Date: Thu, 18 Nov 2021 00:31:34 -0500
Subject: [WSFA] Re: New contendor for first SF con
To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at KeithLynch.net>
From: Ted White <twhite8 at cox.net>

On 11/17/2021 11:38 PM, Keith F. Lynch wrote:

> There's a new (i.e. old) contendor for first ever SF convention:
> 
> https://www.cracked.com/article_31795_the-odd-origin-of-the-worlds-first-sci-fi-convention.html

No.  Not really.  Quite aside from the fact that this "festival"
*wasn't* a convention at all, the author of this piece has no clue about
the actual origins of what he (?) believes are "sci-fi" conventions --
*for profit* conventions:

"Unfortunately, the festival caused the organizers to go bankrupt
because a niche isn't enough to keep the Wheel of Money turning. It
would take some time for sci-fi and pop culture to really develop and
garner lucrative attention, enough to warrant official conventions. But
it's pretty cool to know that the first one was inspired by a guy who
wasn't even trying to write sci-fi and is also known for coining the
phrase, 'The pen is mightier than the sword.'"

--Ted White