Schuster Star Trek Conventions/1978 Atlanta Schuster Star Trek Convention
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Star Trek Atlanta |
| Dates: | June 30-July 2, 1978 |
| Frequency: | |
| Location: | Atlanta, Georgia |
| Type: | for-profit |
| Focus: | Star Trek |
| Organization: | Tristar Industries |
| Founder: | Al Schuster, John Townsley |
| Founding Date: | |
| URL: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Star Trek Atlanta was held June 30-July 2, 1978.
Guests of Honor
William Shatner, James Doohan, Walter Koenig, Sondra Marshak, Myrna Culbreath, Richard K. Preston, and Anna Tornheim Hassan (Marshak's mother).
Heash was the Master of Ceremonies.
Convention Staff
Tidbits and Anecdotes
Some guaranteed sales for William Shatner: "To prevent overcrowding, William Shatner will Autograph only copies of his record album, "William Shatner Live."
The Program Book
Flyers, Badges, and Other Ephemera
Programming
- Space Traders Room
- Starfleet Academy
- Science Fiction Games
- Computer Games
- the Star Trek Bloopers were shown
- "Space... The American Dream" by Richard Preston
- Sondra Marshak, Myrna Culbreath, and Anna Tornheim Hassan (Marshak's mother) present excerpts from Shatner: Where No Man and "Mr. Spock's Guide to the Planet Vulcan"
- "Science Fiction Games" by Lou Zocchi
- "Star Trek Musicfest" by Amy Harlib and Roberta Rogow
- "The Challenge for Space" by Richard Preston
- "Harry Mudd's Old Time Medicine Show"
- "Star Trek Trivia Slide Show"
- "Making the Star Trek Dream Come True" by Richard Preston
- "Star Trek: The New Movie" by Sondra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath
- Industrialization of Space" by Richard Preston
Links to Photos and Videos
A Massive Fandom Rift
See Interstat #10, #11, #12, as well as the editorial by Rebecca Hoffman in Southern Star #5.
"Whales Weep Not"
A fan reported that William Shatner had preformed a recitation of D.H. Lawrence's poem, "Whales Weep Not":
It was a moving piece that arrested everyone's attention and held it through the entire recitation. Shatner combined the sound of whales with the words of the poem and as the whale noises got louder, Shatner's voice rose until the effect was deafening. Before he started to read, Shatner told the story of a whale who had been murdered for sport, and his voice broke. The man truly feels for these creatures and hopefully, again for our sakes, he is concerned about other animals. [1]
Con Reports
Atlanta was in a word, marvelous...the hotel was a gorgeous delight, four good restaurants, and the con ran like clockwork, beginning registration promptly at nine a.m. Friday: (I went to a room party/collating session the night before, always enjoy that too) -- At ten a.m. the dealer's room opened and the programming began (running continuously from ten a.m. to well after midnight). Sweet Jim Doohan led off Friday, walking between each two rows of his audience, letting everybody take all the pictures they wanted (and posing happily with his arms around whoever wished it), telling us what he knew of the movie... he is the only one who will drop into his ST character part and answer questions as Scotty cheerfully, at the drop of a hat, so to speak. He followed the platform program with autographing... He had brought his cute young wife and dear baby boy, Eric, with him, and they stayed on in the hotel the whole weekend. We saw them in restaurants, elevators, halls, and they posed willingly and happily everywhere.
Friday night, Roberta Rogow and Amy Harlib did their first filksing/Vulcan dance routine, and the con-offered sf game programs, a space-program show, along with thre e episodes and films...
Saturday morning a group of us conspired to hold seats in the room where Bill Shatner would appear; we seated at 2:30 and by 2:30 (Bill-time), the room held between 1500-2000 people, and then Bill arrived every thing looked just right, enthusiasm, spirit, great physical beauty. The grace of a panther as he sure-footedly (without looking) kept dropping off the low platform as he talked, and trailing his mike cord, would walk over to the far sides of the room to give the other poor folks a chance at pix and questions. When he finished his talk (one hour) instead of being hurried out of the room by security, he just sat down behind the same table Jim and Walter had used, to sign autographs. And then stood for the whole session on Sunday too) so the folks In the picture-taking line coming in could see him over the autographees. Nice.
Sunday at 2:30, he had a tape of "Song of the Humpbacked Whale" put on, and did the lovely, haunting poetry of D.H, Lawrence about whales. I sat there still as a mouse on the front row, hoping my full eyes would not brim over and call attention to myself and/or break his concentration -- such an experience. After his hour was up, and he was offered the opportunity to quit and to autograph, he was surprised the time had passed so quickly, and went on and did some more.
So on to autograph time, and me in line-with my record... and me and my 50 photos, and more good talks with friends, and the K/S room-party Saturday night, and the lovely bloopers Mel's room, and... [2]
GONE WITH THE CAPTAIN Atlantacon '78I wish. Gone ON the captain is more like, and the reason I rushed off to Atlanta June 30th through July 3rd, too soon for $$ comfort after a big fancon. Lucky for me and the other 2,000 or so attenders, however, as this is the last con Bill Shatner has done to date. The trip was well worthwhile, with crowds small enough to permit standing around ogling and taking pictures as he autographed on Saturday and Sunday; while he began by using the covers of the William Shatner Live albums to write on, nobody was turned away without his signature.
The Con took place in the gorgeous downtown Hilton, with its breathtaking 28-story atrium and neon-outlined glass elevators flashing up and down both inside and out, giving a real sf atmosphere. Three superb restaurants plus coffee shop and snack center gave plenty of choice for con-goers of differing affluence. Wonderful setting. Activities began on Thursday night for me when I helped collate TREXINDEX 2/3 and enjoyed the resulting room party and good fellowship of the other early birds. Friday morning saw registration begin promptly at 9:00, programming at 10:00, and everything ran on time throughout, a considerable accomplishment that experienced con-goers appreciate. Sandra Marshak and Myrna Culbreath (Star Trek Lives! The Phoenix series) had programs Friday, Saturday and Sunday, discussing their works in progress, now published. We were treated to excerpts from both, read aloud.
Jim Doohan and Walter Koenig had programs on Friday; and Jim, his young wife and baby, Eric, spent the remainder of the weekend in the lovely hotel, just enjoying its pleasures. It was fun for fans to ride the elevators with them casually, and to observe them at the next table in the restaurants. Jim is always relaxed and friendly, seemingly delighted to pose for pictures any time or pass the time of day.
This Con had something I had never encountered in my regional pro-Con going to date -- an astonishing number of fan writers, editors, publishers and artists, drawn by Shatner's rare appearance, and most selling issues of their zines. Among others were the staffs and writers of INTERSTAT, CONTACT, SOUTHERN STAR, DELTA TRIAD, R&R, NINTH QUADRANT, BERENGARIA, THRUST, COMPANION, TURBOLIFT REVIEW, GRIP, TREXINDEX, and MATTER/ANTI MATTER. Delightful congregations of interesting people formed and reformed in various room parties on Friday and Saturday nights, singing, talking, arguing things fannish, and above all enjoying the warmth of companionship sometimes previously known only by mail. A treasured experience for this somewhat isolated fan.
Shatner was all we had hoped for, when his program times finally arrived on Saturday and Sunday -- whether reciting moving excerpts from his symphony tour program or answering fan questions with brisk Kirk-like gestures. Vicki Kirin in of BERENGARIA excited the envy of us all when she got to stand with his arm around her before the crowd, coolly trading witty remarks with him as he tried to make up to her for not giving her the long distance phone call she had won by lottery at a previous con. Shatner was in marvelous shape, having been in training for the exacting physical requirements of the forthcoming Movie, wiry and graceful as he bounded up and down the stage area, making sure all areas of the huge crowd had equal opportunities for photos. Even if I had gotten nothing more out of the Con but his two appearances, it was well worth while, and I have nearly a hundred fair to excellent pictures to prove my point.
Sunday night found us all winding down, packing, exchanging addresses and wishing we could do this more often. All in all, a memorable experience, and one I wish I could have over again every few months or so. Trouble with great cons is they don't come often enough! [3]
On Thursday, June 30, 1978, two friends and I arrived in Atlanta from Nashville.We went directly to our hotel, the Atlanta Hilton, You don't drive around in that town much, not if you value your life. People from Atlanta drive like maniacs and always at warp speed.
The Atlanta Hilton is a beautiful hotel. Our room, overlooking the swimming pool, was lovely. Unfortunately, that afternoon was the only time I got to use the pool. I never ventured outside much. If the traffic wasn't enough to send me screaming back into the hotel, the weather was as hot as Vulcan. I didn't stand a chance.
Registration for the con began around 9:00 am on Friday. After registering, I headed for the Grand Salon where James Doohan's first show was scheduled to begin at 11:00 am. He was right on time.
Never having seen him in person, I was in for a pleasant surprise. He is a very attractive man who does NOT have aScottish accent. Somehow I had thought he normally talked like Scotty.
Before we knew it, Doohan was roaming through the audience shaking hands and having his picture made with every interested lass. You better believe I was interested! For me, being hugged by James Doohan was the high-light of the con.
There was a question and answer period next and Doohan was asked many questions about Star Trek The Motion Picture. He answered the ones he could, but, of course, he was not allowed to say as much as he would have liked to. After the questions and answers, Doohan signed autographs. The line was quite long but he never grew tired or impatient.
James Doohan is a kind and courteous person with a warm and genuine sense of humor. He really seems to like and enjoy his fans and the fans responded in kind. It was a true pleasure to meet him. [4]
References
- ^ from Interstat #10
- ^ from Dixie Owen in WXYZine #2 (1979)
- ^ from Dixie Owen in Illogical These Humans!! (1980)
- ^ from by Frances (Franki) Jackson in Illogical These Humans!! (1980)