Washington Media Fest

Convention
Name:	Washington Media Fest
Dates:	July 29-31, 1983
Frequency:
Location:	Arlington, Virginia
Type:
Focus:	Current and past SF media (Star Wars, Star Trek, etc.)
Organization:
Founder:
Founding Date:
URL:
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Washington Media Fest took place July 29-31, 1983 in Arlington, Virginia.

Guests of Honor

The guests of honor were Ann Crispin and Howard Weinstein.

Comcon

• chair: Gail Pittaway
• co-chair: Sheila Willis, Laura Peck
• hotel liaison: Malcom Burnside
• registration: Robyn Kevelson Burnside
• dealers: Ted Pauls
• costume call: T.J. Burnside
• programming: Linda Deneroff
• PR: Rich Kolker
• video: Bill Rich
• secretary: Diane Thompkins
• con suite: Susan Dobson

From a Flyer

HOTEL: Our hangout is the Sheraton National In Arlington, Virginia. The Sheraton is used to fandom, SF's Disclave has been held there the past two years (and our contact with the hotel held her wedding at the same time as one of those...in the hotel.) Among the goodies: and indoor pool, video game room, lots of parking, and a view overlooking Washington that can't be beat. All for the measley [sic] price of:

$44 -- single, double, triple or quad.

PROGRAMMING: Three full days of it, on everything from Star Trek, to Starsky and Hutch, from Blake's 7 to Hill Street Slues, and everything in between. Panels, role-playing, movie previews and who-knows-what else are among of what's being planned. And if you want to get more involved in fandom, the how-tos of editing, art, layout, and maybe even convention running (but we'll keep a few secrets to ourselves). Filksinging, the Costume Call, and the Sundae Show round out the programming. Maybe even a surprise or two... stay tuned!

FILMS/VIDEO: Yes. And plenty of both. As always, we've scraped up a few new sources of stuff we haven't had before, and neither has any other con.

ART SHOW: Some of the best art in fandom shows up at our display, and many new artists break into art shows for the first time here. We'll have real, professional-type hangings this year for all the art, an improvement on the old "lean it on the chairs" system. The hanging fee is 25 cents a piece, and the convention will take 10% on any sales. For detailed art show rules, write us and enclose a S.A.S.E. (Self- addressed and stamped envelope)

DEALERS: Plenty of tables. This is the best place to buy all those fanzines. Half a dozen or so will probably be making their bow at Mediafest. And, of course, books, posters, photos and lots more. Tables are limited. s And the cost of one, including a membership, is:

$20 -- fans

$25 -- pros

HELPERS: Of course we need your help. Here's your chance to get in on the inside of making a convention work. Lots of people find helping the most fun of going to a convention. Honest! And it has nothing to do with the possibility of getting their membership fee back.

The Program Book

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  1983 program book

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Flyers

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Fan Comments/Con Reports

Washington Media Fest was a one-off convention, whose unfortunate temporal and geographical proximity to better-established conventions like Shore Leave and August Party led to very low attendance. I was in the Dealers Room, and although I did well, the other Dealers took to good-naturedly calling it "ComaCon". We did all manage to have a good time, though.