Pulpcon
Pulpcon, the first convention devoted strictly to the pulp magazines, ran annually from 1972 through 2008, with extra conventions held in 1994 and 1996.Background
Pulpcon was founded by Ed Kessell, Earl Kussman, Nils Hardin and Rusty Hevelin. The first con was held at the Colony Motor Hotel in Clayton, Mo., on June 9-11, 1972. Around 100 people attended, including SF fictioneer Edmond Hamilton and pulp cover artist Graves Gladney.According to Don Ramlow's "Pulpcon: A Brief History of the Little Convention That Could" (The Pulpster #3, 1993), Pulpcon had been planned as a one-shot convention. But at the urging of those attending, it decided to continue the next year.
Pulpcon limited its focus to the pulp magazines. By the mid-2000s, newer members of the convention's organizing committee were pushing to consider broadening the con's focus, consider new locations and other options to grow. Pulpcon #38 was scheduled for Aug. 14-16, 2009, in Dayton, Ohio. After a schism, a portion of the committee decided to organize a competing convention, Pulpcon 2009, in Columbus, Ohio, on July 31-Aug. 2, 2009.
Eventually, Pulpcon #38 organizers canceled their event, but required the other convention to give up the Pulpcon name. Pulpcon 2009 was renamed PulpFest 2009.
Pulpcon #37, held in Dayton, Ohio, in 2008 was the final Pulpcon.
Pulpcon activities
Pulpcon began recognizing Guests of Honor in 1976 for Pulpcon 5. The first Guest of Honor was Walter Gibson, the main author of The Shadow.Pulpcon chronology
| Event | Date | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Pulpcon 1 | June 9-11, 1972 | Clayton, Mo. |
| Pulpcon 2 | July 20-22, 1973 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 3 | July 27-29, 1974 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 4 | June 14-15, 1975 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 5 | July 9-11, 1976 | Akron, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 6 | July 8-10, 1977 | Akron, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 7 | July 7-9, 1978 | St. Louis |
| Pulpcon 8 | June 28-July 1, 1979 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 9 | Nov. 7-9, 1980 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 10 | Aug. 14-16, 1981 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 11 | July 8-11, 1982 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 12 | July 7-10, 1983 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 13 | Aug. 16-19, 1984 | Cherry Hill, N.J. |
| Pulpcon 14 | July 11-14, 1985 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 15 | July 10-13, 1986 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 16 | July 9-12, 1987 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 17 | July 21-24, 1988 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 18 | July 6-9, 2989 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 19 | July 19-22, 1990 | Wayne, N.J. |
| Pulpcon 20 | June 20-23, 1991 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 21 | July 16-19, 1992 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 22 | July 29-Aug. 1, 1993 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 22-A | Jan. 6-9, 1994 | Tucson, Ariz. |
| Pulpcon 23 | Aug. 4-7, 1994 | Bowling Green, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 24 | Aug. 3-6, 1995 | Bowling Green, Ohio |
| Pulpcon B | Feb. 8-11, 1996 | Asheville, N.C. |
| Pulpcon 25 | Aug. 1-4, 1996 | San Jose, Calif. |
| Pulpcon 26 | July 24-27, 1997 | Bowling Green, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 27 | July 30-Aug. 2, 1998 | Bowling Green, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 28 | July 9-11, 1999 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 29 | July 7-9, 2000 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 30 | July 12-15, 2001 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 31 | July 11-14, 2002 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 32 | July 31-Aug.2, 2003 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 33 | July 8-11, 2004 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 34 | July 7-10, 2005 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 35 | Aug. 3-6, 2006 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 36 | July 5-8, 2007 | Dayton, Ohio |
| Pulpcon 37 | July 31-Aug. 3, 2008 | Dayton, Ohio |
