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Fantasy Commentator, v. 1, issue 9, Winter 1945-1946
Page 230
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230 FANTASY COMMENTATOR Stories, the SFL and their representatives used "the Gernsback delusion" as a rallying cry were actually crying down a conception long since discarded. A man of intelligence, Gernsback recognized that while science-hobbyists did exist, they were nevertheless greatly outnumbered by fans of the fiction stemming from it---and recognizing this fact, acted accordingly. League rules were few and liquid, their flexibility admittedly not designed to cope with situations brought about by fan-feuding. Indirectly the organization would benefit Wonder Stories in building up a stable reading audience, and thus increasing its circulation; however, this in itself could be regarded as furthering the cause of science-fiction. Even if it were granted that the SFL's basis was a wholly commercial one, therefore, fanwide benefits which accured as a result were of necessity independent of this. Looking back from the vantage of a decade's perspective, we are forced in fact to admit that the Science Fiction League was more beneficial and important to fandom than any organization which preceeded or followed it. Not only did it actually create the fan field as we know the latter today, but it gave the field something that it had never possessed before: realization of its own existence. From every part of the country there emerged through local chapters those fans who were most interested in their hobby, those who would form the backbone of a national structure. Communication between individual members was facilitated by the SFL columns that appeared in each issue of Wonder Stories, and which carried fan names and addresses. League-sponsored quizzes, compiled by leading fans of the day, called for an encyclopedic science-fictional knowledge if one were to obtain a high score, and through this medium too were reputations gained in the field. The sections in these quizzes devoted to pure science were relatively small---an additional indication of the trend toward ever weightier emphasis upon fiction at science's expense. Of the many other activities coming to light in this column that of J. O. Bailey's compiling information for a bibliography of science-fiction holds perhaps the most topical interest at this writing, with the publication of his Pilgrims through Space and Time in the offing (one hopes!) after years of postponements. And slowly, frequently after a laborious gestation, individual chapters began to appear. Some, of course, were of no lasting importance, being virtual-no more than the three members' names required for official recognition. Others, however, were destined to leave a permanent mark on fandom's history. George Gordon Clark, who held the honor of being the SFL's first member, was unique also in forming its first chapter, that of Brooklyn. The very fact that he had received membership card number one was the determining factor in convincing Clark that he should make himself a leading fan; and, after organizing local chapter number one, there was no holding him back. He quickly accumulated a large science-fiction collection, purchased a mimeograph machine, and engaged in a whirlwind flurry of activity that persisted at a high pitch for the duration of his stay in the field. Chapter number two was formed in Lewiston by Stuart Ayers, and never attained much prominence, though Ayers was a sincere and interested fan. Jack Schaller formed the third (Erie) chapter. The Los Angeles chapter, one of the most important, was organized soon after (October, 1934) by E. C. Reynolds, about whom little is unfortunately known; two other important fans, Roy Test and W. Hofford, were on the initial roster. Ackerman put in an appearance at this time too, apologizing for his inability to create a chapter in San Francisco. Soon the league was spreading like wildfire, with locals being sponsored by such names as Robert W. Lowndes, Arthur L. Widner, Olon F. Wiggins, Lewis F. Torrence, D. R. Welch, Robert A. Ward, L. M. Jenson, Paul Freehafer, Clarence J. Wilhelm, Vernon H. Jones, Bob Tucker, Day Gee, H. W. Kirschemblit, Allen R. Charpentier, Thomas S. Gardner, Henry Hasse, Joseph Hatch, Leslie Johnson, Raymond A. Palmer, Lionel Dilbeck and Alvin Earl Perry. From this list one can gain some idea of the num-
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230 FANTASY COMMENTATOR Stories, the SFL and their representatives used "the Gernsback delusion" as a rallying cry were actually crying down a conception long since discarded. A man of intelligence, Gernsback recognized that while science-hobbyists did exist, they were nevertheless greatly outnumbered by fans of the fiction stemming from it---and recognizing this fact, acted accordingly. League rules were few and liquid, their flexibility admittedly not designed to cope with situations brought about by fan-feuding. Indirectly the organization would benefit Wonder Stories in building up a stable reading audience, and thus increasing its circulation; however, this in itself could be regarded as furthering the cause of science-fiction. Even if it were granted that the SFL's basis was a wholly commercial one, therefore, fanwide benefits which accured as a result were of necessity independent of this. Looking back from the vantage of a decade's perspective, we are forced in fact to admit that the Science Fiction League was more beneficial and important to fandom than any organization which preceeded or followed it. Not only did it actually create the fan field as we know the latter today, but it gave the field something that it had never possessed before: realization of its own existence. From every part of the country there emerged through local chapters those fans who were most interested in their hobby, those who would form the backbone of a national structure. Communication between individual members was facilitated by the SFL columns that appeared in each issue of Wonder Stories, and which carried fan names and addresses. League-sponsored quizzes, compiled by leading fans of the day, called for an encyclopedic science-fictional knowledge if one were to obtain a high score, and through this medium too were reputations gained in the field. The sections in these quizzes devoted to pure science were relatively small---an additional indication of the trend toward ever weightier emphasis upon fiction at science's expense. Of the many other activities coming to light in this column that of J. O. Bailey's compiling information for a bibliography of science-fiction holds perhaps the most topical interest at this writing, with the publication of his Pilgrims through Space and Time in the offing (one hopes!) after years of postponements. And slowly, frequently after a laborious gestation, individual chapters began to appear. Some, of course, were of no lasting importance, being virtual-no more than the three members' names required for official recognition. Others, however, were destined to leave a permanent mark on fandom's history. George Gordon Clark, who held the honor of being the SFL's first member, was unique also in forming its first chapter, that of Brooklyn. The very fact that he had received membership card number one was the determining factor in convincing Clark that he should make himself a leading fan; and, after organizing local chapter number one, there was no holding him back. He quickly accumulated a large science-fiction collection, purchased a mimeograph machine, and engaged in a whirlwind flurry of activity that persisted at a high pitch for the duration of his stay in the field. Chapter number two was formed in Lewiston by Stuart Ayers, and never attained much prominence, though Ayers was a sincere and interested fan. Jack Schaller formed the third (Erie) chapter. The Los Angeles chapter, one of the most important, was organized soon after (October, 1934) by E. C. Reynolds, about whom little is unfortunately known; two other important fans, Roy Test and W. Hofford, were on the initial roster. Ackerman put in an appearance at this time too, apologizing for his inability to create a chapter in San Francisco. Soon the league was spreading like wildfire, with locals being sponsored by such names as Robert W. Lowndes, Arthur L. Widner, Olon F. Wiggins, Lewis F. Torrence, D. R. Welch, Robert A. Ward, L. M. Jenson, Paul Freehafer, Clarence J. Wilhelm, Vernon H. Jones, Bob Tucker, Day Gee, H. W. Kirschemblit, Allen R. Charpentier, Thomas S. Gardner, Henry Hasse, Joseph Hatch, Leslie Johnson, Raymond A. Palmer, Lionel Dilbeck and Alvin Earl Perry. From this list one can gain some idea of the num-
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