(40th Worldcon) (40th Worldcon)GOH: A. Bertram Chandler
GOH: Frank Kelly Freas
GOH: Lee Hoffman
Attendance: 4275
Lisa and Melissa and Don shared a room in the Hyatt, and they
had a "ra'snake" in the bathroom. Actually, they had
a bathroom light fixture that went "hiss" when the light
was turned off...but they preferred to think of it as a "ra'snake."
Mary Mand was also along; she and Don had flown out to Chicago
and this time, as he recalls, they enjoyed the trip.
This was Don's first Worldcon
as a seasoned pro -- with three published stories to his credit
-- and he rather enjoyed going to the Analog party (which was
held across the river in another hotel) even though he wasn't
on any program items.
The Hyatt was the star of the Worldcon.
The staff actually circulated around the long line at registration,
bearing trays of complimentary munchies and drinks; the lobby
featured a spiral ramp, a lake, and a 24-hour-a-day Italian restaurant.
The Cedar Grove Movement, of course, did not waste the opportunity
to indulge in lasagna at 3 AM.
The convention facilities
extended deep underground, and joined up with a maze of corridors
and tunnels that stretched across miles of downtown Chicago.
One night at the con, the Cedar Grovers were visited by Jim
Faulkenberg...who brought a very strange friend named Mark. Mark
disappeared for a while (later consensus was that he'd left to
buy some drugs)...when he returned he sat in the middle of the
floor and made odd, heavy-breathing sounds all night. The others
did their best to ignore him.
The Chicon's "In Memoriam" page listed Harry Bates,
Russ Manning, D.F. Jones, Harold ("Hal") Foster and
Philip K. Dick.
On Sunday there was a turtle race in the hotel's lake. Several
fans tried to enter, but were disqualified due to their species.
A number of members of the Chicon were stricken with a malady
which was nicknamed "the Kessel runs" -- but fandom
was spared any casualties.
On Monday afternoon, Mary and Don left the hotel in an attempt
to see more of Chicago. It was their intention to wander down
toward the Lake...unfortunately, the roads didn't permit such
wandering, and they barely made it back to the Hyatt alive. They
were recovering in the lounge (over drinks) when the whole sky
started to light up -- Chicago was throwing a great fireworks
party and Worldcon had ringside seats.
All in all, the fourth Chicon was one of the best Worldcons
before or since.
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Janice Gelb's Chicon 4 report
