NonCon (Florida convention)

Online Convention
Name:	NonCon
Dates:	August 8-10, 1980
Frequency:	once
Type:	fan-run, non-profit
Focus:	Mark Lenard
Organization:	Mark Lenard International Fan Club
Founder:
URL:
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NonCon was a one-time, fan-run convention in Tallahassee, Florida.

The focus of the con was the actor Mark Lenard.

The con was run by The Mark Lenard International Fan Club and took place August 8-10, 1980.

This convention was a precursor to TerraCon, which was held a few years earlier also in Tallahassee, Florida.

The con itself sounded like it was full of chaos and snafus, from a clueless hotel staff at Best Western Tallahassee, to printing errors in the program, and promised programming failing. A few con reports described some unpleasantly intense fans who came on way too strong, but most fans (at least in the second to the last issue of the club's zine, Despatch, were overwhelmingly positive.

Supporting memberships were $5, and fans were sent an autographed photo of Lenard, the program book, and a tape (presumably audio) of some of the convention.

Portions of the con, and an interview with Lenard, were taped and shown on two television stations: WFSU TV (the local university station) and WCTV (the local CBS affiliate).

Lenard donated forgo a fee and donated his time. He donated most of the prizes including scripts to the two un-aired episodes of The Secret Empire and publicity photos of other roles. He also brought a squeaky movie projector for the films. Despite this, the con lost money as hotel room rental, various equipment, food, flowers, his plane ticket (despite Lenard's offer to fly coach), and other requirements of cons are expensive. The club presidents announced a sale of merchandise to make up the difference.

The sale of club merchandise also corresponded with the fact that the long-running club permanently shut down a few months after this con occurred. It was likely that the club president's experiences at several disappointing cons by other clubs (Starbase Baltimore and Southern Con) added to their frustrations and exasperation with fans and fannish life. Saville and Metzke were also likely very burnt out trying to keep too many balls in the air, losing money, and Lenard's increasing lack of desire to engage with the club. They closed down the Mark Lenard International Fan Club with a long and resentful open letter. See You are holding in your hands the final issue of DESPATCH.

Some Con Activities

• a theater performance by Lenard (an original play called "Henry Miller: Pornographer or Puritan," a recitation of "Casey at the Bat," and some other things)
• a picnic with Hawaiian food (luau-style), swimming, alligators, boat rides,and frisbee at Wakulla Springs
• a seminar by Lenard called "Acting for the Various Media; Television, Screen and Stage"
• a Klingon-speaking contest
• fans acting out the last two episodes of The Secret Empire, with Lenard doing the casting
• watching episodes and movies starring Lenard
• presentation of the AGS Awards
• Lenard brought the Klingon appliances (head masks/gear) for the recent Star Trek film and the gorilla appliance and chimp appliance (the latter worn by Roddy McDowall) from Planet of the Apes; a fan was chosen to be "made up" like an ape by Lenard

Early Descriptions

From the December 1979 issue of A Piece of the Action:

The Mark Lenard International Fan Club is planning fandom's first NONCON an unconventional convention for fans, friends, and admirers of Mark Lenard. On Aug. 8-10, 1980, people will be gathering from all over the U.S. to enjoy a weekend with Mark in Tallahassee. Although currently in the planning stages, the NONCON IS considering the following activities; Drama seminars (with reading list to be set by Mark), Live performance. Viewing and critiquing Mark's films and TV shows. Theatrical make-up demonstration. Dramatic technique mini-workshop. Picnic/Sing- along/Swim Party. Get to know Mark sessions. Art display and auction.

M.L.I.F.C. feels that this gathering will be unique in that it will provide participating fans with the opportunity to get to meet and interact with Mark, learning about the man behind the characters they have enjoyed.

The club will assist interested parties in forming car pools to enable those who otherwise could not attend to join other members for what will be a truly reMARKable weekend.

From the May 1980 issue of Despatch:

And let's not forget NONCON, August 8-10! For all of you who have complained and lamented and cried that there is no hope in the world of meeting Mark, this is your chance. Mark called us on March 2nd... to set the costs and details with us. He wants as many of you as possible to be able to attend, and for that reason, the costs have been assessed at $27.50 per person. That includes the cost of food for the reception and the luau dinner (and, of course, all NONCON activities). Single rooms run $27.00, but if you have a roomie, it'll only run $15.00 per person. One night's advance deposit—along with NONCON registration—must be sent in to club H.O. by June 27th. Final payment for room expense can be made with credit cards, traveller's checks, or cash, but personal checks will not be accepted except to prepay a room deposit. Confused? Let us know if you have any questions and we'll rush you a five-page brochure describing the events, times, locales, what to bring, wear, etc. The weekend promises to be a lot of fun, so we hone to see as many of you as possible! Do remember that no registrations can be accented after June 27th. If enough interest has not been demonstrated by that date, payments will be refunded immediately.

So far, we've checked with the hotel, established a great rapport with the manager, Dadu — who is really a doll! — and approved and signed lovely auditorium downtown for Mark's performance Friday night. D.H. is currently bribing all her local friends who have barbecue grills into cooking for us at the luau. Some of you have written to say that you're arranging Hawaiian costumes, while others are chicken. That's okay! Remember that the spirit of aloha means relaxing and having fun so be comfortable! We're going to be festive, though, and we're working out details to lend an authentic touch to the excursion. Should be fun in the sun for all! It'll be a great time to get to know Mark — as will all the NONCON activities— - so do consider coming down to Tally Town this August. Y'all cone now, y'heah?

[...]

Mark has located the last two Secret Empire scripts and there is a POSSIBILITY that he might be able to perform a version of the "missing" episodes for those attending NONCON. In fact, NONCON attendees may get a chance to serve as actors and actresses!

Con Report: From One of the Organizers

From Despatch #44:

The days prior to NONCON were chaotic: there were last minute details to iron out, programs to write and have printed, tickets to be run off and cut, music to tape, hor d'oeuvres to prepare and refrigerate, food to shop for and a thousand-and-one other items to check off our lists. Any­ one who lived within a 50 mile radius of Tallahassee was pressed into service--as well as some who didn't--notably Mary Stacy MacDonald, who worked untiringly making food and signs and being a Jill-Of-All-Trades.

[...]

After frantic calls Thursday evening, we realized that the tape and contest were at the post office, thereby shorting the Schedule of the Trek episodes only. Enter Florence Nygaard with Beta tapes of Mark's Trek epi­sodes. There IS a Santa Claus! After a rapid rescheduling of the film equipment rental schedules, we were ready for the next hurdle -- a title for Mark's program Friday night.

Mark wasn’t crazy about the standard "An Evening with Mark Lenard," and proposed "Henry Miller; Pornographer or Saint?" Gail wrinkled her nose. "’Pornographer" and "Saint" don’t seem to go together," she remarked, preferring an alliterative analogy almost always. "Well, you call it whatever you like," Mark told us, indicating that he wasn’t going to burn out his brain over it anymore that night. Barb and Gail dropped Mark off at the hotel — promising him he could sleep late — and scurried off to Barb’s office and the IBM self-correcting typewriter to do the program for Friday’s performance. We stewed about the title, finally coming up with, "Henry Miller; Pornographer or Puritan?" It was well past midnight before we finished and we had to be up at dawn to take the program to John Cummings, run off scripts for Sunday’s enactment from "Secret Empire" while we had access to the duplicating machine at Barb’s office, collate the trivia test which had to be picked up—along with Noon Sunday--at the post office, pick up film equipment.... While Gail completed the program layout. Barb filled out "assignment cards" for volunteer helpers.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 8TH: As people gathered in the lobby (and Barb was making copies of scripts), Gail encountered the second of the hotel’s screw ups. The registration table was glaringly absent and when Gail inquired at the front desk, the three people there disavowed having any knowledge at all about tables, chairs, or any other furniture. Although we has been assured that tables would be set up for us when we went over the plans with the manager the day before, it was obvious that no one from the hotel was going to assume responsibility for getting them. "Can you at least tell us where you HAVE a spare table?" Gail implored them. "Downstairs," one of the maintenance ladies told her. "Can we bring it up here?" Gail asked. No one was eager to make so major a decision. "We guess so," the front desk lady shrugged. So, several MLIFCers went in search of our table and chairs while Gail placated several mothers who had brought their children to register. Mark was being interviewed by WFSU TV, the local university station.

Barb returned in time for Mark’s first seminar, "Acting for the Various Media; Television, Screen and Stage." Jennifer Tifft and a local youth tried their hands at improvisation. The boy, who wanted to be an actor, worried so that he was shifting his weight out of tension that he couldn’t reply to Jennifer’s, "Where are you from?" Cathy Thomas and Anna Douglas talked each other into going to the luau together, despite Mark’s attempts to get them to "go alone." (MLIFCers are innately sociable.) Mark pulled his talk together at the end, defining terms and comparing and contrasting acting techniques and styles. The group dispersed for dinner, while volunteers helped Gail and Barb begin setting up for the reception in the VIP Suite. Mark locked himself in his portion of the room with Gail's typewriter to polish his Miller portrait. Those who help­ed us bake cheese straws and canapes heard him clacking away.

[...]

We all managed to find the Gray Auditorium. Mark fiddled with the stage sound and light systems like a solo violinist fine-tuning his Stradivarius before a concert. He asked Barb to stand onstage, using her as a stand-in to direct and set the lights. The podium was moved stage left, center stage, stage right, and somewhere in between. On her way back to her seat, Barb noted the narrow stairs and determined NOT to stare at her feet. Always one to add a little spice to the mundane, she found her self diving off the stage feet first. The audience gasped and Mark, alarmed, immediately went to her, no doubt expecting her to have sustained several broken bones from the fall. Just as suddenly, amid applause. Barb rose like a phoenix from the ashes and took a bow, grinning. (Yes, it WAS an accident, but between Barb's bravado and the audience's reaction, the incident easily could have been considered part of the performance.

[...]

Mark's portrayal of Miller ended with a line, "And now I'm going to sing for you." He then walked offstage. No one clapped, expecting him to break out in song from the wings. Finally, he walked back out and announced that he'd finished that portion of the program and that he was going to dramatically recite "Chicago" and "Casey at the Bat." The latter was very well done. The audience did not move a muscle. No one even blinked. He got a resounding ovation when he was finished.

Other Con Reports

NONCON was on of the happiest weekends I have ever experienced.

I've been trying to sort out the reasons and they seem to be settling down into categories.

I: Meeting Mark. I had always though of Mark Lenard as a fine actor —- a real professional. But that was a two dimensional view because the only place I had ever seen him was in photographs or on the screen. Since NONCON, I can think of him as a real live persons Someone with class and dignity, someone who is kind and considerate, someone who cares about others, even when he is tired and hot and hungry. So I came away with a more in depth understanding of the man as well as the actor. And now, along with admiration for his work, I have respect for the human being he is.

II: Meeting other MLIFCers, people who had been only names on envelopes of in DESPATCH until NONCON. Like most writers, I am extremely shy in a large group (more than 2 or 3 people). I would prefer to hide behind my notebook with my pen and my fantasies. But even though I spent a lot of time sitting in the back row or hanging around the fringes, I never would have believed that I could get so close to so many good people in so short a time. You couldn't have matched me with a better roommate if you had done it via computer.... Meeting Elaine in person after so many whacky pen pal letters was a delightful experience and my life is richer for it.

III: The Day at Wakulla Springs was a sparkling jewel which I will pack in my treasure chest to be taken out to brighten the dark days when I am imprisoned in a hospital bed? to be used as a shield between me and that fire breathing dragon called Pain which constantly threatens to consume me. It was a perfect, flawless emerald of a day which I will wear around ray neck on a gold chain forged of new friendships.

IV: Then there was the serendipity stuff -- those unexpected happy things that just seemed to grow in the relaxed atmosphere.

There was the bubbling joy I felt when Debra "Huck Finn" Fennell won the award for the funniest Klingonese. The happy excitement when Elaine and June won service awards. The unrestrained hilarity and absurdity of the Secret Empire. And realizing that even though I did not have the energy or the physical stamina to take part in everything, I never felt like an outsider looking in.

It was a weekend to remember for a lifetime. And to everyone who worked so hard to make it happen, thank you.

Here's my article on NONCON. You did an excellent job! Other cons I've attended didn't go nearly as smooth;

(Editors: If you only knew, Irene... )

NONCON was incredible, I'm still recovering,

Cathy Thomas & I were listening to Cliffhangers tapes, and the announcer said that the episode after "Powerhouse" would be "Escape to the Stars." But at NONCON, the scripts were "Partisans Unchained" and then "Escape to the Stars." Did they divide the last episode into two parts, rename half, or what?

(Editor: Only the writers and probably the producer could answer that for sure, Irene, but as I recall, we didn't see 10 minutes of the next-to-the-last "Secret Empire" and its concluding 30 minute segment. That's why Mark brought those two scripts for us to enact at NONCON.)

How can I put this so you'll get the idea? NONCON was FANTASTIC!!! (To put it mildly.) Meeting Mark for the first time was special for me, since the first day of the con was my [17thth] birthday. Boy, what a birthday present! After registration, we all trooped into the seminar room where Mark was being interviewed by WFSU TV. I sat down and listened to the questions the woman was asking. Generally they were just the usual, like "What series have you done?" etc. But a few were odd, like, "What do you think you have to offer us?".

After the interview, Mark gave his seminar on acting. He talked about the different methods of acting and how one gets to be an actor. My favorite parts were when he told anecdotes about the people he's worked with and the roles he's done.

After the seminar we watched [the Star Trek: TOS episode] "Balance of Terror," then went up to our rooms and changed clothes for Mark’s performance at the Gray Auditorium. The first part was absorbing. Mark got so much into character, I forgot that it was him up there, not Henry Miller. His last line was, "And now I'm going to sing for you," or some such thing, and he walked offstage for a moment. We didn't know he was finished -- we really thought he was going to sing. For Part II, Mark did a poem by Sandberg, and "Casey at the Bat." My favorite was seeing him act out Casey's swinging, striking, and magnanimously sparing the umpire.

The reception that evening was fun. We chatted, talked with Mark, sang filksongs, built cabins out of toothpicks, (sometime ask Karen Mitchell about her "totem pole" she erected) and just had a good time.

Next morning I staggered up in time for Mark's seminar on theatrical makeup. Terry Gardner won the draw and was chosen to be made into a gorilla. A singularly appropriate choice. (Terry really got into the part. Eds.) This was filmed by TV (WCTV, the local CBS affiliate, Eds.).

When that was over, we went to Wakulla Springs for the luau.

[There was frisbee, and the water was very cold which made swimming uncomfortable.]

The food at the luau was delicious, and the company even more so Barb and Gail had gotten orchids for us to put in our hair and pin on. Gail brought her portable TV to watch WCTV's news report. We saw ourselves on TV, of course, we were on last. When the food was finished, we sang some Hawaiian songs. (Mark has a lovely voice, especially when he sings. But you knew that already.) Gail did a hula dance, and we tried to follow the moves. Karen Mitchell showed us some Tahitian dancing, which is basically a lot of hip shaking. We tried to get Mark in on it, but he claimed he had a bad back. Chicken. I think he would have looked great in a grass skirt.

[much snipped]

Lenard's handwritten Klingon dialogue, printed in Despatch #43

Doing the Cliffhangers scripts was great fun. Mark said it was nice being on the other side -- casting - instead of auditioning. There was a part for everyone, so we were all involved. We agreed ahead of time to really ham it up... We did a lot of improvisation, managing to work in plugs for Stresstabs, Metropolitan Life, (and his Disney commercials for Pinocchio. Of course, we also enjoyed learning how the series ended, as well as getting to keep our copies of the scripts. Mark said the production brought tears to his eyes; we chose to take that as a compliment. He also said he thought we were better than the original cast.

Sunday there was also a Klingon-speaking contest. Mark handed out copies of the Klingon's part from ST:TMP written in his handwriting. I couldn't decipher his handwriting, much less pronounce it. I didn't intent to try it, but I was bullied into it. (Editor: We all were.) I made a pitiful Klingon. (Is that good or bad, I wonder?) Then two of the guys did it as a dialogue between a northern and southern Klingon .

[...]

I think it was a good policy to have times when autographs and pictures were not allowed. It must be hard to relax when cameras are being shoved in your face, microphones under your nose, and pieces of paper waved about. I mean. Mark is a gentleman, but anybody would get tired of that, and we want him to want to return. Right? Stupid question. He was very nice about pictures and things in the times set aside for them. I hope Barb and Gail tell him how much we appreciate the effort and time he put into NONCON, as well as going without his fee to help keep costs down for us all.

[...]

NONCON began for me when I got DESPATCH 39, with the idea, I had not dared dream of really meeting Mark Lenard, and I never thought that I would ever get to meet and talk to other MLIFCers either. My roommate at school must have thought I had finally gone over the edge when I read about the thoughts and plans for a gathering in Tallahassee in the summer. I started bouncing up and down on the bed (belying my 19 years) and saying, "Let it happen, let me be able to go, please let it happen," over and over. By February, I had the con info sheet with the definite dates, and by April I had my plane tickets. I used my entire federal income tax return on the plane fare, membership, room and spending money (and it was worth every penny).

[...]

Mark is a warm and wonderful human being, I do not have the words to say the extent of my meaning and feelings. I had the perhaps dubious honor of breaking the ice on the subject of autographs. I had been "commissioned" to get autographs for two of my sisters, ray brother, and two people at work, and of course, I wanted a couple for myself, so I had rather a pile of things to be signed. Mark took a look at what I had, looked back at me, then sat down and started signing things. He asked who each person was as he wrote, and remarked that I had a large family, he signed my 8x10 of AGS, and my copies of "Journey to Babel" and "Balance of Terror." As soon as I get a frame worthy of it, the picture goes up on my desk.

[...]

Mark Lenard's performance Friday night was even better than I had expected. The piece he did about Henry Miller was very interesting, and quite different from anything else I have heard, and what can I say about "Casey At The Bat?'" Absolutely perfect. At the reception, I saw Jeanne Webster's infamous scrapbook and talked to Mark. He is such a gentleman, in every sense of the word. He remembered lay name, and complimented me on my dress and the cheese cookies I had helped bake.

At Wakulla Springs about ten of us played frisbee in the water, which was freezing cold. Our honourary throws a good frisbee, strong and fast. Later that evening we all sat around Gail's tiny portable Panasonic TV to watch the news. The local TV people had filmed the make-up demonstration/workshop that ML had done that morning. We waited through the entire news show, but it paid off: the last five minutes, as usual. I got a real shock watching, because they had gotten some shots of the audience, and one of the ones they showed was me! The luau was a lot of fun. The food was excellent, the singing and dancing enjoyed, I think, by all, and the company was unparalleled.

I am not sure if we ever were really on schedule, but everything seemed to go very smoothly. Everyone pitched in to help solve problems, set and clean up, and generally help out.

I won the writing contest — another big shock — and the prize was ML's script from the Bob Newhart Show he did, personally autographed. It is so funny and beautiful.

I want to thank you again for such a wonderful time in Tallahassee. I haven't had so much fun in such a long time, and I really appreciate what you both went through to make NonCon such a success.

[...]

I wish more people could have made it to NonCon. Yet, the small group that was there seemed like a family, re were really able to get to know each other by name and not just by face, that's nice! And Mark made everyone feel like they were his friends. How nice can one man get?

My favorite of the poems he performed was "Casey At The Bat" because it was so delightful and so different from, all else he did. It was wild. You could see it all happening, especially when he used body language. Henry Valentine Miller was a fascinating man. I enjoyed listening to Part One: Henry Miller: Pornographer or Puritan? very much.

What can I say about being made up as an ape? Mark is right about feeling different when you are all made up like that. I got away with murder, didn't I? It's easy when you're not yourself. And then to see yourself on television is something else. I remember Mark ask

[..]

Towards the end of the evening, I became a little sad and walked away from the group to be by myself for awhile. I knew it would all end the next day and I didn't want it to. What bothered me most was that all the wonderful new friends I had made lived so far away from me.... In closing, I would like to make a few comments to all of you out there: 1) Anyone who didn't learn something new at Mark's seminars wasn't listening. 2) I love you all (more like y'awl!). 3) Can we this again next summer? (Editors: Nope...this was a once-in-a-lifetime-event.) and last but not least, I have a message for our honourary, using the immortal words of Neil Sedaka: "I go ape every time I see you smile/I'm a ding dong gorilla and I'll carry you caveman style/I'm gonna bump you on the head and love you all the while!”

What can I say about one of the more memorable weekends I have had except that it was over so quickly? If it weren't for my tapes and photos, I wouldn't be certain it all happened. As it is, the whole event has become a pleasant blur of memories. I remember listening a lot, thinking a lot, learning, laughing and sharing a lot. I met some beautiful people who had been but names before, and recall them (and me) putting feet in mouths, but not having to feel embarrassed — the end result of which was the zany camaraderie of our performance of Secret Empire for Mark.

[...]

Well, of course I enjoyed meeting Mark. Do I really have to state the obvious? Now, when do I get my chance for a whole hour's conversation? To Mark: Thank you for giving us of your time, talents, knowledge, and good humor. Without your interest in us (and determination to survive us!) none of the rest would have been possible. I hope you are convinced that we do really care about you and your career. Break a leg! To Barbara and Gail: Thanks for all the uncountable hours of hard work, for the excellent food, for the relaxed atmosphere, and for persuading Mark in the first place that it was possible. I suppose the best compliment is: "Can we do it again?" Can we? If so, count me in!!"

There are a few things I want to say about all my winnings at NonCon. First, I still can't believe that I won so much: the Klingon Speaking Contest: Best Presentation, the trivia contest, and placing in the AGS awards. I wasn't expecting anything!

[...]

I had my first one-to-one encounter with Mark at the reception that night, I was a little worried about the kind of impression that I'd make and was even prepared to play the part of a clam all night. But I was amazed at just how comfortable I felt talking with him, even sitting right beside him. I even managed to talk a little politics along with each of us giving him our comments on his Miller performance.

Saturday, my favorite day was packed full. Since this was the day for the swim and luau, wouldn't you know that this would be the day that Hurricane Allen chose to rain on us. but nothing was ruined, what with Terry Gardner literally going ape over Mark in the make-up demonstration. She really did a fantastic job of acting the part after Mark did an equally great job making her up.

Wakulla Springs has got to have the coldest water in the world! And, yes, Virginia, there really are alligators — and snakes and birds and ants. But it was worth braving them all for the opportunity of seeing Mark Lenard in his swim trunks. And after the swim, he came out to the picnic area in a straw hat and sneakers with his pants rolled up to his knees. All of you who were not there, EAT YOUR HEARTS OUT! The only problem came when we were rained on at the luau. But we managed to move everything into the shelter and forge ahead with all that delicious food and great entertainment — including a male hula dancer wearing styrofoam cups under his shirt! He also had a Hawaiian sing-along with Mark.

Time really does fly when you're and awards day, it was also the day ended with a session of Mark's films which included part of an episode of The Defenders (furnished by Mark), "Journey to Babel" and Noon Sunday. It was a thrill to have other MARKed people around to help me cheer and clap for Mark. And it was great watching Mark's reactions to himself on the screen and to us. It really didn't matter that we had a little trouble with the video machine...and Mark stayed up until 3 a.m. watching with us.

The last day arrived all too soon. Time really does fly when you're having fun! Besides being the last day and awards day, it was also entertain Mark day. The the con goers, presented Mark with an enactment of the last two chapters of "The Secret Empire." I know that it was written tongue in cheek, but I don't think it was meant to get THAT far into everyone's cheek! We were all in stitches.

The Klingon Speaking contest was equally funny. Maybe we wouldn't win an Emmy but what we lacked in polish we made up for in enthusiasm.

In retrospect, it was really a wonderful weekend and our small size only added to our spontaneity. I'm really glad that I had the opportunity to see Mark as a real human being who can be happy and tired, open and irritable. It was great, also, meeting people who had only been names at the end of letters, or names in letter col or on a story.

Now you have faces, too!

I've heard from a couple of people since returning home. Apparent­ly, some folks out there are rationalizing their not being able to at­tend NonCon this year by telling themselves they can always go next year. Surprise, surprise! They'll be in for quite a shock when they discover that this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance.

[...]

Mark's performance, about which you have read elsewhere in DES­PATCH, was excellent. I wonder if Mark is aware of the number of MLIFCers and Noncon attendees who, upon arriving home again, descended upon the book stores and libraries to read up on Henry Miller! After the performance, we once again piled into the cars and headed back to the hotel for the semi-formal reception held in Mark's VIP suite. You would not believe all the goodies — all done by our illustrious co-presidents and Mary S-M. They deserve a rousing round of applause and more for the delicious yummies. One of the centerpieces was a pineapple "tree” stuck with toothpicks of cheese, grapes and cherries. (Editors: We were lucky to have cherries left, after Mark raided the refrigerator!) The reception was a success and Mark was charming as always, circulating among us.

We all enjoyed getting to know one another, singing Happy Birthday to Irene — her 17th birthday was that night --building Jason Bolt's log cabin out of toothpicks (without windows or a door — he has a problem...not too bright) , and generally having a great time.

Saturday turned out to be fabulous. (I hope the superlatives don't bother anyone, but I honestly can't find any other words to describe the entire weekend.) At about 10:30 a.m., we gathered for Mark's second seminar, "Techniques of Theatrical Makeup." Before he did any demonstrations, he discussed the different makeup appliances he had brought with him, different types of makeup, why performers use makeup. He had brought with him the Klingon appliances, the gorilla appliance and chimp appliance Roddy McDowall wore. Terry Gardner was the lucky soul whose name was drawn out of a hat as Mark's "victim." And there, before our eyes, Mark transformed her into a gorilla! Terry clowned well as an ape!

[...]

Oh, forgot to say thank you for the beautiful orchids flown in especially for NonCon from Hawaii. What a special touch from the islands. Mark was presented with two orchid leis. I must say that he DID look handsome in those white pants, bare chested except for the leis. Those of you who couldn't come don't know what you missed!

After our delicious and filling meal (I'm sure glad I wore a muu-muu [sic]...hid the sin of overeating!) we enjoyed a program of music, dancing and sing-alongs. We even had a little impromptu bongo music produced by two empty two-liter Coke bottles and [Bill S].

After a little trouble with the tape recorders (they played the music backwards!) and a lull in the proceedings, someone mentioned that two grass skirts had not been used yet. Well, I ask you, what's a luau without audience participation and the Tahitian hula? Jeannie Webster had a Spike Jones rendition of the Hawaiian war chant and we used that to dance to. We had some surprisingly good Tahitian dancers there. [Mike H] was the most reluctant participant, but was by far the best dancer. He really made that grass swish. (Editors: wouldn't the guys he works with in the Florida Highway Patrol have liked to have seen that!?) [Randy H] was the most resourceful, adding a couple of paper cups under his shirt and getting into the spirit of the occasion. We had a little impromptu participation from Mark...no, he didn't get up and dance the Tahitian, but when lessons were given on the traditional Hawaiian hula, his feet followed directions.

Looking back, I'd say that everyone — Mark included — enjoyed themselves at the luau. We were all relaxed and well- fed, and had a really good time. It was nice to see that Mark was able to enjoy himself and relax, too.

[...]

The last seminar was entitled "'Enactment of a Script" and was felt by many to be the highlight of the entire weekend. As we all know, the last two chapters of THE SECRET EMPIRE were never aired on TV so Barb and Gail asked Mark to locate the scripts for NONCON.

(Editor: In fact, Barb had to miss orientation the first day of NonCon because she was off running off enough copies of those scripts for the "actors.") (And on an ancient copying machine...one that produces a copy every 6 seconds... there were about a dozen participants in each script...40+ pages to each script...no WONDER Barb spent the morning copying and collating!)

At the luau, Mark had cast all the parts in the scripts. Naturally we all agreed to ham it up as much as possible. Friends, it was absolutely hysterical. Mark sat back and laughed and laughed and laughed at us bunch of idiots. There were a few extra lines thrown in — the infamous "He's dead, Jim." — and a rendition by the entire cast and audience of "When You Wish Upon a Star" at the end of the play. My favorite actors, I think, were Thorval (Doyle Pope), Demeter (Bill Shebs), Taz (Helen Padgett) and Donner Jim (Mike Hosford). Oh, what the heck... EVERYBODY was great.... At the end of our "performance" of SECRET EMPIRE, Mark went over all the parts, singling out every performer and performance with needed positive comments. It was a delight to each of us -- and nice! -- that he had something positive to say about all of us. It made every performer feel special. Thanks, Mark. We needed that!