THE HORROR FILM CLUB OF GREAT BRITAIN'S FIRST ANNUAL CONVENTION
took place over the weekend of 23rd/25th September. The programme
was scheduled to commence on the Friday evening (23rd) but as projectionist
Harry Nadler, complete with films and projector) arrived somewhat
belatedly, attendees adjourned to the bar. The representative party
of northern fandom, Harry & Marie Nadler, John Ramsey Campbell,,
Dave Trengrove, Linda Barnes, Dave Britton, Brian Marshall, Bob
Holland and Bill Burns were misdirected on their arrival in Bath,
the western convention town and spent several hours searching for
the main hotel, the White House, discovering only the following
morning that The White House was....a white house, only two doors
away, from a place where they had made enquiries the evening before.
During the weekend a total of eighteen films and film extracts
were shown, amongst them The Black Lagoon series, King Kong, The
Mummy, One Million B.C., The Lost World, Return of the Ape Man,
It Came From Outer Space, Nosferatu and Destination Moon.
Auctions of books and film items were highspots of the weekend,
with John Ramsey Campbell in fine form as auctioneer, selling "prize
items" like Forry Ackerman's Famous Monsters of Filmland for
30/- and a photograph of Boris Karloff for £l. SF books on
auction brought long silences from bidders, most of whom were interested
only in film material.
The fancy dress party, billed as The Mad Monster Ball, had much
the same poor response as have the SF cons of late. TV and press
reporters arrived on the scene and apparently based their entire
coverage on this one event. David Fletcher of Bradford was awarded
first prize as the best Ghoul of the year and along with all entrants
left for the bar at Ted Tubb's request.
A handsome silver trophy was awarded to John Ramsey Campbell
who just outwitted David Fletcher in the film quiz. This item began
with twelve contestants and after some thirty minutes only these
two remained. The final questions were really tough, getting down to lines of dialogue
from sf and horror films and requiring the film titles as answers.
Despite John Ramsey's insistence to give all his answers in French
at first, he beat his opponent by 6 correct answers to five.
Delta Film Productions gave their usual extraordinary performance
and a critics' panel, which kept creeping towards members of the
audience who complained of its inaudibility; was held, stimulating
within the ranks of the listeners more discussion than attention.
The Convention suffered somewhat from the fluidity of its programme
and from the understandable inexperience of its organiser, the excellent
Gary Parfitt, who attempted to shoulder the convention single handed
and ultimately was left with the responsibility for dinners which
were ordered but neither eaten nor paid for, and for the actions
of certain people who simply did not pay for their attendance.
Attendees included Ted Tubb, Ken Bulmer, the Delta Doomsters
and associates, three local children who huddled together in terror
during the Delta film show, Dave Baldock, fanzine editors Ray Fawcett
and Bram Stokes. Though fandom was thus represented no room parties
were held, attendees being booked into two hotels, one under Salvation
Army management. -- (HN and JRC)
APOLOGIES TO BOTH OUR READERS dept.
Since Skyrack first saw publication in 1959 a monthly schedule
has been roughly adhered to. Occasionally an issue has been skipped,
and also occasionally issues have tumbled forth one after the other
(There was one run of some four or five fortnightly issues and one
hectic week during which three issues were run). Skyrack 92 appeared
at the beginning of September, almost three months ago. It will
be evident from the enclosed flier that my activities inside the
sf field now extend in other directions and accordingly Skyrack-time
is limited, for my professional activities and responsibilities
in mundane circles also show no signs of diminishing. Because of
already-laid plans which include a possible change of job during
1967, it may well be that Skyrack will have to cease publication
completely. In the interim period, however, publication will be
continued if at all possible. No promises are being made, but the
century mark is a target, at least.
OUR MAN AT THE PHILLYCON….Former BSFA stalwart, Jim Groves,
emigrated to the USA on Saturday, 8th October, after an eight month
visa-wait. The Philadelphia convention was held over the weekend
of 12/13th November and Jim was there, writing this report: "Charlie
and Marsha Brown took me in hand and introduced me around. I met
fandom's photographer, Jay Kay Klein, and Tom Purdom and re-met
Frank Dietz and Al Hoch who is now back in the States and has a
wife, Barbara. I also met a lot of my favourite authors - Hal Clement,
Sprague de Camp, Isaac Asimov - and with my signable books crated
up 3,000 miles away! Asimov, brilliant speaker, was Guest of Honour
for the convention whose overall theme was SF & The Two Cultures.
Tom Purdom opened the Saturday session with some extracts from an
article he had written for a woman's magazine, a type of "What
to do if your child catches SF" in the course of which he quoted a letter from a librarian
who thought that some sf was "pure erotica," thereby occasioning
the remark from Asimov, “As long as it's pure...." A good time
was had by all, especially me. I gather that the Convention circuit
here begins again in April and runs around until September, so here's
to 1967!" ((Yes, just like Harrogate. Thanks, Jim )).
TWO MONTHS' FANZINES, in brief:
PHILE 2 (Graham Charnock, 1 Eden Close, Alperton, Wembley,
Middlesex; Aug 66; 1/:-) A good mixture of general articles, sf
slanted material and fanzines reviews. The overall tone is light
and informal and qualitative and one cannot help but feel that with
a shade more fannishness this zine could go far. British fandom
seems at the moment to be in a transitional stage; the old guard
have largely faded from the zinescene and there is definite room
for someone to come along and produce a "focal point"
fanzine which could take a decided hold on fandom's imagination.
With the right backing and, enthusiasm, this could be it.
GRIMWAB 3 (Harry Bell, 28 South Hill Rd., Bensham, Gateshead
8, Co Durham). A fair enough issue, with letters taking pride of
place. The duplicating and lay-out, however, need far more attention.
XERON 4 (Sept 66; John Quattromini & Mike Ashley,
9 and 8 (respectively), Shurland Ave. , Sittingbourne, Kent; 1/6d)
60 bulky pages of fair to average articles and stories and once
again a most useful and thorough checklist to current sf.
LES SPINGE 16 (Oct 66; Darroll Pardoe, 11 Cheniston Gardens,
London W 8) The last remaining bastion (which reminds me, Eric...)
of Stourbridge fandom has moved to London. LS is thin, and fair,
but not yet up to the standard of former glories.
SCOTTISHE 41 (Ethel Lindsay, Courage House, 6 Langley
Ave., Surbiton, Surrey; Sept 66; 4 for 7/6d or $1) Editorial and
informal natter on books by Ethel, Ken Potter reminisces (is there
such a word?) on caravan life, Ethel talks on hospitals and those
writers no fanzine should be without (have you ever seen any article
from them which has not been thorough and entertaining?), Frances
and Brian Varley take a long look at Arthur Mee.
AUSTRALIAN SF REVIEW (nos 3 & 4, Sept/Oct 66, John
Bangsund, 19 Gladstone Ave., Northcote N 16, Melbourne, Australia;
6 issues 14/-) With these issues ASFR consolidates itself as the
leading international sf fan magazine. Terrific stuff, with John
Foyster taking a lengthy and analytical look at recent editorials
in Analog.
THE NEO-FAN'S GUIDE TO SCIENCE FICTION FANDOM is a title
which deserves scoring. This is the second edition of the Guide,
first published in 1955. The editor is one Bob Tucker. The Guide
is available from Buck Coulson (see colophon for address) at 25c
or 2/- a throw). Get it - the money will be well spent - and wasted
if you spend it on something, anything, else!
Other zines, even more briefly:
YANDRO 161-163, Buck Coulson (UK: Alan Dodd, 77 Stanstead
Rd., Hoddesdon, Herts; 4/6s, 12/15s) This is a fanzine. Recommended.
HABAKKUK Chapter II, verse 2; Bill Donaho, PO Box
1284, Berkeley, Calif 94701) Available for letters of comment -
excellent material, including a lengthy look at sf in the UK by
George Locke.
QUIP 3 (Len Bailes & Arnie Katz, 98 Patton Blvd, New
Hyde Park, NY 11043; 50c) High priced but worth every penny. Invaluable
to the fan who either yearns for the old days or wonders why others
do.
FOCAL POINT, Mike McInerney's slightly irregular (I should
talk) newszine. 12 for 7/- from Peter Singleton, Ward 6A, Whittingham
Hospital, Preston, Lancs.
RATATOSK, Bruce Pelz's slightly regular newszine. 3/25c
or 1s 9d from Archie Mercer.Both these newszines are of course recommended
and not only because of a spirit of newszine togetherness!
SPECULATION 14 (Oct 66: Peter Weston, 9 Porlock Crescent,
Birmingham 31; 2/-) A slight change of name for Zenith. A lengthy
look at Heinlein's "middle period" by Alexei Panshin and
various departments. Well up to the standard of previous issues
in every respect...a magazine with the Skyrack mark of approval.
CHANGE OF ADDRESS dept: Jim Groves, Room 416,
Hotel Lafayette, 4th & Northampton, Easton, Penna 18042, USA. Ed
Wood, 151 Calderon Ave (Apt 341), Mountain View, Calif 94040. Darroll
Pardoe, 11 Cheniston Gardens, London W 8. Jim Grant, 80 Bargates,
Christchuch, Hants. Archie & Beryl Mercer, 9 Cotswold Rd.,
Bedminster, Bristol 3.
TOM SCHLUCK, who recently returned to Hannover after his
successful TAFF tour of the United States wishes to be allowed some
little space to express in print his thanks to all of American fandom
for "the overwhelming reception" accorded him. "In
addition," continues Tom, " my 'thank you' to the fans
the world over who, with their contribution to TAFF, made this wonderful
trip possible for me. I hope to have a report finished in due time."
QUICK-FIRE SNIPPETS: Fred Pohl interviewed last week on
24 Hours ::: Harlan Ellison in the public eye with Soldier on TV's
Outer Limits, a Man from UNCLE programme and an appearance in a
Woman's Mirror article on Frank Sinatra ::: Don Wollheim and Walt
& Madeleine Willis recently in London for a week's stay. Ron
Bennett also recently in London...for five hours! ::: John &
Elizabeth Foyster will be leaving Australia early next year, bound
for these shores ::: Bristol Easter Con membership now way over
the 100 mark :: Interesting 2 page leaflet recently circulated round
British fandom. Posted in London this was stated to have originated
with Ted Tubb, Archie Mercer, Chris Priest, Brian Alldis, Mike Moorcock,
Ken Slater and Pete Weston. The circular discussed the possibility
of the BSFA forming regional committees and asked interested parties
to send 2/6 to Chris. If you haven't already heard, this was a fake,
parties' names being used without their knowledge. Hey ho, some
people need lessons in how to hoax. The main factor is to have those
who are hoaxed share in the enjoyment after they’ve called you the
nasty names.
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