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New Fandom, v. 1, issue 6, 1939
Page 8
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8 NEW FANDOM T̲H̲E̲ ̲B̲A̲N̲Q̲U̲E̲T̲,̲ ̲t̲h̲e̲ ̲e̲v̲e̲n̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲o̲f̲ ̲J̲u̲l̲y̲ ̲3̲,̲ ̲1̲9̲3̲9̲.̲ Some there were who said that the most enjoyable part of the entire convention was the banquet. Right or wrong, your reporter for one will remember it to his dying day. Not because of any tragedy that occurred, but because of the sheer ecstasy of it. The banquet was held at the Wyndham, one of the ritziest places in New York. Many fans looked with askance. They could not believe that they were in the right place. The banquet was held in honor of Frank R. Paul, most popular of fantasy artists. Some thirty fans paid a buck apiece to be present, which, of course, included the dinner. From memory, among the diners were Frank R. Paul, Willey Ley, Forrest J. Ackerman, Sam Moskowitz, Morojo, William S. Sykora, James V. Taurasi, John V. Baltadonis, Mario Racic, Jr., Robert A. Madle, Rose and Frances Alberti, Jack Agnew, Ray Bradbury, Millie Taurasi, Ray Van Houten, Oswald Train, Jack (John Bristol) Speer, Mark Reinsberg, Eric Korshak, Flossie Hardert, Frank Murphy, A. Linkcoff, and others whose names elude me at the moment. First, of course, after pre-dinner discussion, was the dinner itself. Lest a certain fan explode I will not give the menu, but it was satisfactory. Then came the after-dinner speeches. (Of course, everyone talked during the actual eating). William S. Sykora introduced the genial guest of honor Frank R. Paul, who was grinning from ear to ear. Paul, in modest style, thanked the assemblage, remonstrating the honor was undeserved, and in expert fashion, passed the buck to Willy Ley. As an extemporaneous speech, Willy Ley's was a sheer marvel. In fact, we thought it so good, we had him write it down as near as he could remember it, and we present in this number. Sam Moskowitz, whose voice was cracking, (and besides hoarseness was finally creeping in from the speaking and auctioning of the last two days) outlined Paul's career, bringing out numerous unusual angles, and lauding Paul's abilities bountifully. One by one most of those present were called upon. Good work was acknowledged, and the entire affair thoroly [sic] enjoyed. After hours of talks, everyone split into sections and lounged around the luxuriously fitted room, speaking about every conceivable subject. It was here that Mark Reinsborg, with the experienced help and suggestions of NEW FANDOM'S Convention Committee, conceived the idea of the Chicago Science-Fiction Convention to be held in 1940. The Major-domo, after much glaring and arguing, finally got the gathering out at the unreasonably early hour of 1:00 a.m. No one left before. This event will never be forgotten by any who attended. T̲h̲e̲ ̲T̲h̲i̲r̲d̲ ̲D̲a̲y̲,̲ ̲J̲u̲l̲y̲ ̲4̲t̲h̲,̲ ̲1̲9̲3̲9̲.̲ ̲T̲H̲E̲ A̲S̲T̲O̲U̲N̲D̲I̲N̲G̲ S̲O̲F̲T̲-̲B̲A̲L̲L̲ G̲A̲M̲E̲.̲ Flusing [sic] Flats, fandom's amusing nickname for a big athletic field directly opposite James V. Taurasi's home, was the scene of the most unusual event ever to take place in science-fiction. A soft-ball game between two teams picked out of fandom! For the sake of convenience the titles "PSFS Panthers" for one team and "Queens Cometeers" for the other were adopted, though it is entirely true that there was not an accurate representation of either. The pros, evidently afraid of a good hiding, did not make themselves
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8 NEW FANDOM T̲H̲E̲ ̲B̲A̲N̲Q̲U̲E̲T̲,̲ ̲t̲h̲e̲ ̲e̲v̲e̲n̲i̲n̲g̲ ̲o̲f̲ ̲J̲u̲l̲y̲ ̲3̲,̲ ̲1̲9̲3̲9̲.̲ Some there were who said that the most enjoyable part of the entire convention was the banquet. Right or wrong, your reporter for one will remember it to his dying day. Not because of any tragedy that occurred, but because of the sheer ecstasy of it. The banquet was held at the Wyndham, one of the ritziest places in New York. Many fans looked with askance. They could not believe that they were in the right place. The banquet was held in honor of Frank R. Paul, most popular of fantasy artists. Some thirty fans paid a buck apiece to be present, which, of course, included the dinner. From memory, among the diners were Frank R. Paul, Willey Ley, Forrest J. Ackerman, Sam Moskowitz, Morojo, William S. Sykora, James V. Taurasi, John V. Baltadonis, Mario Racic, Jr., Robert A. Madle, Rose and Frances Alberti, Jack Agnew, Ray Bradbury, Millie Taurasi, Ray Van Houten, Oswald Train, Jack (John Bristol) Speer, Mark Reinsberg, Eric Korshak, Flossie Hardert, Frank Murphy, A. Linkcoff, and others whose names elude me at the moment. First, of course, after pre-dinner discussion, was the dinner itself. Lest a certain fan explode I will not give the menu, but it was satisfactory. Then came the after-dinner speeches. (Of course, everyone talked during the actual eating). William S. Sykora introduced the genial guest of honor Frank R. Paul, who was grinning from ear to ear. Paul, in modest style, thanked the assemblage, remonstrating the honor was undeserved, and in expert fashion, passed the buck to Willy Ley. As an extemporaneous speech, Willy Ley's was a sheer marvel. In fact, we thought it so good, we had him write it down as near as he could remember it, and we present in this number. Sam Moskowitz, whose voice was cracking, (and besides hoarseness was finally creeping in from the speaking and auctioning of the last two days) outlined Paul's career, bringing out numerous unusual angles, and lauding Paul's abilities bountifully. One by one most of those present were called upon. Good work was acknowledged, and the entire affair thoroly [sic] enjoyed. After hours of talks, everyone split into sections and lounged around the luxuriously fitted room, speaking about every conceivable subject. It was here that Mark Reinsborg, with the experienced help and suggestions of NEW FANDOM'S Convention Committee, conceived the idea of the Chicago Science-Fiction Convention to be held in 1940. The Major-domo, after much glaring and arguing, finally got the gathering out at the unreasonably early hour of 1:00 a.m. No one left before. This event will never be forgotten by any who attended. T̲h̲e̲ ̲T̲h̲i̲r̲d̲ ̲D̲a̲y̲,̲ ̲J̲u̲l̲y̲ ̲4̲t̲h̲,̲ ̲1̲9̲3̲9̲.̲ ̲T̲H̲E̲ A̲S̲T̲O̲U̲N̲D̲I̲N̲G̲ S̲O̲F̲T̲-̲B̲A̲L̲L̲ G̲A̲M̲E̲.̲ Flusing [sic] Flats, fandom's amusing nickname for a big athletic field directly opposite James V. Taurasi's home, was the scene of the most unusual event ever to take place in science-fiction. A soft-ball game between two teams picked out of fandom! For the sake of convenience the titles "PSFS Panthers" for one team and "Queens Cometeers" for the other were adopted, though it is entirely true that there was not an accurate representation of either. The pros, evidently afraid of a good hiding, did not make themselves
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