Worldcon/1941
| Convention | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Worldcon (Denvention I) |
| Dates: | July 4-6 1941 |
| Frequency: | |
| Location: | Denver, Colorado |
| Type: | fan-run |
| Focus: | Science Fiction |
| Organization: | Colorado Fantasy Society |
| Founder: | New Fandom |
| Founding Date: | 1939 |
| URL: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Worldcon 1941, also called Denvention I, was held in Denver Colorado. Because of World War II, it was the last Worldcon held until 1946.
The con chair was Olon Wiggins, and the Guest of Honor was Robert Heinlein. The Lost World was screened.
Claude Degler delivered a speech at Denvention called Remember the Martians! He claimed it had been written by Martians, and was believed at the time to be joking, but fans would later discover he was entirely serious.
Reports
Forrest J Ackerman
Forrest J Ackerman wrote an extensive con report in his letterzine Voice of the Imagi-Nation, using his characteristic simplified spelling:
While shaving got a tone call from Johnny Michel who said How about Doc & Daw & I having breakfast with U if U havent eaten yet? & I said Alrite, fine. But I can’t remember now whether I breakfasted with them after all. I noe I ate with a crowdlet that included Walt & Eleanor Daugherty but of the rest of U I cannot be quite certain. Al McKeel? Rustebar (Rust E. Barron)? Lowndes, Michel & Wollheim?Voice of the Imagi-Nation issue 17 (August 1941)
A happy surprise when Freehafer, Morojo & Yerke, who drove, & were not expected til nitefall, arrove forenoon. Soon after, Morojo's maglet; Stephan the Stfan, the perennial convention autograf pamflet; was available in its 3d edition, price -"YOUR Signature". As those of U who were there noe, I started duplicates circulating, 2 for the British Boys & another for the Aussys. By actual count I find 60 signatures on myn but I’m afraid the plan kinda got out of hand around the quarter-hundred mark for the overseasers. However, the bklets, with such sigs as I was able to secure, were clipperd to England's & Australia's fan-heads to pass around for the fellows to see.
Wiggins says, Those with fanmags can get them ready in the Convention Hall now for display tomoro. So I go out to the garage with Paul [Freehafer] to get my items. Returning to the Convention Hall... I find about 20 stfans milling about. Daugherty is busy arranging tables; Julie Unger is getting his super Triple-F out & still wondering what to do about the censord "Art" foto of Widner; the [five] Futurians pick a place for their Phantagraph & "X"; Phil Bronson arrives with a batch of 2 nos. of Fantasite; Joe Fortier distributes around various conmags; auctionable. Paul & Finlay pix are set up along the walls. Wiggins requests fans to refrain from purchasing fmz tonite, calls for volunteers to work to remain, politely asks all others to leave. The Daughertys, Heinleins, Liebscher, 4e & a few others stay behind. Wiggins leaves to rustle up Lew Martin....
9am--the Denvention semiofficially gets under way. More & more fans apear in the Hall. All exchange handshakes, autografs, mill around the fanmag table, appraise the pix...s'no difrent from foregoing yrs. Except--the Recorder. Here, by the side of the speakers' platform, for the firstime af a fanvention a discutter is in evidence. And as Yours Sciencerely mc's, few fans excape with their voices unrecorded as all within distance of call are invited up to the mike to make comments: their reactions to recording conventions, what they think of certain fmz, etc. For a quarter anyone can get a copy of Cyclops, Shangri-LA, & have made a special Shangri-LARecord all his own with the voices of such fans as he shall select. Bob Madle has greetings made up for the Philly Fellows, Evans asks everyone to say hello to Doc Smith, Phil Bronson gets himself a disc grooved.
Mr Heinlein’s "Discovery of the Future" is a matter of records. Seven of them, two-siders. He spoke for approximately one hour and a half. The topic of his talk was the trying times ahead & how in his opinion science fiction conditions the fan's mind to hang on to sanity as fantasy after fantasy becomes reality. Praps I've not put that completely properly or others obtaind a difrent interpretation of his adres; but I become sorta selfconscious & tonguetied when it occurs to me Bob's going to be reading something I rite, he being such a semantician & all. I wonder if what I'm riting is making sense, or if it's just meaningless marks thatre coming out of the machine, meaningless noises. Guess I'll have to get a noiseless typryter! Anyway, I was intensely imprest with "The Discovery of the Future". I felt like: Well, I've heard Wells, & now I've heard Heinlein....
Morojo, 3E & 4e had lunch together bfor the Afternoon Session of the 5th, at which time we got a preview of Evans' Prepared Speech, discust it & the way of the world in general. I recall an uneasy twinge as 3E mentiond the "Mac" girl & how tho the feminine form airily clad made his heart as glad as anybody else's, he felt there was a time & place for everything- - & the place for Petty pix was not on sci-fic's covers...& I thot of our Vomaiden by Paule, this month's by Mooney, & our intention to feature others at not infrequent intervals! However, the midst of this Denvention account is not the place, cither, to digress & give an editorial dissertation on why your coeds approve of the fair sex in undress, in fanart. Just briefly'll quote Morojo, when discussing Evans' attitude with her later, that "promags & fmz, in relation to femmes, are two different things....
Others spoke. damon k; his stflag idea, Walt Liebscher on the question of falsification in fandom. Walt Daugherty spoke at length on the necessity for the unification of fandom, climaxing his speech with the presentation of 5 medals, awarding 1941's highest honor for amateur artwork to Roy Hunt; for best fanmag to Olon Wiggins (Science Fiction Fan); top humorist, damon knight; finest news-dispenser, Julie Unger (Fantasy Fiction Field); &, for "services rendered", Yours Sciencerely . . . The moment during which I was awarded this medal was the most electrical with emotion in my life, & brot me closest to a hysterical breakdown of anything that has hapnd to me thus far------------------------
Banquet attendance was large (40), the meal xlnt, the after-dinner doings replete with surprises. There were Heinlein's "scraps of paper" & his story about Ole Brother Hubbard (L. Ron) who went to the starboard of his boat... & there discoverd a bear; Willard Hawkins' speech ("It's the world that's out of step--not the stf fans"); Walt Daugherty's masterful mc'ing, & impersonation of Roosevelt that brot down the house (to coin a cliche); the award to Allen Class of the Denvention "Difficulty Prize"; Claudegler's "Remember the Martians!"; Lowndes' "What's to Do About It?"; Rothman's message from Perdue; Julie Unger’s deadpan presentation with byplay from "Granny" Widner; applause for the newlyweds Walt & Eleanor Daugherty, who chose the Denvention as the time & place for their honeymoon; Franklyn Brady's spokesmanship for the assembled fans in presenting Honor Guest Heinlein with 7 superior bks, procured thru popular subscription, on the occasion of the celebration of his birthday, & Heinlein's request that everyone present sign one bk or another; the round-robin comments by the diners; "Auld Lang Syne"; & the lingering-after for farewells to friends, a few more fotos, fonograf records... & "FINIS" reluctantly is appended. It’s ended!!
Rusty Hevelin
The official convention got started the next afternoon after a morning of waiting. Once it got started, it kept up a rapid pace all the way through. Almost 70 fans registered, and many interested persons in Denver dropped in at various times. Among the best-known fans present were 4e Ackerman, Don Thompson, "Poll-Cat" Widner, the Futurians, Korshak, Unger, the Galactic Roamers, Demon Knight, T. Bruce Yerke Schwartz, Madle, Fortier, Freehafer, Morojo, Phil Bronson, and Rothman. The fast rising "Doc" Daugherty and his Eleanor honeymooned at the Denvention. The Heinleins, Edmond Hamilton, and Willard E. Hawkins proved themselves real fans as well as pros.Rusty Hevelin writing as Rustebar: The Third Convention. Fantasite #5 pp.13-15 (Sept. 1941)
The guest of honor, Mr. Robert A. Heinlein, gave an excellent speech which proved to me that he is a fine speaker as well as a fine author. He discussed "the scientific method" and the future of fantasy fandom as associated therewith. He told us the necessity of its use in our changing social conditions. The talk, very complimentary to the ego of the listeners, was received courteously and appreciatively by the convention. Shortly after the close of this speech, Galactic Roamer E. E. Evans talked to advocate more cooperation and purposeful planning in fandom. He suggested that fandom eliminate feuds and plan a long range program for its own future. He passed out a resume of his speech so that those present could read it over and give more thought to it.
With eager anticipation we watched the auctioneer, Mr. Korshak take the rostrum to direct the fight over the spoils. Only F. F.M., Planet, Future Fiction, Astonishing, Cosmic, and their companions contributed, so there was a shortage of good material. However, under the guidance of the redoubtable Korshak, prices zoomed high. Brady paid $9.50 for a Finlay black-and-white. Other prices went correspondingly high, Top buyer was Gus Willmorth, who took home everything he could get, including Unger's only complete bound set of FFF. Wiggins got the only Dold offered. Heinlein got stuck with Korshak's skeleton head, so he proceeded to auction it again. This time Schwartz was hooked into it by Hamilton. At this time Heinlein's greatest embarrassment came. Daugherty, who recorded the entire convention, made a disc of this episode and then played it back. It was a kick.
According to Hevelin, Joe Fortier made the pitch for San Francisco as the 1942 Worldcon site. Milton A. Rothman pitched Washington. Walt Daugherty then successfully won a 2/3 majority vote for Los Angeles. Hevelin reported "considerable ill-feeling" from some of the majority who wanted another East Coast con.
E.E. Evans
FIRST DAY - FRIDAY: To begin with, the attendance was rather disappointing; if I remember rightly the total registered attendance, including visitors from Denver, was about 65. Wiggins said he had letters from nearly forty others who had planned to be there,but were caught in the draft, or other war work, and couldn't make it. Every time someone absent was mentioned, someone else says "oh, he was drafted!", or "he's tied down with government work." Rothman wasn't to far wrong with that now-historic crack made in Chicago anent the next convention being held in training camp.... Wiggins, Martin and Hunt made short addresses of welcome, and then Heinlein was introduced. It was really the highlight of the first day of course, and being prepared in advance, was a dilly. He talked about the fact that Stephans, by their very natures, were better able to keep from becoming "unsane" (not insane) in the present great world-changing crisis, because they had learned to develop a cosmic viewpoint on things rather than a limited, individualistic viewpoint of what was happening....E.E. Evans: Denvention Dope. Le Zombie #41 pp. 3-5 (Oct. 1941)
SECOND DAY - SATURDAY:Saturday morning, the scheduled meeting to disband the Colorado Fantasy Society didn't come off, as the Denver boys didn't seem to get there in time, and there was a lot of fangabbing, selling of fanzines, and taking subscriptions therefore---which reminds me, I am a damned poor partner, for while I sold some of our LeZ, I didn't get a single order for a subc. However there was a lot of favorable comment about that back page- Singleton advertisement affair, and some of the LEZ-ETTES. The cover attracted a lot of attention.
One of the new ideas of this convention is that Daugherty is making recordings of the principal parts of the affair, and copies of these records will be available later for those interested in paying... For instance, he told me that the complete recording of Heinlein's Friday speech ran so long, it would cost $5 or thereabouts. He used in the neighborhood of 70 records (both sides) in recording the complete convention.
...Walt Daughterty spoke well on the need of fandom working more closely together, and ended by making a presentation of five medals which he,himself, was presenting to outstanding fans.First, to Ackerman, for his interest in, and help to fans always, and at all times whatever their need. Second to Julie Unger for the best dissemination of fan news. Third to Olon Wiggins for the consistently best fanzine. Fourth to damon knight for the best humor fanzine in the long run (he mentioned LeZ as just barely being nosed out, largely because you [Bob Tucker] were lately putting more of your personal opinions in the mag rather than keeping entirely to your old style of all-humor.) Fifth to Roy Hunt for the best fan artist, and for his graciousness and promptness in always acceeding to a fan editor's request.
Then I (myself, in person) delivered a monumental speech on "Fans, Let's Go Ahead!" in which I stated that fandom was, in my opinion, out of the stage of swaddling clothes, and should assert its adulthood in an adult manner. I stuck my neck out by stating some of the things I thought were wrong and that could be fixed by a united fandom, and closed with a motion that a committee be appointed to work out a long-range program during the coming year, that could be presented at the next convention for adoption, change, or rejection, as the fans then might desire. There followed considerable discussion, and finally the mostion was changed so that the NFFF was to take charge of the preparation of such a program. A vote of confidence was also given the NFFF, with the convention going on record as approving of the organization as thus far planned and organized.
There was a lot of gabbing about things, but it was really more orderly than the debacle at Chicon, and the spirit seemed much better.... Unity was clearly the keynote of the affair.
Evening: That night was the auction. Altho Campbell and Palmer didn't send any originals, there were about forty from Gnaedinger, Wollheim and Lowndes. So the prices were quite high, the convention took in around #110.00 altogether. I paid $15 at a private sale of Finlay's "Metal Monster" cover when the boys needed some cash in a hurry Friday night. Also, later, $9 for a Hannes Bok that is a gem. I auctioned off my BEM costume and Morojo got it for $4, while Korshak auctioned his skull (headdress, silly!) for $1, which was promptly re-auctioned for another dollar by Heinlein, who "sold" it to someone else, who gave it to Walt Daugherty and his bride, Eleanor, as a wedding present. Walt made a recording of Heinlein auctioneering, and that brought $1.50....
THIRD DAY- SUNDAY: ...On the voting [for next Worldcon site], there were 25 for L.A. and four or five each for [San Francisco, Washington DC and Philadelphia]. Six L.A. fans voted for Eastern cities, while six Easterners voted for L.A., so that settled any doubts that the Westerners were trying to dominate the conventions, after it had been more or less "promised" in Chicago that 1942 would go back East. Everyone seemed quite pleased after all the shouting was done, and Widner led the stampede for memberships when he rushed up and claimed #1, with myself a close second for #2 (after having planned for six months to be the first as soon as a city was selected!) However, Battlecreek has sent in a membership for each and evry one of her nine fans, and I am sure that we are the first city to be 100% enrolled.Evening: The banquet, of course, and Heinlein followed Smith's idea of a short, humerous speech. This was followed by a talk by Julie Unger, and he was pleasing, with one of the wittiest talks I've heard. Lowndes spoke, mentioning that his two mags, Science Fiction and Future Fiction, were soon to be merged, and mentioned some points of his editorial policy.
Robert A. Madle
Robert A. Madle reported that after an evening of drinking, he came back to the hotel and encountered some of the Futurians, drunk and "set upon beating someone up", although he was accompanied by other fans so nothing came of the meeting.
It might be mentioned that the Denvention was, by far, the most representative convention yet held. There were fans present from all parts of the country. Also, it was, more or less, strictly a fan convention. There were very few professionals present at any time, and of those who were present, Heinlein, for one, is certainly a fan. Another thing--it surprised me to note how many fans attended who had had no previous connection with fandom. Rust E. Barron hitchhiked from California, Charles Massion came from Salt Lake City, Elmer Meukel and David Dawson came from Spokane, young Bill Deutch hailed from New York City, etc.The first official session of the convention consisted of the usual speeches of welcome, introduction of everyone present by the chairman, and Robert Heinlein's speech. Heinlein displayed himself as being an excellent speaker, capable of holding the attention of the audience for an indefinite length of time. His speech, which followed no definite trend, consumed nine records. Oh, yes--I forgot to mention that Walt Daugherty recorded the entire convention, using 65 discs, and will probably soon place individual records on sale. It will be a great opportunity actually to attend the convention once more--via the recording machine. Heinlein discussed the "scientific method", which, while used by stf. fans and authors, could never be used by the average person. The entire speech was chock full of complimentary remarks directed at scientific fiction fans.
E. Everett Evans, of Battle Creek, Mich., delivered an excellent speech also. Evans advocates a United Fandom, working as he says "together on a definite, long-range program". He desires fan feuds to be abolished, and thinks fans should assist in such worthwhile projects as publishing fan magazines on time, assisting Speer with his "fancyclopedia"--and helping Rothman with his "Statistical History of the Future", etc.... After the costume party Wiggins announced that there was a barrel of beer and some wine available to anyone who wanted some. Six fans were seriously injured in the rush. In the meanwhile, plans for the showing of "The Lost World" were being rushed into action. Finally the picture started. It featured Wallace Beery as Dr. Challenger, Bessie Love as the pretty young thing, some handsome hammy actor as the lover, and Lewis Stone as the frustrated old guy. Most of the fans were feeling pretty good, and throughout the picture various humorous remarks were passed. After this we all went out and got drunk again.
The most important thing during Saturday's session was the scientific fiction auction. There were very few items to be had as the only ones who contributed art material were Mary Gnaedinger, Pohl, Wollheim, and Doc Lowndes. Therefore, the stuff that was there commanded ridiculously high prices. For instance, Franklyn Brady paid $9.50 for a black-and-white Virgil Finlay. Erle Korshak was the auctioneer and did avery good job of it. He continually made humorous remarks about the material he was selling. For instance, when a bid of $1.20 was received on the black-and-white Morey cover from the first Cosmic Stories, Korshak remarked, "That's probably more than Editor Wollheim paid for it". Korshak was threatened with having his teeth knocked out, so he used the scientific method and retracted his statement. Another humorous incident occurred when the illustration for Kornbluth's "Nova Midplane" was being auctioned. Korshak said, "Come, come, fellows. This is the illustration for Kornbluth's greatest story--placed last in the issue". Yes, Erle had to take that back, too....
The afternoon session consisted mainly of the bids by the various fans for the next convention site. Joe Fortier gave a good talk for San Francisco; according to Joe, in 'Frisco everything would be free. Even the Mayor, a Mr. Rossi, officially requested the '42 affair for 'Frisco. Milt Rothman spoke for Washington, Walt Daugherty played up Los Angeles, and I suggested Philadelphia. The final voting showed an overwhelming majority for LA, with Washington, Frisco, and Philly getting only twelve votes among them. Therefore, it's the LACon in 1942! Realizing that it had been unofficially agreed that the '42 affair would be held in the east, many of the LA fans did not vote.
Walter Daugherty made the following awards for activity in fandom. Olon F. Wiggins was given the award for the best fan magazine; Roy V. Hunt copped the prize for being the top fan artist; Forrest J Ackerman won the award for his all-around activities, for his sincere help in all fan projects, and for everything he has done for fandom. As Daugherty remarked, "No one but Forrie could win this award". damon knight won the medal for being the funny man of scientific fiction. The awards consisted of small engraved medallions.
Robert A. Madle: My First Two Thousand Miles. Spaceways #22 pp. 15-18 (Aug. 1941)
Costumes
I seem to grow progressively less particular about my convention reporting. Golly, after the Nycon I described everything in fhe minutest detail in a 1/2 doz articles. Studley & Tucker never saw fit to publish most all I rote re the Chicon (aproxly 5000 words)....I think it pretty well agreed the Chicon Masquerade was not too successful; in fact, lucky the Life fotografer didnt show. So I held no hi hopes for the Mylhicon's evening-of-disguise . Which was why I was astonisht & delited, the way youse guys came prepared. The gashly Doc Lowndes... madoctor Kornbluth...Deathshead Korshak...Morojo the Akka..."Ole Granny" Widner...Jno Star knight...The Improbable Man...[Bill Deutsch as] Prof Pinero ...Daugherty, in the $500 spaceman's outfit...[Robert Heinlein as] Adam Stink, the human robot...Leslyn Heinlein as a character from Cabell...The Tramp...& my own repulsive self [as the Hunchback of Notre Dame, with a mask designed by Ray Harryhausen]. EEEvans as the BEM to end all Bug-Eyed Monsters [took first prize]!
Forrest J Ackerman in Voice of the Imagi-Nation issue 17 (August 1941)
Mr. Evans devastated the convention with his carefully done "Bird Man from Rhea". He depicted a member of an advanced race of evolving bird-people who had become space rovers after overcoming their own planet. The costume, which must have cost many hours of labor and no little cash, took the first prize. It was vividly colored, each feather being put on separately, and the eyes (cockeyed) were up on stalks. This costume was donated to the committee and sold to Morojo at the auction."Doc" Daugherty copped second prize. His costume was made up mostly of experimental materials used by the airplane factory where he earns his living. He conceived the idea of converting to his own purpose experiments which went wrong. Thus he built up his "$500" space pilot costume which incorporated plastiglass helmet, shoulder guards, ray gun, and a protuberance on the headpiece which was purported to be a means of thought expression. From the shoulder guards, a flowing black cloak fell down behind a suit of blue and gold.
Third prize was taken by Forrie Ackerman who appeared to be the Hunchback of Notre Dame. He wore a rubber head-mask which was a panic. It was somewhat loose in the front and he achieved a rather grisly effect by purposeful breathing. As 4e went about the room beckoning to people to come near, the face contorted gruesomely. No one seemed to reciprocate his desire for companionship.
Other costumes to be seen were "Akka" (Morojo), "The Improbable Man" (Elmer Meukel), Pinero(Deutsch), Jno Star (Demon Knight), Heinlein's prophet (Cohen),a skeleton(Korshak), a mad doctor (Kornbluth), and Doc Lowndes as a zombie with a slashed throat. Bob Heinlein, who had prepared no costume, came as "Adam Stink—World’s Most Lifelike Robot", and Art Widner was a wow as old Granny from "Slan!". He portrayed her--voice and all--almost directly from the story. He was so good that no one knew who "she" was for a while. Many fans felt that this impersonation and costume should have taken one of the prizes.
Rusty Hevelin writing as Rustebar: The Third Convention. Fantasite #5 pp.13-15 (Sept. 1941)
I am proud to report that Mr. E.E. Evans of Battle Creek, Michigan, that eminent fan from the Galactic Roamers, won first prize of $5 for his costume of a Bird Man from Rhea; Walt Daugherty, a somebody from Los Angeles, won second prize of $3 with his make-up as a Visitor from the Void--spacean costume and helmit; 4E Ackerman copped third prize of $2, as a Grotesque Mask and hunchback/. Then there was Morojo with a BEM mask as one of the AKKA from "The Moon Pool"; Leslyn Heinlein was Princess Niafer, from James Branch Cabell's "Figures of Earth"; Mr Heinlein had a sign hung on him reading: "Adam Stink, the world's most life-like robot"; Art Widner was "Granny" from "Slan"; damon knight as John Star; Bill Deutsch as 'Dr Pinero', making predictions for the fans; Doc Lowndes as a zombie; Cy Kornbluth as the doctor who had operated on him; Chet Cohen as 'Nehimah Scudder', the Prophet; Erle Korshak as a ghost, with sheet and skeleton head; and Rustibar as 'The Tramp'.There were plenty of lights rigged up and a lot of picture were taken of the costumes, including some color shots by Heinlein and Millard, and probably others. I believe movies were also taken.
E.E. Evans: Denvention Dope. Le Zombie #41 pp. 3-5 (Oct. 1941)
The Friday evening session opened with the costume party. Several fans went to enormous expense with their costumes. E. E. Evans attended in a masterfully executed costume, which he called "A Bird Man from Rhea". I am not exaggerating in the slightest when I say that he looked like something from an Amazing Stories' back cover come to life. Evans copped first prize with his excellent costume. Walt Daugherty attended as a space-pilot from Venus. His excellently-executed costume consisted of plastic glass covering his head and shoulders. This blossomed into a flowing black cloak. He wore a light blue shirt and dark blue trousers. A breathing-pipe was connected with the headpiece, and he carried a ray-gun. The best part of the costume, according to reports, was destroyed. This consisted of green scales to cover his hands and features. Oh, yes--the story behind the statement that Daugherty "would attend in a $500. costume". Daugherty is employed by a US airplane factor. It seems that the plastic glass used for the headpiece was intended for use as a covering for a new-model airplane cockpit. However, it was slightly faulty and Daugherty conceived the idea of his costume and requested the faulty cockpit covering. The plastic glass is worth $500. Second prize for Walt.Forrie Ackerman took third prize with a weird-looking costume. Forrie originally intended to come as Odd John but the pain blistered off the original headpiece, so Ray Harryhausen made him a new one. It is still not definitely known exactly what Ackerman was--he resembled the Hunchback of Notre Dame, however. Art Widner was a scream as Old Granny from "Slan". He followed the characterization exactly as van Vogt wrote it. He didn't win a prize but he gave everyone present a lot of laughs. Others were: Rust E. Barron as "The Tramp"; Korshak as a skeleton; Bill Deutch as Pinero from "Lifeline"; Morojo as Akka from "The Moon Pool"--she certainly had an ugly looking mask, didn't she?--Heinlein came with costume at all. He claimed he was "Adam Stinks--the world's most life-like robot". Mrs. Heinlein attended as a character from a story by Cabal. Chet Cohen was a prophet, Lowndes a zombie and Cyril Kornbluth came as Mad Doctor Gottesman--that explains those stories he writes.
Robert A. Madle: My First Two Thousand Miles. Spaceways #22 pp. 15-18 (Aug. 1941)