Worldcon/1940

1939 · 1940 · 1941 · Index of Locations

Science Fiction Convention
Name:	Chicon I/ Worldcon
Dates:	September 1-2 1940
Frequency:	Once
Location:	Chicago, IL
Type:
Focus:	Science Fiction
Organization:
Founder:
Founding Date:
URL:
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The 1940 Worldcon, also known as Chicon I, was the second ever Worldcon.

Denver fans Olon F. Wiggins and Lew Martin (ages 20 and 17) climbed onto a freight train and travelled 30 hours by boxcar to reach the con. There they were able to put in a successful bid to host the next con in Denver.

Planning

The first World Convention in New York last year wasn't exactly a success because of a number of nasty things that happened and the generally high-handed attitude of the chaps who were running the shebang. This year that angle is being taken care of by the organization of a democratic outfit whose sole and only purpose to put over this convention and then automatically disband, having no high and mighty ideas of remolding or reshaping fandome in its own image, the sponsoring organization is not likely to try any dirty work. It can't anyway for instead of being a closed and secretive conspiracy as was New Fandom, it's open and above-board.

Unknown author: Convention in Chicago; The Science Fiction Fan #46, pp. 3-4. May 1940.

Chicago was first pitched as a site by Mark Reinsberg, Executive Director of the Illini Fantasy Fictioneers. (See In 1940 -- It's Chicago!) Bob Tucker, director of the IFF, wrote later:

For better or worse, we were awarded the convention and the headaches began -- or intensified.

Reinsberg drew up a flowery, long-winded constitution for the IFF which practically pledged us to honor the flag, mother, the Bill of Rights, and the government's foreign policy. In an effort to please all feuding factions, we probably satisfied none. His next act was to secure for himself the position of Executive Officer in charge of just about everything; entirely without malice, but with some amusement, I can say that he was determined to be the convention, Korshak, his longtime friend, was to be the Number Two Boy, with other friends Meyer and Lawrence Hamling trailing close behind. Again without malice, let me state that I was used merely as window dressing; in 1939-40 I had a BNF reputation, and Reinsberg wanted that reputation to ensure the success of his convention, I was made Director of the IFF, and given an impressive but harmless place on the program opening day.

Bob Tucker: The First Chicon, pg. 4. Tau Ceti Reprints no. 2, May 1965.

I'd like to report here that I was dumbfounded when the membership voted to give the funds to us --the committeemen-- in recognition of the hard work the preceding ten or twelve months, but that would be cheating. Oh, they voted the profits to us well enough (something rare in convention annals) but they did so only after one of the officers cried on their collective shoulders, nudging them in the desired direction. His powers of persuasion were mighty, and they gave us the loot -- I think my cut was about twenty dollars.

Tucker: The First Chicon, pg. 5. Tau Ceti Reprints no. 2, May 1965.

The New Fandom/Futurians feud was so intense at the time that, according to Tucker, Reinsberg didn't want him sitting with the Futurians at the Philadelphia Conference of 1939 for fear it would jeopardize the IFF's offer to host the next Worldcon. However, by March 1940, New Fandom was on the attack anyway. In March, the IFF wrote an open letter to Sam Moskowitz and William Sykora, repudiating claims made in Fantasy-News that they'd rejected New Fandom's offer to help out financially. They pointed out that their own budget hadn't been published yet, that their advance estimates were far below New Fandom's printed figures, and that the only help they'd asked of other organizations was in memberships, publicity and attendance. If the IFF needed financial help, it would be asked equally from every fan organization. They also pointed out that there was no reason for New Fandom to be underwriting costs at all, since no members of the "inner circle" of New Fandom or the Queens Science Fiction League had ever joined the IFF.

Reports

Morojo

Mark Reinsberg, Erle Korshak & Richard Meyer, & a Calif-Idaho conventioneer & prominent stfan Paul Freehafer made up the welcoming comittee. We felt deeply honord.

Morojo in Le Zombie, issue 32 pg. 13-15 (September 1940)

We waited til 12 o'clock that nyt for Fred Shroyer & Ted Dikty to arryv from Decatur, Ind.... Just bfor we reacht the Y we met Wiggins, Martin & two new arrivals, Earl Singleton from MIT & Art Widner -the Poll- going out for a beer. Ryt there Pogo & I lost the fellows. They joind the beer-drinkers & we didnt see some of them again til the following evening at the Scientifiction Parade.... While at the printer's we saw copys of Stardust which were just being bound & trimd. Thence we returnd to the Chicagoan to dress for the press & await the arrival of "Doc" Smith.... Pogo, Gertrude & I had a room together which soon became semi-official convention headquarters. Fone calls & telegrams were referred to us & new arrivals & local visitors were parked in our room while the Hall downstairs was being decorated. Some of those with costumes used our room for dressing. Oh, what fun to watch fans laboring with needle & thread & what-have-u!

The New York Futurians (one carload of them) were in the lobby. I drest & went down to see them. How glad I was to be here talkign with them when I learn they almost didnt make it in, having rolld their car over somewhere along the route. Not that I woudnt have been happy to see them anyway. This only made me thankful none of them had been seriously injured & all who had started were present & smiling.... The next day the Convention proper began. Read all about it in Marky's Midwest News & the Fantasy Fictioneer! If the pre-convention days coud thrill me so that I find words inadequate for expression U may be certain the Convention, itself, & the following day were also inexpressable. If you want to noe what a science fiction convention is lyk come to the DENVENTION! ... Olon & Lew will certainly have a swell tym pland for all, but getting together with our own kind for a few days once a year without plans of any sort woud alone justify conventions from my point of view!

"Amen!" added editor Bob Tucker.

Dale Tarr

Morojo, Pogo and Gertrude Kuslan had taken a room at the [Hotel Chicagoan] and we went up there. A decision to have supper was reached and six or eight of us went out in one party.... Afterwards we returned to the HC and gathered autographs. At one time there were 25 people in Morojo's room.

Reinsberg came in as Buck Rogers and since the west-coasters had come with masquerade outfits, we picked the fabulous EE Smith, Ph.D. and walked to the offices of the [Herald-American] where we shook them down for two photographs, but they shot only the group in masquerade.

(( And at this point the editor wishes to unfold a sad tale. Reinsberg hasn't the heart to say it, so I will: the masqueraders were being 'shot' for nothing. The picture was never intended to be used, and the photographer didn't even bother to develop his plates. He simply popped off a coupla flush bulbs to get rid of us. Fans please remember this when buying a newspaper in Chicago in the future, -bt))

EE Smith was dressed in gray, the shirt having the design of a compass on tho back with needle pointing to the northwest. "Northwest Smith", character from the CL Moore stories. He carried a gun with two silver buttons on the side of the butt. Pressing one caused a strong beam of light to flash from the barrel.

"The otjer button," EE remarked, "works my death ray. But its disconnected now."

Ackerman was in futuristic garb— shorts, shirt and a yard-and-a-half-long scarf (or cape) hanging down his buck. Morojo was similarly clad with feminine differences and Pogo had on an ankle-length pink skirt (?) coupled with one of those abbreviated tops which show skin on both sides. Clarissa MacDougall Smith ("Honey" — EE's daughter) was garbed as Nurse MacDougall of the Gray Lensman stories.

Dale Tarr in Le Zombie, issue 32 pg. 16-19 (September 1940)

Tucker opened the session and then handed the gavel to Reinsberg who was supposed to make a speech. Reinsberg hadn't been getting a great deal of sleep end he promptly got sick, calling on Korshak to take over. Korshak did an admirable job altho he had to cover up quickly a few times when he said something that had an unconscious edge to it. He read from the register the names of thoso present and as each name was called that person stood up to let everyone se him or her. I might say here that practically all of Amazings writers were present, as was Smith and Farley. During the day Farley made a talk, Palmer said a few words and EE Smith gave a speech on Fantasy. Farley has a nice clipped voice and Smith's oratory is excellent. Smith lent his prestige to the stand that science fiction is not escape literature. (( Also present and speaking were: Weisinger, Otto Binder and Schwartz. ...Helen Weinbaum was present but did not speak, -[Bob Tucker], editor))

Sunday night was the masquerade and there were too few in costume. Beside those already mentioned wore Cyril Kornbluth as the Invisible Man, someone else as Johnny Bear, Widner— with a pillow in his shirt and a bottle in his hand --as Giles Habibula, and Lowndes came as a strange character. Judges Smith, Rocklynne and Tanner rendered the decisions and fine pieces of artwork were awarded the winners.

Afterward came the auction and it moved forward into the wee hours of the morning, highest prices being paid for a Paul cover ($5.10) and another going at $4.80. Interior illustrations went for anywhere from a dime to better than a dollar, including Cartiers, Boks and Finlays . Finally a lot of illustrations wore given away, there being more than two for every one there.

EE Smith had stood up at the beginning of things to say "Do I qualify as a fan?" There was much applause and when tho convention banquet was all over later, all of us knew that EE was not only the author of stories we liked to read, but a man we loved to meet!

The issue was clouded for awhile as Dave Kyle --who perhaps did more talking than anyone except EE-- rose to ask that the be held in NY for a second time. Opposition arose because the LA group did not feel that they could come east every year and at the same time they did not want to miss a convention. Wiggins had previously offered to hold the '41. in Denver, and the LASFL endorsed this location. The discussion became quite heated with many points coming up and finally a short recess was called, and thereafter a vote gave 1941 to Denver by a large majority.

Someone then introduced a motion to bar the future issuance of any susbscription fanmags. Everyone was astonished at this infringement of democratic fandom and Kyle stood up to demand that the last word be stricken from the motion. This was ridiculous and made no sense, leaving the motion to read "bar the further issuance of any subscription fan". At this juncture EE Smith left the Convention Hall, not, he later said because he was irritated or disgusted, but as a strategical move designed to halt any further silliness.

Tarr later commented that Cyril Kornbluth had hotfooted as many people at the con as he could manage, excluding only Ross Rocklynne and E.E. Smith.

Bob Tucker

The complete story of the 1940 Convention can be summed up in three words: we had fun!

[...]

As far as this reporter could ascertain, Olon F. Wiggins and Lew Martin of Denver were the first in town. They came by boxcar, for a long and cold, miserable thirty-hour journey during which time, I understand, they witnessed one of those horrible accidents so common to boxcar transportation. And after them fans came by droves in about every means of transportation except the airplane. Undoubtedly the longest journey was made by Freehafer, Ackerman, Morojo and Pogo who Santa Fe'd in, the only representatives of the West Coast.

From New York City came Hyman Tiger and Julius Unger representing the Queensies, while all the Futurians and their friends were there except Pohl and Perri. Amidst cheering approval and thundering applause, Doc Lowndes, representing the Futurians, and Human Tiger [sic], representing the Queensies, shook hands in grinning comradeship, burying that well-known hatchet.

Press publicity was both encouraging and plentiful [including the Chicago Daily News, the Herald-American, and the Daily Pantagraph.] In addition, a representative from the newsmagazine Time spent many many hours at the Convention, interviewing dozens of fans, taking volumes of notes and leaving with a copy of Dikty's fan dictionary, Who's Who in Fandom. As last year, both Amazing and TWS have indicated willingness to run stories and pictures on the affair in forthcoming issues.

...About the [Convention Hall] walls were many beautiful Paul, Morey and Krupa cover-paintings from Amazing, some of these covers going for as much as five dollars at the auction later.

...On the other side of the picture, near-tragedy occurred. Near Cairo, N. Y., the car carrying about five Futurians overturned, smashing the windows and body of the car somewhat, and giving Lowndes a nasty cut over one eye... Passersby set the auto back on its wheels, an examination proved it still "seaworthy", and the Futurians calmly climbed back in to drive nonchalantly away....

'Most everyone visited Ray Palmer's office. Regardless of what one may think of Palmer the editor, Palmer the fan is a regular fella! 4SJ and myself rated a private "preview" showing of sevral cover paintings coming up in the near future, among them two beautiful St. John paintings that carry you right back to the old Burroughs days. We made the suggestion that they be used in connection with some of the Burroughs yarns now coming up in Amazing.... RAP, through Ziff-Davis, donated something like three hundred copies of Amazing and over one hundred interiors from the two magazines, to be given away at the Convention.

We met trains and busses for incoming fans. Anywhere from three to a dozen fans, carrying printed signs: "Welcome!, Science Fiction Fans!", and "Chicon Greeting Committee", would be on hand at every bus and railroad station where a fan was expected. Many were the interested and or amused glances at the committee and their signs as they rushed into a station, waited noisily for a fan, and once he arrived, to pounce upon and announce to the world... that here was a science fiction fan, by golly!...

Personalities:

Charles R. Tanner, the author: probably the goofiest and swellest author I have ever met. A great kidder, always laughing, joking, or pulling a good pun on a timely topic. A hit as crystal-gazer Ali Ben Yogi.

E. Everette Evans, an "old-timer" in every sense. Perhaps fifty, he was sent down by his son who could not attend, and triple-E knows his onions about science fiction. Stumped Doc Smith on a few points of behaviour of the Grey Lensman.

Dr. Thelma Shull, a lady fan from Evanston, ILl. Laying myself open to possible bricks, I shall say that perhaps she, of all present, was able to meet and match Doc Smith in fast and accurate thinking. There was a continual group of fans around these two, every time they got together to argue philosophy, Grey Lensman characteristics, or???

Ray Palmer, who turned out to be human after all, and not a robot. He could only repeat Margulies' words: "I didn't know you could be so damn sincere!"

Earl Singleton, the fan poet and a lady-killer from the Texas panhandle, now attending MIT in Boston....

Robt. Thompson, known as "the jeep". Thompson hit down in the midst of things, with all hotels full, and demanded a room. None were to be found. Korshak finally locked him in the Convention Hall overnight, so that the bellboys would not find him and toss him out.

Jack Chapman Miske, who isn't "just a brain and a typewriter", as someone pointed out, shaking hands all around, with many hatchets buried. Jack pointed out to me that I am ignorant, and was greatly chagrined to find I already know it.

Ask anyone who was there: we had fun!

Bob Tucker: Memories of a Chiconeer. Spaceways #16 pp. 7-10. Oct. 1940.

One highlight of the first day was the movie swept up off a cutting room floor and stuck together by Roberds and myself, (("Monsters of the Moon," consisting of scores of very short clips of experimental film, made by Mike Frisby and donated by Ackerman.)) Even Ackerman didn't recognize the picture when we were finished with it. A title reads: "The earthmen find they are not the first to conquer space," and is followed by a strip showing cowboys galloping across the plains with shooting irons smoking ---- a strip borrowed from a western epic. In another scene, Earthmen and Martians are staring at a round television screen mounted on a wall, and this is followed by a girl doing a strip-tease as seen in a round mirror on the wall ---- this was borrowed from a sex epic and worked into the continuity.

At the party, the costumes were colorful but not so plentiful as had been hoped. Dave Kyle won first prize as Emperor Ming of Mong, Doc Lowndes took second prize- in a pale orange robe (but the character he represented is still a mystery to me), and Ackerman copped third with a modernized version of his last year's futuristic costume. George Tullis made a hit as Johnny Black, several fans later copping the bear head to prance about. Speer, Korshak and Reinsberg were 3 editions of Buck Rogers. Honey Smith in nurse's uniform, while Rothman was the average scientist in long white smock and mad expression. Morojo in crimson futuristic dress plus cheesecake, Pogo in flowing lavender robes more befitting a Greek princess than a girl of the future, Elmer Perdue as Jurgen, plus wild hair, Doc Smith as Northwest Smith, with a tiny compass fastened on the rear of his belt, Tanner was simply "All ben Yogi" in red turban and crystal ball -- the latter a blue balloon. Cyril Kornbluth making a visible impression as The Invisible Man, concealing bandages and all, and as for myself, a brown Chinese coolie outfit with Pong in orange written across the back.

A hilarious skit was presented, a travesty on the movie plots witnessed so often: Morojo, as the sweet young heroine, was seated before a mirror making-up, when crawling leeringly through the window came monster Ackerman bent on attack (we presume). Horrorendcus cries. Off in the distance her screams of terror are heard by Buck Rogers Reinsberg, who comes galloping to the rescue on his rocket horse. Many are the difficulties he encounters en route, such as losing his rayguns, becoming entangled in his own trappings, falling over chairs and generally getting lost. In desperation, the heroine finally downs ol leering monster and is busily engaged in kicking him to death as Buck Reinsberg gallops thru the bedroom window, to place a triumphantfoot on the fallen chest and emit a Tarzanic cry. During this horse-play, Buck Speer (who was not in the script) sneaked into the action and began shooting up the play, heroine, monster, hero and spectators, to the mirthful confusion of all.

Bob Tucker: The First Chicon, pp. 9-10. Tau Ceti Reprints no. 2, May 1965. Paraphrased from his own reports in Milty's Mag, Fall 1940 issue.

Jack Chapman Miske

On the second day, the IFF was being dissolved as a national organization, and as non-members, Singleton, Hamling, Brazier and I were ousted, so we decided to retire for refreshments. In the lobby we met Smith, who promptly offered to treat us all. We spoke at length of Weinbaum, and Doc mentioned how Palmer angered him by writing a sequel ("Black World") to "The Red Peri," which he thinks is one of SGW's worse yarns. He then went on---- "and published his worst story, "The New Adam." That's where the battle began, Because, of course, I think it's Weinbaum's best story. For two hours the fighting raged, with Singleton aiding me usually, supporting Doc occasionally, and with Hamling offering a point now and then -- I'd like to describe the fray but it would take thousands of words. I think I can say Doc-agreed his feelings related to his opinions (about the possibilities of observing a superman) rather than literary worth.

Bob Tucker: The First Chicon, pg. 10. Tau Ceti Reprints no. 2, May 1965. Paraphrased from Jack Chapman Miske in Le Zombie #33.

Jerry Siegel, who writes Superman, attended the meeting and said he was coming to all subsequent conventions. Someone asked him why he wasn't dressed in a Superman outfit? He looked pained and patiently explained we should know it was beneath his clothes. Chalk up one for Siegel!

Bob Tucker: The First Chicon, pg. 12. Tau Ceti Reprints no. 2, May 1965. Paraphrased from Jack Chapman Miske in Spaceways #16.

At the moment of my leaving Chicago, there seemed to be a strange peace reigning in fandom. Everyone seemed to be fair and above-board , desiring only to have a good time, so dozens of petty feuds were forgotten, forever. Taurasi and Sykora seem to have left fandom, and a merger of the QSFL and the Futurians will probably occue soon. Even I have no one bent on murdering me -- Tarr, Reinsberg, Korshak, Lowndes, Michel, and all the rest of them, pals, one and all. Possibly.

Bob Tucker: The First Chicon, pg. 13. Tau Ceti Reprints no. 2, May 1965. Paraphrased from Javk Chapman Miske in Spaceways #16.

Joe Gilbert

The Chicago Convention is over. The last happy fan has been gently detached from his lamp post, handed his inevitable typewriter, and politely told to kindly get the hell out of Chicago. The last bewildered pink elephant has been trotted down to the city zoo, and the last Feudurian has disappeared in a wake of soapboxes and choruses of the Communist Internationale. An exhausted Mark Reinsberg has wiped his moist brow with a trembling hand and sworn, "Never again!" The city of Chicago has been returned to its foundations and the world is at peace again. No cry of "Sink Captain Future!" or "Listen, Bud, ya gotta read Escape or ya ain't eddicated!" disturbs the peace of the sleeping city.

The Chicago Convention is over. And seriously, I believe we all owe a debt of thanks to Mark, and Tucker, and all the others who worked so hard to prove that a convention can be a success without exclusions, without glory hunting, and without hysterical assertions that the fan world would collapse if this or that organization was not regarded as the alpha and omega of all fandom, if we did not get behind and push, push, push, for dear old Lamebrain J. Pumphandle and his colossal fan organization.

Joe Gilbert: Slan!-der. Fanfare #5 pg. 11 (Dec. 1940)

Gallery

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  1940 program book, there were 128 attendees, scan is here

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  1940 CHICON SCRAPBOOK produced by Bob Tucker (Le Zombie style), sort of a prevue to the 1940 CHICAGOCON. This has short fan intros by Tucker about a paragraph each for Forrest Ackerman, Ray Bradbury, Donald Wollheim, and Damon Knight and others. Ten pages, mimeo.