Difference between revisions of "Westercon"
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It is one of the oldest continuing conventions in the world. | It is one of the oldest continuing conventions in the world. | ||
| − | Westercon was started in 1948 when [[LASFS]] began an annual [[West Coast]] convention for fans who couldn't afford to travel to the [[East Coast]] where most [[Worldcons]] were held. The LASFS minutes of 24 June 48 state: | + | Westercon was started in 1948 when [[LASFS]] began an annual [[West Coast]] convention for fans who couldn't afford to travel to the [[East Coast]] where most [[Worldcons]] were held. |
| − | [[E. Everett Evans]] brought up a subject very dear to him | + | |
| − | + | Just ''who'' started Westercon turned out to be confusing. The LASFS minutes of 24 June 48 state: | |
| + | [[E. Everett Evans]] brought up a subject very dear to him -- that of a West Coast Conference; a one-day conventionette for local fans....He motioned that the LASFS should sponsor one on Labor Day, Sept 5th, [[Dave Fox]] seconded and the motion was passed. Everett was placed in charge of the arrangements. | ||
| + | Evans was listed as the founder for fifty or so years, but when [[LASFS]] historian [[Fred Patten]] researched it, he concluded that [[Walter J. Daugherty]] was the founder and the [https://westercon.org westercon.org website] now lists him as having proposed the motion. Certainly both Daugherty and Evens were actively involved in the founding along with [[Ackerman]] and perhaps the best we can do is that all three deserve substantial credit. | ||
Regardless, the first Westercon was chaired by Evans and held September 5, attended by 77 people. Daugherty chaired #2 the following year. Westercon became a weekend-long convention in 1951 when it settled into its 4th of July weekend date and started moving between cities. | Regardless, the first Westercon was chaired by Evans and held September 5, attended by 77 people. Daugherty chaired #2 the following year. Westercon became a weekend-long convention in 1951 when it settled into its 4th of July weekend date and started moving between cities. | ||
Revision as of 04:39, 12 July 2022
Westercon is a convention that moves around the area of the United States and Canada west of the 104th meridian. It is selected like Worldcon with bidding, mail and at-con site selection, and a two-year lead time.
It is one of the oldest continuing conventions in the world.
Westercon was started in 1948 when LASFS began an annual West Coast convention for fans who couldn't afford to travel to the East Coast where most Worldcons were held.
Just who started Westercon turned out to be confusing. The LASFS minutes of 24 June 48 state:
E. Everett Evans brought up a subject very dear to him -- that of a West Coast Conference; a one-day conventionette for local fans....He motioned that the LASFS should sponsor one on Labor Day, Sept 5th, Dave Fox seconded and the motion was passed. Everett was placed in charge of the arrangements.
Evans was listed as the founder for fifty or so years, but when LASFS historian Fred Patten researched it, he concluded that Walter J. Daugherty was the founder and the westercon.org website now lists him as having proposed the motion. Certainly both Daugherty and Evens were actively involved in the founding along with Ackerman and perhaps the best we can do is that all three deserve substantial credit.
Regardless, the first Westercon was chaired by Evans and held September 5, attended by 77 people. Daugherty chaired #2 the following year. Westercon became a weekend-long convention in 1951 when it settled into its 4th of July weekend date and started moving between cities.
It is a Westercon tradition that GoHs are preferred from the region (west of the 104th W. meridian), having either been born or lived in the zone.
Westercon is formally sponsored by LASFS, though in practice it is completely independent. Nonetheless, in the event that Westercon were unable to function, the LASFS Board of Directors would be responsible for sorting things out.
See Westercon bids for more on Westercon bidding.
Some Westercons (in bold) were held jointly with Worldcon. In most (but not all) cases they shared leadership and GoHs.
| From Fancyclopedia 2, ca. 1959 |
| An annual conclave for the Western half of the United States -- West of the Rockies, that is -- begun by the LASFS on Labor Day 1948. It has since become an institution for which other clubs bid also, like the Worldcon, and until the past year [i.e., 1958] was always some place in California. |
| Convention | |
| 1948— |
| This is a convention page. Please extend it by adding information about the convention, including dates, GoHs, convention chairman, locale, sponsoring organization, external links to convention pages, awards given, the program, notable events, anecdotes, pictures, scans of publications, pictures of T-shirts, con reports, etc. |
