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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 11, Summer 1946
Page 295
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FANTASY COMMENTATOR 295 "Ghughuism" endured a longer period than the alphabetical societies, but its tenets were never clarified, nevertheless. In later years when his associates appeared to follow his lead in fan affairs without question, many wondered almost seriously if Wollheim were not actually regarded as a deity in truth. The collapse of Wonder Stories and its resultant change of ownership was glad news to the ISA members, who had scarcely hoped to have Gernsback and Hornig so completely disposed of. In their gloating they gave themselves the lion's share of the credit for the overthrow of the Gernsback crew, forgetting that in many respects their relentless campaign possessed more nuisance value than lethal potency, and that Wonder Stories' failure was primarily due to economic conditions of the time. And in their joy at winning their battle, too, the ISA voiced little criticism of the comparatively inferior policies of Thrilling Wonder Stories, overlooking entirely the unwelcome assurances of editor Margolies that blood-and-thunder juvenility was his fictional aim. This attitude is also an indication of the extent to which personal dislike of Gernsback and Hornig---rather than of their policies---played a part in the ISA campaign. In the interim, however, attempts were made by the organization to bid for control of many disintegrating SFL chapters. In the May, 1936 number of the International Observer was introduced "The SFL Page," conducted by Alan J. Aisenstein, director of the Nassau SFL; this column carried news of the League chapters (most of which were sadly inactive) in the period when Wonder Stories had suspended appearance, and the ISA hoped by this means to lure at least a small percentage of the science-fictionists and hobbyists from the ruins of the SFL. Despite the fact that sample copies of The International Observer were dispatched to many of the chapter heads the policy was never particularly successful, and as soon as it was realized that Thrilling Wonder Stories was to continue the SFL column the ISA ceased its efforts altogether. Not all of the group's activities in this period were politically-minded, however. Aware that it was science-fiction's tenth anniversary of appearance in magazine form, New York members of the ISA arranged a celebration in honor of the event. On Sunday, May 3, 1936 a party consisting of Michel, Goudket, Pohl, Aisenstein, Blish, Kirshenblit, Sykora, and Wollheim attended a showing of the splendid film based on H. G. Wells' story, Things to Come. Despite the date, it was one of the first purely social gatherings seen in fandom, meetings being as a rule leavened by business activities. At a meeting of the New York branch of the ISA George Gordon Clark, no longer active in fandom, was given the final shove toward oblivion when it was unanimously voted to expel him from membership in the local group because of activities treasonous to its best interests. (These were characterized by his attack on the ISA at an ILSF meeting; his alleged Rosicrucianist beliefs, moreover, were never looked upon with favor by other fans thereabouts.) Clark realized sufficiently to protest that such an action by the ISA smacked of the very procedure that had so embittered members expelled from the SFL, and that it was dictatorial in essence. Secretary Wollheim replied to the effect that ISA meetings were open to the accused, and that he could have been present to defend himself had he so desired. More, the vote had been taken in democratic fashion, and the expulsion was merely from the local branch, not from the ISA itself. As time showed, Clark was insufficiently interested in fandom to renew his membership in that organization when it presently expired. By now the continued presence of Wollheim's name in fan controversy after fan controversy was becoming noticeable, as was his tendency to take a few parting shots as opponents after their defeat was obvious. This latter especially was in evidence in his "Sun Spots" column, whose very high news value was then and later impaired by items presented in such a fashion as to prick the hides of downed antagonists.
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FANTASY COMMENTATOR 295 "Ghughuism" endured a longer period than the alphabetical societies, but its tenets were never clarified, nevertheless. In later years when his associates appeared to follow his lead in fan affairs without question, many wondered almost seriously if Wollheim were not actually regarded as a deity in truth. The collapse of Wonder Stories and its resultant change of ownership was glad news to the ISA members, who had scarcely hoped to have Gernsback and Hornig so completely disposed of. In their gloating they gave themselves the lion's share of the credit for the overthrow of the Gernsback crew, forgetting that in many respects their relentless campaign possessed more nuisance value than lethal potency, and that Wonder Stories' failure was primarily due to economic conditions of the time. And in their joy at winning their battle, too, the ISA voiced little criticism of the comparatively inferior policies of Thrilling Wonder Stories, overlooking entirely the unwelcome assurances of editor Margolies that blood-and-thunder juvenility was his fictional aim. This attitude is also an indication of the extent to which personal dislike of Gernsback and Hornig---rather than of their policies---played a part in the ISA campaign. In the interim, however, attempts were made by the organization to bid for control of many disintegrating SFL chapters. In the May, 1936 number of the International Observer was introduced "The SFL Page," conducted by Alan J. Aisenstein, director of the Nassau SFL; this column carried news of the League chapters (most of which were sadly inactive) in the period when Wonder Stories had suspended appearance, and the ISA hoped by this means to lure at least a small percentage of the science-fictionists and hobbyists from the ruins of the SFL. Despite the fact that sample copies of The International Observer were dispatched to many of the chapter heads the policy was never particularly successful, and as soon as it was realized that Thrilling Wonder Stories was to continue the SFL column the ISA ceased its efforts altogether. Not all of the group's activities in this period were politically-minded, however. Aware that it was science-fiction's tenth anniversary of appearance in magazine form, New York members of the ISA arranged a celebration in honor of the event. On Sunday, May 3, 1936 a party consisting of Michel, Goudket, Pohl, Aisenstein, Blish, Kirshenblit, Sykora, and Wollheim attended a showing of the splendid film based on H. G. Wells' story, Things to Come. Despite the date, it was one of the first purely social gatherings seen in fandom, meetings being as a rule leavened by business activities. At a meeting of the New York branch of the ISA George Gordon Clark, no longer active in fandom, was given the final shove toward oblivion when it was unanimously voted to expel him from membership in the local group because of activities treasonous to its best interests. (These were characterized by his attack on the ISA at an ILSF meeting; his alleged Rosicrucianist beliefs, moreover, were never looked upon with favor by other fans thereabouts.) Clark realized sufficiently to protest that such an action by the ISA smacked of the very procedure that had so embittered members expelled from the SFL, and that it was dictatorial in essence. Secretary Wollheim replied to the effect that ISA meetings were open to the accused, and that he could have been present to defend himself had he so desired. More, the vote had been taken in democratic fashion, and the expulsion was merely from the local branch, not from the ISA itself. As time showed, Clark was insufficiently interested in fandom to renew his membership in that organization when it presently expired. By now the continued presence of Wollheim's name in fan controversy after fan controversy was becoming noticeable, as was his tendency to take a few parting shots as opponents after their defeat was obvious. This latter especially was in evidence in his "Sun Spots" column, whose very high news value was then and later impaired by items presented in such a fashion as to prick the hides of downed antagonists.
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