Oddy-Con
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Oddy-Con |
| Dates: | August 11-13, 1978 |
| Frequency: | once |
| Location: | The Holiday Inn-South in Lansing, Michigan |
| Type: | fan-run, no celebrity guests |
| Focus: | Star Trek: TOS |
| Organization: | |
| Founder: | Ingrid Cross publisher of Odyssey |
| Founding Date: | |
| URL: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Oddy-Con was a one-time Star Trek: TOS con held in 1978 and sponsored by the publishers of the McCoy-centric zine, Odyssey.
The con's date was originally August 4-7, but this was changed to August 11-4.
It featured an art show, a dealer's room, a trivia contest, a Saturday night party, a video room, and fan panels. The local television stations got wind of the event and sent a news crew to film the "gathering of Trekkies in Lansing."
According to a con report in Odyssey #3, there were about 200 attendees.
Con Reports
Nine months after the first glimmerings of a great insanity ("hey, Dave! Why don't we hold a fan con in Lansing?" "A who?"), Oddy-Con opened at the Holiday Inn-South on August 11-13. Total attendance was close to 200 people (three-day total), and all went pretty smoothly for a first time.
Friday opened a bit on the hectic side and somewhat sluggishly. People from out-of-state had been arriving since Thursday evening. (Several states were represented, from Iowa to New York.) Dealers began setting up and programming got underway. The Big Event that night was the Art Exhibit and a party.
Saturday opened with a figurative explosion! Everybody who had pre-registered and some people who had planned to attend the cancelled Philadelphia con arrived. The dealers' room was hopping, the panels were moving smoothly.
Saturday was also the day the press corps caught on to the "gathering of Trekkies" in Lansing. Two local TV camera-crews and the city newspaper reps arrived. The pre-con news reports had kept the Holiday Inn's phones ringing for information, and the evening news report on Channel 10 sent more Trekkers on our way.
Saturday night was the day the Trivia Contest. Close to 40 people came to pit their knowledge against some 200+ questions. But they were clearly outclassed by a young gentleman from Canada with the fastest arm in the Northern Hemisphere! Tim Earle walked away with the first place trophy.
Sunday was more relaxed: more panels, the dealers' room and the dinner (in costume) that night. Mark Gross (an aspiring and talented make-up artist) transformed yours truly into an ape! Most of the people from out-of-town left that night or early Monday morning.
The con committee thanks all the attendees for making our con a success! Special kudos to Mel Shreve for the Trek eps, all those who ran the panels, the dealers and artists, and the Burger King contingent of gophers. My personal thanks to Dave Goodine for nine months of encouragement, explanations of budgets and general aid when it seemed impossible. Thanks to Winston Howlett for pitching in and helping to keep things on an even keel. My apologies for not mailing out progress reports to the con supporters sooner-—things have been kind of bad these past few months. If anyone is interested in a copy of the con book, send a SASE to the address in the front cover. We also have quite a few Oddy-Con buttons available for 25 cents each and a SASE with 2 first-class stamps. [1]
I thought nothing could top the looks and comments I've received over the past 15 years when I've told friends and acquaintances that I love SF. During the past year or two, I've added Star Trek fan fiction to the list (aired ST bores me). The looks and comments got worse, and I finally decided I was never going to meet congenial souls this way. The only solution was to attend some cons, so I checked the listings and settled on Oddy-Con. First, it was to be a small one, a relax-a-con, and second, it was to be close enough to drive to alone. So, I sent in my money and a request for one roommate, A couple of letters later, I was fixed to room with Leslie Fish, for which I was delighted — but her letter prepared me for the additional roommates we quickly acquired. I had read about cliques in fandom and that fans felt brushed off by some BNF however, I had high hopes.
[...]
I enjoyed myself. I was able to match some of the faces with some of the names of writers, artists, and editors. I talked a lot, I added to my zine collection. The panels were informative and relaxing (at least, I was relaxed.) I enjoyed the rehashing of old stuff as much as hearing the new stuff. It didn't matter to me that some of the events were late, or switched. I was fascinated by the make-up demonstration that turned Ingrid into an ape inside an hour. The results were very realistic since the rubber appliances mirrored her facial movements. She was even able to eat with it on.
Room parties have been discussed in zines, and I'd hoped to attend some. Leslie very nicely asked for my OK, but I wasn't about to object to something I hoped to attend anyway. Sure enough, each evening's "party” was lots more fun than reruns. I thoroughly enjoyed the discussions, and the people I met were very friendly. No brush-offs. I am, shall we say, awed by people; like Leslie who are artistic in more than one area. Now I know why I have no artistic talents myself. The dear Lord gave my snare to Leslie. He had none left for me. Sigh.
Another multi-talented fan I met was Theresa Holmes. She shared our room Saturday night when we got to talking of her Delphian Chronicles. Actually, she talked and I listened, dumbfounded, until 4:30 a.m. TLMFA doesn't even hint at her alternate-Kraith universe, which is broader and much more complex than any other fan universe I've read of. Good, old-fashioned organized crime is one thread in her stuff that I've missed in other fan stories.
Logically, crime a la Mafia will go to the stars with the rest of humanity. Can't you just picture a Vulcan crime boss? Anyway, when she offered to let me read, her drafts, and discuss SF and ST every Saturday, I jumped at the chance. I know a gold mine when I see one.
Another neighbor I discovered is Guinn Berger, who edits WXYZine. This zine attracted my notice first because that's my favorite radio station, and I was happy to learn it's put together practically in my back yard. Since my artistic talents are figments of my mother's imagination, I readily agreed to help Guinn with typing and collating, as my only means of contributing.
And now, a word about the costumes. There weren't many, but they were neat. I liked Anne's Lab Accident, and was very glad it wasn't me, under the stove pipe headpiece. Winston's Ebony Prince looked suitably noble, but I've always, wondered how nobles can eat with their noses in the air. Unfortunately, I forgot to watch. We also had an elegant Vulcan matron, a Human gypsy, some Starfleet officers, and Ingrid as the Ape. Most revealing costume, though, (and one I'd freeze in) was Leslie's game warden skin which she wore to the get-acquainted party. It was very short, loosely laced down the sides, and obviously intended to shock Mary Lou.
In all, I greatly enjoyed myself at Oddy-Con. You might say it was just what the doctor ordered. [2]
References
- ^ from Odyssey #3, by the con's organizer, Ingrid Cross
- ^ from The Oracle Speacks #2