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MidAmeriCon
The 34th World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon), also known as MidAmeriCon (abbreviated "MAC"), was held on 2–6 September 1976 at the Radisson Muehlebach Hotel and nearby Phillips House hotel in Kansas City, Missouri, United States. The convention committee was chaired by Ken Keller, who had also chaired the "KC in '76" bid. Participants Attendance was 3,014, out of 4,200 paid memberships. Guests of Honor The Professional Guest of Honor at the convention was former Kansas Citian, Robert A. Heinlein. He did not prepare a formal guest of honor speech. Still, he gave a generally well-received one immediately following the convention's Hugo Awards ceremony at the nearby Art Deco-inspired Music Hall section of the Kansas City Municipal Auditorium. Heinlein came with an alarm clock, put it on his center stage podium, and spoke casually until his preset time period ended with the alarm going off. Heinlein was previously the Guest of Honor at the 3rd Worldcon (1941) ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Hugo Awards
The Hugo Award is an annual literary award for the best science fiction or fantasy works and achievements of the previous year, given at the World Science Fiction Convention (Worldcon) and chosen by its members. The award is administered by the World Science Fiction Society. It is named after Hugo Gernsback, the founder of the pioneering science fiction magazine ''Amazing Stories''. Hugos were first given in 1953, at the 11th World Science Fiction Convention, and have been awarded every year since 1955. In 2010, ''Wired'' called the Hugo "the premier award in the science fiction genre", while ''The Guardian'' has called it the most important science fiction award alongside the Nebula Award. The awards originally covered seven categories, but have expanded to seventeen categories of written and dramatic works over the years. The winners receive a trophy consisting of a stylized rocket ship on a base. The design of the trophy changes each year, though the rocket shape has bee ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Wilson Tucker (writer)
Arthur Wilson "Bob" Tucker (November 23, 1914 – October 6, 2006) was an American author who became well known as a writer of mystery, action adventure, and science fiction under the name Wilson Tucker. Tucker was also a prominent member of science fiction fandom, who wrote extensively for science fiction fanzine, fanzines under the name Bob Tucker, a family nickname bestowed in childhood (his own mispronunciation of the nickname "Bub"). He became a prominent literary criticism, analyst and critic of the field, as well as the coiner of such terms as "space opera". Life Born in Deer Creek, Illinois, for most of his life Tucker made his home in Bloomington, Illinois. He was married twice. In 1937, he wed Mary Joesting; they had a son and a daughter before the marriage dissolved in 1942. His second marriage, to Fern Delores Brooks in 1953, lasted 52 years, until her death in 2006; they had three sons. Fandom Tucker became involved in science fiction fandom in 1932, publis ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
George Barr (artist)
George Edward Barr (January 30, 1937 – April 19, 2025) was an American science fiction and fantasy artist. Early life and education George Barr was born in Tucson, Arizona, on January 30, 1937, and grew up in Salt Lake City. His parents related that Barr started drawing at age 2 after his older sister was complimented on drawings she had done in kindergarten. At age 13, he became a fan of science fiction when his father brought home a copy of ''Amazing Stories''. While in high school, Barr studied art under prominent local landscape artist Jack Vigo; after graduation, he took a commercial art class, but found little value because the class concentrated on only the commercial art skills that would be needed in the Salt Lake City market, while Barr dreamed of creating science fiction and fantasy-themed art. Feeling he would come to regret doing something less than what he wanted, Barr quit the class before it ended. Career In 1959, at age 22, Barr sent a painting to Ziff Da ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Worldcon 34 MidAmeriCon Logo
Worldcon, officially the World Science Fiction Convention, the annual convention of the World Science Fiction Society (WSFS), is a science fiction convention. It has been held each year since 1939 (except for the years 1942 to 1945, during World War II). The members of each Worldcon are the members of WSFS, and vote both to select the site of the Worldcon two years later, and to select the winners of the annual Hugo Awards, which are presented at each convention. Activities Activities and events at the convention typically include: * Activities to fund fan and external charities (Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund, fan funds auctions, blood donation, blood drives, etc.) * Art shows presenting paintings, drawings, sculpture and other work, primarily concerning science fiction and fantasy themes * Autographing sessions, literary beer or coffee meetings, "Walks with the Stars", and other chances to meet favorite science fiction and fantasy professionals *Awards ceremonies: **Hugo Awards, Ast ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Luke Skywalker
Luke Skywalker is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He was introduced in the original film trilogy as the main protagonist and also appears in the sequel trilogy. Raised as a poor moisture farmer on the desert planet Tatooine, Luke joins the Rebel Alliance and becomes a major figure in its struggle against the Galactic Empire. Training as a Jedi Knight under Jedi Masters Obi-Wan Kenobi and Yoda, he eventually confronts his father, the Sith Lord Darth Vader, in two pivotal duels. Years later, Luke trains his nephew Ben Solo and mentors the scavenger Rey. Luke is the twin brother of Leia Organa. Mark Hamill portrays Luke in all the films of the original and sequel trilogies, as well as in the television series '' The Mandalorian'' and '' The Book of Boba Fett''. Hamill won the Saturn Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Luke in '' The Empire Strikes Back'' (1980), '' Return of the Jedi'' (1983) and '' The Last Jedi'' (2017). He was also nomina ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Ralph McQuarrie
Ralph Angus McQuarrie (; June 13, 1929 – March 3, 2012) was an American conceptual designer who worked in film and television. His career included work on the original ''Star Wars'' trilogy, the original ''Battlestar Galactica'' television series, the film ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'', and the film '' Cocoon'', for which he won an Academy Award. Early life Ralph McQuarrie was born on June 13, 1929, in Gary, Indiana, and was raised on a farm near Billings, Montana. He served in the United States Army during the Korean War, surviving a shot to the head. After returning from the war, McQuarrie moved to California in the 1960s, studying at the Art Center School, then in downtown Los Angeles. Career McQuarrie initially worked for a dentistry firm, illustrating teeth and equipment, before working as an Artist and Preliminary Design Illustrator for the Boeing Company, where he drew diagrams for a manual on constructing the 747 Jumbo Jet, as well as designing film posters and ani ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Stormtrooper (Star Wars)
Stormtroopers are fictional soldiers in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. Introduced in the original ''Star Wars'' film trilogy (1977–1983), the Stormtroopers are the shock troops/ space marines of the autocratic Galactic Empire. Their predecessors, the clone troopers of the Galactic Republic, were used by Emperor Palpatine to take over the government and exterminate the Jedi. After the fall of the Empire, as depicted in the original trilogy, Stormtroopers remained in service to Imperial remnants, such as the First Order. The order of battle of the Stormtrooper Corps is unspecified in the ''Star Wars'' universe. Accompanying the Imperial Navy, Stormtroopers are able to be deployed swiftly and respond to states of civil unrest or insurrection, act as a planetary garrison, and police areas within the Galactic Empire. They are shown in collective groups of varying organizational sizes ranging from squads to legions and for some, their armour and tra ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
R2-D2
R2-D2 () or Artoo-Detoo is a fictional robot character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise created by George Lucas. He has appeared in ten of the eleven theatrical ''Star Wars'' films to date, including every film in the " Skywalker Saga", which includes the original trilogy, the prequel trilogy and the sequel trilogy. At various points throughout the course of the films, R2, an astromech droid, is a friend to C-3PO, Padmé Amidala, Anakin Skywalker, Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, and Obi-Wan Kenobi. R2-D2 and his companion C-3PO are the only characters to appear in every theatrical ''Star Wars'' film, with the exception of '' Solo: A Star Wars Story'' (2018). English actor Kenny Baker played R2-D2 in all three original ''Star Wars'' films and received billing credit for the character in the prequel trilogy, where Baker's role was reduced as R2-D2 was portrayed mainly by radio controlled props and CGI models. In the sequel trilogy, Baker was credited as consultant for '' The F ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
C-3PO
C-3PO () or See-Threepio is a humanoid robot character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He is a protocol droid (Star Wars), droid designed to assist in etiquette and translation, and is fluent in over six million forms of communication. The character appears in all nine films of the Skywalker Saga—which includes the Star Wars original trilogy, original trilogy, the Star Wars prequel trilogy, prequel trilogy and the Star Wars sequel trilogy, sequel trilogy. Anthony Daniels portrays in all the Skywalker Saga films and the standalone film ''Rogue One,'' and he voices the droid in the animated series ''Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008 TV series), The Clone Wars''. In addition to films, appears in television series, novels, comics, and video games. Creation and development Ralph McQuarrie, a concept artist for the original 1977 ''Star Wars (film), Star Wars'' film, based the initial design for on the Maschinenmensch, female robot from the Fritz Lang film ''Metropolis (1927 film), ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Darth Vader
Darth Vader () is a fictional character in the ''Star Wars'' franchise. He was first introduced in the original film trilogy as the primary antagonist and one of the leaders of the Galactic Empire. He has become one of the most iconic villains of cinema. The prequel trilogy chronicles Vader's childhood as a precocious human slave named Anakin Skywalker, liberation by the Jedi Order, and young adulthood as a morally conflicted Jedi Knight, under the mentorship of Obi-Wan Kenobi. Skywalker is secretly lured into the Sith warrior cult by the Galactic Republic politician Palpatine. When Palpatine seizes control of the galaxy as its Emperor, Skywalker abandons the Jedi Order and, during a duel with Kenobi, is severely mutilated and thereafter transformed into a cyborg whom Palpatine rebrands as the Sith lord Darth Vader. He serves the Emperor for over two decades, hunting down the remaining Jedi, including Kenobi, and attempting to crush the rebels who oppose the new Empire. ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Theatrical Property
A prop, formally known as a (theatrical) property, is an object actors use on stage or screen during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinct from the actors, scenery, costumes, and electrical equipment. This includes handheld items such as books, cups, weapons, and tools that actors interact with during a performance. Props help to create a realistic setting, convey information, or add to the storytelling by showing details about the characters or the environment. Term The earliest known use of the term "properties" in English to refer to stage accessories is in the 1425 CE morality play, '' The Castle of Perseverance''. During the Renaissance in Europe, small acting troupes functioned as cooperatives, pooling resources and dividing any income. Many performers provided their own costumes and small objects needed for performance, hence the term "property" suggesting these ite ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Star Wars (film)
''Star Wars'' (later retitled ''Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope'') is a 1977 American Epic film, epic space opera film written and directed by George Lucas, produced by Lucasfilm Ltd. and released by Twentieth Century-Fox. It is the first film in the ''Star Wars'' franchise and the fourth chronological chapter of the "Skywalker Saga". Set in Universe of Star Wars, a fictional galaxy under the rule of the tyrannical Galactic Empire (Star Wars), Galactic Empire, the film follows a group of freedom fighters known as the Rebel Alliance, who aim to destroy the Empire's ultimate weapon, the Death Star. When the rebel leader Princess Leia is captured by the Empire, Luke Skywalker acquires stolen architectural plans of the Death Star and sets out to rescue her while learning the ways of a metaphysical power known as "the Force" from the Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi. The cast includes Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing, Alec Guinness, Anthony Daniels, Kenny Bak ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
