My Dinner with Timothy Leary

May 11, 2010

I was nineteen and I had a date with The Devil. His name had been on the evening news throughout the 1960’s. His philosophy fit on a lapel button: “Turn On, Tune In, Drop Out.” He was infamous – he was notorious. He was Dr. Timothy Leary, a former college professor and psychedelic guru speaking at student protests, marching to his unique beat. It was Comic-Con 1976.

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The Most Important Ads in Comic-Con History

April 21, 2010

In 1969, San Diego comics fan Barry Alfonso and comics dealer Richard Alf placed the ads that led to the creation and early success of Comic-Con.

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Video: Conversations with George Clayton Johnson and Lola Johnson

March 23, 2010

On July 19, 1997, after a long day spent at San Diego’s Comic-Con International, author George Clayton Johnson (Twilight Zone, Star Trek, Logan’s Run, Ocean’s 11, Kung Fu) and his wife, Lola Johnson, sat for a videotaped interview at the San Diego, CA home of Roy L. Dobbs, Jr. The interview features the off-camera voices of Comic-Con’s Founder, Shel Dorf, and the Chairman of Comic-Con #1, Ken Krueger. The video is presented here courtesy of George Clayton Johnson and Greg Koudoulian.

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More 1973 San Diego Comic-Con Photos: Can You Identify People in the Pictures?

February 28, 2010

I’ve scanned another batch of some of San Diego Comic-Con Founder Shel Dorf’s old film negatives. (I received the negatives from Shel’s friend and cartooning partner Charlie Roberts and I’ve got another 200 to 300 still left to scan from the 1973 and 1974 Comic-Cons.) Below you will find a batch of his black-and-white pictures from the 1973 Comic-Con. I’ve identified people in photos where I was reasonably certain of their identities.

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The Jim Lee iWolverine

February 25, 2010

Artist Jim Lee creates an iWolverine and a Gwen Stacy sketch for Australian fan Darcy Quinn at the November 2008 Armageddon Expo in Melbourne.

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The Birthplace of Comic-Con International

February 15, 2010

Pictures of the birthplace of Comic-Con International in the San Diego community of Clairemont.

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San Diego Comic-Con #3 (1972) on Earth-Two

February 8, 2010

The cover of YUBBA #4 featured Scott Shaw!’s comic version of the goings on at “the comic convention held in San Diego of Earth-Two,” which were a more extreme version of actual events from the Earth-One San Diego West Coast Comic-Con held August 18-20, 1972 at the El Cortez Hotel. Here is that cover for your viewing pleasure.

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1973 San Diego Comic-Con Photos: Can You Identify People in the Pictures?

January 28, 2010

I have been scanning some of San Diego Comic-Con Founder Shel Dorf’s old film negatives. (I received the negatives from Shel’s friend and cartooning partner Charlie Roberts.) Below you will find a batch of his color pictures from the 1973 Comic-Con. I’ve identified people in photos where I was reasonably certain of their identities. Also Bill Lund (San Diego Comic-Con Chairman in 1973 and 1974), with an assist from Jean Graham, was able to identify a number of others. Some of the professional guests pictured are Neal Adams, Bob Clampett, June Foray, Carmine Infantino, Jack Kirby, and Larry “Seymour” Vincent. Comic-Con committee members pictured include Barry Alfonso, William Caron, Shel Dorf, Vicky Kelso, Ken Krueger, Bill Lund, Bill Schanes, and Steve Schanes.

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Alan White’s “Boomer’s Lament”: 50 Years of Fandom and Conventions

January 25, 2010

Artist Alan White has begun posting to his smellthefandom.com web site a personal history of his fifty-years with science-fiction and comics fandom and conventions titled “Boomer’s Lament.” As with so many others, his fan history more or less begins with Famous Monsters of Filmland, Forry Ackerman, and the Ackermansion. Since it was being supported by Forry, Alan began attending the San Diego Comic-Con in 1970, its very first year. So far he’s told his story and posted his pictures through 1977, with much more to come. It’s all very cool and very much worth reading.

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Comic Fan’s Mom Bids on Kirby Drawing at 1970 Comic-Con #1 Auction and Wins!

January 24, 2010

I was there at the 1970 Comic-Con. I was 15 and my mother drove me down there from L.A. It was a big thing for me, my first contact with fandom in the flesh. I was so in awe of Kirby, Bradbury and all the other guests, just in awe of the whole situation, that I was at a convention for comic books. They auctioned off some sketches that Kirby did, right there in person.

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