This post is work-in-progress. We’re developing this content for inclusion an upcoming volume of The Visual History of Science Fiction Fandom. Feedback and leads on additional material pertinent to the Second Eastern Con are much appreciated!

The second-ever “science fiction convention” in the United States occurred on February 21, 1937 in New York City. There is of course the endless debate about what really constituted a “convention” versus just a gathering of fans. The “First Eastern Con” occurred in October 1936 in Philadelphia. It was an informal afternoon attended by perhaps a dozen fans from the East Coast, from which there are no known printed artifacts. The idea for a more formal get-together in New York was hatched at that meeting.

The planned New York gathering claimed the lofty “convention” moniker and was organized by the core of the New York Branch of The International Scientific Association (NYBISA). This cadre — Donald A. Wollheim, John B. Michel, David A. Kyle and Fredrik G. Pohl — would play central roles in the drama and shenanigans surrounding science fiction clubs and confabs for the next several years.

The program for the convention is a small, delicate leaflet, elegant if terse.

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Songs? Indeed, songs. As remembered by Robert A. Madle in a conversation with John L. Coker III:

“The ISA had a bunch of songs, and one went like this:

Oh, we’ll rally from the nuthouse,
We’ll gather from the cell,
Shouting an accolade to Gernsback. 
To cheer for dear old Wonder
And the good old SFL,
Shouting an accolade to Gernsback.
The SFL forever, let rockets light her way,
Shouting an accolade to Gernsback.
With C.D.H. to lead us
Through commentary hell,
Shouting an accolade to Gernsback.

Many of the ISA members hated anyone who was connected with Wonder Stories, including Charles D. Hornig.  There were a lot of other people that they had picturesque names for.  They referred to Forry Ackerman as Farwest J Sapperman, Sam Moskowitz as The Newark Neanderthal, James Taurasi was Il Duce of Flushing Flats, and The Philadelphia Science Fiction Society was known as the PSFS Hoodlums.”

Who was there on that somewhat musical day? We have one remarkable survival that gives us some evidence. The first issue of the fanzine Phantastique was produced by Burton duMont with a cover date of November 1936. The issue was actually distributed in January 1937, just in time for the convention. Our best guess is that someone brought a copy of this issue to the meeting and had it signed by many of the attendees.

This is the earliest collection of fan signatures that we’ve seen. Here are the names we’ve been able to decipher (top-to-bottom, left-to-right):

Arthur Leeds
Morris Chakamsky
Robert W. Lowndes
Conrad H. Ruppert
Charles D. Hornig X-ED (ex-editor?)
John J. Weir
Mort Weisinger
George R. Hahn (Curly)
Warren D. Woolsey
Willis Conover, Jr.
Richard Wilson, Jr.
John B. Michel
John V. Baltadonis
Walter Kubilius ISA
Robert A. Madle
Otto O. Binder
Julius Schwartz
Charles Schneeman
John V. Baltadonis (again)

Comparing this roster to the Second Eastern Convention attendee list from Fancyclopedia, there’s clear overlap and no obvious conflicts that would cause us to reconsider the origin of this piece. We’d be very interested to hear any other interpretations or evidence.

Sad to say, it appears that the “proposed NYBISA Science Fiction Motion Picture” was never produced.