Moments in Paperback History: LANCECON 1988

Wouldn't be LanceCon without Lance Casebeer.

The action begins.

A fine selection of sleaze.

Bruce Taylor shops. Tom Lesser talks.

Larry Paschelke, Judy Paschelke's hair, Frank Portwood's forehead, Richard Dix.

Booking it.

Perverting the nation's youth.

Yours truly surveys the scene.

The scene.

What it was all about: books.

Bruce Brenner with His Nibs.

Jim Rogers, probably working on his EQMM collection. 

Larry Paschelke, who loaned us Jim's EQMM collection.

The King of Paperbacks and his Court Jester.

It wasn't ALL paperbacks.

Not talking. Not drinking. Not booking. Not even smiling. NOT Bruce Taylor.

Whatever happened to that videotape? Must have some great blackmail material.

All photos, as usual, courtesy of Ace Photographer Arthur Scott!

Forgotten Stories: NERO WOLFE TAKES A GHOSTLY CLIENT (1956)

While googling around in search of the Nero Wolfe comic strip that ran in newspapers in 1956 and 57 (watch for it soon!), I came across this press release touting "The Stevenson-Kefauver Bandwagon." It appeared in the Oct. 11, 1956 issue of the Arizona Sun. 

I sent the clipping to Mr. Knows-all Sees-all Art Scott, asking what it was all about, and he responded by sending me the Bandwagon story itself. So here it is.

What does it all mean? Beats me, especially since Stassen was still alive, and kept on trying (and failing magnificently) to snag the Republican nomination until 1992 and beyond. He died in 2001.

The tale was obviously intended to amuse Stevenson supporters, and the culprit Wolfe alludes to seems pretty clear, but the motive eludes me. Was Stassen simply a pain the asses of Republicans and Democrats alike?

Maybe Art Scott says it best: "At least we now have a Wolfe story worse than Please Pass the Guilt."

Costaine & McCall books by Neil MacNeil (W.T. Ballard)

I sought out this series back in the '80s, when I was amassing books by Black Mask writers, but when I finally got around to reading it (last year) I found I was missing Mexican Slay Ride. So a few weeks ago, when Emperor Emeritus of the Universe Art Scott was heading for the Los Angeles Paperback Show, I asked him to be on the lookout for it. Instead, he promptly sent me the primo copy shown below, from own private archives. Thanks, Emp!

I reviewed the first two books HERE and HERE, with more coming soon.

TEXAS LEADS THE WAY / GET OFF HER LAWN! Grandma Kills Alligator for Eating Her Horse

Art Scott sent this bit of news, wishing Bill Crider was still around to see it. Me too. 

The Enduring Mystery of LANCECON '84

If you've been following our LanceCon pictorials (HERE), you may have noticed a gap of two years between 1982 and 1985. In 1983, photographer Art Scott must have stayed home in California. But in '84, Lance planned to move the convention to San Francisco, to coincide with Bruce Taylor's annual Nero Wolfe Dinner. 

But is that what really happened? Or was it all a hoax, as this antique fanzine claimed? What's the real skinny? You be the judge. 

NOTE: The cover above is pretty muddy, but if you squint hard, you'll find Lance Casebeer, the King of Paperbacks himself, wending his way through the revelry.

Moments in Paperback History: LANCECON '87

 Lance Casebeer, beer in hand, points the way (probably to the keg).

I have no drinking problem, says his shirt. I drink. I get drunk. I fall down. No problem.

Books . . . 

books . . . 

 . . . more books.

Tom Lesser scores a stack of digests.

The noble profile of Cap'n Bob Napier

Me and somebody's head.

More of the usual suspects.

Bruce Taylor surveys the scene.

The booking never stops . . . 

. . . never.

Murder for auction.

Marilyn makes an appearance.

Who remembers the USFL? Dick Wald does. The Portland Breakers was our pro football team (for almost two whole years).

Lance's legendary basement . . .

 . . .  where it was wall-to-wall paperbacks. 

The Cap'n hoarding his booty.

The guy who put the Lance in LanceCon.

Pics, as always, thanks to the Official Photographer of LanceCon, Arty Art Scott.