9th World Science Fiction Convention
Encyclopedia
The 9th World Science Fiction Convention, also known as Nolacon I, was held 1–3 September 1951 at the St. Charles Hotel in New Orleans, Louisiana
, USA.
The chairman was Harry B. Moore.
The guest of honor was Fritz Leiber
.
Total attendance was approximately 190. The at-the-door membership price was US$1, the same price charged from the 1st
through the 12th
Worldcon.
Notable events included world premiere screenings of The Day The Earth Stood Still and When Worlds Collide
, plus a continuous two-day long party in Room 770 of the St. Charles Hotel that became legendary following the convention. Mike Glyer's long-running newszine File 770
, named in commemoration of this party, has won the Hugo Award for Best Fanzine
a number of times.
No Hugo Award
s were presented at this Worldcon because the idea for the awards would not be proposed until 1952, with the first awards coming at the 11th World Science Fiction Convention
in 1953. However, in 2001 at the 59th World Science Fiction Convention
held in Philadelphia, a set of "Retro Hugos" were presented to honor work that would have been Hugo-eligible had the award existed in 1951.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
, USA.
The chairman was Harry B. Moore.
The guest of honor was Fritz Leiber
Fritz Leiber
Fritz Reuter Leiber, Jr. was an American writer of fantasy, horror and science fiction. He was also a poet, actor in theatre and films, playwright, expert chess player and a champion fencer. Possibly his greatest chess accomplishment was winning clear first in the 1958 Santa Monica Open.. With...
.
Total attendance was approximately 190. The at-the-door membership price was US$1, the same price charged from the 1st
1st World Science Fiction Convention
The First World Science Fiction Convention was held in the Caravan Hall in New York from July 2 to July 4, 1939, in conjunction with the New York World's Fair, which was themed as "The World of Tomorrow"...
through the 12th
12th World Science Fiction Convention
The 12th World Science Fiction Convention, also known as SFCon, was held September 3-6, 1954, at the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco, California, USA....
Worldcon.
Notable events included world premiere screenings of The Day The Earth Stood Still and When Worlds Collide
When Worlds Collide (film)
When Worlds Collide is a 1951 science fiction film based on the 1933 novel co-written by Philip Gordon Wylie and Edwin Balmer. The film was shot in Technicolor, directed by Rudolph Maté and was the winner of the 1951 Academy Award for special effects....
, plus a continuous two-day long party in Room 770 of the St. Charles Hotel that became legendary following the convention. Mike Glyer's long-running newszine File 770
File 770
File 770 is a long running science fiction fanzine and newszine published by Mike Glyer; it is named after the now legendary party held in Room 770 at Nolacon, the 9th World Science Fiction Convention in New Orleans, Louisiana, that ran continuously for nearly two days and upstaged all the other...
, named in commemoration of this party, has won the Hugo Award for Best Fanzine
Hugo Award for Best Fanzine
The Hugo Awards are given every year by the World Science Fiction Society for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was once officially...
a number of times.
No Hugo Award
Hugo Award
The Hugo Awards are given annually for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year. The award is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine Amazing Stories, and was officially named the Science Fiction Achievement Awards...
s were presented at this Worldcon because the idea for the awards would not be proposed until 1952, with the first awards coming at the 11th World Science Fiction Convention
11th World Science Fiction Convention
The 11th World Science Fiction Convention, also known as Philcon II, was held in September 1953 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. It was the first Worldcon to present the Hugo Awards. The supporting organization was the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society. The guest of honor was Willy Ley. ...
in 1953. However, in 2001 at the 59th World Science Fiction Convention
59th World Science Fiction Convention
The Millennium Philcon was the 59th World Science Fiction Convention, held from August 30 to September 3, 2001 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center & Philadelphia Marriott Hotel, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA....
held in Philadelphia, a set of "Retro Hugos" were presented to honor work that would have been Hugo-eligible had the award existed in 1951.
In popular culture
- Nolacon is a plot point in The Case of the Little Green Men, the first novel by Mack ReynoldsMack ReynoldsDallas McCord "Mack" Reynolds was an American science fiction writer. His pen names included Clark Collins, Mark Mallory, Guy McCord, Dallas Ross and Maxine Reynolds. Many of his stories were published in Galaxy Magazine and Worlds of If Magazine...
, which is set in part at "AnnCon", a fictional version of the 10th World Science Fiction Convention10th World Science Fiction ConventionThe 10th World Science Fiction Convention was held on Labor Day weekend from August 30 - September 1, 1952 at the Morrison Hotel in Chicago, Illinois...
held in 1952. (The actual 10th Worldcon, held in Chicago, was called "TASFiC" [10 Annual World Science Fiction Convention] but is now generally known as "ChiCon II".)