Houstoncon

Houstoncon was a series of conventions. Its primary historical focus was comic books, gaining Star Trek: TOS content later, with the last con almost all Trek. 
This is not the same thing as Star Trek: Houston.
==Some Early History==
Roy Bonario, Gene Arnold, Marc Schooley and a group of Houston-based comic book fans founded the Houston Comic Collectors' Association in 1965. The HCCA was led by Bonario and fellow fans Mark Schooley, Gene Arnold, and Jerry Poscovsky. Collaborating with the Southwesterncon organiser Larry Harndon, they put on the first Houstoncon, which was officially called "the Houston Comic Convention." This first convention was held at the Ramada Inn on June 16–18, 1967. Southwesterncon had held its first convention in 1966 - the two conventions then alternated, with Houstoncon taking place in 1967 and 1969. By 1971, the partnership with Southwesterncon was dissolved and Houstoncon became an annual event. Houstoncon was then run by Ed Blair, Jr, with the help of G.B. Love. 
The early Houstoncons were more broadly focussed on comic books, science fiction/fantasy and other pop culture elements including radio and television serials. All Houstoncon events featured screenings of classic science fiction films and old television serials. The convention featured panels with comic book professionals, and floorspace for exhibitors, including comic book dealers and collectibles merchants. The show included an autograph area, as well as an Artists' Alley where comics artists signed autographs and sold or did free sketches. 
==1974 and 1975: Combined With a Star Trek Con==
In 1974 and 1975, "Houstoncon" was combined with a somewhat separate Star Trek con, not unlike Equicon was with Filmcon for a few years. The Star Trek part of the con had a Star Trek guest of honor. While some of the programming happened alongside the regular "Houstoncon" offerings, the Star Trek film rooms and the Star Trek dealers room were on different floors. 
There was, of course, some conflict between these two different elements, and the somewhat different fans they attracted. The influx of Star Trek fans and their "feral" ways was viewed in disdain by some SF fans. 
From an SF fan: 
And some Star Trek fans were not particularly interested in the comics and old-time radio elements of the traditional programming. While this fan is commenting on the 1978 con, her disappointment was perhaps an echo of these 1974 and 75 cons: 
Despite this conflict, the 1974 Houstoncon had the largest crowd for any Trekkie con outside of California and New York. 
The Star Trek zine is the souvenir program book for the Star Trek subset of "Houstoncon."
=="Ultimate Fantasy" aka "The Con of Wrath"==
It is this last con in 1982 that most fans remember. It billed as Ultimate Fantasy, later, The Con of Wrath.
See "Ultimate Fantasy" aka "The Con of Wrath".
===Similar Disasters===
* New York Star Trek '76 (1976)
* Slanted Fedora (part of a series, but collapsed in 2003)
* Tentmoot (2003)
* Flanvention II (2006)
* JumpCon (2008)
* FedConUSA (2008)
* DashCon (2014)
==Some Badges, Flyers, Pages from a Program Book==
* 
* 
==Old Photos==
* (misc)
* (more misc)
* (1971-1974)
* (1971-1973)
* (1978)
* (1975)
* (1978 or 1979)
*
== 1967 ==
Houstoncon 1967 (aka the Houston Comic Convention or Southwesterncon II) was held June 16–18, 1967 at the Ramada Inn in Houston. Approximately 124 people attended.
==1969==
Houstoncon 1969 (aka the Houston Comic Convention or Southwesterncon IV) took place June 20-22, 1969 also at Houston's Ramada Inn. Ed Blair, Jr. was chairman.
==1971==
Houstoncon 1971 took place June 17–20 and featured Kirk Alyn at his first fan convention. 
Ed Blair, Jr. was chairman.
==1973==
Houstoncon 1973 was held June 21–24 at the Marriott Motor Hotel in Houston, attracting over 2,000 attendees; guests include Kirk Alyn, Frank Coghlan, Jr., William Benedict, William Witney, Dave Sharpe, Al Williamson, and Don Newton. 
Ed Blair, Jr. was chairman
===1973: Con Reports===
==1974==
Houstoncon 1974 was held June 20–23 at Houston's Sheraton-Lincoln Hotel. There were over 2,500 attendees, which was the largest audience for a Trek con outside of New York or California. 
This con merged with the local Star Trek convention and and a larger con for comic books and sf. As a result, the producers referred to it as "STAR TREK '74 and HOUSTONCON '74". The "Star Trek '74" title DOES NOT officially refer to Star Trek Lives!.
This combination format was a disappointment to many. See Houstoncon 1974 and 1975, as well as con reports for each con. 
A flyer lists the chairman as G.B. Love, Vice Chairman as John Ellis.
Another source says it was co-produced by Ed Blair, Jr. with G.B. Love. Guests of Honor included Walter Koenig, Al Williamson, Dan Adkins, Don Newton, Kenneth Smith, Fred Fredericks, Jock Mahoney, Kirk Alyn, Tom Steele, William Benedict, and stuntman Dave Sharpe.
From an April 1974 flyer in A Piece of the Action #13: 
 
===1974: Con Reports=== 
==1975==
Houstoncon 1975 took place June 25–29 at the Royal Coach Inn, was again merged with the Houston Star Trek convention.
Guests of honor included C.C. Beck, George Takei, Jock Mahoney, John Wooley, and Don "Red" Barry. Beck and Barry served as judges for the costume contest.
Ed Blair, Jr. was chairman.
==1975: Con Reports==
==1976==
Houstoncon 1976 was held June 17-20.
Schooley and Bonario were chairs and Ed Blair, Jr. was a consultant.
===1976: Con Reports===
==1977==
Houstoncon 1977 
Guests of the 1977 show included Frank Brunner, Spanky McFarland, Jock Mahoney, George Takei, Forrest J Ackerman, and Roy Rogers. 
==1978==
Houstoncon 1978 guests include Frankie Thomas, Kirk Alyn, Ron Goulart, Gil Kane, Jenette Kahn, Frank Brunner, Ray Harryhausen, Greg Jein, Jim Newsome, and Paula Crist.
===1978: Con Reports===
==1979==
Houstoncon 1979 guests included Walter Koenig, Chuck Jones and George Pérez.
==1980==
Houstoncon 1980 took place June 20–22. Featured guests were John Byrne and George Pérez.
==1982 ("Ultimate Fantasy" aka "The Con of Wrath")==
The final Houstoncon, held June 19–20, 1982, at Houston's The Summit Hotel. 
Houstoncon’s chief organizer, a local fan named Jerry Wilhite, wanted to do something big, as fan interest was at a high point; the film The Wrath of Khan had just been released. Wilhite did partnered with a ‘professional’ promoter, who booked all the ST actors (includng Mark Lenard) except Leonard Nimoy, as well as The Wrath of Khan’s producer Harve Bennett. The con was promoted with magazine advertising, laser light shows, billboards, a huge venue, and other promotional gimmicks. Walter Koenig's play, The Machiavellian Principle, was written and performed exclusively for this event. Wilhite and company advertised the con as vacation packages with tiers like “Silver Sponsor” and “Gold Sponsor.”
This con is mostly known as "Ultimate Fantasy" (and later "The Con of Wrath"). 
 
Due to poor sales and apparent mismanagement, only a few hundred people attended the convention.
===1982: Con Reports===
 
 
 
 
 
 
==Further Reading/Meta==
* Jaynee Emerson and Joy Baker, see the zine: I Survived the Con of Wrath (1983) 
* 
* How an over-ambitious Star Trek convention became “The Con of Wrath” - In 1982, nearly the entire TOS cast gathered for a disastrous four-hour variety show. by CYRUS FARIVAR (2016)
* The 1982 Houstoncon – “Con of Wrath” (2023)
==References==
Category:Comics Conventions
Category:Star Trek TOS Conventions
Category:1967 Conventions
Category:1969 Conventions 
Category:1971 Conventions 
Category:1970s Conventions
Category:1980 Conventions 
Category:1982 Conventions
Category:ScandalsCategory:Conventions in United States