DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Phantagraph, v. 9, issue 2, whole 37, August 1941

Transcribe
Translate

Phantagraph, v. 9, issue 2, whole 37, August 1941

Page 4

4 The Phantagraph 
PHANTAGRAPHY by Donald A. Wollheim
We think that fandom has gone to the dogs. Years ago when we were young and wild (gad don't we talk old though!) when fans pulled something fish, you weren't likely to hear the end of it until the matter had been threshed out fully. But these effete weak-kneed pink-cheeked mothers' darlings that make up 1941 fandom, bah! One of the rawest unfunniest most disgusting hoaxes ever pulled was the Earl Singleton business. After fans had been made into chumps by giving sincere from-the-heart obituaries and memorials to the very much alive louse E.S., it was revealed that he was not dead after all. The full story of who knew about his death and who didn't has not been told yet. Something are known. Those [illegible] things are the sickening way in which [varioos?] people acted when the news got out. It is not clear yet just how the story got out. It seems to have come from Ackerman in LA first, then rapidly from various fans such as Chauvenet, Rothman, Speer, Widner, and G. Kuslan. Some fans claimed to have known all along, most of these suddenly reversed themselves and claimed they didn't know. Then they reversed again. Gertrude Kuslan after first making a ridiculous spectacle of herself weeping over the "death" claimed suddenly to have been in on the hoax. Others pooh pohh. Well why why didn't those who give a damn about fan honor take action. Whether she was or not in on it, she says she was. I say "kick her out of fandom for it". Ackerman indicated at first that he was in on the secret then later tried to get out of it. I say ferret the [truth?] out. If FJA was one of the lice in the know, give him (big as he is) the boot too. Get the truth out of Widner and Chauvenet both of whom have given conflicting stories. Take action thereafter.
What are we saying is this: all these persons have given doubtful stories about the matter. They have weaseled around on the facts. yet they are all prominent leaders of fandom. I think they should be given a thorough examination. If they have been guilty of participation in the hoax, then fandom is being seriously misled by a bunch of despicable people. I think we ought to know the full story.

Saving...

4 The Phantagraph PHANTAGRAPHY by Donald A. Wollheim We think that fandom has gone to the dogs. Years ago when we were young and wild (gad don't we talk old though!) when fans pulled something fish, you weren't likely to hear the end of it until the matter had been threshed out fully. But these effete weak-kneed pink-cheeked mothers' darlings that make up 1941 fandom, bah! One of the rawest unfunniest most disgusting hoaxes ever pulled was the Earl Singleton business. After fans had been made into chumps by giving sincere from-the-heart obituaries and memorials to the very much alive louse E.S., it was revealed that he was not dead after all. The full story of who knew about his death and who didn't has not been told yet. Something are known. Those [illegible] things are the sickening way in which [varioos?] people acted when the news got out. It is not clear yet just how the story got out. It seems to have come from Ackerman in LA first, then rapidly from various fans such as Chauvenet, Rothman, Speer, Widner, and G. Kuslan. Some fans claimed to have known all along, most of these suddenly reversed themselves and claimed they didn't know. Then they reversed again. Gertrude Kuslan after first making a ridiculous spectacle of herself weeping over the "death" claimed suddenly to have been in on the hoax. Others pooh pohh. Well why why didn't those who give a damn about fan honor take action. Whether she was or not in on it, she says she was. I say "kick her out of fandom for it". Ackerman indicated at first that he was in on the secret then later tried to get out of it. I say ferret the [truth?] out. If FJA was one of the lice in the know, give him (big as he is) the boot too. Get the truth out of Widner and Chauvenet both of whom have given conflicting stories. Take action thereafter. What are we saying is this: all these persons have given doubtful stories about the matter. They have weaseled around on the facts. yet they are all prominent leaders of fandom. I think they should be given a thorough examination. If they have been guilty of participation in the hoax, then fandom is being seriously misled by a bunch of despicable people. I think we ought to know the full story.