Far West Facts

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Title:	Far West Facts
Creator:	Forrest J. Ackerman
Date(s):	1939-1940
Medium:	Print
Fandom:	Science Fiction
Topic:	Early science fiction fandom
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Far West Facts (also Farwest Facts) was a column published briefly in Ad Astra, a 1939-1940 science fiction zine, by the pseudonymous "Farwest Jack Erman", AKA Forrest J Ackerman. It was written in Ackerman's signature style, with many unique spellings and compound words, e.g. "bro't" for "brought" or aswelas" for "as well as". The column was mainly about the minutes of LASFL meetings.

Excerpts

A few times a yr there r 5 Thursdays in a month, in wich case it has bcom customary for mems of the Los Angeles Science Fiction Leag Chapter to meet at a fellow fan’s house. At the end of August the xtra Thurs ocurd, in consequence of wich the imagi-natives went to Ray Bradbury's for the firstime en masse. Here we inspected our great scientifictionalibrary aswelas Bradbury's personalibrary of bks & mags. Ray is a specialist in Buck Rogers strips. Another Ray was present--Ray Harryhausen, puppeteer—whose claim to fame lies in the fantastic scientifact that at the presentime he has seen KING KONG 32 times! Harryhausen also is producing an amateur scientifilm from his own script & with his own models, an into-the-past plot involving the end of Atlantis!... Ray & 4e also tosst dialog back & forth at each other from Things to Come with music from the film forming a fitting background. Advance copys of the first Future Fiction & new Weird were around, & general discussion, was the order of the informal meeting. Pogo, Morojo, Russ Hodgkins & others of course were present.

At our first regular meeting in Sep final decision, after 5 wks' discussion, was made on the LASFL's official opinion on the infamous Exclusion Act of the Nycon, or New York Convention. This reaction apears in the present Voice of the Imagi-nation, #3, organ of the LA leag. 2d important topic was The reading of the communications from the Chairman of the Chicon (Chicago Convention) Committee & its Corresponding Secretary-Treasurer. 5 of those present immediately xprest their intentions of attending the affair of '40, those being Pogo, Russ Hodgkins, Ray Bradbury, Morojo & 4SJ, who further signifyd their sincerity by paying dues for the Convention-sponsoring organization, the Illini Fantasy Fictioneers...

Ad Astra, issue 4, November 1939

9 Nov: "Upon entering the Little Brown Room, it appeared to be a continuation of the work left last Sunday--- the 5th, for the tables were piled high with copies of Futuria Fantasia & Polaris in process of being bound & addressed. Editor Freehafer of Polaris had enlisted the aid of member Bill Crawford." Aye, the editor-publisher of Marvel Tales (Everett editions) & Unusual Stories now has advanced to asst, stapler of Polaris, mimeomag! (This is not to cast w.-k. asp-[illegible]-s on Freehafer’s fanmag, wich is acknowleged by one & all to b the finest pub for the weirdist since The Fantasy Fan bit the dreamdust.) "On another table Bradbury, Editor of Futile Fanout, was busy addressing copies of his really good magazine (as far as editor Bradbury is concerned) (Bruce is only kiddin'. Try Brad's mag & U will say "You can't keep a good fan down" or, the same thing, "I can't stomach him!" In case U read this- just jokin', Ray; I still ryt for U, don't I?) to the thousands of subscribers."

...16 Nov: Guests present were Harold Taves, Pogo's bro Jogo, & Wm Schillings of San Francisco. "Forrest J Ackerman announced he had sent out a number of air-mail letters to prominent scientifictionalists involved or standing by in the present most bitter & blind of all scientifiction squabbles, asking them their opinions on the LASFL statement appearing- in the Vox Imaginius. A copy of the-form sent out & one reply from Robt A Madle was read. Having finished,Ackerman made a mad dash to the P.O. in quest of finding more such returns. Returning shortly in record time, he reported there was no soap, or letters either. Feelers sent out among the members showed sentiment was against any apology of any nature, & the matter was shelved until the next meeting."

Ad Astra, volume 5, January 1940