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Third Eastern Science Fiction Convention
| Science Fiction Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Third Eastern Science Fiction Convention (Philadelphia/Philly Conference) |
| Dates: | October 30, 1937 |
| Frequency: | Once |
| Location: | Philadelphia, PA |
| Type: | fan-run |
| Focus: | Science Fiction |
| Organization: | Philadelphia Science Fiction Society |
| Founder: | |
| Founding Date: | |
| URL: | Fanac.org |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
The Third Eastern Science Fiction Convention (also called the Philly Conference) was a science fiction con held in Philadelphia on October 30, 1937. Many of the participants in the First Eastern Science Fiction Convention attended. The convention committee comprised of Oswald Train, Robert A. Madle and John V. Baltadonis, with Donald A. Wollheim acting as "New York agent". Milton A. Rothman was the chairman and John V. Baltadonis the secretary.[1]
The Philly Conference was most noted for the delivery of a speech written by John B. Michel and read by Donald A. Wollheim. Mutation or Death! laid out a leftist/Communist philosophy that was called Michelism immediately following the convention. It would later be renamed Futurianism, after the Futurian Society.
Also of note: Frederik Pohl and Harry Dockweiler hijacked an elevator and named it Shaggoth 6. They rode up and down in it, with the operator and the building manager chasing them, for around fifteen minutes[2].
Program
- Welcome address - by Chairman
- Reading of minutes - by Secretary
- Speech - by John B. Michel
- A Message from Astounding Stories
- Introduction of visitors
- Discussion Period
- Adjournment.
Convention Booklet
A convention booklet was produced by John V. Baltadonis, Oswald Train and Milton A. Rothman and published by Comet Productions. It included the program, convention notes (by Baltadonis), an article on "Science Fiction Internationale" by Donald A. Wollheim and three blank pages for autographs.
The Third SCIENCE FICTION CONVENTION, the one that you are attending -- well, at the time we are writing this, we cannot give exact results of the meeting. Rather, we'll give a few of our expectancies [sic]. From reports from various fans, there is expected at least thirty fans who will come. Probably there will be many more. The foundation for the World Convention will be laid even stronger. And, there are many other results we cannot forecast at the present time as definite -- we can merely be hopeful that they will come through."Convention Notes" - John V. Baltadonis - Third Science Fiction Convention Booklet (1937)
...What does this mean? One has but to know that a person is a science fiction fan and one realizes at once that here is one for whom the drab present has no glamour. Here is one who seeks beyond the grey horizons of today for the gleaming ramparts of tomorrow. Two people meet; they know nothing of each other; they have never corresponded; they have dissimilar appearances, different environments and different up-bringing; but let them be "fans" and behold --- in five minutes they will be fast conversing on innumerable topics held dear to both. In an hour they will be firm friends, plumbing the depth of each others' minds, seeing each other as no out-sider could ever hope to do."Science Fictional Internationale" - Donald A. Wolheim - Third Science Fiction Convention Booklet (1937)
Reports
Frances Alberti Sykora
Frances Alberti, member of the New Fandom club and future wife of Will Sykora, gave a late report in January 1940, in a letter defending Sykora, James Taurasi, and Sam Moskowitz for barring six Futurians from Worldcon in mid-1939. (See The Great Exclusion Act.)
The Futurians did nothing but heckle and make fun of everyone and everything that was said at the Conference. No one there I am sure will deny that except they, themselves...[When] the question of a constitution came up their mouths began to water, and they thought their fun would begin. They were afraid to hear it or even let the other fans hear it. But finally the fans won on a vote, and it was read by Will Sykora. Wollheim asked for the floor, and when he got it, he turned it over to Leslie Perri. In this he showed his true character because althoughhe was brave to be interrupting the fans from his seat he had to let a girl speak for him. Miss Perri said they were bored because the constitution was too tremendous for such a fan club like New Fandom. They must have thought it was too big an idea for them to tear apart. It was approved by a vote of 21 to 13. I am really sorry to feel th[illegible]ss friends after all they did.
Alberti's letter Finally Convinced, printed in New Fandom issue 6 page 33 (January 1940)
Jack Gillespie
On the train to Philadelphia, I met Moskowitz who talked to me like a father all the way in, on the subject of fan magazines. The Third Eastern Science-Fiction Convention's big event was the now well known resolution with a preface, written by Johnny Michel and read by Wollheim. The vote, I believe, was eleven to eight against it. I voted against it. Sykora was very impressive.Jack Gillespie: My Years in the Fan Field or Why People Point at Me OR How It Feels to be Seventeen; The Science Fiction Fan #41, pg. 11. Dec. 1939.
The vote against Mutation or Death! was actually 12-8. Gillespie himself had come to the con with the Futurians, but it was his first time meeting any of them in person and he reported not liking Donald Wollheim on their first meeting. He was also editing Cosmic Tales with James Taurasi at the time. In 1939, Gillespie would be one of the Futurians kicked out of Worldcon by Moskowitz and Taurasi.