The Dracula Society started off the year (well, in April anyway) with another banquet. This year the lucky award recipients were: Henry Eichner, Ray Milland, Richard Matheson, Glenn Strange, Rod Serling, Rich Corell, Sol Fried and devoted Dracula Society member, William Crawford. One of the surprise attractions was the screening of a short film "The Oath of the Count Dracula Society" produced in conjunction with the release of Christopher Lee's "Dracula 1972 A.D. starring Barry Atwater which you can see by clicking . This short was publicized as the "Horror Ritual" and played at the beginning of the movie in U.S. theaters. After professing your loyalty, you were presented with the official Gold Card (in better theaters near you). Newspaper article .
MY BAD
On a trip home from my job at MovieWorld I spied a "Motion Picture Museum" almost hidden among the motels and attractions of Buena Park. On closer inspection, the museum was a quaint assortment of movie material, vintage projectors and a few props; run by an affable guy named Doug Wright. I would stop by now and again and we'd chat about movies.
He had a small makeshift theatre where he wanted a screening of King Kong and I thought he would be a natural for meeting Forry and hooked them up. Thus, through Forry, he actually pulled off the screening! Forry showed up with Merian C. Cooper and Marcel Delgado in tow for what would clearly be their last viewing of the film. Maybe I thought more of my contribution to the night's screening than was warranted, but was miffed having to pay for my date and I to get in, particularly since he hadn't told anybody else about the movie. The audience consisted of Forry and Wendy, Merian and Marcel, Doug, his girlfriend, my date and I. But, certainly you couldn't have had a better audience for showing the movie so all in all it was what it was.
Little did anyone know, Doug would soon be the most reviled guy in fandom. THE ACADEMY
Don realized while the Dracula Society was a lot of fun, it was limited in its potential and certainly, our slogan: "Devoted to the Serious Study of Horror Films and Gothic Literature" was a tad this side of dusty. He called me to Dracula Central and presented his new idea: The Academy of Horror Films and Fantasy Films and Science Fiction Films; an exclusive organization for industry people only. Of course, this lead to an argument on several levels. The first being I thought it disingenuous that neither of us were actually in the industry.
"I'm the President and Founder of the Academy and you're a theatre manager", said Don.
That was splitting mighty fine hairs I thought, but I liked the idea of encompassing other genres. I also didn't think we could get enough industry people as members, let alone enought to make this work. The other bone, was the name of the Academy. It must have taken an hour to get Don to remove extraneous "ands" and "films" from the title and another hour to switch the genres around to read "Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films". I put down $100 cash to get it started and that was that. I designed the official award, known as the Golden Scroll Award which was was a mere sheet in a frame . until we could get Jim Rumph to produce something more substantial. It would later be used as some lesser award of merit.
WESTERCON 25
Fandom was full steam ahead and I thought it funny, as soon as I got the Hell out of Long Beach, Westercon would return. But here it was, back at the Edgewater Inn June 30 through July 4th. Frankly I remember nothing about the con in particular, save an odd altercation I got into with Bruce Pelz.
I was becoming a regular dealer at conventions, selling comics and movie material. This convention proved a goldmine since I was the only person selling this stuff and raking in over $1000 a day with fans at times 4 deep waiting to get their hands on things.
Bruce and Owen Hannifen stormed over in a sweaty rage and the conversation went something like this:
"We're shutting down your table" bellows Bruce in an absolute rage.
"What are you talking about" said I.
"You're making too much money and taking it away from the other dealers!
And THIS. . ." holding up a copy of EC's Piracy #1.
". . .isn't even Science Fiction!" slamming the comic on the table.
I was beside myself, not only with the thought of closing my table, but that Bruce was sweating on my posters.
"Maybe I'm just selling things people want to buy! I sheepishly offered.
Bruce suddenly glazed over, stood upright, turned around and walked off with Owen in tow. I expected to be thrown into the street by Bruce and his minions; but that was the end of it.
Bill Warren, ?, ?, ?
Clockwise: Don & Linda Glut, Steve Tolliver, ?, Jock Root, ?, Kathy Hill
This convention was also a hotbed of public nudity if these photos are any indication. Certainly, while I rejoice in the nudity, it was really about the spirit of freedom that allowed it to happen. God knows, as soon as the Star Trek cons began lowering the age level, this era came to a crashing halt. But, we were good for a couple more years. Bill Mill'sFootage of Costume Contest .
WORLDCON 30
I never figured it out, but Worldcon 30 was also L.A. Con 1. September 1 through 4, 1972 at the International Hotel.
I was crazy about Marjii Ellers. She was the only fan that wherever I found her, she was doing something I wanted to do. Ever so bright, talented and she's the one person I really miss at conventions. She passed away in 1999.
Marjii Ellers and Cortlandt P. Hull
Paula Christ
Linda Glut
Convention Souvenir
There were a lot of fun things made for conventions at the time: outer space postage stamps, Alicia Austin did a lovely logo that was transformed into a pin and pendant.
Must have been a terrific convention; I remember waking up Sunday morning in a chaise by the pool with the sun in my eyes.
FILMCON - BJO'S TRIUMPH
Bjo had always been a creative force, from fanzines, art shows and masquerades to the film productions from LASFS creations in the '50s to Flesh Gordon and Superbman, so maybe it wasn't such a leap after all, but FilmCon 1 was a marvelous event.
<Bongo and I wait for an autograph from Christopher Lee
Sure, conventions had been showing movies for years, but screenings were routine George Pal and Harryhausen flicks with a few serials thrown in. FilmCon really scoured the Janus Catalogues for unseen treasures. "White Reindeer", "End of August at the Hotel Ozone", experimental and student films. L.A. Times Article .
Over the next few years, we'd see conventions of every stripe showing up in Hollywood. Westercon and Worldcon would come and go, but there were the FilmCon, Equicon, GalactiCon, PhantasmaCon, LosCon, FrightFest, FearCon, BoucherCon, Witchcraft and Sorcery Con, the Doug Wright Cons, monthly events, Greg Koudoulian> comic shows and the Bruce Schwartz one day shows that are still going on. Greg's First Sunday Flyer by Mark Evenier.
