Brookcon

Science Fiction Convention
Name:	Brookcon
Dates:	1977-1978
Frequency:	annually
Location:	Brookings, South Dakota, US
Type:	science fiction, Star Trek, fan-run, fan guests, pro guests
Focus:
Organization:
Founder:	Mark Behrend
Founding Date:
URL:
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Brookcon was two science fiction con held in Brookings, South Dakota and was sponsored by Star Trek Nuts, a fan club. There was a third one planned, but it was cancelled.

The con was organized by Mark Behrend, who along with George Perkins published Star Trek Nuts & Bolts.

NOTE: It is not the same as the Brookcon organized by David Lubkin, also held in the late 1970s.

Some Context

Like many fan clubs, Star Trek Nuts sponsored many social activities. An example of one that preceded the first mini-con:

A New Year's Eve slumber party was held by George Perkins, Mark Behrend, Rich Woolworth, and Ken Fredrickson, with Tom Chleborad present for part of the meeting. No club business was conducted, but a general desire for more meetings in the future was expressed. SPECIAL NOTE: If any correspondent members have a chance to come to Brookings, please do so, you are always welcome.

1977

Brookcon '77 was a one-day mini-con held July 9, 1977.

From Star Trek Nuts & Bolts #14/15:

In honor of a possible visit by various out-of-town STN members, the local members will be holding a public SF/ST "mini-convention". Specific dates are not known at this tine, but the get-together will be held in either June or July [1977].

Everyone that can make it is invited, and it should prove to be fun. Yes, local members will be happy to supply rooms for the night (or you can "camp-out" in a back yard), but the actual "mini-con" will only take one day. At this tine, Jim Hoover and his wife have written that they would come, and it is possible that Barbara and Randy Pohl will be here. Dan Munson, Dan Erickson, and possibly Daryl Lanz night be able to make it, and all local members will be there, of course. Because the "mini-con" will be open to the public, there is a strong possibility that many formally closet Trekkers from Brookings will show up.

Planned for the "mini-con" is a memorabilia display, slide show, amateur and professional 8mm movies, and a "pay-your-own" pizza dinner. Any other ideas for activities are welcome, and if you can't make it, maybe you have an ST item or 8mm movie that you wouldn't mind loaning, for the rest of the members to view. Your help is needed!

During Brookcon '77 we held an auction of Star Trek merchandise donated by various people and we raised an exceptional $42. This boosted the subscription pot to about $82, really helping me.

1977: Con Report

The official con was only one day long. A fan recounted some pre and post-con activities:

Rich works all day at local gas station. Dan, Daryl, George, Mark and Ken all go out to Brookings High School, local shopping mall. Walked through field — Ken's idea of a short cut. Later looked at slides, artwork, etc.

[...]

Went down to Brookings Public Library to put up posters and tables for con. The library wouldn't let us hang pictures on the walls — something about weak mortar, roof falling in, or some such. Passed up watching "The Trouble With Tribbles" on tv that afternoon...

[...]

Mark has idea: "Let's have a slumber party!” Things are finalized in seconds, after an hour debate of where we should stay. Rich can't stay — has to get up and *groan* work tomorrow.

So, Dan, Daryl, George, Mark, Ken, Trent, Tom, and Tim go get bedrolls/sleeping bags. Played TV PONG game championship, Ken declared Big Dummy and winner of the championship. Switched tv to SPACE: 1999 for a moment — saw which episode ("Yecchhhh, Creature from Space”) and went back to PONG. Soon became bored of PONG.

Mark has idea: "Let's get something to eat!" We walk down to local late-night food store, three minutes till closing. They wish they had closed three minutes early that night. Mark buys potato chips, Daryl buys ben-wa juice. George manages to step on an empty pop can which sticks to bottom of his shoe rest of night.

[...]

Empty sacks from store used as cones for Coneheaded George, Daryl, Dan, Mark, Trent, Tim, Tom, and Ken.

[...]

George sets alarm so we can get up later in morning. Pillow fight ensues. Fart championship begun.

Oh, happy days! The wondrous day arrives. Set up for con all morning. Doors open at I:OO pm, and we were astounded! More people than every anticipated showed up! Of course, this could have been due to the fact that a monsoon hit the Summer Art Festival which was in town at the time— the folks were probably looking for a place to keep dry. Anyway, we showed a few films: "A Game of Terror", "The Yuck", "Sol I", "K-9000", "The Return of the Son of Frankenstien's Bride", and "It Came From Outer Space". Soundtrack from Star Wars played throughout the day. Raked in about $45.00 on the auction—one 8x10 of the Enterprise which retails for 500 sold for $1.00, a model of a Klingon ship sold for $4.00 and issue #1 of the Giant Poster Book went for $3,07. Couldn't believe it. Art and models were displayed for all to see, some art sold. Trivia contest flopped, but at least some members got the satisfaction of showing off their ST knowledge in front of the others. So, we broke for dinner. Went to the Pizza King in Federation uniforms. Got a few strange looks. At 6:30 we re-opened the library and more people came in (probably 70 different people throughout the day, but only 40 at any one time). George showed his Star Trek and science fiction filmclips and Rich showed his Star Wars slides. After the last filmclip was shown, the last note of Star Wars heard, and the last piece of Soylent Blue eaten, we sadly chased everyone out and locked the doors. Later that evening went to Mark Behrend’s house and borrowed his halloween rubber mask—the grossest, ickiest, greenist thing you ever saw—and the green arm Used for "A Game of Terror". Drove around town growling and waving at people through the car window. Rich backed into a telephone pole, which we theorized must be a curse of the wild Tunisian Etc. Went to a Summer Arts Festival live band, still wearing mask and glove. More strange looks.

[...]

Rich takes Dan and Daryl back to bus terminal.... The world goes back to normal.

1978

Brookcon '78 was held July 23-25, 1978.

1979 (Cancelled)

Brookcon '79 was planned for June 15-17, 1979 at the Staurolite Inn Motel Convention in Brookings, S.D.

There were to be guests (fan and pro), movies, slides, panels, a banquet, game room, an art show and auction, and other activities.

From George Perkins in Star Trek Nuts & Bolts #29 (March 1979):

... Brookcon '79 which is rapidly approaching. Not only can I tell by looking at the calendar (Brookcon is June 15 — 17)# but I can tell by the rate at which preparations have increased from a drizzle to a downpour. (Around a week or two before the con they turn into a genuine hurricane). At this time we have confirmed the following films: the Star Trek bloopers, "Forbidden Planet," "This Island Earth," and episode of "My Favorite Martian," a complete serial called "Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe," an ancient astronauts film narrated by Rod Serling, and the ever-present "K-9000 a Space Oddity." (Plus more surprises, I'm sure!) We're looking forward to the visits of both Geoffrey Mandel (from New York) and Carolyn Henson (from Arizona) of the L-5 Society. Unofficially, Gordon Dickson also mentioned the fact that he was interested, but wouldn't be able to give us an answer until the last minute, as did Ruth Berman.... We hope to see such people as Dan Munson, Daryl Lanz, Mark Behrend, Carol Christensen and others on the premises as well. Of course the main attraction at a con is other fans anyway. A general informational flyer is available from Brookcon '79 [address redacted] or if you wait a week or two a detailed progress report (including information on motel, banquet, dealers' tables, ad rates, programming, art show and auction, etc.) will be available. Please enclose a stamp. (This is a "non profit" con where all proceeds are given to charity).

This con was canceled. One reason was likely the demise of Perkin's zine, Star Trek Nuts & Bolts.