple party in 1978 to the elaborate 1986 Platinum Anniversary Convention and this year's BASH '87. What road has the BASH taken on its 10-convention journey?
It all started in the spring of 1978. Donna Chisholm organized a party for the 40 or so members of the Boston Star Trek Association (BSTA) at the Braintree Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge. The party was christened "The BASH" and a splendid time was had by one and all. To cap off the event, Allan Andre piled the party-goers into his van and shuttled the gang over to a nearby restaurant for dinner.
The following year that BSTA decided that the BASH was too much of a good thing to keep to itself. The club moved the BASH to Halloween weekend and, for a small, fee outsiders were invited to attend the "party."
To welcome new guests, the BASH took on a more traditional SF-convention look. Still, subtle signs told people that the con was still in its infancy. For example, the dealers/fanzine room was located in the HoJo's indoor pool room. While browsing at the 5 vendor tables, conventioneers had to avoid being splashed by hotel guests who were using the pool.
MOVING ON
After another tiny convention in 1980, it became obvious that the Howard Johnson's Motor Lodge was too small to handle the convention's growing needs. It was with great regret that the BASH bade farewell to BrainTree, since the HoJo's staff and management had served the con so well for three years.
The BASH committee was delighted to learn that the people at the Randolph Holiday Inn were friendly folks. The hotel waiters and waitresses went so far as to dress up in costumes for the con's Halloween banquets.
During its two years in Randolph, the BASH grew in scope. Those years saw the first official BASH guests, Hal Clement and Shirley Maiewski, the premeier of live entertainment and a dealers/fanzine room without a pool!
The committee also learned a few hard lessons. It was a bad idea to hold the convention away from Boston; the hotel was not conventien to public transportation. The 1981 BASH "peace conference" was also a bad idea. Titled "An Uneasy Truce or "What do you say to a smiling alien?" plans called for people to come to con dressed as alien alien ambassadors. But participation was minimal and the storyline faded away.
After two years in Randolph the BASH moved to the Somerville Holiday Inn in 1983.
The 1983 BRSH was the committee's first stab at a "big" convention. This meant that the con needed a Guest of Honor. Certainly Shirley Maiewski, Hal Clement et al. were great friends of the BASH, but the committee needed a new face for this new direction. The choice was clear — Bjo Trimble. Bjo has been involved with "Star Trek" since the early days of the TV series. She was able to entertain everyone with hours of inside stories.
Other 1983 BASH activities also went well, save the evening the actors in the BASH play were forced to use a public hallway as their dressing room!
Despite all these good tines, attendance at the 1983 BASH was small. It seems that the Somerville Holiday Inn was difficult to find (shades of Randolph). The committee decided to move on to Boston itself for the 1984 BASH.
BEANTOWN MEETS THE BASH
For BASH 1984, held at the Sheraton Boston, the speaker lineup alone rivaled the entire attendance at the first BASH. Guests included Barry Longyear, Somtow Sucharitkul, Paul Ryan, T. James Glenn and Martin Grimes, as well as Hal Clement, Bob White, Shirley Maiewski, Bob Eqgleton, Gail Abend and Dick Preston. Plus, in her first convention appearance, Robin Curtis, fresh from her performance as Saavik in Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.
The convention mas well run, making a good impression on the guests and the new Boston BASH fans. The committee was even able to turn a tragedy into a ray of hope by organizing the first BASH charity auction in memory of a young BSTR member who departed this Earth much too soon.
In 1985 the BASH committee was surrounded by tactical errors, an early flyer started with the line "Boston has only one real Star Trek convention." This statement did not sit well with Creation Conventions, a traveling SF con that makes frequent stops in Boston. In addition, heavy demand for Boston hotel space forced The BASH into another out-of-the-way hotel, the East Boston Ramada Inn. (ED. the hotel is convenient for people wishing to be near Logan Airport, but not for casual convention-goers.)
By this time, however, it seemed to be a foregone conclusion that people who found the BASH more sure to have a good time. Grace Lee Whitney was a delightful guest. She even consented to play a cameo role in the BSTR play. T. James Glenn dazzled the crowd with his demonstrations of sword fighting techniques. There was also a wild dance that lasted well into the night.
BRSH 1985 was a critical success, but a financial disaster. Fortunately, plans were already in the works to protect the club from further financial risk. Prior to the 1986 convention, the BSTA reluctantly broke off the BASH as a separate entity, maintaining input bu holding all existing shares of BASH stock. These arrangements were necessary, since "BASH "86" would be like nothing the BSTA, the BASH committee or the loyal BASH following had ever experienced.
PLATINUM ANNIVERSARY CONVENTION
The 1986 BASH planned as the East Coast's biggest celebration of "Star Trek's" 20th anniversary. After a failed attempt to interest Paramount Pictures in the convention, the proposal writers stayed together to form the core of the convention committee. The group gave the BASH a one-time only name change to "Star Trek's" Platinum Anniversary Convention. The initials caught on and people still refer to the convention as "PAC."
Everything about PAC was big! It was housed in the Boston Park Plaza Hotel and Towers and featured 2 special interest meeting rooms, 3 video rooms, 3 speakers roons, 72 dealers tables, a child-sitting service and much more. The con also spilled over into the Plaza Castle, a medival [sic] looking function all. The guest list for PAC beat the 1984 BASH line-up by a mile. Guests of Honor included Gene Roddenberry, George Takei, Robin Curtis, Diane Duane and David Gerrold. Attendance was also an all-time BASH high; over 1500 people attended PAC.
Naturally, PAC had its share of problems and moments of panic. Perhaps none of these stories match Jack Eaton and Dave Ryan's trip to Logan to pick up the Guests of Honor. While Jack and Dave were greeting the guests, the PAC van was almost towed away by airport security.
PAC was also filled with more pleasant surprises. For instance, Majel Barrett was having so much fun, she insisted on serving the anniversary cake to all the guests at the convention's black tie banquet!
BASH '87 AND BEYOND
By now you've had a chance to experience BASH '87. How does it compare to that first, friendly, little party back in 1978? More importantly, are you having fun? The people behind the scenes at the BASH have always worked to make sure that their guests have had a good time. That's why the BASH exists; it's why the BASH has grown.
1978
cover of the 1978 program book
1979
cover of the 1979 program book
1980
cover of the 1980 program book
1981
cover of the 1981 program book
1982
cover of the 1982 program book
1983
cover of the 1983 program book
1984
cover of the 1984 program book
1985
cover of the 1985 program book
1986
cover of the 1986 program book
1987
November 7–8, 1987 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Cambridge, MA.
Guests of Honor: James Doohan and Richard Hatch. Other guests: Hal Clements, Shirley Maiewski, Bob White, Planetary Society, The Gaylaxians, Boston L5 Society.
The program book was produced on a Commodore Amgia 1000 with 2.5 meg configuration.
There was a charity auction, Saturday Night Dance, Fantastic Film Awards, Trivia Contest, Costume Contest, Writers Workshop, Art Show, Art Auction, Film/Video Room, and a Live Stage Play.
1987 Con Staff
- chairperson: Carol A. London
- accountant: Howard Cronsen
- art show & auction: Sally Mayer
- charity auction: Greg Bazaz
- costume contest: Sue Lob
- dealers/fanzines: Clara M. Caopstick
- graphics: Bonnie J. Kenderdine
- guest liaison: Pauletta Ridout
- helpers: Richard A. Sensale
- program book: J. Clinton Alvord
- publicity/programing: Gail Abend
- registration: Ken London
- security: Charles Walker, George Penznola
1987: Con Skit
About the con play:
After watching Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, did you wonder what happened to Kirk and company aboard the new Enterprise! Find out the hilarious answer when the Boston Star Trek Association presents their production of The Shakedown Trek, a live stage play. This is the seventh year in a row that the BSTR has premiered an original comedy at the BASH. Previous productions have featured parodies of TV commercials, 'Twilight Zone" type comedies and lampoons of "Star Trek" films. Each year the actors get zanier and the stories get wilder. This year you'll travel with the Enterprise crew to a strange world where... No, you won't believe this story until you see it with your own eyes (and even that may not do it!). For more information on the Boston Star Trek Association, write to the club at P.O. Box 1108, Boston, MR 02101
Be sure to catch this year's BSTR play. We want you to laugh at this BASH tradition.
1987: Art Show
The BUSH Art Show & Auction, located in the Haym Salomon Room, is bigger and better than ever this year. Of special note are a retrospective exhibit of the work of George Richard and a computer art exhibit coordinated by J. Clinton Alvord. There will also be a "Best Artist" contest and, of course, plenty of artwork for your viewing and bidding pleasure. It is a pleasure to present the work of George Richard (known in other incarnations as Hal Clement and Harry Stubbs). Mr. Richard is famous for his "Design an Alien" discussion, in which the audience chooses the planetary conditions and environment and Mr. Richard designs an alien to fit those conditions.
While visiting the Art Show you won't want to miss the show's video display. J. Clinton Alvord has assembled the works of some of today's best personal computer artists and he'll be sharing them with us via a continuous computer-generated "slide show."
1987: Video Room
References
- ^ from the 1987 con program