Boston Star Trek

Star Trek Convention
Name:	Boston Star Trek
Dates:	1976
Frequency:
Location:	Boston, MA
Type:
Focus:
Organization:	strangeLande productions, ltd.
Founder:	Stuart C. Hellinger
Founding Date:
URL:
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Boston Star Trek convention was a procon by strangeLande productions, ltd..

cover of Boston program guide

Con Series by strangeLande productions, ltd.

• Boston Star Trek (April 16–19, 1976)
• The Chicago Star Trek Convention (August 19–22, 1976)
• The Washington D.C. Star Trek Convention (November 26–29, 1976)

Boston Star Trek

The convention took place on April 16–19, 1976 at the Sheraton-Boston Hotel.

Stuart Hellinger and David Simons were Co-chairs. Celebrity guest included writers Hal Clement, David Gerrold, Harlan Ellison, and Joan Winston along with actors James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Deforest Kelly, George Takei and Nichelle Nichols.

This con took place the same weekend as Equicon in Los Angeles, essentially double-booking many of the scheduled celebrity guests.

Alice L. Jones sold a lot of art there.

The convention program guide offered an extensive listing of Star Trek fanzines that had been published, along with fan club information.

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  ad for the Boston convention

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  flyer for the Boston convention, side one. Click to read.

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  flyer for the Boston convention, side two

Con Reports

This con apparently didn't whip up much enthusiasm...few fans bothered to send In comments on it, and those who did summarized it thusly: "nice" "nothing new" "a bore." Perhaps they were still trying to recover from the heat — the hotel air conditioning was not working for the first two days and temperatures outside were as high as 95°. The con was not a financial success. 5,000-7,000 attendance was anticipated and planned for, but less than 3,000 registered. All of the 'trekkers' were either working for the con or were dealers, which suggests fewer and fewer active, serious fans will be going to the big cons in future. The con ran very wet*--there were very few problems. Other comments: "I saw more little kids at this con than I could find in the entire school system of New York state." "George Takei was trying his hardest to convince everyone that rail travel is the only way to go." "Harlan Ellison was pleasant and relaxed, read some of his short stories." "DeForest Kelley was fantastic."

This con apparently didn't whip up much enthusiasm...few fans bothered to send In comments on it, and those who did summarized it thusly: "nice" "nothing new" "a bore." Perhaps they were still trying to recover from the heat—the hotel air conditioning was not working for the first two days and temperatures outside were as high as 95°. The con was not a financial success. 5,000-7,000 attendance was anticipated and planned for, but less than 3,000 registered. All of the 'trekkers' were either working for the con or were dealers, which suggests fewer and fewer active, serious fans will be going to the big cons in future. The con ran very well --there were very few problems. ... I saw more little kids at this con than I could find in the entire school system of New York state.... George Takei was trying his hardest to convince everyone that rail travel is the only way to go... Harlan Ellison was pleasant and relaxed, read some of his short stories....DeForest Kelley was fantastic.

I have never attended a convention and come away with such mixed feelings. Boston was FANTASTIC, Boston was a DISASTER. It was run by Stu Hellenger and David Simons, of Strangeland Pdt.. The Boston-Sherton was a great hotel (They even had a swimming pool!). But the con lost money. The location was good, there had never been an ST con in Boston before. But the air conditioning failed on the hottest day Boston had all summer. The fans were mostly local, and were a good lotj true-born Trekkers. David Gerrold and Harlan Ellison were mad at each other the whole time. So you see, it was good, and bad.

Everyone did have a great time. Bill Thisis [sic] had a fashion show that yours truly got to be in. The dealers rooms did well, and the art show had a lot of local, new talent, along with the old hands who shipped in from all over to attend what promised to be a great con. And we all enjoyed it. The stars were; DeForest Kelly, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, George Takie [sic], Nichelle Nichols, Bill Thisis, Hal Clemment, David Gerrold, and Harlan Ellison.

So why did Boston lose money. Who knows. There were a lot of fans, but not enough. The weekend was Easter/Passover, which has been believed to be the reason attendance was low. It's too bad, it was a good con.

The major events (unusual) were 1) That there was a birthday party for George in room 903 (Whos [sic] occupants later became known as the 903 gang) by his fan club, and he was so late that the verse about him in the song,"Cry of the Helpers" was changed to accommodate, 2) There was a sham meeting 3) All the parties were on the same night! 4) Harlan gave George a bag of jellybeans for his birthday, and George gave them out to all the real little kids in the audience the next day, (Easter Sunday)! 5) John Ellis ran a really great film schedule 6) Jeff Maynard did his light show. And all that sorta stuff. It was fun.

[...]

No word on Chicago or Washington as far as Strangeland Pdt, is concerned. They are trying. But Strangeland is broke from Boston con, so it looks like the other cons are off. Also, the much publicized Roast was canceled and moved to a time near labor day weekend, when the stars will all be here for Bi-10. It costs a lot, but if it is started again, you bet I'm going.