NEW YORK, 4 March, (CNS) – The First Monster Fan Convention was held today at the Hotel Chesterfield in New York City, sponsored by Ackerman and Warren, editor and publisher of Famous Monsters.
About thirty persons of all ages gathered in two hotel rooms of the Hotel Chesterfield for the World’s First Monster Fan Convention. No program was offered, but numerous drawings and paintings were around the room and much talk about monster magazines and science-fiction. What surprised your reporter was that there was more serious discussions of science-fiction going on between non-s-f fans and s-f fans than usually goes on at a science-fiction meeting. One conclusion reached on science-fiction was that there wasn’t one magazine on the market to fill the gap between the comic and non-fiction readers and the full-blown science-fiction magazines. It was felt that this gap was hurting the field.
Paintings of Basil Gogos delightful covers for Famous Monsters were on exhibition, along with the proofs of his next (#12) cover. Basil Gogos himself was there discussing his covers and how he paints them. Crowds gathered around James Warren, the publisher, and Forrest Ackerman, the editor, discussing their magazine with them.
The new monster magazine, Horror Monsters was discussed and found sadly wanting. About the best that could be said for it was that it is the best imitation so far, but far below the standards set by Ackerman.
The possibility of a new splash of monster magazines was discussed and the obvious results were noted. The first deluge of monster magazines and their failure was discussed in length. It was the conclusion of the convention that the unusual combination of Ackerman, his long-time connections with the movie studios, his own fabulous collection of monster stills, plus his maddening puns were such that could not be duplicated by anyone else. The possibility of new monster magazines becoming successful were decided to be very dim indeed.
Jim Warren and Forry Ackerman displayed the pages of the first issue of their new magazine Spacemen due to hit the stands shortly. It is the same size and pages a’s Famous Monsters, but deals with space movies and TV. It is on a more serious side than Famous Monsters. Jim announced that the first issue would be quarterly, but that it was going bimonthly with the second issue.
An amateur 16MM movie made in New York City by Monster Fans Kim and Simon Deitch was shown. The film ran for about 20 minutes and was one of the finest and humorous monster film ever viewed by this reporter. The Deitchs are to be congratulated for using imagination and old news clips into a delightful and entertaining film, Called “Dial M For Monster” it was silent and in black and white.
Coffee, cake and ice cream was served throughout the convention by its host, Jimmy Warren.
Among those at this First Monster Con were: Harriett G. Kolchak, John E. Pamums, Sidney Brown, Sock Root, Niel Smerin, Robert Feinstein, Roger Salerno, Jay Sheridan, Kim and Simon Deitch, Susan-Leslie Fish, Les Mayer, James V. Taurasi and James V. Taurasi, Sr., plus Forrest J Ackerman, James Warren, and Basil Gogos.