Freedom City (convention)

Freedom City was a fan run Blake's 7 convention that also featured actors and writers from the TV show. 
It was held in late April 1989 at the Sheraton Towson Conference Center in Towson, Maryland. 
Attendance was limited to 500.
The con zine was the slash zine Those Who Favor Fire. Sale proceeds went to support the "Guest Fund."
The convention was heavily drawn into The Blake's 7 Wars.
 
==The Guests==
The fan GoH was filker Julia Ecklar. 
After many changes, the final Guests of Honor were Terry Nation, Brian Croucher, and Sheelagh Wells. 
===The Changes in the Guest Line-Up===
The guests as of July 1988 were Paul Darrow, Michael Keating, Janet Lees Price, Sheelagh Wells, and Terry Nation.
The invited guests as of Fall 1988 (right BEFORE the Blake's 7 Wars broke) were Paul Darrow, Janet Lees Price, Michael Keating, Sheelagh Wells, Terry Nation and.... Gareth Thomas. 
Around late 1988, the guests were Michael Keating, Sheelagh Wells, Gareth Thomas, and Terry Nation ... no more Paul Darrow and Janet Lees Price.
At some point, likely early 1989, Michael Keating bailed.
In March 1989, Gareth Thomas was replaced by Brian Croucher.
From the first progress report in late 1988: 
 
 Image:freedomcityflyerjuly1988.jpg|a July 1988 flyer: Paul Darrow, Michael Keating, Janet Lees Price, Sheelagh Wells, and Terry Nation
 Image:freedomcityflyergareth.jpg|another early flyer: Paul Darrow, Michael Keating, Janet Lees Price, Sheelagh Wells, and Terry Nation
 Image:freedomcityflyer.jpg| a flyer, likely late 1988: Michael Keating, Sheelagh Wells, Gareth Thomas, and Terry Nation (no more Paul Darrow and Janet Lees Price)
 Image:freedomcitygarethbowsout.jpg| a late March 1989 postcard sent to a fan explaining guest changes - goodbye Gareth Thomas and hello Brian Croucher
==Guests of Honor Portraits==
From the program book:
 
Image:freedomcitycon-2.jpg
Image:freedomcitycon-3.jpg
Image:freedomcitycon-4.jpg
==Con Com==
There are some major differences between the con com and staff between the first progress report in fall 1988 to the con itself in late April 1989.
This is due to the turmoil of the The Blake's 7 Wars.
===From the First Progress Report===
* Chair: Marion McChesney
* Assistant Chair/Staff Photographer: Laura Peck
* Masterpiece Theatre: Bea Quindlen
* Registration: Gail Pittaway
* Fan Programming: Julia Quets
* Art Show and Auction: Suzan Lovett
* Video: Mark Lee, John Reynolds
* Photographers: Laura Peck and Linda Terrell
* Filksinging: Sheila Willis
* Dealers Room: Anne [sic] Wortham and Leah Rosenthal
* Helper Squad: Jude Wilson and Pat Nussman
* Publicity: Mark Lee
*Security: Gus Liberto
* Autographs/Workshops: Heather Nachman
* Announcer: Suzanne Elmore
* Assistants & Advisory Council: Carol Swoboda, Crystal Taylor, Lois Welling, Ellen Kobrin, Annette Hall, Karen River, Pat Cash, Marianne Wyatt, Kett Kettering, and Barbara Galyean.
===From the Program Book===
* Chair: Marion McChesney
* Assistant Chair/Staff Photographer: Laura Peck
* Registration/Treasurer: Bea Quindlen
* Security: Gus Liberto
* Art Show and Auction: Suzan Lovett
* Logistics/Sound: George Laurence
* Autographs/Workshops: Heather Nachman
* Helpers: Adrienne Deutsch 
* Video: Mark Lee, John Reynolds
* Announcer: Suzanne Elmore
* Other Assistance and Advice: Carol Swoboda, Judith Kitzer, Billie Phillips, Ellen Kobrin, Crystal Taylor, Marianne Wyatt, Dwight Eaves, Margie Hendron, Kett Kettering, Barbara Galyean, Sheila Willis, and Karen Lundquist
* Con Suite: Prydonians of Pryncton and The Unearthly Children
==Progress Reports==
There were at least two progress reports.
The first one was (likely) in autumn 1988. NOTE: on the first page, it lists the date of the second progress report as "January 1988." This is a typo (the year should be 1989) that is common when the new year turns over.
The second was was in January 1989. 
===The First Progress Report===
The first progress report contains ten pages. It includes information about the guests, programming, the talent show, rules, a fan survey, and an ad for the Take Kerr! cards.
It is important to place this progress report in context. The Blake's 7 Wars had either not begun, or were very shortly to start. It was a momentous event in the fandom affected mood, guest line-ups, politics, alliances and friendships, fan discourse, plans, and much more.
Image:freedomcityprogressreport1-1.jpg|from the first progress report, first page
Image:freedomcityprogressreport1-2.jpg|from the first progress report
Image:freedomcityprogressreport1-three.jpg|from the first progress report, programming survey
Image:freedomcityprogressreport1-four.jpg|from the first progress report, programming: Masterpiece Theatre Party
Image:freedomcityprogressreport1-5.jpg
Image:freedomcityprogressreport1-6.jpg|from the first progress report
 
==The "Take Kerr!" Gift Cards==
The front cover of Powerplay #3 by Suzan Lovett was used (with Paul Darrow's permission) as a fundraiser for "Freedom City". Darrow had been an invited guest to "Freedom City," but did not attend, something that may be because of the con's timing and The Blake's 7 Wars. See Take Kerr!.
==Acknowledgements==
From the program book:
==Programming==
* Thursday Night Dinner Cruise
* Music Hall: performers included Doctors in the House, Julia Ecklar, Marsha Quinn, Maryanne Wyatt, Terry Nation, Brian Croucher, and "a very special surprise performer"
* Powerplay: a game modeled after TV's Jeopardy. Join Alex Trueblake and test your knowledge
* Make Up Workshop with Sheelagh Wells
* Trivial Pursuit: two elimination rounds and a championship playoff
* Costuming Awards: "Although we will not be having a formal costume contest, we will be presenting awards for hall costumes. They will be presented at the closing ceremonies by our anonymous judge."
===Panels===
==Entertainment==
==Filking==
At the convention Julia Ecklar and several other filkers performed filk songs, among them:
*Wishful Thinking (B.E.M. "Bug Eyed Monster") (sung by Linda Melnick and Sheila Willis) (song written by Alan Thiesen)
*Black Widows in the Privy (sung by Linda Melnick and Sheila Willis) (written by Heather Jones))
*Lies (sung by Linda Melnick and Sheila Willis) (written by Stan Rogers)
*Arafel's Song (also known as Arafel's Lament) (sung by Julia Ecklar, Linda Melnick and Sheila Willis)
*Murderous Little Toy (sung by Julia Ecklar) (written by Mike Roberts)
*F.A.P. (Feline American Princess) or "Magnificent Me-ow" (sung by Julia Ecklar) (written by Leslie Fish and Mercedes Lackey)
*Harvey Mudd (sung by Julia Ecklar) (written by Karen Klinck)
*Starship and Haiku (sung by Julia Ecklar) (written by Kathy Mar)
*Shai-Halud (sung by Julia Ecklar) (written by Kathy Mar)
*Suit of Grey Wind - A Song for Leonard Cohen (sung by Julia Ecklar) (written by Meg Davis)
*Monster's Lullaby (sung by Julia Ecklar) (written by Meg Davis)
*Songbird (sung by Julia Ecklar) (written by Kathy Mar) 
*He's Dead Jim (sung by Julia Ecklar) (written by Julia Ecklar)
==Gallery==
File:FreedomCityVolunteerLetter.jpg|letter mailed to one of the volunteer gophers in advance of the event. Click to read full size
File:FreedomCityButtonBadge.jpg|the convention handed out custom buttons as badges. The fan who owned this button was number 117.
==Con Reports==
==References==
Category:Blake's 7 Conventions
Category:1989 Conventions
Category:Blake's 7 WarsCategory:Conventions in United States