The Detroit Triple Fan Fair (DTFF) was a multigenre convention generally held annually in Detroit from 1965 to 1977. It is credited for being one of the first comic book conventions in the United States.[2] The Triple Fan Fair also gave balanced coverage to historic film showings and science fiction literature, in a manner that provided a template for many future convention organizers — most of which have yet to attain the same level of equal service to this sort of linked fan base.
In addition to the typical convention features like a dealer room and panel-led discussions, the Detroit Triple Fan Fair featured a costume contest, and "films till dawn" (often running all night long for the convention's duration). From 1967 to at least 1969, the show presented the Nova Award to that year's guest of honor. In later years, the DTFF also sponsored an amateur film contest.
History
On May 24, 1964, at the Hotel Tuller,[3] teenagers Robert Brosch and Dave Szurek[4] organized a Detroit-based convention for about 80 fans[5] of the comic book medium. Jerry Bails, the "father of comics fandom," was on the organizing committee,[6] along with members of the Michigan Science Fiction Society (the so-called "Misfits.")[7]
The next year Bails and local comics enthusiast Shel Dorf took over the event, christening it the Detroit Triple Fan Fair (referring to fantasy literature, fantasy films, and comic art)[8][9] and organizing it as an annual event (although no show was held in 1966). The board of the initial official Detroit Triple Fan Fair consisted of Bails, Carl Lundgren, Tom Altschuler, Ed Aprill, Noel Cooper, Gary Crowdus, Howard DeVore, Marvin Giles, Dennis Kowicki, Larry Larson, and Eugene Seeger. Robert Brosch, an authority on horror films, also stayed involved with the DTFF in various capacities at least through 1970.
The first official DTFF took place July 24–25, 1965, at the Embassy Hotel in Detroit.[10] Admission charge was $2.00 for both days.
In what soon became a trend, aspiring local comic book creators flocked to the early events, and often became involved with organizing the show each year. For instance, the then-18-year-old Carl Lundgren was co-chairman of the 1965 DTFF, and Rich Buckler also attended the initial shows as a teenager, eventually "running things."[7][11]Arvell Jones recalls many members of the so-called "Detroit Mob" making appearances at various shows, including Buckler, Greg Theakston, Tom Orzechowski, Keith Pollard, Jim Starlin, Mike Vosburg, Al Milgrom, Terry Austin, and Michael Netzer (Nasser).[12] The reputation of the convention was such that a number of other industry professionals would appear at the event unbilled.[citation needed]
The 1968 DTFF, held on the weekend of June 15 and 16 featuring guest of honor Harlan Ellison, took place at the Pick Fort Shelby Hotel (the site of the 17th World Science Fiction Convention, dubbed "Detention", held in 1959). According to reports, the convention cleared a "$60 profit on a budget of $1,100." ("Profits [were] banked toward the promotion of another Triple Fan Fair in mid-1969.")[13]
The convention started Friday night with a "Welcome Harlan" party at the home of Hal Shapiro. Saturday morning the huckster room did a booming business in old comics and movie materials. Science fiction moved rather slowly. At noon the program began, with introductions, followed by a chalk talk by Bob Taylor of MAD magazine... The evening banquet presented Guest of Honor Harlan Ellison, sharing honors with Ken Muse, a local artist who draws "way out".... The comics panel convened later in the evening. Panelists included Don & Maggie Thompson, Ed Aprill Jr., Marvin Giles, Eugene Seiger, and Shel Dorf, moderated by Robert Brosch. The principal subject was "Are Modern Comics Better Than The Golden Age?"... Early Sunday afternoon the committee auctioned off several hundred pieces of original artwork and manuscripts. Following the auction a pulp panel convened, chaired by Lynn Hickman, including Rusty Hevelin, Marvin Giles, Fred Cook, Howard DeVore, and Clara Griffis.... Then came the widely billed "Inquisition of Ellison” by Detroit area sf writers. They put Harlan to the ’Question’ . It consisted of all these writers asking Harlan questions and when he gave an answer asking him to explain his reasons for doing this. Needless to say Harlan held his own. The 'inquisition' was probably the best portion of the entire program.[13]
Letterer Ken Bruzenak attended the 1969 convention, where he met his hero Jim Steranko, and also crossed paths with future collaborator Howard Chaykin for the first time.[14]
Co-founder Dorf left Detroit and the DTFF for Southern California in late 1969, where he shortly founded what became San Diego Comic-Con.[15]
One of Theakston's first acts as official DTFF owner was to hold two shows in 1973, one over Memorial Day weekend, and one in October. Chuck Rozanski, later a major Denver-area comics retailer, hitchhiked to Detroit for the Memorial Day DTFF, slept in Jerry Bails' home, and set up as a dealer at the show. Rozanski converted 50 high-value comics he brought with him into an inventory of more than 2,000 comics. By the end of the show, he had made more than $400 and had over 1000 comics which he sent back to Denver for future sales.[24] (Rozanski opened his first store in Denver the following year.)
In 1974, DTFF was considered the largest fan convention, in terms of attendance, in the Midwest.[25] The 1974 edition featured an Academy of Comic Book Arts exhibit, an amateur film contest, and the annual "masque" with a $150 first prize. Thursday night's "films till dawn" and "fractured flickers" included six Amos 'n' Andy episodes. Artist Michael Netzer (then known as Michael Nasser) remembers that Greg Theakston introduced him to Neal Adams at the 1974 DTFF. Adams took interest in Netzer's art and invited him to join Continuity Studios.[26][27]
Comic book artist Gray Morrow claimed to have illustrated the 1978 DTFF program booklet,[29] but there is no record of a show being held that year.
Legacy
From 1984 to 1986, local-area grad student Gary Reed (later publisher of Caliber Press) ran a local convention known as King Kon.[30] Starting in 1989, comics retailer Michael Goldman launched a for-profit endeavor called the Motor City Comic Con; it continues as an annual show to the present day.[7]
The Detroit Fanfare, established in 2010, openly acknowledged its debt to the Detroit Triple Fan Fair:[11][31]
Detroit has a very strong connection with comic conventions and fandom. Some of the earliest fandom magazines came out of the Detroit area in the late 1960s and the Detroit Triple Fan Fair was the first convention of its kind. ... Detroit Fanfare is both proud and excited to bring back home some of the major participants that helped to grow the comic industry into the behemoth it is today. There will [be] panels and discussions where the people who started so much will have a chance to discuss the early days, and reflect on their memories of the great stars that attended the convention. They will provide rare pictures and original drawings of some of the masters of the medium.[32]
In another nod to the DTFF, the Detroit Fanfare also distributed the "Shel Dorf Awards".[33] The Detroit Fanfare ceased operations after the 2012 convention.[34]
Dates and locations
This section is missing information about dates, venues, films, and guests. Please expand the section to include this information. Further details may exist on the talk page.(May 2015)
1977 October DTFF #13 program cover by Chuck Jones, billed as "Detroit Triple Fan Fair 13"
Progress reports
The DTFF published "progress reports" in 1969, 1970, 1972, 1973, 1974, as many as three for some of their conventions. Contributors included Allen Park and Robert Brosch; cover illustrations were by Al Williamson, Frank Frazetta, and Neal Adams (Batman).
^ abcDetroit Triple Fan Fair, registered as a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation on October 16, 1973, by Greg Allan Theakston (Agent) of Detroit, MI; dissolved on October 1, 1978. Accessed Feb. 15, 2016Archived October 17, 2016, at the Wayback Machine.
^"Historian Collects Comics: They Are Works of Art". Detroit News. 1965.
^Schelly, Bill (June 2003). "Jerry Bails' Ten Building Blocks of Fandom". Alter Ego. Vol. 3, no. 25. pp. 5–8.
^ abcCooke, Jon B. (2005). "Rich Buckler Breaks Out! The Artist on Deathlok, T'Challa, and Other Marvel Tales". Comic Book Artist Collection. Vol. 3. TwoMorrows Publishing.
^ abc"Greg Theakston Interview". Collected Jack Kirby Collector. Interviewed by John Morrow. TwoMorrows Publishing. 2004. p. 97.
^"Steady Sketches". Detroit Free Press. October 23, 1972. p. 19.
^Levin, Bob (March 2005). "I See My Light Come Shining". The Comics Journal. Vol. 5. Archived from the original on May 6, 2014. Retrieved February 18, 2016 – via The Official Bodē website.
^Daudt, Ron E. "Joe Barney Interview (Pt. 2)". The Silver Age Sage: A Tribute to the Silver Age of DC Comics. Archived from the original on October 13, 2015. Retrieved May 18, 2013.