ORAC (Blake's 7 convention)
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | ORAC |
| Dates: | 1988-1990 |
| Frequency: | annual |
| Location: | San Francisco, CA |
| Type: | fan con, celebrity guests |
| Focus: | Blake's 7 |
| Organization: | |
| Founder: | Joni Gillispie |
| Founding Date: | |
| URL: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
ORAC was a fan run Blake's 7 convention held in in San Francisco, CA. The convention also had several actors and show writers as guests, along with fan run panels, a dealer's room, a masquerade, an art show, and a charity auction.
1988
ORAC 88 was held April 9-10, 1988 in Millbrae, CA.
Confirmed guests were: Michael Keating (Vila), Terry Nation (series creator), Paul Darrow (Avon), and Janet Lees Price (Klyn in "Blake"). In the end, Terry Nation attended, as well as Sally Knyvette. Darrow, Price, and Keating had commitments and bowed out.
The program book contains 20 pages. The cover is by Greg Espinoza.
The con com was Joni Gillspie (chair), Michele wilson (Secruty/Guest Liaison), Melody and Jim Rondeau (Art Show), Liz Bowling (Dealer's Room), Keven Roche (Masquerade), Christina Hill (Registration), Jamie Nikkel (Publications), and Bob and Margaret Caloroso (Hospitality).
The Master of Ceremonies was George Sampson. From the program book:
George Sampson is "The Voice of Channel 54". As the public station's announcer, George is a familiar sight on pledge nights, encouraging viewers to become members. His favorite pledge nights are Sundays because, as he puts it,"... the science fiction audience is a lot of fun. We always make new friends on Sci-Fi night.” While at Channel 54 George has also taped interviews with several British actors involved with Blake's 7 and Dr. Who including Paul Darrow, Sylvester McCoy and B7 creator Terry Nation. Before coming to Channel 54, George worked as a news anchor and reporter for several bay area radio stations, and was an instructor in the Journalism Department at San Jose State Universisty.
From a flyer:
Join us for an ALPHA GRADE B7 convention... Show your support for Blake's 7, have a great time with other fans and help us help KTEH, our local PBS station on APRIL 9 and 10, 1988 at the CLARION HOTEL, located near the San Francisco airport. in order to provide an uncrowded, high quality convention experience, attendance will be strictly limited. Memberships will not be sold at the door, so register early. Make checks payable to ORAC for $40 until Dec. 15, $45 until Feb. 1 and $50 after Feb. 1.
From the program book:
Your Alpha Grade Blake’s 7 convention is finally here. Of course there have been some changes since we started this venture. First of all, we must say a big thank you to Terry Nation for his support, ideas and willingness to deal with panic stricken phone calls.Unfortunately, Paul Darrow had to withdraw because of his role as Elvis in a national tour of “Are You Lonesome Tonight." He told us in a phone conversation that he was sorry to miss ORAC but they had changed his rehearsal schedule and he was no longer available to attend.
Janet Lees Price is doing apart in a large television production and will be filming this weekend. She did send us this message. “I can’t tell you how disappointed I am to find that I cannot after all attend ORAC. I was looking forward to being with you all so much.”
Michael Keating will be playing the lead in a play by Dennis Potter called "Sufficient Carbohydrate" through June. He asked us to pass along the following message to all of you. “I take this opportunity to wish you every success for ORAC and my love and regards to you all.”
However, being Alpha Grades, we don’t let little things like three of our four guests having to bow out less than four weeks before the convention stop us. We are convinced that you will find our new guests just as friendly and informative as our original guests would have been. We guarantee that this weekend will be afun and enjoyable time for all.
Programming included:
- individual and group Q&R panels
- art show
- dealer's room
- 24-hour video room
- photo and autograph sessions
- arts' celebrity auctions
- fan writer's panel
- props construction panel
- trivia contests
- masquerade
- video contests
- "weekend long Pictionary contests"
- a Blake Wake (Saturday night dance)
- filking
- fan fiction readings
The programming:
- Half Baked 7; The Show, How We Made It, and How Long We Were Sentenced For ("The makers of Half Baked 7, a fan produced video, will discuss aspects of its production including but not limited to dull anecdotes by the actors. A display of props from the show will be exhibited. There will be several presentations of HB7 in the con video room.")
- Hostility Hour ("ORAC is pleased to present a paneling first, so with apologies to Chris of the Robin of Sherwood N.A.B. for idea theft, we offer you "Hostility Hour". Three times over this weekend you will have the opportunity to relieve frustration and let loose all that suppressed anger at people who cut in front of you in line, bought the very last photo you wanted just as you saw it or hogged the covers. The con staff has scheduled its collective nervous breakdown for the final session. You are welcome to bring photos of persons if it helps and we'll offer you plenty of things to punch, throw and kick. All we ask is that you refrain from using weapons and the things that you punch, throw and kick must be inanimate. Security will monitor this panel!")
- Pictionary and Trivial Pursuit ("What’s this? Mundane game playing at a science fiction convention? If you read your schedule you’ll find we’ve set times to play both Trivial Pursuit and Pictionary. If you have never played, we will teach you. If you have, you will know why we are doing it. See you there.")
- B7 Fandom: What Is It and Where Do You Go to Find It? ("Join some of the first U.S. B7 fans for a discussion on how this fandom has grown in the last several years.")
- Costume Presentation Workshop ("Strongly recommended for anyone planning to enter the masquerade. This is designed to help you get over the heeby-jeebies about going on stage and making a fool of yourself in front of a couple hundred people. If you have a costume but the thought of competing makes you quiver in your boots, come to the panel and maybe you'll change your mind by the time we're done. If you've already decided to enter, come to the panel and learn about some of the pitfalls to avoid.")
- So You Wanna Be a Costumer? ("A number of long-time fan costumers in attendance at the con will get together to answer questions from the audience. Topics might include: no-sew costuming. fabric sources, reproduction costumes, competition (the division system, etc.), "Rotsler’s rules", the Costumers Guild. We have left time slots available in the alternate programming room to give fan clubs and other groups a time and place to meet and promote their interests. Check with Con Ops to schedule a time.")
1989
Feb. 18 & 19,1989 at the AMFAC HOTEL near the San Francisco airport.
It is unknown who were the guests.
Guests were to be Terry Nation, Sally Knyvette, and Brian Croucher, but according to a statement in the flyer for 1990, this did not occur, likely due to fall-out from The Blake's 7 Wars.
A flyer for Stardrive, the pro-con being planned by Terry Nation and Paul Darrow mentions that Laurie Cohen would be there and would be soliciting fans for their opinions about it.
The Master of Ceremonies was George Sampson.
From a flyer: "In order to provide an uncrowded, high quality convention experience, attendance will be limited. Show your support for BLAKE'S 7, have a great time with other fans and help us help KTEH, our local PBS station."
1990
ORAC 90 was held April 7-8, 1990.
The originally planned locale was the Amfac Hotel in Burlingame, California. This was changed to Dunfey Hotel in San Mateo, California.
Confirmed guests were Terry Nation, Sally Knyvette, and Brian Croucher but in the end, Knyvette did not attend.
The concom: Bill Hayes (security), Lynete McPherson (guest liaison), Jim Rondeau (dealers' room), Melody Rondeau (art room), Kevin Roche (masquerade), Christina Hill (registration), Jame Nikkel and Jennifer Tifft (publications), Sherri Nix (Video Room), Jean Graham and Pearl Stickler (alternative programming), and Linda Madzel ("gofer mom").
The Master of Ceremonies was George Sampson.
All proceeds from the con were to go to KTEH, the local PBS television station.
There was a "Dead Travis Party." -- "We hope many of you will stay Sunday night for the infamous Dead Travis Party. Observe the dead come back to life as we celebrate the close of the convention. We'll have food, a no-host bar, videos, and a great time will be had by all."
Programming (from the Orac 90 progress report):
Round Table Discussions:
- Was Tarrant Really Necessary? (Or should Avon have spaced him right after "Powerplay"? Join a lively exchange of opinions about B7's most disagreeable character.)
- Slash: The Pros and Cons (Both sides of a controversial issue presented in a moderated debate. No tempers, please; this is a friendly disagreement.)
- So You Want to Be a Supreme Commander. (How's, what's, and why's of fan clubs.)
- Fan Liar's Panel (At last a chance to ask those embarrassing questions, but can you trust the answers? Guaranteen hilarious.)
- Zine Editor Roast (Tell them what you like and don't like about fanzines.)
- Hurt Comforts, Bonks and Wallows (Why we hurt the ones we love.)
- B7 Onward and Upward (What happens next according to the fans.)
- Gauda Prime (Audacious resolutions.)
- Mary Sue in B7 Fanfic (Enough said.)
- The B7 Movie (If accountants did the casting.)
- Artificial Intelligence (What were Orac and Zen really up to?)
- Loose Threads (What did happen to Jenna, etc.?)
- Crossovers (Do they work?)
- The Obligatory Star Trek Panel (What caused the Klingon bumbs and others stuff you can't live without.)
- Servalan (Tyrant or PMS?)
- Drawing with Travis) (Bring your sketch pads for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to draw B.C. in the flesh.)
- Panels: (Costuming, Props)
- Games: (Pictionary, Trivial Pursuit and Trivial Pursuit-Ship tourneys)
- Filking
According to the first progress report, these would be included in the programing, but they do not appear in the program book (at least in this form): "Reading Circles (G-RandX): Bring your favorite zine story or a work in progress to read," "How to Start a Good Rumor. For instance, have you heard the one about the well-known San Diego fan writer who is going to England without her husband?," "The Slash panel Pictionary," "The Tarrant panel (yes, that one): What would you do if you were stuck on the same ship with Toothy? Would you do it with a gun. a knife, or an airlock control button?," and "Fan publishing: Do's. Don'ts and How-To's."
flyer for 1990, page one
flyer for 1990, page two
Orac 90 progress report, page 1 click to read
page 2 of the Orac 90 progress report, click to read
from the program book, the master of ceremonies for 1990 (George Sampson)
