Disclave

Science Fiction Convention
Name:	Disclave
Dates:	1950 - 1997
Frequency:	Annual
Location:	Washington D.C. area
Type:	Fan run
Focus:	Science Fiction
Organization:
Founder:
Founding Date:
URL:
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Disclave was a long-running science fiction convention.

1968

Convention Reports

It came to pass that Our Editors coerced er, persuaded twelve other members of WPSFA to accompany them to Disclave. I was one of the Fabrous Fourteen. It was my first con, although I’ve been a reader for years and years. The experience was so whelming that I subsequently volunteered, in a mad burst of whimsy, to report on the proceedings for all good Granfallooners. Here it is, people. Don’t expect a coherent article. You can’t make a silk purse out of a science fiction convention.

Friday night, late Friday night, the nine of us who had made the journey in an unbalanced rented station wagon (I will not mention our near-fatal accident) joined the three who’d driven down in the dying English Ford (whose lifeless corpse was ultimately left behind) and our Two Teenage Terrors who had, wisely, left the driving to Greyhound. We found the two female members of the advance group in a mild state of hysteria. They babbled on about how they’d spent most of the evening defending their various virtues from the collected DOM’s who kept unsubtly nudging them toward bed and bath. Sauna bath, that is. . .(Let’s all hear it for the sauna bath, ladies and gentlemen (?)! It was the IN place all weekend) . A rapid survey of the folk gathered in the room substantiated their statements. Undaunted, LgE and SVT began to mingle. I hid in a corner and observed:

—A fellow named Fred who wavered up to me, and chewed on my knuckles in the guise of kissing my hand (Liquor abounded, Food didn’t). He was wearing a button which asked "Are you a friend of Fred’s?" 1 assured him with great sincerity, that I loved Fred. He wavered away, much gratified, before I got a chance to explain that Fred is my dog’s name.

—The Olentangy SFA, in their bright green bowling shirts. They are a great group of guys, but the shirts unfortunately remind me of every bad Polish joke in the world.

—The reactions at large to the WPSF'A contingent’s quaint garb. We wore basic black with black and white numbered medallions. Somebody (who? WHO??) had decided that dressing thusly would be a neat attention getting device. It got attention, all right. The term "neo-fascists" was bandied about a bit (Would you believe Starship Troopers?) Oh well, perhaps puce and fushia for Baycon?

After the festivities, we returned to the Eysters’ where LgE’s mother, who possesses mighty and wondrous powers of organization, had arranged to bed and feed a dozen of us. Superman or Green Lantern ain’t got nothing on her!

The panels were Saturday afternoon. I found the dialogue between Lester del Rey and Ted White most distressing. Their thesis was that they sure aren’t writing them like they used to. This was extended to "who the hell cares about Dangerous Visions, anyway?" Mr. del Rey hacked college writing courses. Mr. White hacked the Nebula awards. They both hacked Norman Spinrad (to itty-bitty pieces), New Worlds, and the New Wave in general. Mr White told us all why we read sci-fi — to escape from the complexities of our confusing technological age to worlds where good and evil are clearly differentiated and Man triumphs on the last page (Thanks a bunch, fella.’). It went on and on in that vein. I was beginning to worry that that was the way it was, in SF, and then Silverberg had his say. Beautiful! Old thing, new thing, who needs labels? What’s important is an author finding his own vision and his own voice, and being true to them. Then his particular audience will find him. For the mass audience there will always be assembly line writers. For the rest — the name of the game is integrity. Thank you Mr. Silverberg, may you live long and prosper.

Jay Kay Klein’s slide show, entitled "The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody", followed the panels. It was most amusing, and confusing to a neo-fan. I came away from it muttering "Is Dr. Asimov really like that? (I was told he is...)

SVT and I missed the fanzine panel, we were busy getting lost in the worst sections of Washington. Bomb craters to the right of us bomb craters to the left of us — we drove QUICKLY. [As quickly as that God Damn Darn car could go without swerving off the highway-SVT] LgE said the panel deteriorated into a discussion of the price of paper. Not the most moving of topics, except possibly to fanzine editors. [Not even to fanzine eds. I wanted to open my big mouth and say something, but Ted White’s insistence of disscussing [sic] the cost of fanzine operation sort of waylaid the panel. UGH. We left after some minutes of that —LgE]

The Saturday night and Sunday morning bash provided several more Sense-of-Wonder scenes, including:

—The self-appointed chamber music group, with their tubas and things who were so loud, and so off-key (rather like my singing) that we had to retreat to the garage for sanity’s sake. There we discovered Ted White placing a paper cup over the lens of the camera guarding the garage. The camera, in its best Orwellian manner, hollered "Get that thing off there!" Exit Ted White, hurridly [sic].

Later the brass band (after an hour or so of German ditties) left (God is good), and Chuck Rein, his wife Dawn, and his guitar arrived (God is gooder). He does look like Spock! Fascinating, plays and sings, marvelously, but not in my key — "L". I sang anyway, much to the consternation of those around me. [I was also singing, it was the most enjoyable part of the evening for me. Anyone out there need a soprano folksinger?-SVT]

And later still, I found myself, thanks to Jay Kay Klein, at the pro party. Sitting surrounded by BNF’s and pros close-mouthed in awe. Wonderfullness!

Finally early on Sunday we sloughed off, somewhat reluctantly, the characters we’d accumulated (except for those who’d come with our group) and returned to Apathy, Fa,, without incident.

So that was Disclave. So this is Fandom. ILIKEIT ILIKEIT ILIKEIT

[Addednotes by LgE- One incident Ginjer missed was another great moment in the history of klutzivity, me trying to sell a copy of Gf to Bob Silverberg. (We have to get money somewhere, but this is ridiculous! Why not subscribe and end this foolishness?) Attendees also included Andy Porter, John Ayotte, Judy-Lynn Benjamin, Alexis Gillihand, Sherna Comerford and Brian Burley, Fred Lerner, and Jay Haldeman and wife (in a mini dress from both ends). And. of course, Don Miller, who spent most of Saturday evenin' collating WSFA Journal, thus earning for himself the title, poor Don. LgE] The End.

 

1971

Disclave 15

Con Reports

Disclave was held at the Shoreham. The rooms were huge and the fans had been blocked on one floor. The hotel management was so friendly that I heard of not one hotel complaint. The con provided free open parties both nights in an ample suite. The door to the suite was left open and yet no complaints were received.

The program was interesting and included such unusual items as Jay Kay Klein’s always funny slide show "The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody" and a hilarious midnight Gardner Dozois-Joe Haldeman panel.

 

1996

program book cover for 1996, by Pyracantha: "I made this design for the program book and T shirt design for a now-defunct science fiction convention called "Disclave," which used to meet in late spring. I was Art Guest of Honor, the only larger regional convention I've ever been Guest at. I incorporated a selection of iconic Washington buildings and monuments into the composition, and I also added some iconic Masonic motifs for those who know the symbolism. The iconic Eternal Flame at JFK's tomb can be seen in the center. Original is ink on illustration board, 7 1/2" x 10", May 1996. Pink color added in Photoshop." - DC Cherry Blossoms, March 17, 2016