Philcon
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(Redirected from PhilCon)
 | |
| Status | active |
| Genre | Science fiction |
| Location | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (previously) Cherry Hill, New Jersey (currently) |
| Sponsor | Philadelphia Science Fiction Society |
| First held | 1936 |
| Philcon website | |
Philcon, the "Philadelphia Conference on Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror", is one of the longest running science fiction conventions in the United States. It is hosted by the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society, and the first Philcon was held in 1936.
While the primary emphasis of the convention is literary science fiction, the convention typically has a media panel track including discussion of such television and film properties as Star Trek, Star Wars, Stargate SG-1, and Battlestar Galactica, as well as anime programming and screenings, gaming, and other activities. Typical convention events such as an art show, dealers room and masquerade also take place.
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[edit] History
- There is some debate as to whether Philcon is the first science fiction convention ever held. Some argue that an event in Leeds, England in 1937 was the first convention as it involved individuals purchasing tickets to listen to several speakers. In contrast, the 1936 gathering of fans in Philadelphia was more informal, taking place at the home of fan Milton A. Rothman.
- Philcon has hosted three Worldcon conventions in the past:
- The 5th World Science Fiction Convention, called "Philcon I", was held in 1947.
- The 11th World Science Fiction Convention, called "Philcon II", was held in 1953.
- The 59th World Science Fiction Convention, called the "Millennium Philcon", was held in 2001.
- Philcon 2007 took place November 16 - November 18, 2007 at the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel. Eric Flint was Principal Speaker; Sue Dawe was Artist Guest of Honor; Kevin Roche was Costuming Guest of Honor; Andrew Trembley was Costuming Guest of Honor and Voltaire was Special Music Guest.
- In 2008, Philcon moved from Philadelphia to Cherry Hill, New Jersey, and the Crowne Plaza Hotel Philadelphia-Cherry Hill. The convention dates were November 21 - November 23, 2008. Featured Guests of Honor were Tim Powers, John Picacio, and Scott Christian Sava.
- Philcon 2009 took place November 20 - November 22, 2009 at The Crowne Plaza Hotel Philadelphia-Cherry Hill in New Jersey. Principal Speaker was Catherine Asaro; Artist Guest-of-Honor was Frank Wu; and Special Guest was L.A. Banks. At the 2009 convention, both artists and dealers reported very slow sales, some approximately 1/3 of the amount the were used to from previous years (especially in the years before the Millennium Philcon). Attendance was also low, with at-the-door membership sales about half of what it had been the last year. There was some speculation over how the convention could continue more than another year or two at this rate.[1]
[edit] Impact on fandom
This section needs more information.
[edit] Panels
Panel programming at Philcon typically covers a range of tracks including Anime, Art, Children's activities, Costuming, Filk, Film, Gaming, Literary, Media, Science and Technology.
[edit] Dealers
Some dealers which have attended Philcons in the past include:
- Daniel Adler – Game Gnight – games and toys
- Roger MacBridge Allen – Fox Acre Press – new & used sf, some prints & small art
- Joseph Berlant – Joseph Berlant Books – collectable & new books
- Su Braviak – SF Continuum – DVDs, anime toys
- Steve Cross – new sf , tee shirts
- Chris Logan Edwards – Tigereyes Press – new & collectable sf
- Butch Honeck – Honeck Sculpture – bronze fantasy sculpture, canes, doorbells …
- Sheila Iserman & Bill Iserman – Regal Pewter – jewelry, tankards
- Carol Kabakjuan & Winona Whyte – Stitch Wytch Crafts – angels, shawls, baby blankets, purses
- Ira Kaplowitz – Another Grungy Hole-in-the Wall Bookstore – used & collectable sf
- Janet Kofoed – Janet Kofoed Jewelry – jewelry, art & illustrated books
- Ruth Lampi & Jessica Van Oort – The Five Wits – costumes & supplies, jewelry, games, etc
- Devra Langsam – Poison Pen Press – historical cookbooks & costume books, juvenile fantasy
- Nancy Leibovitz – Calligraphic Buttons – buttons, bumper stickers
- Ernest Lilley – SFRevu – collectable hard & soft covers, mysteries, games
- Danielle Ackley-McPhail – Sidhe na Daire Multimedia/Mundania Press – new sf, clay masks
- Chuck Miller – Charles F Miller, Publisher – collectable sf, pulps, art & illustrated books
- Klon Newell – Klon’s Interplanetary Books – collectable hardcovers
- Nicole Pellegrini – Spacial Anomaly Gallery – jewelry, art & illustrated books
- Michael Penncavage – Garden State Horror Writers – new sf
- Philcon – club table – advance memberships
- Peter Prellwitz – new sf and comics
- Mark Rogers – new sf and art books
- Darrell Schweitzer – used & collectable sf, new sf, magazines, tee-shirts
- Larry Smith – Larry Smith Bookseller – new sf
- Chris Stuppi – Griffons Claw Armoury – weapons
- Edward Trachtenberg – Dragon’s Lair – tee-shirts, calendars, models & figurines, art & illustrated books
- J Arthur Vaughan – Art Vaughan’s Used Books – used sf, tee-shirts, new sf, audio books
- Michael Walsh – Old Earth Books – new & collectable books
[edit] Fans attending
This section needs more information.
[edit] External links
[edit] Convention reports
[edit] 2001
- John's Millennium Philcon Report and Gallery
- Millennium Philcon
- Philcon Convention Report
- A Russian in a Strange Land
[edit] 2003
[edit] 2004
[edit] 2005
[edit] 2006
[edit] 2008
[edit] 2009
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- Sam Moskowitz, The Immortal Storm, A History of Science Fiction Fandom, 1st ed.,1954, The Atlanta Science Fiction Organization Press, Atlanta, GA, page 82.
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