Frank Dietz
--- a Dietz-eye view of that fracas ...
I wonder just how many years will have to go by before that number looses significance to a large, large number of fans. For me, well ... I think it will take time, a lifetime. In fact I know next year that 770 is going to be revived, that's a fact! So ... attendees of the Chicon next year be sure - be sure to attend the 770 'conferences'.
But enough of the fan-fare. Let's try to recall it all. Actually it's quite vague in detail, but not -NOT, I SAY - due to any lack of sobriety on my part, as the vague hints ((like the cover of Fv?)) seem to have it. Sure, I wasn't without a glass in my hand, but then most of it was mixer, not liqueur (I don't drink gin, Max) and besides that, at least three times my glass was upset, twice I remember on somebody's bed (Rog Sims?).
There were fans all over 770 (the party only began in my room. It was about 2 drinks later that we moved to 770), on the floor, the beds, chairs, tables, even under the bed (Ed Walthers). And the pros were there, the Mahaffeys, Leiber, Judy Merrill, Fredric Brown, among others I've forgotten. But I have it all down in black and white, everybody signed (convention program booklet) and made suitable (??) comments. Such as
During the 32 hours the party was in progress I'd estimate two dozen bottles of everything from Scotch to beer were consumed, with an equal number of quarts of mixer going the same way. I recall Sunday A.M. the stairs outside stacked with innumerable empties. And Rog Sims and I, during the second evening, had to drop out and pick up another half dozen quarts of mixer. And ice by the bucket, we kept the bellboys running. And passed the hat around each time for the tips.
Ed Walthers kept the part lively the first night, particularly, astounding considering he was dead most of the time. He was under the bed (dead!) with someone pulling at his feet. The irrepressable urge came, so I tickled him, which produced violent results among which the bed collapsed on him. And later I think it was Kerkhof who tipped the bed all the way over on Ed as he lay alongside.
Lee Hoffman sat in the corner with her drawing pads (she filled three, I think, tho I search Quandry in vain for the majority of the pics) and around her sat fans (naturally male). The Coles (Les & Es) sat comparatively quiet on a bed talking to somebody (I think). Rog Sims slept (yes-slept) in a chair in the midst of the party for a few hours. The pros (some of them) sat on another bed (there were four) with numerous fans gathered around. And the rest stood in groups around the room or sat for a while on the fourth bed.
Hanging behind the door was a noose and a sign saying "Reserved for the House Dick". But he just came to the door once and cautioned about the noise in the hallways, then disappeared for the rest of the night. Amazing, as the noise filtered thru the air conditioning grill and could be heard all the way down the opposite end of the hall. Also I heard that at an earlier party he came in to complain (somewhere else) and was handed a drink, set in a corner, and there he stayed for the rest of the night.
But too soon the first night (and sooner the second) the people (fans and pros) started to drift off to bed. Gad! During one interval of groups leaving Ed Walthers roused himself and headed for the door, draped (compliments of Frank Kerkhof) with a counterpane. He staggered from one wall to the other down the length of the hall, then turned and repeated the process back to the room, where he collapsed on the floor.
Later, after most had left (including all the women) Ed, Frank, and another fan formed a trio, marching around the room, kicking furniture out of the way, walking over the beds as they went around and around singing a dirty song, midst the hysterical laughter of the rest of us. Upon its completion Ed (of course) sagged to the floor ... as soon as the others had removed their support.
We slept (that A.M.) in shifts. I napped on Rog Sims' bed with Bob Johnson (a single bed!) for three hours before being dragged out to give space to another. And the party was still going. Another incident - originally the lights had all ten been on, but by and by they were turned off, till only two remained. Somebody brought up the question of what would happen to the party when the last two were turned off. We never did find out, as it was daylight before they were put out.
Things were worse the next night, 'cause by the time we returned from the movies all the liquor had been consumed. So it was tooth and nail for what was left the rest of the night. Nobody, tho, seemed inclined to go out and buy more (it's available in package 24 hours a day every day there).
And the second night I managed to get an hour more sleep, due to the loss of attendees, who dropped out like flies in a Flit spray that night. Again I occupied Rog Sims bed so he and Elsberry went down to my room and slept.
Six A.M. Monday morning - the drinks gone (every drop), and everybody just about gone too. So, of consequence, the party ended.
See the next installment - next year - next convention - another 770!
-- Franklin M. Dietz
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DESTINY # 4 & 5 combined to make a 32 page lithoed
zine in a handy pocket size format
This issue features an original Hannes Bok cover,
an autobiography of Laurence, a list of Lovecraft's
Amateur Press Works, plus many other articles, poems,
stories, book reviews, etc. of top quality. 25¢.
DESTINY
545 N.E. San Rafael
Portland 12, Ore.
-advt.
Data entry by Judy Bemis
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