Omnicon (Florida con)

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Convention
Name: Omnicon
Dates: 1979-1990s
Frequency:
Location: Florida
Type: fan-run, celebrity guests
Focus: Doctor Who, science fiction fandom
Organization:
Founder: Paul Cordsmeyer
Founding Date: 1979
URL:
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Omnicon was a science fiction media convention that took place in South Florida.

The convention focused primarily on Doctor Who although it had many guests and programs on other media areas. It also kept a focus on literary science fiction by having an author guest each year.

It was held in Miami for about eight years when it tried to move to Orlando, Florida.

In later years, it attempted to run as a convention cruise.

In its later years it had some financial difficulties and folded in 1993 or 1994, with moneyed owed.

1: 1979

2: 1981

Omnicon 2 was held February 6-8, 1981 at the Oceanside Holiday Inn.

It was run by Sandi March, Paul Cordsmeyer, Bob Millard, and Alfred Zequeira.

Activities: films, fantasy games (D&D), writing workshops, lectures, demonstrations, and a dealer room.

This con was expecting 1,500 attendees; it is unknown if this goal was reached. In any case, this con lost money.

A related con was held the previous year at the Omni Hotel in Miami and drew several hundred fans. This is the first convention of its kind in South Florida since a similar affair bombed seven years ago in Miami Beach.

Guests:

  • Kirk Alyn (original motion picture Superman)
  • Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett, also appeared in a John Pertwee Doctor Who episode)
  • Terrance Dicks (Doctor Who writer)
  • Mike Jittlov (the Wizard of Speed and Time)
  • C.C. Beck (creator of Captain Marvel)
  • Dave Cockrum (comic artist for Star Trek and X-Men)
  • Kerry O'Quinn (publisher of Starlog)
  • David Kyle (co-founder of Gnome Press)
  • F.G. MacIntyre (SF writer)
  • Jay Morton (writer of Superman cartoons)
  • Elisabeth Sladen (Sarah Jane Smith from Doctor Who)

3: 1982

Omnicon 3 was held Feb 5-7, 1982 at Oceanside Holiday Inn.

Activities: panel discussions, lectures, film showings, and costume contests.

There were two models used in The Empire Strikes Back displayed.

This con was expecting 600 attendees; it is unknown if this goal was reached. In any case, this con lost money.

Excerpts from an interview at this con with John Nathan-Turner, Terance Dicks and Nicholas Courtney was printed in Time Log #4.

Guests:

  • Terrance Dicks (Master of Ceremonies for convention; Doctor Who writer)
  • David A. Kyle (writer, publisher and illustrator of SF stories, co-founder of Gnome Press)
  • Frank Kelly Freas (artist)
  • Bill Hickey (of Star Trek)
  • Mike Jittlov (The Wizard of Speed and Time)
  • Robert Sheckley (author)
  • Gil Kane (comic artist)
  • C.C. Beck (creator of Captain Marvel)
  • Jeremy Bulloch (Boba Fett, also appeared in a John Pertwee Doctor Who episode)
  • Brad Linaweaver (author)
  • Kerry O'Quinn (publisher of Starlog)
  • Dick Preston (Star Foundation, an advocate for the space program)
  • John Nathan-Turner (Doctor Who producer)
  • Nicholas Courtney (the Brigadier from Doctor Who)

4: 1983

Omnicon 4 was held February 2-5, 1983 at the Oceanside Holiday Inn in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Omnicon1983flyer.jpg

This convention lost money on the first three conventions but would break even if they got 600 attendees at this one; they had 500 by Saturday, so did not likely meet this goal.

Guests:

5: 1984

Omnicon 5 was held Feb 3-5, 1984 at the Biscayne Bay Marriott.

Guests:

  • Jay Morton(writer of Superman scripts)
  • John Nathan-Turner (Doctor Who producer)

6: 1985

Omnicon 6 took place February 2-3, 1985 at the Biscayne Bay Marriott in Miami, Florida.

ad for the 1985 Omnicon, printed in Visions

The guests were Caroline Munro, Mark Lenard, Nicholas Courtney, John Nathan-Turner, and Michael Keating.

There were 600 attendees.

6: 1985: Con Reports

Thursday (January 31)... It was a dark and stormy night when the travelers departed. The estimated time of departure from Lawrenceville was 8pm. As with most planned trips there were changes, and we started out late. Richard had to get off work and load his car, but yet this made somewhat of a convoy to Miami. David Denton drove most of the way there and all of the way back with regular stops for his fix of low melt” (grease used at all Waffle Houses). While we did all of our stops I had my latex ear tips on and my eyebrows were partially shaved and styled in the Vulcan mode. I put on my "ears" in order to save time; and boy did that raise some eyebrows at the Waffle House at 4am!

At last the sun rose and the palm and orange trees appeared along with blood-shot eyes and eager anticipation of what was to come.

Friday... Hello Miami! I had to take off my DR. WHO scarf 'cause it was so hot there! David Denton did his usual excellent work and we (Owen, Linda, William, David, and I) got a room on the "concierge" level. It was time for a bottle of bubbley and to enjoy the view of Biscayne Bay while waiting for that hot shower to "bring you back to life."

The convention featured lots of programs about and by Caroline Munro and a showing of STAR TREK III. Also on Friday there was a Superman program with John Field and an interview with Jay Morton. Later, there was a buffet luau. After the usual trips around the dealer's room and the assorted panels and films, there were the PARTIES. I had gotten dressed in my Vulcan robe and, though about to drop, went to a party hosted by members of STAR FLEET. The room was packed so I was sitting on an edge of a bed watching tapes of TREK when I heard a familiar voice saying, "Well, look who is here." I turned to see Mark Lenard looking straight at me. My mind was racing and yet a blurr at the same time with the usual questions: (1) Who me? Is he talking to me? (2) How could he remember my one face in a million since Dixie-Trek? (3) What do I look like since I had been up for over 24 hours? Mark Lenard and I talked for a bit, then he reached up and squeezed my ear tip and asked if they itched. I told him they would probably itch on Sunday, and that they were wash-and-wear ear tips and they stayed on during the whole convention. He seemed somewhat impressed. I later floated back to the room.

Saturday... This day there were "all British" guest interviews (Caroline Munro, Nicholas Courtney, John Nathan-Turner, and Michael Keating). (The only thing I can remember about John Nathan-Turner is that he is a somewhat odd chap with a loud, hawaiian tourist-type shirt.) There was also an artist panel with Michael Whalen and Jim Stalin, another showing of STAR TREK III, an interview with Mark Lenard, and the usual art show and auction. I entered the costume contest and did receive a great deal of attention. There was no STAR TREK category however.

Sunday... Thank goodness for the British video room — all the DR. WHO you can handle and much, much more! The question and answer session with Mark Lenard later this day revealed no real news about STAR TREK IV except the usual... (1) ST4 is in the works; (2) it will be directed by Leonard Nimoy; (3) it should be released in 1986; (4) Mr. Lenard wasn't sure that HE would have a part in ST4, however, he would "like" to have one (wouldn’t we all).

The champagne breakfast buffet Sunday was FANTASTIC, and while most people were eating Egg McMuffins, David Denton and I had the Marriott buffet. Once again, we were told we would have to wait, but the dining room manager remembered David (who wouldn’t) and he found a table for us. (And in contrast to the rumor about David’s ability to "sniff out" a buffet ANYWHERE, he didn’t really eat that much.) Now is a good time to mention the valor of William Ragsdale for sleeping with David Denton for two whole nights without once getting "waffled" by him. Last but not least on Sunday night we ate at an unusual eatery which sold pizza AND seafood. The motto for this place was "no coke, no tea, no glasses, and no underwear (in reference to the most interesting waitress).”

Monday... Oh well, it was Monday morning and time to leave the fantasy world of the hotel with the view and the smell of salt air; and return to reality. All in all, OMNICON was a lot of fun, and I will definitely have to do this again next year! [1]

7: 1986

Omnicon was held Jan 31-Feb 2, 1986 at the Miami Airport Hilton.

There were 600 attendees.

Guests:

  • Robert Shayne (Inspector Henderson from TV’s Superman, and many other things)

8: 1987

Omnicon 8 was held Feb 5-8, 1987 at the Oceanside Holiday Inn.

Guests:

  • Jack Horkheimer (astronomer known for PBS show Star Hustler)
  • John Nathan-Turner (Doctor Who producer)
  • Eric Hoffman (Doctor Who historian)
  • SF artists and writers

Activities:

  • screening of Doctor Who episodes, including episodes not yet seen in the US with Colin Baker, as well as Blake’s 7 and Japanese animation
  • costume contest
  • dealer room
  • cabaret show with SF authors and TV stars
  • meet-the-stars buffet
  • cabaret
  • meet-the-stars buffet

1990: British Fanta-Sea Cruise

From Aspects v.2 n.1 (Fall 1989):

The S.S. Galileo, January 7-14, 1990 Cruise the Caribbean with guests: Jacqueline Pearce, Jan Chappell, John Nathan-Turner, Gary Downie, Dave Prowse, Caroline Munro, Simon Williams, and Stubby Kaye.

1994

Omnicon did indeed go belly-up, and the chairman of the con skipped town leaving a lot of angry concom and a slew of unpaid artists behind. I personally received my unsold art in the mail but no check. I spoke to Ken Wade (I believe he was the programme director) and he told me the story. He also gave me what he believed was David Pipgras' newest address. I've furnished it below for any artists who wish to pursue payment. [2]

References

  1. ^ from Lila Cartledge in Epsilon Nine Friendship Messages v.7 n.5
  2. ^ from Artistic Endeavors #24

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