Memphis Fandom

For more on the beginnings of Memphis fandom, see the profile by Greg Bridges in Part II above on Phoenix winner Darrell C. Richardson. Greg also sent an index to his fanzine he did in the early '70s. "The first ish of the fanzine diversity (in 1970) was mostly the work of members of the Mid-South Fantasy Association, being edited by Tom Foster. The second ish was still largely MSFA members. [...] Editors were Jim Harris and Greg Bridges. The third ish was in 1973, being much more of a genzine than the previous issues. [...] Greg Bridges paid for #3 (wonder of wonders he had a job, finally!) but with the beginnings of the MSFA slanplex the summer of '73, future ishes could never be afforded[...]"

History of Memphis SF Conventions

[From the 1989 DSC program book. Thanks to Ned Brooks.]

STVEN & DON'S HALFACON
Dec. 2-4 1977
Holiday Inn at Overton Square. 75 people attended--no guests, just a pleasant relaxacon put on by P.L. Caruthers with Stven Carlberg and Don Markstein.

JUST IMAGICON
May 25-27, 1979
Holiday Inn Rivermont. Attendance: 375.
Pro GoHs: L. Sprague & Catherine de Camp
Fan GoH: Lon Atkins
Artist GoH: Kelly Freas
TM: Gerald W. Page
Special Guests: Peter Pautz, Robert Asprin, Sharon Webb, Grant Carrington, Theodore Sturgeon
Con Chairs: Louis Armour & Thomas A. Johnson

IMAGINITZACON
Sept. 26-28, 1980
Holiday Inn Overton Square
Pro GoH: Robert Asprin
Fan GoH: Stven Carlberg
Con Chairs: Nancy Collins & Michael Brown

IMAGINICON
Sept. 25-27, 1981
Holiday Inn Overton Square
Pro GoH: Andrew J. Offutt
Fan & Artist GoH: Charlie Williams
Special Rock-Band-in Parking-Garage-Guests: Panther Burns
Con Chair: Nancy Collins

MIDSOUTHCON II
Aug. 20-22, 1982
(The first Midsouthcon was really the first DeepSouthCon in Huntsville, AL in 1963. [...] Our numbering starts with the Midsouthcon held in Huntsville [...]. When chairman Andy Purcell gafiated, we asked if we might use Midsouthcon for our convention name, and, with his permission, we have done so since then.)
Quality Inn Riverview
Pro GoH: Wilson (Bob) Tucker
Fan GoH: Arthur Hlavaty
TM: Charlie Williams
Con Chairs: Frank Jordan

MIDSOUTHCON III
March 16-18, 1984
Quality Inn Riverview
Pro GoH: C.J. Cherryh
Fan GoH: Margaret Middleton
Artist GoH: Steven Dodd
TM: Dal Coger
Special Guest: Suzette Haden Elgin
Con Chairs: Frank Jordan & Richard Moore

MIDSOUTHCON IV
March 22-24, 1985
Quality Inn Airport
Pro GoH: Frederik Pohl
Fan GoH: Ken Moore
Artist GoH: Keith Berdak
TM: John Steakley
Filk GoH: Suzette Haden Elgin
Special Guests: Robert Jordan, Sharon Webb
Con Chairs: Jackie Watkins & Michael Taviss

MIDSOUTHCON V
June 6, 1986
Ramada Inn Southwest/Airport
Pro GoH: Joe Haldeman
Fan GoH: Jodie Offutt
Artist GoH: David Cherry
TM: Andrew J. Offutt
Con Chairs: Richard Moore & Jackie Watkins

MIDSOUTHCON VI
March 27-29, 1987
Wilson World Hotel
Pro GoH: Hal Clement
Fan GoH: Rickey Sheppard
Artist GoH: Lucy A. Synk
TM: Wilson (Bob) Tucker
Con Chair: Richard Moore

MIDSOUTHCON VII
March 18-20, 1988
Memphis Marriott
Pro GoHs: Larry Niven & Jerry Pournelle
Fan GoH: Dr. Darrell C. Richardson
Artist GoH: Mitch Foust
Filk GoH: Margaret Middleton
TM: Julius Schwartz
Special Media Guest: Michael Keating
Con Chair: Richard Moore

Other Memphis Conventions:

DeepSouthCon 27
June 9-11, 1989 - Memphis Marriott
[See DSC Tabular History for basic data.]

FANTASY CON
July 29-31 - Ramada Convention Center
Kerry O'Quinn and Darrell Richardson, guests.

SON OF CON
Oct. 26-28, 1984 - Ramada Inn Southeast
Guest: Andrew Offutt.

FANTASY CON III
July 25-27, 1986 - Mud Island Park
Guests: John Agar, Darrell Richardson and Alan Clark.

FANTASY CON IV
July 24-26, 1987 - Mud Island Park
Guests: Marion Zimmer Bradley & John Norman.

 

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