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Orb, v. 2, issue 1, 1950
Page 20
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without feeling cheated. After the thing was over, I heard several unprintable but fascinating rumors concerning some of the writers' projected plans. When permission comes through, I'll release it. At 7:30, the first part of the program was taken up with a masterly bit of slapstick by John & Dorothy deCourcy, et al, entitled "The Matter Radio." In it, deCourcy managed to integrate and then disintegrate Dorothy (who wasn't ready to be integrated,and was caught clutching a towel) a Bell Boy, who had been trying to get somebody some ice water, a martian (or reasonable facsimile thereof) and Joe Salta. Poor Joe! He was supposedly integrated and disintegrated in and out of the most impossible situations! --The delivery was polished and lively, the plot was cute and slap-stick, and ad libs were as sophisticated as anything I've seen in the professional theatre. This took great wit and ingenuity to prepare, and was one of the peaks of entertainment set at the Norwescon. Thanks, John & Dorothy! After this, Forrie Ackerman and Ted Sturgeon gave talks on Dianetics. The hall had filled steadily, and by now was at its bulgingest. I expect about 250 or 275 people attended this. Unfortunately Forrie and Ted both beat round the bush, without really hitting anything of importance. It was intensely interesting to fans like myself who are neophytes to Dianetics, but to the many more experienced people in the room, it was a little tiring. I enjoyed every minute of it, however, and I am positive that many others did. This continued till after 11, when everyone concerned decided that if the next part of the program were to be held, we'd all better clear out. The whole group dispersed, and then re-gathered,with quite a few fen who had not attended the previous lecture, at the GUILD Theatre, where there was a special stfnal preview of DESTINATION MOON. More and more fen (many of whom hadn't attended any other part of the con) kept coming.....and still more! Before the pic started, about 400 people were packed into the small theatre. Then the picture flashed on the screen. "Destination Moon" -- at which the crowd let out a terrific roar....while the actors' names were flashed on the screen, not a sound was uttered.......Complete disinterest. Then came the other credits........"Screenplay by Rip van Ronkle, James O'Hanlon, and ROBERT HEINLEIN...." another roar....More credits and complete disinterest. Then "....Astronomical supervision by Chesley Bonestell"...and the crowd went even wilder. Everyone was in a fannish frenzy. When the picture started, I think all of our hopes were rocketed much too high. Nevertheless, the first reel of the film was, to me at least, somewhat boring. In fact, many were getting quite restless before the shift to the Mojave Desert and take-off took place. Pace picked up rapidly in the film, then, and the crowd grew more intent... From this point on, nobody uttered a peep. Complete-- and utter silence. In fact the only adverse comments I heard on the last three reels was against the so-called comic Dick Wesson, who never aided the plot, and often hindered it considerably. When the show was over, I found I had caught a bad cold. --Not so much from the admirably realistic moonscapes, but from Portland's darndably changeable weather. Somehow I felt slightly let-down. I think it is almost impossible for a picture to live up to extreme publicity, especially when my hopes were so high, anyway. Nevertheless, it is one of the best
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without feeling cheated. After the thing was over, I heard several unprintable but fascinating rumors concerning some of the writers' projected plans. When permission comes through, I'll release it. At 7:30, the first part of the program was taken up with a masterly bit of slapstick by John & Dorothy deCourcy, et al, entitled "The Matter Radio." In it, deCourcy managed to integrate and then disintegrate Dorothy (who wasn't ready to be integrated,and was caught clutching a towel) a Bell Boy, who had been trying to get somebody some ice water, a martian (or reasonable facsimile thereof) and Joe Salta. Poor Joe! He was supposedly integrated and disintegrated in and out of the most impossible situations! --The delivery was polished and lively, the plot was cute and slap-stick, and ad libs were as sophisticated as anything I've seen in the professional theatre. This took great wit and ingenuity to prepare, and was one of the peaks of entertainment set at the Norwescon. Thanks, John & Dorothy! After this, Forrie Ackerman and Ted Sturgeon gave talks on Dianetics. The hall had filled steadily, and by now was at its bulgingest. I expect about 250 or 275 people attended this. Unfortunately Forrie and Ted both beat round the bush, without really hitting anything of importance. It was intensely interesting to fans like myself who are neophytes to Dianetics, but to the many more experienced people in the room, it was a little tiring. I enjoyed every minute of it, however, and I am positive that many others did. This continued till after 11, when everyone concerned decided that if the next part of the program were to be held, we'd all better clear out. The whole group dispersed, and then re-gathered,with quite a few fen who had not attended the previous lecture, at the GUILD Theatre, where there was a special stfnal preview of DESTINATION MOON. More and more fen (many of whom hadn't attended any other part of the con) kept coming.....and still more! Before the pic started, about 400 people were packed into the small theatre. Then the picture flashed on the screen. "Destination Moon" -- at which the crowd let out a terrific roar....while the actors' names were flashed on the screen, not a sound was uttered.......Complete disinterest. Then came the other credits........"Screenplay by Rip van Ronkle, James O'Hanlon, and ROBERT HEINLEIN...." another roar....More credits and complete disinterest. Then "....Astronomical supervision by Chesley Bonestell"...and the crowd went even wilder. Everyone was in a fannish frenzy. When the picture started, I think all of our hopes were rocketed much too high. Nevertheless, the first reel of the film was, to me at least, somewhat boring. In fact, many were getting quite restless before the shift to the Mojave Desert and take-off took place. Pace picked up rapidly in the film, then, and the crowd grew more intent... From this point on, nobody uttered a peep. Complete-- and utter silence. In fact the only adverse comments I heard on the last three reels was against the so-called comic Dick Wesson, who never aided the plot, and often hindered it considerably. When the show was over, I found I had caught a bad cold. --Not so much from the admirably realistic moonscapes, but from Portland's darndably changeable weather. Somehow I felt slightly let-down. I think it is almost impossible for a picture to live up to extreme publicity, especially when my hopes were so high, anyway. Nevertheless, it is one of the best
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