AutoClave 1
AutoClave 1, the first convention aimed at fanzine fans, was held Memorial Day weekend, May 28–31, 1976, at the Howard Johnson's New Center Motor Lodge in Detroit.
It featured a full weekend of fanzine-related programming, as well as an art show and hucksters room (and a large skinny-dipping event). The film program featured The Golden Voyage of Sinbad.
Memberships were $6–7, and hotel rooms $20–36.
GoHs were Title faned Donn Brazier, in a very rare convention appearance, and letterhack Gene Wolfe. Mike Glicksohn served as toastmaster, a post he accepted by return telegram after the invitation was telegraphed to him at Aussiecon the year before.
The chairmen were Gary Mattingly, Joe Wesson and a teen-aged Leah Zeldes. Big-Hearted Howard DeVore ran the hucksters room.
The convention drew about 125 people and made a small profit, more by accident than design.
Gruesome hotel problems inspired Larry Tucker's video Faans.
A transcript of Gene Wolfe’s very funny goh speech appears in Energumen 16 (September 1981), p.29.
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| 1976 |
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