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D'Journal, v. 1, issue 1, January 1939
Page 8
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LOS ANGELES LEAGUE TO ERECT HUGH TWENTY STORY SCIENCE FICTION TEMPLE: (Rumors leaking in to the effect that this LASFL are building a sky-scraper monument to STF, led us to inquire into hte matter. Desiring to give our readers a scoop, we wired Bradbury for details. He wired us back that the project was secret; to divulge was death! We then wired him $5 and he sent the following, collect:) "FLASH! This is your L.A. correspondant, Ray Bradbury, folks, busy in the science fiction graveyard digging up news for you! CRASH! The LA League just laid the cornerstone for a 20 story skyscraper that will be completed within a year! The building will be a sort of mosque, or hall of science fiction. It will be the worlds first and last structure dedicated to the ghost of sciencefiction, which makes it practically a tomb! "But", buts Boss Hodgkins, Chief Bricklayer, "we hope to fatten the wraith of dead STF into the prosperous bogey it was years ago. We also intend to fatten our posketbooks; there will be a slight charge to view the Temple and its wonders." Within the gigantic halls will be shown the more remarkable paintings of Paul Maul, So(?), G-(?) Weasel and, of course, Fookie. These pictures will be ringed in to (?) and protected by velvet curtains. A dime in the proper slot parts the velvets and flashes the neon for a period of ten seconds. The massive portals will bear this legend over them in the purest crystal: CEFIUS IS WORTH A BILLION DOLLARS, BUT ANYWHERE YOU CAN GET TEN CENTS A DUNCE!" As one enters one is struck by the ornate beauty of it all, not to mention falling bricks. One deposits ones quarter at the entrance and one enters. First to greet the eye will be huge glass case enframed in gold neon, in which will stand the emaciated figure of Forest J. in all his fantastic glory. At his feet will lie an open copy of his book: "My Struggle". A dime lights the neon and gives the figure a halo effect. In strictest confidence, this was whispered to me one afternoon over the public address system in the Park: A rocket mooring mast will be the dominant feature atop the tower! Egad! What news! What tales of IMAGINATION this conjures out of the very dim recesses of the mind! Think of the possibilities! Someday, someone will build a rocket ship and land on top of the Science Fiction Temple! It will be fun waiting for that ship while we are waiting for our Social Security! Just imagine the day the first ship arrives from Mars! Cant you picture the whole Chapter skiping up to meet it with beards and togas flying in the wind, false teeth chattering in excitement! To celebrate, an oyster will be rented to provide oyster stew for the multitude. The lawns will be lush Venusian grass, with beautiful Martian flowers and loads of clinging relatives. Offices for all members will be on the first floor. A dime will open the door to any office. A giant machine in the foyer will dispense blondes and bromides at a flick of the wrist. One the second floor the latest methods of quickdsurb will be featured. For a buck in one machine you get a ray gun of any color you desire, or we can toss you into a room of feathers to be tickled to death, or we will give you a quick loot at T. Bruce Berke and you can die laughing. One visitor recently saw Yerke and exploded: "I dont believe it!" Oh, oh, something just happened! Ackerman just walked up 20 flights of steps inspecting the building and was goinng to take the elevator down before he rembered that only the first floor had been completed! We havent seen him since. Incidentally, the third floor will house copies of all the Fan mags printed since 1888. Dimes in slots, of course, will permit you to view each magazine. The remaining 17 floors arent accounted for yet, but no doubt we will find something to put into them when they are finished, if it has to be announced fan magazines that never appear! And, thus, lastly, a dime will let you exit!" (END) (The editors are of the opinion that we have a rebate on the $5 due.)
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LOS ANGELES LEAGUE TO ERECT HUGH TWENTY STORY SCIENCE FICTION TEMPLE: (Rumors leaking in to the effect that this LASFL are building a sky-scraper monument to STF, led us to inquire into hte matter. Desiring to give our readers a scoop, we wired Bradbury for details. He wired us back that the project was secret; to divulge was death! We then wired him $5 and he sent the following, collect:) "FLASH! This is your L.A. correspondant, Ray Bradbury, folks, busy in the science fiction graveyard digging up news for you! CRASH! The LA League just laid the cornerstone for a 20 story skyscraper that will be completed within a year! The building will be a sort of mosque, or hall of science fiction. It will be the worlds first and last structure dedicated to the ghost of sciencefiction, which makes it practically a tomb! "But", buts Boss Hodgkins, Chief Bricklayer, "we hope to fatten the wraith of dead STF into the prosperous bogey it was years ago. We also intend to fatten our posketbooks; there will be a slight charge to view the Temple and its wonders." Within the gigantic halls will be shown the more remarkable paintings of Paul Maul, So(?), G-(?) Weasel and, of course, Fookie. These pictures will be ringed in to (?) and protected by velvet curtains. A dime in the proper slot parts the velvets and flashes the neon for a period of ten seconds. The massive portals will bear this legend over them in the purest crystal: CEFIUS IS WORTH A BILLION DOLLARS, BUT ANYWHERE YOU CAN GET TEN CENTS A DUNCE!" As one enters one is struck by the ornate beauty of it all, not to mention falling bricks. One deposits ones quarter at the entrance and one enters. First to greet the eye will be huge glass case enframed in gold neon, in which will stand the emaciated figure of Forest J. in all his fantastic glory. At his feet will lie an open copy of his book: "My Struggle". A dime lights the neon and gives the figure a halo effect. In strictest confidence, this was whispered to me one afternoon over the public address system in the Park: A rocket mooring mast will be the dominant feature atop the tower! Egad! What news! What tales of IMAGINATION this conjures out of the very dim recesses of the mind! Think of the possibilities! Someday, someone will build a rocket ship and land on top of the Science Fiction Temple! It will be fun waiting for that ship while we are waiting for our Social Security! Just imagine the day the first ship arrives from Mars! Cant you picture the whole Chapter skiping up to meet it with beards and togas flying in the wind, false teeth chattering in excitement! To celebrate, an oyster will be rented to provide oyster stew for the multitude. The lawns will be lush Venusian grass, with beautiful Martian flowers and loads of clinging relatives. Offices for all members will be on the first floor. A dime will open the door to any office. A giant machine in the foyer will dispense blondes and bromides at a flick of the wrist. One the second floor the latest methods of quickdsurb will be featured. For a buck in one machine you get a ray gun of any color you desire, or we can toss you into a room of feathers to be tickled to death, or we will give you a quick loot at T. Bruce Berke and you can die laughing. One visitor recently saw Yerke and exploded: "I dont believe it!" Oh, oh, something just happened! Ackerman just walked up 20 flights of steps inspecting the building and was goinng to take the elevator down before he rembered that only the first floor had been completed! We havent seen him since. Incidentally, the third floor will house copies of all the Fan mags printed since 1888. Dimes in slots, of course, will permit you to view each magazine. The remaining 17 floors arent accounted for yet, but no doubt we will find something to put into them when they are finished, if it has to be announced fan magazines that never appear! And, thus, lastly, a dime will let you exit!" (END) (The editors are of the opinion that we have a rebate on the $5 due.)
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