Tue 12 Aug 2014
CON REPORT: PulpFest 2014, by Walker Martin.
Posted by Steve under Collecting , Conventions , Pulp Fiction[24] Comments
by Walker Martin
I’m just back from PulpFest in Columbus, Ohio. Out of the six annual conventions which began in 2009, this one was the best. They seem to be improving each year and I’m compelled to file my convention report right away even though I’m exhausted from lack of sleep and the 10 hour ride.
Once again, four of us rented a van because we needed a bigger vehicle to carry all our books, pulps, and artwork. Coming back, we were worried about fitting everything in and a couple big boxes had to be mailed back by UPS. One of these days we might have to take a vote and leave one of our group of biblio maniacs behind due to lack of space!
Why do I consider this one to be the best of the six PulpFests? I never thought I would be praising the evening programming instead of just talking about the dealer’s room but this year set a standard for programming that will be hard to break in the future. During the three evenings we had over a dozen panels, tributes, and discussions:
Laurie Powers lecture at Ohio State about her grandfather Paul Powers
Frank Robinson Tribute
Nathan Madison and Ed Hulse discussing FAMOUS FANTASTIC MYSTERIES, one of the great pulps.
The Avenger’s Diamond Jubilee
FarmerCon panel on Philip Jose Farmer
And that was just Thursday night. Friday we enjoyed:
1939: Science Fiction’s Boom Year
STARTLING STORIES: An overview(Another great pulp)
Philip Jose Farmer’s Early Science Fiction
Pulp Premiums and Promotions by Chris Kalb
Eighty Years of Terror: The Weird Menace Pulps
1939: The Golden Year of ASTOUNDING STORIES
And then Saturday evening we had the auction plus:
UNKNOWN: The Best in Fantasy Fiction
John Newton Howitt: a discussion about the artist by David Saunders
Each night ended with a four chapter Buck Rogers serial.
I’ve spent some time listing the above in detail because the former Pulpcon conventions of 1972-2008 never really had such a great number of interesting and valuable programming. I attended almost all the conventions and each Pulpcon had evening events like the Guest of Honor speech, the banquet, an auction, a radio play, and at the most, a couple of panels.
But this year’s PulpFest had over a dozen programs on the schedule, including much needed discussions of such interesting and influential magazines as FAMOUS FANTASTIC MYSTERIES, STARTLING STORIES, TERROR TALES, ASTOUNDING, and UNKNOWN.
We need even more such panels and tributes because they are the real reason that we continue to meet at these conventions. We read these great pulps because they are filled with excellent fiction; we collect them because they are beautiful artifacts and we are obsessed by them; we talk and discuss and argue about them because they are important subjects in magazine history and popular culture.
I’ve spent my adult life reading, collecting, and discussing these magazines. When I think back over my life, I don’t think of myself as someone who worked as a supervisor and manager in business. No, I was, and I still am, a book, magazine and art collector who arises each day thinking of such subjects as listed above. We should all be proud to be called readers and collectors, especially in this busy modern world where we are constantly bombarded with electronic distractions.
Another great thing about this convention involved the awarding of the Munsey Award to Randy Cox, who has written several books about the pulps and dime novels plus being the editor of THE DIME NOVEL ROUND UP for around 20 years. He has long deserved this award and recognition.
Another pulp enthusiast and worker won the Rusty Hevelin award for service. Congratulations Barry Traylor, a long time committee member of both Pulpcon and PulpFest.
It’s always enjoyable seeing and speaking to such interesting collectors. I also was glad to speak with Mike Nevins, who showed me a proof copy of an upcoming book, and Gordon Huber, who is the only collector to attend every Pulpcon and PulpFest since the beginning in 1972. I was also glad to see Tom Krabacher who was wearing a great UNKNOWN T-shirt one day and an ADVENTURE related shirt the next. I asked if he could make me copies of these shirts and he agreed to try. I’ll be glad to add them to my collection of shirts I wear celebrating various pulp magazines.
In addition to this being the best PulpFest, issue number 23 of THE PULPSTER was the best of the Pulpcon and PulpFest convention magazines. The front cover shows a great Edd Cartier cover from UNKNOWN. Mike Chomko has a long article on the SF pulps, Don Hutchison discusses the weird menace magazines, Garyn Roberts talks about Ray Bradbury’s fanzine and other articles cover Argentine SF, horror pulps, Hannes Bok, Fritz Leiber, and Frank Robinson. Editor William Lampkin deserves our thanks for this excellent issue.
The auction was the best PulpFest auction also. For the first time all items had to have minimum bid of $20 and this kept out most of the trivial and less interesting items. A nice variety of magazines were auctioned but the most interesting items were several lots from the estate of an author by the name of Everil Worrell, who appeared in several issues of WEIRD TALES during the twenties, thirties, forties, and fifties. In addition to manuscripts there were several letters from editor Dorothy McIlwraith discussing such interesting subjects as WEIRD TALES art, problems with payments, and the changeover to the smaller digest format.
As usual I had a table in the dealer’s room and I sold several cancelled checks paying for stories in ADVENTURE MAGAZINE. I also sold DVDs, pulp related books, and magazines. But my main interest was in buying pulps and I found one of my major wants, the July 7, 1917 issue of ALL STORY. Not that it has much of interest but I’m close to completing my set of ALL STORY and now only need 3 issues of the over 400 published during 1905-1920. Frankly, when I started collecting the magazine decades ago, I never thought I’d come so close to completion simply because so many issues contain Edgar Rice Burroughs. A great magazine full of so many early science fiction classics.
Since the 1960’s, I’ve had all the ASTOUNDING back issues but I noticed a run of the years when John Campbell worked for the magazine in 1937-1943. 72 issues, most in fine condition, which is better than my set. Naturally I had to buy it and I now have two sets of the individual issues plus a bound set. You can never have too many sets of your favorite magazines! You know it’s true love when you buy duplicate sets, which I’ve done with such titles as ASTOUNDING, PLANET STORIES, UNKNOWN, and FAMOUS FANTASTIC MYSTERIES. My wife says it’s hoarding but we all know it’s collecting.
There were over 100 tables in a large room and attendance was between 450 and 500. This also makes it not only the best Pulpcon/PulpFest, but also the largest. The committee has already booked the Hyatt for 2015 and 2016, so we are set for the next two years. Speaking of the committee, I must thank them by name. Jack Cullers and his army of family volunteers, Mike Chomko, Barry Traylor, Ed Hulse, and Chuck Welch. Thank you fellow readers and collectors, for all your work done on this convention. I hope we all can continue to attend many more PulpFests!
August 12th, 2014 at 9:08 pm
Great roundup, Walker. It was a pleasure to meet you in person at PulpFest.
This was only my second Pulpcon/PulpFest — 2006 being the first — so I don’t have the perspective that you do. But I thoroughly enjoyed it. I’m already looking forward to next year!
As far as panels go, I’ve begun posting audio recordings of the evening panels at ThePulp.Net. I’ve got the Thursday ones up, with the next two evenings to come: http://www.thepulp.net/pulp-info/convention-coverage/pulpfest-2014/
Glad you enjoyed THE PULPSTER, too!
– Bill
August 12th, 2014 at 10:05 pm
I am sorry that I wasn’t able to go again this year. Besides missing all the friends I haven’t seen in several years now, it sounds as though the programming was really something special.
August 12th, 2014 at 10:21 pm
By the way, the link that Bill provides above also has a link leading to his YELLOWED PERILS page. His report has some great photos, including one of Randy Cox receiving the Munsey Award. Just click on YELLOWED PERILS.
August 12th, 2014 at 10:26 pm
Steve is right about the programming. I was also impressed and that’s why I think this PulpFest was the best one. I love talking about the pulp magazines and this convention really concentrated on some great titles like ASTOUNDING, UNKNOWN, FAMOUS FANTASTIC MYSTERIES, and STARTLING.
August 13th, 2014 at 1:44 am
All well and good Walker, glad you enjoyed the show for a completely different reason than usual. But uh…care to share what paperback cover art you picked up?
-Ruben
August 13th, 2014 at 6:24 am
I’ll most likely post again after I read what is always an excellent convention report by Walker but I had share something while I am thinking of it. Something Walker said about leaving one person behind to make room for books, pulps, etc. Years ago during my first visit to Rick and Mildred Minter’s home in Eden, N.C. he was telling me about the time he found a huge treasure trove of pulps in a barn in TN and Mildred said the car was so full that she was afraid he would leave her behind to make room for more pulps. She was laughing when she said that. What grand people they were.
August 13th, 2014 at 6:38 am
I agree that it will be tough to beat this year’s panels, perhaps due to the fact that not only were they excellent (which I take no credit for as Mike came up with most of the ideas) but SF/Fantasy is the reason I was attracted to the pulps in the first place. Collecting Astounding first, then Weird Tales, Unknown, Planet Stories and so many more. I feel I must apologize for my part in the panel 1939: Science Fiction’s Boom Year as due to a SNAFU I had about a two minute warning that they needed a third person on the panel! I wish I’d had some time to prepare (or pull a disappearing act).
August 13th, 2014 at 6:57 am
Ruben, I was looking for some paperback art but there was not much at all. Also I didn’t see many pulp paintings. Usually I find some original art to take home but not this time.
August 13th, 2014 at 7:08 am
Barry mentions Richard Minter who at one time in the fifties, sixties, and seventies, was the biggest pulp dealer in the country. I must have received a thousand packages from Minter. Every week I received at least a couple.
At the first Pulpcon in 1972 the same thought crossed my mind. The car was packed full of pulps including two Baumhofer cover paintings. My wife was taking up valuable space in the front seat and I figured I could put four boxes where she was sitting, two on the floor and two on the seat. Instead I talked Nils Hardin into mailing me the boxes.
Which brings up the age old question that book collectors have pondered through the centuries. Which is more important? The rare books or the non-collecting spouse? To rabid collectors there can only be one answer.
August 13th, 2014 at 11:27 am
Thanks for the link to the photo of me accepting the Munsey. I don’t usually look so grumpy, but a lot of emotions were racing through my head that night. Garyn said so many nice things about me before announcing my name that I wondered who he was talking about! Walter Albert is having FedEx send the award for me as I was not certain they would let me get it on the plane.
August 13th, 2014 at 11:43 am
Congratulations, Randy! It couldn’t have been given to a more deserving fellow! Sorry I couldn’t be there in person when you won the award.
August 13th, 2014 at 11:47 am
Randy, you deserved the award and should have received it many years ago. In my opinion the Munsey Award print by David Saunders is far more interesting than the Lamont Award print of the Shadow. It’s better done and a real piece of art.
August 13th, 2014 at 3:29 pm
Walker,
This was an excellent report and my wife and my first PulpFest (we will be back). It was great to meet you in person after chatting on FictionMags. Cheers.
August 13th, 2014 at 6:02 pm
John, it was a pleasure seeing you at this, your first PulpFest. I know many of the fictionmag members like the SF conventions but they are missing out by not attending Windy City or PulpFest. There are always plenty of SF back issues at these pulp shows and many magazine collectors got their start with SF. I know I did.
August 14th, 2014 at 6:09 am
I’m afraid that I owe Ed Hulse an apology for not giving him the credit due him for the programming at PulpFest. I guess I was so busy sorting out the Everil Worrell estate items at my home prior to the convention that I had a senior moment or two.
Very sorry about this.
Mea culpa
August 15th, 2014 at 9:08 pm
Walker, Who was your colleague at the discussion of Unknown? I’m writing the PulpFest Report for Dime Novel Round-Up and want to get my facts straight. My notes from last Saturday are no help.
August 15th, 2014 at 10:32 pm
Randy, in addition to myself, Tom Krabacher and Garyn Roberts were on the UNKNOWN panel. Both are professors and someone called me a “Professor of Pulp”. I’ll answer to that!
By the way, I’ve had more feedback about the Unknown panel than any other I’ve been on. A couple collectors mentioned that they have decided to start collecting the magazine. Another asked me about my notebook on the magazine and was impressed by my handwritten notes on all the stories and issues from the 1960’s. That’s 50 years ago and when I reread a story from UNKNOWN, so far my reactions have been the same as when I was 22 and so impressed by the magazine.
August 16th, 2014 at 10:37 am
Thanks, Walker. My memories of that night are coming back. It was a great panel! (BTW, The Munsey Award arrived this morning. Now to find somewhere to hang it.)
August 21st, 2014 at 1:08 pm
I just received an email from Jack Cullers adjusting the attendance figures to 390 with about 175 being walk ins. This is still excellent compared to old Pulpcon figures which never passed the high point of 300 for one or two conventions. Many of the walk ins were younger readers and some said they would be back in the future. I spoke to several of them as they paused at my table simply because it was unusual to see younger attendees.
August 21st, 2014 at 8:33 pm
I guess I’d better adjust the figures I quoted in my PulpFest Report for Dime Novel Round-Up. Not too late to do that.
September 25th, 2014 at 12:22 pm
Most of my adult life has been collecting and reading pulp magazines. For over 50 years i’ve pubed zines about pulps and once had over 1200 subscribers.
Like Walker, I don’t think of my real livlihood life, but rather as a grown up kid still interested in those old magazines I first discovered in 1949. With the excellent help of other pulp fans, I have put out over 200 issues of ERB-dom, FC and Pulpdom, each meant to celebrate the great variety of authors and pulps.
And, since Walker brought up ALL-STORY, there is this. Eleven separate issues of Pulpdom were devoted to a description of this magazine, 1905-1920, with illustrations. If you don’t have your own personal set, this is a way to sort of look through some of the 400+ issues.
Let me know, and I’ll send you all eleven FREE — by Email attachments. ridgefirecaz@gmail.com
July 21st, 2015 at 7:42 am
Dear Walker, I just happened upon your site whilst looking for something else connected to pulps. I recall you from the ‘Outer Limits’ and ‘Thriller’ a day post from a couple of years back. But now, thanks to you, and a few other, I’ve been inspired to collect.
I’d like to request one thing though.
Is it possible to post better, bigger scans of the covers of the magazines that you’ve collected. The ones I’ve got, due to budget – at this time, sometimes don’t have covers, or the covers are damaged and sometimes they are so faded into pastel tones that it’s hard to really fathom how bright and pungently colourful, rich and detailed they are. How exciting it was to pick them up.
The thumbnail images with the article are remarkable for fidelity to the actual look of the magazine.
Again, thanks for inspiring me on this journey, it really is exciting.
July 21st, 2015 at 7:44 am
PS: I’d love to print out, high resolution covers with the right tones and have the cover-less ones re-constituted, if only to entice the kids into reading them.
July 21st, 2015 at 9:06 am
Bobby
I’m glad you’re enjoying Walker’s various contributions to my blog. The cover images came from neither Walker nor my collections. They came largely from online searches. Here, for example is a page full of covers from ASTOUNDING SCIENCE FICTION:
http://www.philsp.com/mags/analog.html
It makes for quite a spectacular display!
Steve