Discon II

The 1974 World Science Fiction Convention in Washington, DC. Roger Zelazny was the Guest of Honor, and Jay Kay Klein, the fannish photographer of the era, was the Fan Guest of Honor. He intended to publish a stereo photo memory book of Discon II, but the project never came to fruition (and he returned all the money he'd collected from people, including me).

Some of the photos still have the last vestiges of the slide border around them. Autocrop in Thumbs Plus isn't quite powerful enough for the job, so only the ones I edited by hand are completely clean. Those are mostly the important ones, and the *really bad* ones (where the original was badly exposed, but I wanted to save what I could of the picture).

There should be some B&W rolls, including shots of the drive down in a motor home with a bunch of Minneapolis fans, but they're AWOL at the moment, and besides, the stack feeder wouldn't help scanning strips of negatives at all.

Thanks to Geri Sullivan and Kip Williams who recognized Avedon Carol, and Avedon Carol for helping with a lot of identifications, especially in 2001: A Space Opera. Lise Eisenberg, Mike Walsh, and Susan (smg231) also made valuable contributions.

Discon II Guest of Honor Roger Zelazny at opening ceremonies. Zelazny, Roger
Harlan Ellison, co-chair Jay Haldeman, and unidentified man. Ellison, Harlan; Haldeman, Jay
Discon II Guest of Honor Roger Zelazny at opening ceremonies. Zelazny, Roger
Ellison, Harlan
Hal Clement in the audience, probably at the "Official Opening". Clement, Hal
Discon Fan GoH Jay Kay Klein shooting from the audience, I believe at the "Official Opening". Flash (now Flahsh) aka Rick Pohlman in blue denim and with an obvious camera in the audience. Flash; Klein, Jay Kay; Pholman, Rick
Fan GoH Jay Kay Klein photographs GoH Roger Zelazny
Fan GoH Jay Kay Klein photographs GoH Roger Zelazny
I believe Jay is shooting a stereo camera, which makes sense since he then intended to publish a stereo memory book of Discon II (it wasn't completed). And for those who care, that flash head is from a Braun RL-515. Klein, Jay Kay; Zelazny, Roger
Discon II co-chair Jay Haldeman, Flash in the background, unidentified man on the right (possibly Mike Lalor?). Flash; Haldeman, Jay; Lalor, Mike
Joe Haldeman and Ben Bova autograph advance copies of the October Analog, available in the hucksters room at Discon II. Bova, Ben; Haldeman, Joe
Discon II Guest of Honor Roger Zelazny and, sorry, an unknown fan. Zelazny, Roger
Opening Ceremonies. Did they pick up the idea of using a pipe band from Torcon the year before?
Harlan Ellison and Alvy Moore introducing the preview showing of A Boy and his Dog . Ellison, Harlan; Moore, Alvy
Preview showing of the film of Harlan Ellison's A Boy and his Dog .
Joe Haldeman and Ron Bounds, probably just before appearing in 2001: A Space Opera (they appear not to be on the set, but they are in their costumes). Bounds, Ron; Haldeman, Joe
Ellison, Harlan
Ellison, Harlan; Moore, Alvy
Ellison, Harlan; Silverberg, Robert
Ellison, Harlan; Haldeman, Jay
Ellison, Harlan
Zelazny, Roger
Asimov, Isaac
Pohl, Fred
Asimov, Isaac
Asimov, Isaac
Pohl, Fred
I think these are from the "Dialog" between Isaac and Harlan. Asimov, Isaac
I think these are from the "Dialog" between Isaac and Harlan. Ellison, Harlan
I think these are from the "Dialog" between Isaac and Harlan. Ellison, Harlan
I think these are from the "Dialog" between Isaac and Harlan. Ellison, Harlan
Katherine Kurtz at her reading Sunday morning at Discon II. Kurtz, Katherine
Katherine Kurtz at her reading Sunday morning at Discon II. Kurtz, Katherine
Katherine Kurtz at her reading Sunday morning at Discon II. Kurtz, Katherine
Katherine Kurtz at her reading Sunday morning at Discon II. Kurtz, Katherine
Katherine Kurtz at her reading Sunday morning at Discon II. Kurtz, Katherine

2001: A Space Opera

A parody of Stanley Kubrick's film, of course, which wasn't as old in 1974 as it is now. It was written by Alexis and Doll Gilliland and directed by Doll, and had been first performed at the 1971 Disclave I think. During the trip sequence at the end, sugar cubes were thrown into the audience.

There's a nice article by Alexis on it in Mimosa.

Hal is the large one with the silver face.

Ray Ridenour as Hal in 2001: A Space Opera by Alexis Gilliland, performed at Discon II. Ridenour, Ray
Ray Ridenour as Hal and David Weems as the Slab in 2001: A Space Opera by Alexis Gilliland, performed at Discon II. Is that Lee Smoire in back at the left? Ridenour, Ray; Smoire, Lee; Weems, David
Ray Ridenour as Hal and David Weems as the Slab in 2001: A Space Opera by Alexis Gilliland, performed at Discon II. Ridenour, Ray; Weems, David
2001: A Space Opera; by Alexis Gilliland
Ray Ridenour as Hal in 2001: A Space Opera by Alexis Gilliland, performed at Discon II. Ridenour, Ray
Ron Bounds, Joe Haldeman, Ray Ridenour as Hal, maybe Gay Haldeman peaking out from behind Hal, Lee Smoire, David Weems as the Slab, Jack Chalker peeking out from behind Slab in 2001: A Space Opera by Alexis Gilliland, performed at Discon II. Bounds, Ron; Carol, Avedon; Haldeman, Joe; Ridenour, Ray; Weems, David
Alan Huff, Avedon Carol, Kim Weston, ?, ?, Chris Callaghan in 2001: A Space Opera by Alexis Gilliland, performed at Discon II. Callaghan, Chris; Carol, Avedon; Huff, Alan; Weston, Kim
David Weems as the Slab in 2001: A Space Opera by Alexis Gilliland, performed at Discon II. Note Jack Chalker to his right, and Joe Haldeman at the bottom right. Kim Weston at the far left. Chalker, Jack; Haldeman, Joe; Weems, David; Weston, Kim
Avedon Carol, David Weems, Jack Chalker in 2001: A Space Opera by Alexis Gilliland, performed at Discon II. Except Avedon doesn't think it's her. Chalker, Jack; Smoire, Lee; Weems, David
?, perhaps Lee Smoire, Alan Huff in 2001: A Space Opera by Alexis Gilliland, performed at Discon II. Huff, Alan
Jack Chalker, ?, Lee Smoire, Ron Bounds in 2001: A Space Opera by Alexis Gilliland, performed at Discon II. Bounds, Ron; Carol, Avedon; Chalker, Jack; Smoire, Lee
Alan Huff and Avedon Carol in 2001: A Space Opera at Discon II. Carol, Avedon; Huff, Alan
Ray Ridenour as Hal in 2001: A Space Opera by Alexis Gilliland, performed at Discon II Ridenour, Ray
Ray Ridenour as Hal in 2001: A Space Opera by Alexis Gilliland, performed at Discon II Ridenour, Ray

Masquerade

As Peter Weston observed in his TAFF report, the appearance of the Gor books apparently gave rise to a lot of slave-girl costumes.

Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
The Dorsai in the Discon II masquerade. Aspirin, Robert
David Gerrold, "Being Abreast of the Situation", in the Discon II masquerade. Gerrold, David
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Cohen the Barbarian
Cohen the Barbarian
Jeff Kleinbard as "Cohen the Barbarian" in the Discon II masquerade. Kleinbard, Jeff
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Peter Weston mentions this Discon II costume presentation in his TAFF report , and says it's from Philip Jose Farmer's novel Flesh .
Carol Resnick and Mike Resnick as "The White Sybil and the Ice Demon" in the Discon II Masquerade. Resnick, Carol; Resnick, Mike
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Harpy
Harpy
Kris Frisch (sp?), who changed her name to Kris Lundi around that time, and later became Animal X, as a harpy in the Discon II masquerade. Animal X; Frisch, Kris; Lundi, Kris
Harpy
Harpy
Kris Frisch (sp?), who changed her name to Kris Lundi around that time, and later became Animal X, as a harpy in the Discon II masquerade. Animal X; Frisch, Kris; Lundi, Kris
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Destiny as "Valeria" from "Warp"
Destiny as "Valeria" from "Warp"
Destiny (aka Angelique Trouvere), as Valeria, from the stage production of "Warp: the World's First Epic Adventure Play in Serial Form", which started in Chicago and played briefly on Broadway (which is where she would have seen it). The artwork for the Broadway run was done by Neal Adams, and there's a poster for the show with this costume in it.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.
Costumes from the Discon II masquerade.

Hugo Awards Banquet

Yes, an actual banquet. Those not eating could come in and sit in the balcony later to watch the awards presented.

And with a toastmaster—one toastmaster, who hands out all the awards.

Isaac Asimov at the Hugo Awards ceremony at Discon II. Asimov, Isaac
The head table at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II.
Isaac Asimov at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II, Janet Jeppson to the right. Asimov, Isaac; Jeppson, Janet
Lester del Rey and Lin Carter at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Carter, Lin; del rey, Lester
Roger Zelazny gives an autograph from the head table at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Zelazny, Roger
Kelly Freas, Polly Freas, Isaac Asimov, Janet O. Jeppson at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Asimov, Isaac; Freas, Kelly; Freas, Polly
? (obscured), Jay Haldeman, Toastmaster andrew j. offutt, Jody Offutt, Fan GoH Jay Kay Klein at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Haldeman, Jay; offutt, andrew j.; Offutt, Jody
Fans without banquet tickets watch the Hugo Awards from the balcony.
Toastmaster andrew j. offutt speaking at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. offutt, andrew j.
Lester del Rey, Sam Moskowitz, Forrest J. Ackerman. This is probably the presentation of the Big Heart award, but the Locus list doesn't go back to 1974, I can't find another list, and Forry says in Mimosa 23 that the award was created shortly after E.E. Evans died in 1958. My notes say "First Fandom award", which is clearly wrong. Since it was my third Worldcon and I wasn't much involved in fanzine fandom, I'm willing to discount my own notes.
Lester del Rey at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. del Rey, Lester
Harlan Ellison receives the Braile Readers SF Club award at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Ellison, Harlan
Gordon R. Dickson at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Dickson, Gordon R.
Peg Campbell speaking at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Campbell, Peg
Spider Robinson receives the Campbell Award
Spider Robinson receives the Campbell Award
Spider Robinson received the Campbell Award at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Jodie Offutt just right of the podium. Robinson, Spider
Lin Carter presents the Gandalf Award (posthumously to J.R.R. Tolkien) at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Carter, Lin
Tim Kirk receives the Hugo award for best Fan Artist from Toastmaster andrew j. offutt at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Kirk, Tim; offutt, andrew j.
Kelly Freas receives the Hugo for best professional artist from toastmaster andrew j. offutt at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Freas, Kelly; offutt, andrew j.
Andy Porter receives the Hugo for best fan magazine (Algol) from toastmaster andrew j. offutt at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. (It was a tie with Richard E. Geis' The Alien Critic , Geis wasn't present to receive his award.) offutt, andrew j; Porter, Andy
Ben Bova receives the Hugo for best professional editor from toastmaster andrew j. offutt at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Bova, Ben; offutt, andrew j.
Harlan Ellison receives the Hugo for best novelette ("The Deathbird") from toastmaster andrew j. offutt at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Ellison, Harlan; offutt, andrew j.
Roger Zelazny receives a Guest of Honor plaque from toastmaster andrew j. offutt at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. offutt, andrew j; Zelazny, Roger
Con chairman Jay Haldeman presents a special toastmaster award to toastmaster andrew j offutt at the Hugo Awards Banquet at Discon II. Haldeman, Jay; offutt, andrew j
Zelazny with his comemorative plaque at the Hugo awards banquet at Discon II. Zelazny, Roger
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David Dyer-Bennet