Starcon (US convention 3)

See Starcon for similar conventions.
Starcon (a flyer for the first one called it "Star-Con") was a series of cons. 
 
The first con was a Star Trek con. The second one was a combination Star Trek and comics con. 
The third con was a comics con. The fourth con had some Trek guests, but was much more a comics con. 
==Who Ran These Cons?==
It depends on who you ask.
David Lillard owned and ran them. "...owned and run by Dave Lillard. Mr. Lillard is handling all aspects of this con not covered by his employees or consultants." -- from Star-Borne (Jan/Feb 1973) 
David Lillard organized them. Dave (organizer of the 1st STAR-CON)." -- Lillard's comments at A letter about Creation Cons (March 17, 1993) 
David Lillard started them and tried to get the name "Starcon" trademarked. "It is both gratifying and annoying that many people use the name for the
series of public shows that I started while President of the *Central* Star Trek Association for Revival (S.T.A.R.) as a generic name for all Trek Shows. (I tried to Trademark it; but got bogged down in red tape and excessive, IMHO, costs - NOTE: anyone using this name does so without my permission)" -- History, rec.arts.sf.misc (September 26, 1993) 
While the first con had a heavy S.T.A.R. component, and was heavily advertised in Star-Borne (as were other cons), it was NOT officially sponsored by that organization. 
In Jan/Feb 1973, one of the editors of Star-Borne, and a member of S.T.A.R. Central stated:
In Sept/Oct 1973, there was another statement in Star-Borne about "Star-Con": 
Despite this (and because of a lot of S.T.A.R. members were involved in the con), some fans remember differently. From a fan in 1977: "The Star Trek Association for Revival — was founded by a group of friends/fans in Detroit, Michigan in the month following the first NY ST Con. It grew with astonishing speed and ended up 2 years later having had up to 5,000 members/subscribers (to Starborne the newsletter) and inadvertently sponsoring a fiasco convention at Cobo Hall [in 1974]. from The 1977 S.T.A.R. Letter by Sharon 
In 1993, Dave Lillard stated: 
==Starcon 1973==
Starcon October 5-7, 1973 was held in Detroit at Cobo Hall. 
The celebrity guests were: James Doohan, Harlan Ellison, D.C. Fontana, Frank Kelly Freas, David Gerrold, Walter Koenig, Norman Spinrad, and George Takei. The fan guest of honor was Bjo Trimble.
At one point, Gene Roddenberry and Nichelle Nichols, and DeForest Kelley were advertised, but did not attend.
Todd Bake illustrated a short booklet by John Benson titled "Survival Guide to Detroit." It was mostly about things to see in Detroit, descriptions of places to eat, warnings not to walk alone, and information about the Costume Ball that included this statement: 
 
 Image:davidgerroldkellyfreas.jpg| a cartoon by Kelly Freas, one of the [[Guest of Honor|guests of honor -- it portrays another guest of honor, David Gerrold, and is signed by both men. "This is an Auction - You're really supposed to bid AGAINST each other!" 
Image:starcondetroit1973-2.jpg|from the Star-Con Program Book, photos by Dave Hertzberg of "Mr. Trix Enterprises" out of Birmingham, Michigan
Image:starcondetroit1973-3.jpg|from the Star-Con Program Book, photos by Dave Hertzberg of "Mr. Trix Enterprises" out of Birmingham, Michigan
Image:starcondetroit-4.jpg 
File:Starconkdetroit1973-5.jpg
Image:detroitguide-1.jpg|from "Survival Guide to Detroit"
Image:detroitguide-2.jpg|from "Survival Guide to Detroit"
Image:detroitguide-3.jpg|from "Survival Guide to Detroit"
 
The tenth issue of Star-Borne included this description: 
===Winners of the Costume Show: 1973===
* Planet of the Apes (tie as first place costume and 1st in aliens)
* 24 Hours Virus (tie 1st place best costume and 1st in humorous)
* Martian (2nd place aliens)
*Sysocian (3rd place aliens)
* Burned Man (1st place grotesque costume)
* Derelict (2nd place grotesque costume)
* Klingon Peace Delegation (1st place presentation)
* Calabrian Delegation (2nd place presentation)
* Talos 7 Delegation (honorable mention)
* Star Fleet Uniform (honorable mention)
* Tarcomians (honorable mention)
* Intergalactic Frog (honorable mention)
* Ambassador Admiral Leon Steele (honorable mention)
===Con Reports: 1973===
==Starcon 1974==
Starcon 1974 date and location is unknown. 
It was not affiliated in any way with S.T.A.R. Central. The con chair, and owner, of the first "Starcon" (Dave Lillard) had been ousted from S.T.A.R. in January 1974 or before. See Certain events have occurred within S.T.A.R. Central for the last 6 months that deserve to be aired..
===Con Report: 1974===
==Starcon 1975 (March)==
The third Starcon was held in Detroit March 15-18, 1975. It was a comic book convention, and did not have any sort of a Star Trek focus.
The con chair was Dave Lillard.
It is referred to in the 4th con's program book: "Belated thanks to George Perez for the art he did for STARCON 3." This art was titled "She-Devils."
It may have been held at the Heritage Hotel.
The program book was 16 pages. 
The front cover was by Rich Buckler.
Image:welcometostarcon.JPG|front cover,program book, 1975
Image:welcometostarcon1.JPG|from the program book, 1975
Image:welcometostarcon2.JPG|back cover, program book, 1975
Image:welcometostarcon3.JPG|ticket stub, 1975
==Starcon 1975 (October)==
Starcon 1975 was held in Detroit. The program book does not indicate a date (though likely October) or a place.
This was advertised and referred to as "StarCon 4." The program book states it was produced by "The Starcon Corporation."
Guest of honor were Neal Adams, Jim Steranko, Greg Theakston, Carl Lundrgen (all comic illustrators), and George Takei. DeForest Kelley and William Shatner were scheduled to attend and appeared in the program book, but they were not present at the con. 
The chairman was Dave Lillard. Other concom members were Ed Reliuga, Pat Rooney, Mike Nasser, Patches Phelps, and Dave Harris.
The program book contains 12 pages.
Image:starcondallas1.jpg|program cover, 1975
Image:starcondallas2.jpg|from the program book, 1975
===Con Report: 1975===
==References==
 
Category:Star Trek Conventions
Category:1973 Conventions
Category:1974 Conventions
Category:1975 Conventions
Category:Conventions in United States