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Archon (convention)
Encyclopedia
Archon is a multigenre convention that was held annually in Collinsville, Illinois
now in Maryland Heights, Missouri
and is hosted by St. Louis Science Fiction, Ltd. It is the largest convention of its type in the St. Louis, Missouri
area, bringing a few thousand fans of science fiction, fantasy and horror each year.
The first Archon in 1977 drew a crowd of 253 and was held at Stouffer's Riverfront Towers (now the Millennium) in downtown St. Louis. In 1982 Archon 6 brought author Stephen King
and attracted 1,750 participants to the Chase Park Plaza Hotel
. The convention had a ten-year run at the now-defunct Henry VIII Hotel near Lambert Airport
. Finally, it settled in its current home at the Gateway Center in Collinsville. Archon 20's guest of honor, author Ray Bradbury
, attracted record attendance of over 2,500 convention-goers in 1996. In 2003 Archon 27 expanded from three days to four. Archon 30 attracted nearly 2,800 convention-goers in 2006, a record for the convention.
In 2007 in place of Archon, convention organizers hosted Tuckercon
, the 9th North American Science Fiction Convention
. The convention was held two months earlier than the normal Archon, on August 2-5, 2007. Guests of honor included Barbara Hambly
, Darrell K. Sweet
, and Mystery Science Theater 3000
personalities Kevin Murphy
& Bill Corbett
(replacing Mira Furlan
, who had to cancel).
competitions in the country. In 2005, over 50 entries were presented in four separate classes, Junior, Novice, Journeyman and Master. These costumers represent a wide range of fandom, presenting recreations of favorite cinema and literary characters along with original creations. Author Vic Milan has been the emcee of the Archon Masquerade for many years. The masquerade is unique for its team of professional light and sound engineers who volunteer their time working with the presenters for the show. The Archon Masquerade rules are compatible with the International Costume Guild guidelines for competition, which means that any major awards won at Archon are included in standings at other ICG convention competitions.
The crew of Hex Games frequently appears and runs games based on their QAGS
system, like Mforce and Rasslin'.
Under Jon Bancroft, Archon's gaming section has developed a quick and efficient system for registering large numbers of gamers for the games offered, and "The Trench", where gamers register, has become a feature of Archon.
in Maryland Heights, Missouri
. It was also announced that Archon would go back to a traditional 24 hour format with room parties and 24 hour gaming.
Collinsville, Illinois
Collinsville is a city located mainly in Madison County, and partially in St. Clair County, both in Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 26,016. Collinsville is approximately 12 miles from St. Louis, Missouri and is considered part of that city's Metro-East area...
now in Maryland Heights, Missouri
Maryland Heights, Missouri
Maryland Heights is a second-ring west-central suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census. The city was incorporated in 1985. Edwin L. Dirck was elected the city's first mayor. Mark M. Levin has been City Administrator...
and is hosted by St. Louis Science Fiction, Ltd. It is the largest convention of its type in the St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
area, bringing a few thousand fans of science fiction, fantasy and horror each year.
Past highlights
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
and attracted 1,750 participants to the Chase Park Plaza Hotel
Chase Park Plaza Hotel
The Chase Park Plaza, located at 212 N. Kingshighway in the Central West End, St. Louis, Missouri, is a combination of two buildings housing a condominium tower , hotel , cinema, and several restaurants and bars, all constructed between 1920 and 1930.The hotel replaced nearby Buckingham Hotel as...
. The convention had a ten-year run at the now-defunct Henry VIII Hotel near Lambert Airport
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport
Lambert-St. Louis International Airport is a Class B international airport serving Greater St. Louis. It is located approximately northwest of downtown St. Louis in unincorporated St. Louis County between Berkeley and Bridgeton. It is the largest and busiest airport in the state with 250 daily...
. Finally, it settled in its current home at the Gateway Center in Collinsville. Archon 20's guest of honor, author Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury
Ray Douglas Bradbury is an American fantasy, horror, science fiction, and mystery writer. Best known for his dystopian novel Fahrenheit 451 and for the science fiction stories gathered together as The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man , Bradbury is one of the most celebrated among 20th...
, attracted record attendance of over 2,500 convention-goers in 1996. In 2003 Archon 27 expanded from three days to four. Archon 30 attracted nearly 2,800 convention-goers in 2006, a record for the convention.
In 2007 in place of Archon, convention organizers hosted Tuckercon
Tuckercon
Tuckercon, also known as Archon31, was the ninth North American Science Fiction Convention, held in Collinsville, Illinois, on August 2–5, 2007, at the Gateway Center and Collinsville Holiday Inn. Collinsville is just across the Mississippi River from St Louis, Missouri...
, the 9th North American Science Fiction Convention
North American Science Fiction Convention
NASFiC, a.k.a. the North American Science Fiction Convention, is a science fiction convention scheduled only during years where the Worldcon is being held outside of the North American continent. NASFiC bids voted on by the Worldcon membership the year after a non-North American Worldcon site has...
. The convention was held two months earlier than the normal Archon, on August 2-5, 2007. Guests of honor included Barbara Hambly
Barbara Hambly
Barbara Hambly is an award-winning and prolific American novelist and screenwriter within the genres of fantasy, science fiction, mystery, and historical fiction...
, Darrell K. Sweet
Darrell K. Sweet
Darrell K. Sweet is a professional illustrator best known for providing cover art for science fiction and fantasy novels, in which capacity he was nominated for Hugo award in 1983. He also produces art for trading cards and calendars. He is famous for providing the covers of the fantasy epic saga...
, and Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000
Mystery Science Theater 3000 is an American cult television comedy series created by Joel Hodgson and produced by Best Brains, Inc., that ran from 1988 to 1999....
personalities Kevin Murphy
Kevin Murphy (actor)
Kevin Wagner Murphy is an American actor and writer best known as the voice and puppeteer of Tom Servo on the Peabody Award-winning comedy series Mystery Science Theater 3000.- Early career :...
& Bill Corbett
Bill Corbett
Bill Corbett is an American writer and performer for television, film and theatre. He was a writer and performer on the cult television show Mystery Science Theater 3000 , for which he voiced the robot Crow T. Robot during the show's later seasons on the Sci Fi Channel and played the character...
(replacing Mira Furlan
Mira Furlan
Mira Furlan is a Croatian actress and singer currently residing in the United States. She is well known for her roles as the Minbari Ambassador Delenn on all five seasons of the science fiction television series Babylon 5 , and Danielle Rousseau on Lost.-Early life:Furlan was born to an...
, who had to cancel).
Masquerade
Archon hosts one of the best known masqueradeMasquerade ball
A masquerade ball is an event which the participants attend in costume wearing a mask. - History :...
competitions in the country. In 2005, over 50 entries were presented in four separate classes, Junior, Novice, Journeyman and Master. These costumers represent a wide range of fandom, presenting recreations of favorite cinema and literary characters along with original creations. Author Vic Milan has been the emcee of the Archon Masquerade for many years. The masquerade is unique for its team of professional light and sound engineers who volunteer their time working with the presenters for the show. The Archon Masquerade rules are compatible with the International Costume Guild guidelines for competition, which means that any major awards won at Archon are included in standings at other ICG convention competitions.
Gaming
Archon features extensive gaming. Among some of the many attractions at Archon gaming are the LARP vampire games ran by the St. Louis Underground Gaming Society, Battletech games, Science Fiction RPGs ran yearly, D&D games and CCG tournaments.The crew of Hex Games frequently appears and runs games based on their QAGS
QAGS
QAGS is a generic role-playing game system for use in freeform role-playing games. QAGS is not tied to any particular genre or setting, and has been used to run everything from paranormal teenagers to post-apocalyptic super-heroes to fantasy sailing adventure to gun-toting monster hunters to...
system, like Mforce and Rasslin'.
Under Jon Bancroft, Archon's gaming section has developed a quick and efficient system for registering large numbers of gamers for the games offered, and "The Trench", where gamers register, has become a feature of Archon.
The End of Collinsville and the Future of Archon
It was announced on the Archon 34 website that Archon 33 would be the last one held at the Gateway Center in Collinsville, IL. This was because of the restrictions placed on the convention by the newly remodled Double-Tree Hotel. After the $12 million renovation, the Double-Tree Hotel, decided that all programming at the hotel would have to end at 1 A.M., this included the dance and all gaming. The Double-Tree also placed a ban on all room parties. Room parties have always been an important tradition at Archon, so after none of the hotels in the immediate area would allow parties, Archon had no choice but to move locations. Archon 34 was held at Westport PlazaWestport Plaza
Westport Plaza is a , commercial development, resort, and entertainment center located in Maryland Heights. Westport opened in 1973 and since has grown to over of offices buildings, restaurants and entertainment venues, and hotels. The property is owned jointly by Chicago-based real estate company...
in Maryland Heights, Missouri
Maryland Heights, Missouri
Maryland Heights is a second-ring west-central suburb of St. Louis, located in St. Louis County, Missouri, United States. The population was 27,472 at the 2010 census. The city was incorporated in 1985. Edwin L. Dirck was elected the city's first mayor. Mark M. Levin has been City Administrator...
. It was also announced that Archon would go back to a traditional 24 hour format with room parties and 24 hour gaming.
Tax ruling
In 1985, St. Louis Science Fiction Ltd. was subject to an adverse court tax court ruling that denied it non-profit 501(c)(3) status, on the basis that it was not "operated exclusively for exempt purposes", but instead "in part, for the private benefit of artists and dealers", and "in furtherance of substantial nonexempt commercial, and social and entertainment purposes".External links
- Archon's official website
- Archon's Masquerade web site
- The North American Science Fiction Convention
- riverfronttimes.com article on Archon 28