Equicon/1981

Convention
Name:	Equicon
Dates:	April 17-19, 1981
Frequency:
Location:
Type:
Focus:	Science Fiction, Star Trek, films
Organization:
Founder:
Founding Date:
URL:
	Click here for related articles on Fanlore.
	Contents 1 From the Single Progress Report 1.1 Damp Fannish Noses; 1.2 No Boring Guests; 1.3 Leave That Costume at Home; 1.4 No Tape, No Flyers on the Wall; 1.5 An Easter Primate; 1.6 Only Cool Fans Need Apply; 1.7 Masquerade Rules; 1.8 The Opposition and wRights and wRongs; ; 2 A Failure?; 3 The Trimbles Offer Up Some History; 4 Some Photos; 5 Guests; 6 Costuming/Masquerade; 7 Denmother Program; 8 "Comet Tales" -- A Participatory Story; 9 Wrap-Up; 10 Video Programming; 11 Programming; 12 Con Reports; 13 Meta/Further Reading; 14 References;

1973 · 1974 · 1975 · 1976 · 1981 · 1985 · 1986 · 1987 · 1988

Equicon '81 took place April 17-19, 1981 at the Sheraton Plaza La Reina Hotel in Los Angeles.

front cover of the 1981 program book

The con was "limited to 2300 members. PERIOD."

From the Single Progress Report

A three-page progress report was printed in many places, one of them Probe One #19.

It was the only progress report released:

THIS IS THE ONLY PUBLICATION YOU WILL GET: there is not enough time to get a con together this fast & waste time putting flyers & progress reports out so either trust us to have a nifty convention without continuing lists of guests, events, etc, or don't! E:F is well-known for surprises: trust us! Some of our guests [at previous cons] were so drop-in or publicity—shy we did not announce them. Remember? So plan on it again!

page one from the progress report
page two from the progress report
page three from the progress report

Damp Fannish Noses

The Trimbles were pressured into presenting this con not by just any old "damp little fannish noses," but by their own children:

Hi, Remember us?
Yes, we though we were done with throwing conventions! People have to be crazy to put up with all the pre-planning, hassles, hectic at-con time & dragged-out cleanup detail! We retired from all that to work on a leaky basement, go to other fans' cons, write for Starlog & some freelancing, get up a mail campaign to the White House about the Space Program... all the less hectic things in life!
We ignored the damp little fannish noses pressed against our windows; we hardened our hearts against Dona Kerns' whimpering; we threw away mail begging for another EQUICON:FILMCON. But we reckoned without another science fan in the house, who's been hearing the nostaglic talk about past EQUICON:FILMCONS! We were done in by our own daughter saying wistfully, "I was really too young to appreciate the conventions you threw: why don't you have another one for Katwen and me. Please?"
So HAPPY BIRTHDAY, April Child: here is your convention! Oh, & HAPPY UNBIRTHDAY to all the rest of you, too! -- John & Bjo Trimble

No Boring Guests

It skipped the boring guests:

E:F guests appear because they want to, not because they get paid a fee. Due to this, E:F does not usually have "Big Names" in its programming, instead concentrating on "Really Interesting" guests! Expenses might include feeding our guests, however.

You'll get your money's worth, plus no "churlish" gofers:

EIGHTEEN BUCKS! What's worth all that? Consider: conventions that charge less also have to give less. There is a limit on how many good films we can rent on a $12 gate fee, frankly! There is a real limit to the amount of hotel space we can 'free up' for displays & exhibits instead of selling it as sales space. There is a limit to the number of GOOD fan workers we can get without offering at least room & food! If you’re willing to put up with small film programs, no exhibits & churlish helpers, then attend a cheaper convention with our good wishes!
WELL, STILL...$18.00! Divide that into three full days of fun, then divide that into the cost of each movie at theater costs, then divide that into costs of setting up exhibits you can't see at other cons. And while you're figuring all that, take out a bit for the SPECIAL OLYMPICS (E:F’s official charity). Feel better? We hope so: we’re right now planning a really memorable convention for you!

Leave That Costume at Home

Not all costumes were welcome:

ALL CUTLERY WILL BE PEACE-B0NDED!
REALISTIC GUNS & RIFLES SUBJECT TO CHECK!
Face it, folks, costuming stops being fun if someone gets blown away by a SWAT team called to put down an incipient riot. There is NO PLACE in a Science Fiction convention for "Apocolypse Now” costumes (find yourself a military fun group!) or other such present-day personas. Be prepared to have your weapons noticeably rendered harmless if you insist on wearing them in the hotel halls!

No Tape, No Flyers on the Wall

Skip the posters and flyers:

SIGNS, POSTERS & ANNOUNCEMENTS ON THE WALL...
...will not be allowed. PERIOD. This is a new hotel & they intend to be extremely harsh about unauthorized, unapproved signs posted anywhere. All signs must be on easels or bulletin boards. Under NO circumstances will signs of any kind be allowed in dining facilities, elevators, hallways, escalators, lobby or any other public place in the hotel. Under NO circumstances will signs be posted on the walls.
Since E:F will be charged for infractions to this rule, we will take steps to see that instigators are never given a chance to do this to us, again!
There will be bulletin boards for approved signs & announcements; if interested, contact the E:F con-com.

An Easter Primate

An Easter primate will be present to entertain you:

EASTER WEEKEND always means the traditional E:F "horta egg hunt" & once again, our beautiful Easter Ape, TRACY, will be on hand to give attendees an extra thrill! Tracy's trainer, BOB BURNS (and Bob Burn's trainer, Cathy Burns) will also be on hand with some fun films & giggles.

Only Cool Fans Need Apply

A job for the nonplussed:

Sonni Cooper, head of the William Shatner Fan Fellowship, will be handling guest hospitality in her usual inimitable style. Volunteers who do not get weak-kneed at meeting celebrities in the film & literary world should contact her...

Masquerade Rules

Masquerade rules:

Masquerade coordination will be done by the group known as the Los Angeles Filkharmonic (Doris Robin, Marcy Robin, Karen Trimble (no relation), Marj Hoyt, JoAnn Christy & assorted others). Rules will be at the convention in plenty of time to make plans for presentations, etc.
The masquerade is open to anyone. A few simple rules will make it more comfortable & enjoyable for all:

1) no nudity

2) performances: 60 seconds

3) no flash photography during the show

4) no animals
There will also be no pre-judging, so relax!

The Opposition and wRights and wRongs

Regarding "The Opposition" and wRights and wRongs:

WHAT ABOUT "THE OPPOSITION"? DID YOU HEAR...???
Yes, we heard...and it's getting to be a complete bore to continually bear all the drivel! First. E:F has no opposition: no other con comes even close to the fun, participation, exhibits & other facets of a genuine EQUICON: FILMCON.
Second, we throw a convention because we want to, not because it's high time fandom rose up in wRighteous indignation. The Trimbles will not be pawns in a hassle which fans should have resolved long ago by not supporting bad cons!
Thirdly, bad karma eventually catches up to people who continually do Bad Things, so don’t worry about all the loud noises & rumors: they will stop if fans ignore them instead of supporting them! So attend any & all conventions thrown on the same weekend, if that's your bag (don’t bore us with explanations; it is your own thing, not ours) & ENJOY them all!
We hope (but doubt) that this statement will help settle all the rumors & "direct quotes" making the rounds. Remember, two wRongs don't make a wRight!

A Failure?

The Trimbles considered it a failure:

first page of the two-sided "Equicon-Fidential", the Saturday, April 18 issue of the con's daily newspaper, edited by Fred Patten, Room 733

We tried again in 1981 and it didn't work for various reasons... ^[1]

We tried another EQUICON in 1981, and found we'd misjudged the current fan attitudes (and paid over $1000 to the hotel for vandalism!), and we'd misjudged our own committee, which was no longer working for a common goal, but divided into "my people" and "them." We swore "never again," and retired to lick our wounds, withdrawing from the fan convention field. ^[2]

The Trimbles Offer Up Some History

From the program book:

The EQUICON:FILMCONs have changed, proving once again that we cannot return to the past. The metamorphosis of the old conventions we loved will be better than ever. Here is new growth, new turns of interest today which will replace the nostalgic sighs for the past we have great enthusiasm for the vitality of the new EQUICONS.
A short history: the first EQUICON (held in 1973 over Easter weekend: the Vernal EQUInox) was the largest West Coast Star Trek convention ever. In these early days of ST fandom, the stars of the show were more available to conventions, so every con planned had several Guests Of Honor.
FILMCON was started in 1972: a film-laden convention with many how-to programs on filmmaking. It was an artistic success but - due to huge rental fees on the many films - was a financial failure. The second year was even worse. Unless FILMCON could be supported in some manner, this fine convention concept would die.
By this time the original chairman of EQUICON retired to write professionally, so we ended up "sole Proprietors" of this Star Trek convention. It seemed feasible to combine the two, letting the EQUICON help pay for the large FILMCON expenses while at the same time providing the ST fans with an unusually fine film program. Though the name "EQUICON:FILMCON" was unwieldy, the combining of conventions proved successful.
After one attempt at EQUICON:FILMCONing out of Los Angeles in 1975, it returned to our control. The 1976 convention was not planned as a final one; plans were afoot to have a 1977 EQUICON:FILMCON with a bright newcomer, Mark Hamill, as Guest of Honor. So much for well-laid plans: difficulties with Bjo's health (at that time; vastly improved now!) and the needs of our growing children caused cancellation of our EQUICON:FILMCON plans.
Time passed, with fans nostalgically recalling fine EQUICON:FILMCONs they'd enjoyed or heard about. Though we'd made no plans for more conventions, our teenagers asked us about the EQUICON:FILMCONs they only dimly remembered. In a fit of madness, we decided to Do It Again.'
In the passage of time, several interesting things have happened. Sadly, Star Trek fandom grew, making more demands on the stars' time, their speaking fees grew progressively. EQUICON:FILMCON has consistently supported charities, so has a policy of not paying "appearance" fees; thus it happened that E:F became a Star Trek convention without major ST guests. During this time, EQUICON:FILMCON has been moving steadily away from "big names" into "Interesting Guests" programming, with attendees well satisfied with the film industry's top makeup artists, amaturists [sic], writers and special effects people.
When we tried to trademark EQUICON:FILMCON, only to discover "Filmcon" was in use elsewhere, so technically we could not use it. We subscribe to the "A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME..." theory, so no plan to phase out the use of "Filmcon", reverting to simply EQUICON. We won't drop the CONCEPT of FILMCON; it merely means a shorter, more easily pronounced convention title.
With the stronger emphasis on aerospace, there is more programming utilizing real space talent at this new EQUICON. Suddenly we aren't just a "Star Trek" or a "Film" convention any longer, but a greater, broader event than either!
EQUICON hasn't lost anything, except perhaps its fannish naievity [sic]. EQUICON is emerging from its chrysalis as a more fully-rounded science fiction convention than offered in either "book" or "media" conventions.' we invite you along on our exciting journey in exploration of the fannish potential; of watching Science Fiction and Science Fact merge into our own Future Reality before your very eyes!

Some Photos

Guests

Costuming/Masquerade

from the program book: "Equicon:Filmcon '81 Futuristic Fashion Show Design Contest"

International Costumers Gallery: Equicon 1981, ^{Archived version} (page one)
International Costumers Gallery: Equicon 1981, ^{Archived version} (page two)
International Costumers Gallery: Equicon 1981, ^{Archived version} (page three)

Winners of the "Equicon:Filmcon '81 Futuristic Fashion Show Design Contest" were printed in the program book.

Denmother Program

From the program book:

Denmothers is a service provided by Equicon for the minors attending. Our purpose is to be available in any capacity for any young person who is having ANY difficulty. Also we will be a contact point for hotel staff and parents.
We are here to make things easier. We will take messages, help out with ANY problem, and try to make sure that this convention is the best ever for you. We are the shoulder to cry on, the people to yell help to, and someone to just talk to.
Every minor registering at the convention will be assigned a Denmother. His/Her name will be at registration and information. If you cannot find your Denmother you may leave a message for him/her at information or call the Babysitting Room (the number will be posted). Your Denmother WILL get the message either way. Remember, Denmothers are not here to cramp your style, just to help make everything go a little easier.
All Denmothers will wear an identifying ribbon. Denmothers will coordinate with ALL minors attending.

"Comet Tales" -- A Participatory Story

From the program book:

How often have you thought that you could write a better story than the one you just read if you had the time or the chance? NOW you can have BOTH! William Kreisler, TV writer and adapter, will present COMET TALES, an audience participation story session each day of the con starting at 10:00 a.m. You will help create a new story each day. On Friday you will create a FANTASY STORY, on Saturday SCIENCE FICTION and on Sunday, HORROR. Don't just observe the creative process, be a part of it!

Wrap-Up

From the program book:

The EQUICON:FILMCON '81 WRAP-UP is your chance to talk to us about future EQUICONS; what you'd like to see; what you'd just as soon not see again; what new ideas you would like to present to the committee. Newcomers will be welcome to join the fun as work or mundane pressures remove experienced committee members from our roster. Complaints, praises, suggestions, requests: all will be treated here with respect.

Video Programming

From the Saturday, April 18 issue of the con's newsletter, edited by Fred Patten, Room 733:

From the single progress report: "Mark Merlino & his crew of Cartoon/Fantasy Organization folk will be handling the VIDEO ROOMS where foreign animation films & other seldom-seen TV programming will be on hand for E:F attendees."

VIDEO PROGRAMMING: The Video Room in 301, after an aggressive self-promotion campaign in the morning, turned out-to be a resounding success on Friday. The largish room came with porting for 10 in comfy sofa and chairs ("No, not the comfy chair!" — Monty Python), and was continually drawing two to three times that as people made themselves comfortable on the floor; joking, discussing the finer points of animation and video fandom, and creating general warm vibes of fun and conviviality. Acquaintance was renewed with a certain renegade Time-Lord as "The Doctor" dropped by (so to speak) for the first-two of five scheduled visits. In [room] 376, many "video-virgins" were introduced to the glories of Gundam, the phantasmagoria (whew!) of Force Five, and other Japanimation shows — dubbed and otherwise. More of the same is scheduled for Saturday: 9:00 a.m. in 376: fantastic credits from 23 different giant-robot SF adventures, worth getting up for! Noon: a feast for Kimba, the White Lion fans. 1:00 p.m.: a Lupin III marathon. And at the significant time of 10:24 p.m.: part 4 of the award-winning (most popular TV animation in Japan) SF epic, Gundam.

Programming

the art show was handled by Kathy Hammel of "Fantasy Artists Network"
about the Viking Fund and Mars Lander
"The Whole Voyager"
Regency Dancing "Under the Direction of Nancy Griffiths and Pat Wood. Everyone welcome, formal dress nice but not required."
"Explaining the Secret of 'Time Traveler's' Special FX"
"Design and Function of Space Hardware" talk and slides
fan talent cabaret
Doctor Who scriptwriter talks and slideshows
"Building Costumes Without Growing Broke"
"The New Star Trek Daily Comic Strip"
Fantasy Makeup Demonstration
"'Twikki' in Buck Rogers"
"Heavy Metal's 'Star Traders' Fumetti"
seminar on Fantasy Role Playing
"George Takei Talks About Anything He Wants"
"History of Manned Space Flight"
"Help Save Civilization and Make a Little Money at It!"
"The Space Shuttle: What Happened?"
"After the Space Shuttle: The Future of the Space Program"
a space shuttle skit, by Jim Busby and crew
a musical performance of the "World Peace Band"
"Exploration of the Solar System in the 1980's"
Academy of SF, Fantasy & Horror Films "Salute to the Count Dracula Society" (from the progress report: "Equicon:Filmcon will help celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Count Dracula Society. A special tribute, sponsored by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films will be presented at the convention. Dr. Donald A. Reed has promised guest appearances from several past winners of the Count Dracula awards, for an interesting program!"
"Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Makeup But Didn't Know Who to Ask"
"Costumed Character-Characterization -- how to wear & enjoy costumes without hassling yourself, the hotel or the con-committee"
a performance by the L.A. Filkharmonic
"Oral Health Issues in Orbital Colonies"
"History of Pulp Science Fiction Magazines"
"From Idea to Animation"
"Bringing SF Literary Standards to Hwd."
"Extra-Terrestrials and Starships"
"The World Space Foundation's Solar Sail Project"
"Futuristic Fashion Show" - handled by Jodi
"How the Solar System Was Won"
"Trends in SF Films: Past and for the Future"
"The Future of Electronic Games"
"Puppets in S.F."

programming schedule
programming schedule
programming schedule
masquerade information, The Society for Creative Anachronism, L.A, Filkharmonics
contests, info about "Denmothers"
"Characters in Costume" by Paula Crist and Lora Trimble
Gaming: "Equicon Adventure Team" and "Computer Games" -- page one
Gaming: "Equicon Adventure Team" and "Computer Games" -- page two
Charities, Raffles, and info about William Campbell
"Building an Alien World"
"Committee Info"

Con Reports

[by Sonni Cooper]: At the Sheraton Plaza La Reina Hotel, the very same hotel in which we are having our WEEKEND, there have been two science fiction conventions within one month, EQUICON and PHANTASMICON. Bjo Trimble, the mother of Trekdom, reached back to the "good old days" and put on another EQUICON. Those of us who have been in fandom for years looked forward to the event with great anticipation. Another Equicon! Back to the good old days of fan run conventions! Hooray! Well it wasn't. It wasn't because Bjo and John didn't try, but things have changed, and not for the better. It's difficult for me to write this article because I think I represent a group of fans who are the cream of the crop. Bill attracts a special kind of fan: intelligent, polite, well-groomed, and in every way the very best in fandom. Try to explain that to a hotel manager who has just had the braille markers removed from the elevators, whose elevator indicator light covers have been stolen, and whose $750 glass table has just been shattered. It is not easy.
I remember appearing on a television show and discussing the extraordinary cooperativeness of Star Trek fans. And what a bunch they were. In an auditorium full of people (12,000) there was hardly any litter, even where food was sold. When the fire-marshal got upset by the crowds, people actually gave up their seats so that the program could continue. I doubt if that could have happened at either EQUICON or PHANTASMICON. What was evident in these recent conventions does warrant comment, because there is a noticeable and an unhealthy change in fandom which is taking place.
Have any of you ever heard of peace-bonds? I'm sure most of you haven't and neither had I, until recently. They are plastic ties which are used to make weapons inoperative. Weapons? What do they have to do with fandom? The conventions are bristling with them. Warriors with realistic guns of all varieties menace people in the elevators, strut down the hallways, and scare the ordinary folks in the hotel out of their mind so I found myself making excuses for the "fun" the fans were having. The runners which Logan's Run spawned bothered people also, but didn't go to the extent these most recent hostile facimilies [sic] have. Star Trek fans are accustomed to gentle solutions, tolerance, the personification of IDIC and acceptance. It's frightening to see fandom changing into a group belligerent people who see the future as a totally hostile environment.
Even those fans who have gone into fantasy seem to have picked periods in which fighting was prevalent and try to emulate the knights in shining armour, bashing each other happily and planning "wars" in which they can shine. True, fiction needs conflict to be exciting, but living that fantasy is something else. Whatever happened to the fans who genuinely believed in making the future a better place and were working toward that goal? Our society has changed and become more aggressive and with it fandom also. How sad. ^[3]

Meta/Further Reading

Early Anime Fans Were Tough Pioneers, ^{Archived version}

References

^ "Bjo and John Trimble in Conversation with Bristol Starfleet Registry" issue #18 (1987).
^ from the 1985 Equicon program book
^ from the essay: Public Image

[1] "Bjo and John Trimble in Conversation with Bristol Starfleet Registry" issue #18 (1987).

[2] rom the 1985 Equicon program book

[3] rom the essay: Public Image

[1]

[2]

[3]

Convention
Name:	Equicon
Dates:	April 17-19, 1981
Frequency:
Location:
Type:
Focus:	Science Fiction, Star Trek, films
Organization:
Founder:
Founding Date:
URL:

Click here for related articles on Fanlore.
Contents 1 From the Single Progress Report 1.1 Damp Fannish Noses 1.2 No Boring Guests 1.3 Leave That Costume at Home 1.4 No Tape, No Flyers on the Wall 1.5 An Easter Primate 1.6 Only Cool Fans Need Apply 1.7 Masquerade Rules 1.8 The Opposition and wRights and wRongs 2 A Failure? 3 The Trimbles Offer Up Some History 4 Some Photos 5 Guests 6 Costuming/Masquerade 7 Denmother Program 8 "Comet Tales" -- A Participatory Story 9 Wrap-Up 10 Video Programming 11 Programming 12 Con Reports 13 Meta/Further Reading 14 References

Equicon/1981

Contents

From the Single Progress Report

Damp Fannish Noses

No Boring Guests

Leave That Costume at Home

No Tape, No Flyers on the Wall

An Easter Primate

Only Cool Fans Need Apply

Masquerade Rules

The Opposition and wRights and wRongs

A Failure?

The Trimbles Offer Up Some History

Some Photos

Guests

Costuming/Masquerade

Denmother Program

"Comet Tales" -- A Participatory Story

Wrap-Up

Video Programming

Programming

Con Reports

Meta/Further Reading

References

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