Page Created: 09/18/10. Last Updated: 10/27/10. Last Google Group Page Update: 02/09/08.
ANDREW PORTER
MEETING SUMMARY:
Meeting Date: August 14, 1993.
Meeting Site: Science Fiction, Mysteries & More!, New York, New York.
Official Attendance: 19.
Meeting Program: Talk by editor/publisher of Science Fiction Chronicle.
Notes:
Science Fiction, Mysteries & More! bookstore no longer exists.
Meeting Memories:
Newsletter Account:
The following account is reprinted with permission from THE STARSHIP EXPRESS Copyright 1993 Philip J De Parto:
Leora Baeder, Philip De Parto, Ira Donewitz, Charles Garofalo, Roy Greenberg, Scott Lappin, and Sandi Sexton got together at noon outside the Hayden Planetarium for the only scheduled pre meeting activity on August 14, 1993. They were joined at the special STAR TREK exhibit an hour later by Sharon Archer and Mary Ann Denny.
Virtually the entire first floor of the Planetarium was given over to the TREK show. Among the features were displays of costumes and props, a video-taped documentary on the show, photo areas where you could pose in the Captain's Chair or on the transporters, a painting of a young person in a spacesuit on the moon building sand castles (by Michael Whelan), and a TREK Gift Shop. Most of the exhibit consisted of stills from the (original) show and commentary.
The focus of these areas was the interplay between the burning issues of the sixties and the show. Posted topics included Imperialism, Superweapons, Vietnam, Cold War in Space, Sexuality, Wives, Alien Life Forms, Civil Rights and the Urban Revolution, Love & Self Sacrifice, Will To Power, Women, The Resident Alien, STAR TREK and Science Fiction, The Fans, The Balance of Power Within, The Quest for Utopia, STAR TREK & the 60's, and The Creation of STAR TREK.
The Planetarium show was broken into two parts. Gates Mc Fadden narrated a look at the summer skies and constellations. Geordi La Forge guided us through a wormhole to several different stars and stellar formations.
The general consensus seemed to be that the TREK exhibit was well done, that the Mc Fadden piece acceptable, and the La Forge piece disappointing. There was a strong positive overall rating of the show.
The group then made its way to Science Fiction, Mysteries & More! bookstore. Thomas Anderson officially joined the group, Steve Gold renewed his membership, and April Allridge attended her first actual meeting (she had joined by mail a few months ago).
After a brief reading of a chapter of Daniel Pinkwater's YOUNG ADULTS by Ira Donewitz and Philip De Parto, the meeting was more or less called to order. The usual announcements were made, and Alan Zimmerman declared an unadvertised sale of 20% off all new hardcovers and 25% off on selected overstocked paperbacks.
Andrew Porter of SCIENCE FICTION CHRONICLE was the featured speaker. He spoke about how he became involved in science fiction, his publishing history, and his experiences in the worlds of fandom and publishing. Most of the group enjoyed his recollections of the old days of New York area fandom and the odd hours he keeps while producing SCIENCE FICTION CHRONICLE.
Almost everyone joined us for dinner at the Tribeca Diner on the corner of Chambers and West Broadway. We took over the bottom floor of the eatery; the good was good and the prices reasonable, although the combination of acoustics and conversational volume was a bit much at times.
We broke up during dinner by ones and twos. Sharon, Mary Ann, Warren Davis and Steve headed back to the Planetarium to catch a 3-D Laser Show featuring the music of U 2. Others of us returned to the bookstore for a last look around.