Difference between revisions of "Last and First Fen"
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
| − | '''''Last and First Fen''''' was a [[tapera]], an audio taped show, created by [[Liverpool]]’s [[MaD Productions]] in 1956, based (we think) on a script by [[Jack Speer]]. “Eighteen months in the making, and a quite fabulous thing,” according to [[Eric Bentcliffe]] in ''[[Waldo]]'' no. 1 ([http://www.fanac.org/fanzines/Waldo/Waldo01.pdf December 1959]). The tape ran 45 minutes long and premiered at [[Cytricon II]]. | + | '''''Last and First Fen''''' was a [[tapera]], an audio taped show, created by [[Liverpool]]’s [[MaD Productions]] in 1956, based (we think) on a script by [[Jack Speer]]. “Eighteen months in the making, and a quite fabulous thing,” according to [[Eric Bentcliffe]] in ''[[Waldo (Bentcliffe)]]'' no. 1 ([http://www.fanac.org/fanzines/Waldo/Waldo01.pdf December 1959]). The tape ran 45 minutes long and premiered at [[Cytricon II]]. |
| − | Jack | + | [[Jack Speer]]’s script can be found [https://efanzines.com/UpToNow/N4SouvenirBook_SpeerExcerpt.pdf online here]. Speer’s introduction:<blockquote> |
A United Press story in 1945 quoted Major P. C. Calhoun, “head of the A.A.F. guided-missile branch,” as saying that they expected to be able to shoot a rocket to the moon within 18 months, and within five years “to have a rocket that will carry men outside the Earth’s atmosphere and return safely.” Some [[stefnist|stefinists]] were not so sanguine: in [[Gerry de la Ree]]’s polls of [[SF]] readers, authors, and editors, the majority estimated a date of 1950 or sooner for manned flight to the moon or another planet. | A United Press story in 1945 quoted Major P. C. Calhoun, “head of the A.A.F. guided-missile branch,” as saying that they expected to be able to shoot a rocket to the moon within 18 months, and within five years “to have a rocket that will carry men outside the Earth’s atmosphere and return safely.” Some [[stefnist|stefinists]] were not so sanguine: in [[Gerry de la Ree]]’s polls of [[SF]] readers, authors, and editors, the majority estimated a date of 1950 or sooner for manned flight to the moon or another planet. | ||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
I ran with that idea in the following. This is what’s now called [[faan fiction]], i.e., fiction about [[sfans]]. | I ran with that idea in the following. This is what’s now called [[faan fiction]], i.e., fiction about [[sfans]]. | ||
| − | * The Captain is [[Arthur C. Clarke]], who was nicknamed [[Ego]]. | + | * The Captain is [[Arthur C. Clarke]], who was [[nicknamed]] [[Ego]]. |
* Starfasci is [[Larry Farsaci]], who was stationed at Tule Lake during the [[war]]. | * Starfasci is [[Larry Farsaci]], who was stationed at Tule Lake during the [[war]]. | ||
*Stuff is “[[Juffus]].” | *Stuff is “[[Juffus]].” | ||
| Line 20: | Line 20: | ||
*[[MFS]] is, of course, the [[Minneapolis Fantasy Society]]. | *[[MFS]] is, of course, the [[Minneapolis Fantasy Society]]. | ||
*The Nitrosynthetic (it was [[Nitrosyncretic]] in my manuscript) voice must have been [[Abby Lu Ashley]], but I don’t remember why that word. | *The Nitrosynthetic (it was [[Nitrosyncretic]] in my manuscript) voice must have been [[Abby Lu Ashley]], but I don’t remember why that word. | ||
| − | *Incidentally, it was [[Joe Kennedy|X.J. “Joe” Kennedy]], its original publisher, who named the play. I submitted it titleless. | + | *Incidentally, it was [[Joe Kennedy|X.J. “Joe” Kennedy]], its original [[publisher]], who named the play. I submitted it titleless. |
</blockquote> | </blockquote> | ||
Revision as of 10:17, 26 March 2021
Last and First Fen was a tapera, an audio taped show, created by Liverpool’s MaD Productions in 1956, based (we think) on a script by Jack Speer. “Eighteen months in the making, and a quite fabulous thing,” according to Eric Bentcliffe in Waldo no. 1 (December 1959). The tape ran 45 minutes long and premiered at Cytricon II.
Jack Speer’s script can be found online here. Speer’s introduction:
A United Press story in 1945 quoted Major P. C. Calhoun, “head of the A.A.F. guided-missile branch,” as saying that they expected to be able to shoot a rocket to the moon within 18 months, and within five years “to have a rocket that will carry men outside the Earth’s atmosphere and return safely.” Some stefinists were not so sanguine: in Gerry de la Ree’s polls of SF readers, authors, and editors, the majority estimated a date of 1950 or sooner for manned flight to the moon or another planet.
I ran with that idea in the following. This is what’s now called faan fiction, i.e., fiction about sfans.
- The Captain is Arthur C. Clarke, who was nicknamed Ego.
- Starfasci is Larry Farsaci, who was stationed at Tule Lake during the war.
- Stuff is “Juffus.”
- Ole must be E. Everett Evans.
- One-Face is 4SJ (Ackerman), sometimes known as “#1 Face.”
- The Mad Scientist is Milton A. Rothman.
- Joke is Joe Kennedy.
- The Youngfans were not specific persons.
- Ninety-four is Al Ashley, AA-194 (his score on a test, which an excerpt in the NESFA Press book will explain).
- Gallop is Art Widner, the Poll Cat.
- BFSers would have been members of the British Fantasy Society.
- MFS is, of course, the Minneapolis Fantasy Society.
- The Nitrosynthetic (it was Nitrosyncretic in my manuscript) voice must have been Abby Lu Ashley, but I don’t remember why that word.
- Incidentally, it was X.J. “Joe” Kennedy, its original publisher, who named the play. I submitted it titleless.
Last and First Men is the title of a 1930 novel by Olaf Stapledon. And we could be totally wrong, and the LāSFāS fans may have written their own parody instead of using Speer’s by then 10-year-old fannish play.
| Show | 1956 |
| This is a show page for fannish plays and musicals. Please extend it by adding more information about who wrote it, who performed in it and where it was staged/screened. |
