Fan Fotos

Let us return once more to days of Fandom past.  Through the magic of the photographic time machine, ably wielded by the intrepid, itinerant fan Fred A. Levy Haskell, we turn the dial back to 1970 and visit a place called Midwestcon.

Midwestcon is the annual regional convention hosted by the Cincinnati Fantasy Group, a fan organization that’s been knocking around since 1935.  1935!

Midwestcon was first held in 1950.  This past June the organization hosted Midwestcon 64.  It’s one of the longest continuously operating conventions in the country.

But that’s not what caught my eye while perusing Fred’s photos of Midwestcon 21, held in 1970.  (1970!  Ancient History.  That’s when they built the pyramids, right?  In the interest of full disclosure, it would actually be 3 more years before I attended my own first convention – a Trek con – which really wasn’t a con, but that’s a different story.) Oh no.

What caught my eye was how obviously the prior decade was still in evidence.  Want to know where Hippie, Yippie and Dippie culture went after humans landed on the Moon?  Obviously it went right to Cincinnati.  To a little place called the North Plaza Motel.  Just check out the clothing and the cars to see what I mean.

Midwestcon carries a fair bit of fannish history with it:  the series was inaugurated following the 1949 Worldcon – Cinvention the 7th Worldcon. It was the first relaxacon ever and has played host to quite a few notable Guests of Honor.  You can find out more about Midwestcon’s history here and here.  (Plan on spending a little time futzing around on that last site;  Fancyclopedia is chock-a-block full of fannish history.)

tucker signs
Wilson Tucker, BNF & author, signs an autograph while author Andrew Offutt looks on. Photos Copyright © Fred A Levy Haskel
tucker
More Tucker (he wasn’t shy). Over on the left, in the black shirt, is Charles Brown, founder and editor of Locus. Photos Copyright © Fred A Levy Haskel
tucker offutt jody offutt
Tucker with Andrew & Jody Offutt. Photos Copyright © Fred A Levy Haskel
offutt
Andrew Offutt by himself. Photos Copyright © Fred A Levy Haskel
suzle and kaufman
In the middle, fanzine fans Suzanne ‘Suzle’ Tompkins and Jerry Kaufman (left), who would go on to commit the Spanish Inquisition. Photos Copyright © Fred A Levy Haskel
lesleigh and hank luttrell
Lesleigh and Hank Luttrell. Lesleigh was the first DUFF winner. Both were nominated for Best Fanzine Hugos. (See what I mean about the clothes and the cars?) Photos Copyright © Fred A Levy Haskel
femme fan
An unnamed femmefan. Photos Copyright © Fred A Levy Haskel
blue petal karen haskell
Volks Wagen – a fan frequently seen at many conventions. Also Blue Petal and Karen Haskell. Photos Copyright © Fred A Levy Haskel
huckersters room
The Huckster’s Room. (Now known as the “dealer’s room.) Photos Copyright © Fred A Levy Haskel
fans
More Huckerstering. Photos Copyright © Fred A Levy Haskel
jim young
O.M.G. Look at all the juicy fanzines! Photos Copyright © Fred A Levy Haskel
fred himsel
Fred A. Levy Haskell when he was just Haskell, doing what he did when he wasn’t behind the camera. Photos Copyright © Fred A Levy Haskel

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2 Comments

  1. In the photo showing me (Jerry Kaufman) and Suzanne Tompkins, I’m on the left, not in the middle. The fellow in the middle is (I think) Mike O’Brien; the next to the right is Greg Shreve; and I don’t recognize the lad on the right. Everyone except myself (including, I’m guessing, Mr. Unidentified) was a member of a Pittsburgh club called the Western Pennsylvania Science Fiction Association.

    I can identify a few people in other photos, if you’d like.

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