Rev. 17-Jul-2008
In 1948, Walter J. “Doc” Dougherty of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society proposed that an annual West Coast convention be started for West Coast fans who couldn’t afford to travel east each year. The first Westercon was held in September, 1948. It was a one-day event with an attendance of 77. It wasn’t until 1951 that the Westercon became a weekend-long event, settled into the July 4th holiday and began traveling to different cities.
| DATE | CITY & NAME | HOTEL | GUESTS(S) OF HONOR | CHAIR/SUPPORTING ORGANIZATION | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9/05/48 | Los Angeles | Park View Manor | E. Everett Evans, LASFS | ||
| 2 | 10/02/49 | Los Angeles | Knights of Pythias Hall | Walter J. Daugherty, LASFS | ||
| 3 | 06/18/50 | Los Angeles | Knights of Pythias Hall | Dr. Robert S. Richardson | Freddie Hershey, Outlanders | |
| 4 | 6/29-7/01/51 | San Francisco | California Hall (etc) | George Pal | Little Men, Tom Quinn[1] | |
| 5 | 6/28-6/29/52 | San Diego [SouthwesterCon] | U.S. Grant Hotel | Ray Bradbury, William Nolan | Roger Nelson | |
| 6 | 5/30-5/31/53 | Los Angeles | Hotel Commodore | Gerald Heard | E. Everett Evans, LASFS | |
| 7 | 9/03-9/04/54[7] | San Francisco [SF Con] | Sir Francis Drake Hotel | Jack Williamson | J. Ben Stark | |
| 8 | 7/03-7/04/55 | Los Angeles | Hotel Commodore | Mel Hunter | Lew Kovner, Chesley Donovan Foundation | |
| 9 | 6/30-7/01/56 | Oakland | Hotel Leamington | Richard Matheson | Marilyn Tulley | |
| 10 | 7/04-7/07/57 | Hollywood | Hotel Knickerbocker | Mark Clifton | Lew Kovner, LASFS, CD Foundation | |
| 11 | 9/01/58[2] | Los Angeles [SolaCon] | Alexandria Hotel | Richard Matheson | Anna S. Moffatt Outlanders | |
| 12 | 7/03-7/05/59 | Seattle | Moore House | Alan E. Nourse | F.M. Busby, Nameless Ones | |
| 13 | 7/02-7/04/60 | Boise [BoyCon] | Owyhee Hotel | Rog Phillips | Guy and Diane Terwilliger | |
| 14 | 7/01-7/02/61 | Oakland [Baycon] | Hotel Leamington | Fritz Leiber [Pro], Jack Speer [Fan] | Honey Woods, GGFS | |
| 15 | 6/30-7/01/62 | Los Angeles | Hotel Alexandria | Jack Vance [Pro], Alva Rogers [Fan] | Albert J. Lewis, LASFS | |
| 16 | 7/04-7/07/63 | Burlingame | Hyatt House Hotel | Kris Neville [Pro]; F.M. & Elinor Busby [Fan] | Al haLevy, Little Men | |
| 17 | 9/04/64[2] | Oakland [PacifiCon II] | Leamington Hotel | Edmond Hamilton & Leigh Brackett [Pro]; Forrest J. Ackerman [Fan] | Al haLevy & J. Ben Stark | |
| 18 | 7/03-7/05/65 | Long Beach | Edgewater Inn | Frank Herbert [Pro]; Anthony Boucher [Fan] | Steve Tolliver, John Trimble | |
| 19 | 7/01-7/04/66 | San Diego | Stardust Motor Hotel & Country Club | Harlan Ellison [Pro]; John & Bjo Trimble [Fan?] | Dennis N. Smith | |
| 20 | 7/01-7/04/67 | Los Angeles | Sheraton-West Hotel | Marion Z. Bradley [Pro]; Lon Atkins [Fan] | Brandon Lamont[3] | |
| 21 | 9/01/68[2] | Berkeley [BAYCON] | Hotel Claremont | Philip Jose Farmer [Pro]; Walter J. Daugherty [Fan] | Bill Donaho, Alva Rogers, J. Ben Stark | |
| 22 | 7/03-7/06/69 | Santa Monica [FUNCon II] | Miramar Hotel | Randall Garrett [Pro]; Roy Tackett [Fan] | Chuck Crayne, Bruce Pelz | |
| 23 | 7/02-7/05/70 | Santa Barbara | Francisco Torres | Jack Williamson [Pro]; Rick Sneary [Fan] | John & Bjo Trimble | |
| 24 | 7/01-7/05/71 | San Francisco [SFCon '71] | Hilton Inn | Avram Davidson [Pro]; Don Simpson [Fan] | Jerry Jacks | |
| 25 | 6/30-7/04/72[4] | Long Beach | Edgewater Hyatt House | Lloyd Biggle Jr. [Pro]; Len Moffatt [Fan] | Dave Hulan | |
| 26 | 6/30-7/04/73 | San Francisco [SFCon '73] | St. Francis Hotel | Larry Niven [Pro], George Barr [Fan]; James Nelson Coleman [Special] | Jerry Jacks | |
| 27 | 7/03-7/07/74 | Santa Barbara | Francisco Torres | Philip K. Dick [Pro][5] Charles Burbee [Fan] | Fred Patten | |
| 28 | 7/03-7/06/75 | Oakland [OakLaCon] | Leamington Hotel | David Gerrold [Pro]; Charlie & Dena Brown [Fan]; Ian & Betty Ballantine [Special] | Lois Newman, Craig Miller | |
| 29 | 7/02-7/05/76 | Los Angeles | Hyatt House Hotel | Horace L. Gold [Pro]; Gregg Calkins [Fan] | Bruce Pelz | |
| 30 | 7/01-7/04/77 | Vancouver, BC | Totem Park Residence | Damon Knight [Pro]; Frank Denton [Fan]; Kate Wilhelm [Special] | Fran Skene | |
| 31 | 6/30-7/04/78 | Los Angeles [Westercone] | L.A. Marriott Hotel | Poul Anderson [Pro]; Don C. Tompson [Fan] | Ed Finkelstein, Mike Glyer | |
| 32 | 7/04-7/08/79 | San Francisco | Sheraton Palace Hotel | Richard Lupoff [Pro]; Bruce Pelz [Fan]; Sherry Gottlieb [Special] | Jerry Jacks | |
| 33 | 7/03-7/06/80 | Los Angeles | Hyatt House Hotel | Roger Zelazny [Pro]; Bob Vardeman [Fan] | Milt Stevens | |
| 34 | 7/02-7/05/81 | Sacramento | Red Lion Inn | C.J. Cherryh [Pro]; Grant Canfield [Fan] | Michael Garrels | |
| 35 | 7/02-7/05/82 | Phoenix | The Phoenix Hilton | Gordon R. Dickson [Pro]; Fran Skene [Fan]; Robert Asprin [Special] | Randy Rau, CASFS | |
| 36 | 7/01-7/04/83 | San Jose [Westerchron] | Red Lion Inn | Phil Klass [Writer]; Alicia Austin [Artist]; Tom Whitmore [Fan] | Lee Forgue | |
| 37 | 6/29-7/03/84 | Portland | Portland Marriott Hotel |
Harlan Ellison [Pro]; F.M. & Elinor Busby [Fan]; Alex Schomberg [Artist] |
Steve Berry, Pam Davis, Bryce Walden, OSFCI (Oregon Science Fiction Conventions, Inc.) |
|
| 38 | 7/03-7/07/85 | Sacramento | Red Lion Inn | James Hogan [Pro]; Paula Christ [Fan] | Michael Garrells | |
| 39 | 7/03-7/06/86 | San Diego | Town & Country Hotel | David Brin [Pro]; Karen Turner [Pro] | Gail Hanrahan, Mitchell Walker, Curtis White | |
| 40 | 7/02-7/05/87 | Oakland [Episode XXXX] | Oakland Hyatt Regency & Convention Center | Gregory Benford [Writer]; Aubrey MacDermott [Fan]; Lela Dowling/Ken Macklin [Artist]; Leslie Fish [Filk] | Lisa Deutsch Harrigan | |
| 41 | 7/01-7/04/88 | Phoenix | Hyatt Regency Phoenix Sheraton Phoenix | Robert Silverberg [Pro]; Craig Miller [Fan]; Real Musgrave [Artist] | Terry Gish | WARM BODY MEMBERS |
| 42 | 6/30-7/04/89 | Anaheim [Conosaurus] | Anaheim Marriott Hotel | John Varley [Pro]; Arthur Hlavaty [Fan] | Lex Nakashima, Patrice Cook?, SCIFI [6] |
2500 |
| 43 | 7/05-7/08/90 | Portland | Jantzen Beach/Columbia River Red Lion Hotels | Ursula K. LeGuin, Vonda McIntyre, Kate Wilhelm [Pros]; Art Widner [Fan]; Steve Perry [Toastmaster] |
Patty Wells, John Lorentz, OSFCI |
|
| 44 | 7/02-7/06/91 | Vancouver, BC | Gage Residence Hall, University of British Columbia |
William Gibson [Pro]; C.J. Cherryh [Pro]; Jerry Kaufman [Fan]; Suzanne Tompkins [Fan]; Steve Jackson [Gaming]; Patrick & Teresa Nielsen Hayden [Editor]; Warren Oddsson [Artist]; Verna Terrestriel [Lensman] | Terry Fowler | |
| 45 | 7/02-7/05/92 | Phoenix [Westercolt] | Phoenix Omni Adams San Carlos Hotel; Phoenix Symphony Hall | Jennifer Roberson [Pro]; Pat Mueller [Fan]; Rick Sternbach [Artist] | Bruce Farr | |
| 46 | 7/02-7/05/93 | Seattle | Bellevue Red Lion | Greg Bear [Author]; F.M. & Elinor Busby [Fan]; Wally Weber [Fan], Wally Gonser [Fan]; George Alec Effinger [Toastmaster] |
Richard Wright | |
| 47 | 7/01-7/04/94 | Los Angeles [Conozoic] | Los Angeles Hilton | George R.R. Martin [Pro]; William Rotsler [Fan]; Real Musgrave [Artist] | Noel Wolfman, SCIFI | 1444 |
| 48 | 6/30-7/03/95 | Portland | Jantzen Beach/Columbia River Red Lion Hotels | Vernor Vinge [Pro]; Elayne Pelz [Fan]; John R. Foster [Artist]; Ray Villard [Science] |
John Lorentz, OSFCI | 1827 |
| 49 | 7/04-7/07/96 | El Paso | Camino Real Paso Del Norte & The El Paso Convention Center | James P. Blaylock [Author]; Howard Waldrop [Author]; Brad W. Foster [Artist]; Arnie & Joyce Katz [Fan]; Pat Cadigan [Toastmaster] |
Richard Brandt, Fred Duarte, El Paso Science Fiction & Fantasy Alliance, FACT | ??? |
| 50 | 7/03-7/06/97 | Seattle | Seattle Sheraton | Dr. Martin M. Greenberg [Writer Past]; J. Michael Straczynski [Writer Present]; Amy Thomson [Writer Future]; Victoria Lisi [Artist]; Jack Cohen [Science]; Walter J. Daugherty [Fan]; Spider & Jeanne Robinson [Music] | Sally Woehrle, SWOC (Seattle Westercon Organizing Committee) | ??? |
| 51 | 7/02-7/05/98 | San Diego [Concept 1998] | Mission Valley Marriott | Katherine Kurtz, Scott MacMillian, Sue Dawe [Fantasy Artist]; David W. Clark [Fan] | Dianna Hildreth, CAASM | 1173 |
| 52 | 7/02-7/05/99 | Spokane [Empirecon] | Doubletree Inn | C.J. Cherryh [Author]; Barbara Hambly [Author]; Kristine Kathryn Rusch [Author]; Alicia Austin [Artist]; Wendy Pini [Artist]; Ellen Datlow [Editor]; Larry Baker [Fan]; Betty Bigelow [Toastmaster] | Bob Ladd, Team Maroon | ??? |
| 53 | 7/01-7/4-00 | Honolulu [Conolulu] | Sheraton Waikiki | Dan Simmons [Author]; Ctein [Artist]; John Lorentz [Fan] | Kathryn Daugherty, SFSFC | 244 |
| 54 | 7/05-7/08/01 | Portland | Jantzen Beach & Columbia River Doubletree Hotels | Tim Powers [Author]; Mike Glyer [Fan]; Frank Lurz [Artist] |
Dean Koenig, OSFCI | 1293 |
| 55 | 7/04-7/07/02 | Los Angeles [Conagerie] | LA Airport Radisson Hotel | Harry Turtledove [Author]; Robert Lichtman [Fan]; Beth Meacham [Editor]; Ross Chamberlain [Artist] | Bruce Pelz, SCIFI | 1000 |
| 56 | 7/03-7/06/03 | SeaTac | SeaTac Doubletree | Bruce Sterling [Author]; Lisa Snellings [Artist]; Connie Willis [Toastmaster]; Saul Jaffe [Fan]; Claire Eddy [Editor] |
William Sadorus, SWOC | 1400 |
| 57 | 7/02-7/05/04 | Litchfield Park AZ [ConKopelli] | Wigwam Resort | C.J. Cherryh [Author][5]; David Cherry [Artist]; Heather Alexander [Music]; John Hertz [Fan]; Diana Gabaldon [Local Author]; Virginia Hey [Media] |
Craig Dyer, WesternSFA | 850 |
| 58 | 7/01-7/04/05 | Calgary Alberta [Due North] | Westin Calgary | S.M. Stirling [Author]; Dave Duncan [Canadian Author]; Mark Ferrari [Artist]; Tom Doherty [Publisher], David Hartwell [Editor], Dr. Phil Currie [Science], Cliff Samuels & Eileen Capes [Fan] |
John Mansfield, Randy McCharles, CWSFA [Canada West Science Fiction Association] | 450 |
| 59 | 7/01-7/04/06 | San Diego [Conzilla] | Mission Valley Marriott | Walter Jon Williams; Bob Eggleton [Artist]; Bobbi Armbruster [Fan]; Kevin J. Anderson [Toastmaster] |
James M. Briggs, SDSFC [San Diego Science Fiction Conventions] | 599 |
| 60 | 6/30-7/03/07 [8] |
San Mateo[8] [Gnomeward Bound] |
San Mateo Marriott [8] |
Tad Williams [Writer]; Theresa Mather [Artist]; Christian McGuire [Fan]; Jay Lake [Toastmaster] |
Michael Siladi, SPFII [Society for Promotion of Fannish Interests, Inc] | 825 |
| 61 | 7/03-7/06/08 | Las Vegas | JW Marriott Resort | Kage Baker [Writer]; Lubov [Artist]; Milt Stevens [Fan] |
James Stanley Daugherty, Conventional Wisdom | 313 |
| 62 | 7/02-7/05/09 | Tempe AZ [FiestaCon] | Tempe Mission Palms | Todd Lockwood [Artist]; Alan Dean Foster [Writer]; Stanley Schmidt [Editor]; Jim & Doreen Webber [Fan]; Patrick & Teresa Nielsen Hayden [Toastmasters] |
Mike Willmoth, Leprecon Inc. | 603 |
| 63 | 07/01-07/04/10 | Pasadena CA [Confirmation] | Hilton Pasadena | Rudy Rucker [Pro]; John D. Berry [Fan]; Marc “Schirm” Schirmeister [Artist] |
Christian B. McGuire, ISL [Institute for Specialized Literature] | 655 |
| 64 | 07/01-07/04/11 | San Jose CA | Fairmont Hotel | Patricia McKillip [Pro]; Phil & Kaja Foglio [Artist]; Mike Willmoth [Fan] |
Glenn Glazer, SFSFC [San Francisco Science Fiction Conventions, Inc.] | 693 |
| 65 | 07/05-07/08/12 | Seattle WA | Doubletree Hotel Seattle Airport | Robin Hobb [Pro]; Frank & Brianna Spacekat W [Artist]; Chaz Boston Baden [Fan]; Art Bozlee [Science]; Vixy & Tony [Filk] |
Bobbie DuFault, SWOC [Seattle Westercon Organizing Committee] | |
| 66 | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD [Pro]; TBD[Artist]; TBD [Fan] |
Kevin Roche and Andy Trembley, SFSFC [San Francisco Science Fiction Conventions, Inc.] |
Feetnotes
(Well, there are more than one of them)
- Replaced Steward Metchette as Chairman.
- Combined with the World Science Fiction Convention, sharing names, Guests of Honor and Chairs. One day was usually designated as Westercon (Chair and Guest of Honor) day.
- Replaced Ted Johnstone as Chairman
- Mythcon combined with Westercon that year.
- Did not attend.
- Lex Nakashima became sole chair during run-up to con.
- The 1954 Worldcon was combined with the Westercon that year, with John W. Campbell as Worldcon GoH and Jack Williamson as Westercon GoH. The Worldcon “Executive Committee” consisted of Lester Cole and Gary J. Nelson; the Westercon Chairman was J. Ben Stark. Robert Bloch was MC at the combined Convention Banquet.
- Hotel moved from San Jose Doubletree to San Mateo Marriott, date moved from July 6-9, 2007
People who worked on or contributed to this document:
Chaz Boston Baden, Stephanie Bannon, James M. Briggs, Marty Cantor, Bobbie DuFault, Glenn Glazer, Don Glover, John Lorentz, Craig Miller, Dick O’Shea, Jo Rhett, Andy Trembley.