Recently returned from Pulpfest 2018, a 4 celebration of the pulp magazines. This year, the theme was World War 1. As usual, the convention had something for everyone. A fantastic job by the organizing committee – thanks to Jack Cullers and his family, Barry Traylor, Mike Chomko, Chuck Welch and many others.
The Panels
John Fleming Gould was the subject of a talk by his son. The artist did about 15,000 illustrations for the pulps in his career. I just about remembered to take a photo.
I didn’t take a photo during David Saunder’s excellent talk on the artists take on World War 1 in the pulps. I was too absorbed.
A new department – the art show. Some photos from it later.
And the biggest reason for going there, the Alladin’s cave that is the dealers room
View of Pulpfest 2018 dealer room from the entrance
View of Pulpfest 2018 dealer room from the other end
I nearly missed my own talk on Leonard H. Nason thanks to a delayed dinner. However, i managed to get my food in time by bribing our waiter to meet my deadline. In doing so, I also managed to delay the rest of the people at dinner and they mostly missed the talk. Pity.
The dealers
Just a few of those present.
John Gunnison of Adventure House in front of the Great Wall of Pulps
Tony Tollin of Sanctum Books had a lot of high grade hero pulps for sale
Chet Williamson had some high grade pulps
Artwork
Craig Poole had some beauties for sale. Possible Underworld pulp cover – girl getting smoking gun from garter
Rafael De Soto sports pulp cover
As did Doug Ellis, who was off pulp hunting somewhere at the time this photo was taken
Treasures
One of the large (bedsheet) size issues of Rangeland Romances
True Gang Life magazine
Phantom Detective issue
Black Book Detective
Triple-X Western
Attendees – A couple of the usual suspects.
Walker Martin – the man who collects everything
And Digges La Touche, the man who has everything and can’t remember where he put it 🙂
Auction Highlights
Marathon sessions on Friday and Saturday for the auctioneers and bidders
Edd Cartier Christmas card
Rafael De Soto preliminary for recreation of Spider cover
Mark Wheatley’s artwork for Swords Against the Moon Men
Excellent photos and comments Sai. It was a great weekend for collectors and the Double Tree Hotel in Pittsburgh is a really nice place. Dealer's room, program room, hospitality room and restaurant were all next to each other. Next up, the Adventure House convention being put on by John Gunnison in September.
Thanks Walker. Enjoyed the convention and the hotel was excellent.
Great writeup and photos.Always good to see you,Sai.Wish Con was longer.Always end too soon.
Digges La Touche
Sam here, Digges. Wish i didn't have to go back , then i think of the bills and I'm highly motivated to get back to work 🙂
The Rafael De Soto Basketball Pulp Cover Painting found its way into my collection (FIFTEEN SPORTS STORIES – Jan. 1949). 😊
The George Gross painting behind Digges La Touche also ended up in my collection (MAN’S ILLUSTRATED – Nov. 1955; SHOWDOWN FOR MEN – No. 2 1956). George Gross used fellow artist Mort Kunstler as his model. In the 1950s George Gross shared an art studio with Kunstler. 😊