Conventions

Scott Shaw! Remembers Richard Alf

January 15, 2012

Richard was an intelligent guy who never seemed to lose his sense of humor. I’ll miss him! Scott Shaw! Scott Shaw! was a member of the Woodchucks, a group of science-fiction and comic enthusiasts from San Diego’s Crawford High School who were mentored by Ken Krueger, a publisher, bookstore owner, and member of science fiction’s […]

Greg Bear Remembers Richard Alf

January 14, 2012

Richard was so important to our small group of enthusiasts way back then—a young fellow, younger than me, who already had far more sense than me—and a strong business sense as well. I wonder how far we would have gone without his guidance, not to mention his VW? The founders of the San Diego Comic-Con […]

Barry Alfonso Remembers Richard Alf

January 14, 2012

Richard Alf is a legendary figure in my life. I first met him in the fall of 1969, at the apartment of Shel Dorf’s parents in Clairemont. I was 12 years old. We were getting together for the first time to start a comic book club and make the first steps towards launching the San […]

Richard Alf
January 26, 1952 – January 4, 2012

January 8, 2012

San Diego Comic-Con co-founder Richard Alf passed away on January 4, 2012. There will be a memorial service for Richard at 3PM on Thursday, January 12 at the following location: Bonham Brothers & Stewart Mortuary and Cremation Service 321 12th St., Ramona, CA 92065 (760) 789-1678 There will also be a viewing on Wednesday, January […]

A New “Old School” San Diego Comic Con

November 8, 2011

By Mike Towry Next year (2012) will see the 40th anniversary of the first El Cortez Comic-Con, which was held August 18-21, 1972. I was Chairman of the con that year, at the ripe old age of seventeen, and it’s always held a special place in my heart. I’m not alone, however, in looking back […]

Welcome to the March 1970 San Diego Minicon

April 6, 2011

We were delighted today to receive an email from Stephen McGlone, whom we hadn’t heard from in years. Stephen and his brothers, David and Patrick, joined the San Diego Comic-Con very early on and made substantial contributions in those early years. (You can read Stephen’s brief reminiscence about those days at http://www.sheldorftribute.com/2011/04/06/stephen-mcglone-answers-shel-dorf%E2%80%99s-call-to-join-the-first-year-comic-con-committee/.)

The 1981 El Cortez “Cocktail Party”

February 14, 2011

From my previous epistle, you are aware that the Comic-Con committee was allowed to return to the El Cortez for the 1981 convention. However, due to the fact that the hotel had been taken over by a religious organization, there were several stipulations regarding the usage of the site. The big “no-no” was the use of alcohol at any events….

Beer Cans in the Pool at the El Cortez

February 10, 2011

It was 1981 and the Con Committee had been given a “reprieve” to have the 1981 convention at the El Cortez Hotel. Despite the fact that it had been taken over by a religious organization, they were willing to allow for us to have one more convention. HOWEVER, there were some serious stipulations include the requirement that no alcohol was to be served on the premises…

1974 San Diego Comic-Con Photos (Batch 5): Can You Identify People in the Pictures?

January 30, 2011

Here’s the fifth batch of scans from Shel Dorf’s negatives from the 1974 San Diego Comic-Con, which was held at the El Cortez Hotel with Bill Lund as Chairman. (I received the negatives from Shel’s friend and cartooning partner Charlie Roberts.

The Charles Schulz Snoopy Roll From Comic-Con 1974

January 26, 2011

Artist Matt Lorentz (who co-produced the AfterCon art show to benefit the Shel Dorf New Talent Encouragement Fund during Comic-Con 2010) just sent us the above picture. Here’s what he wrote about it.

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