Boston in the 60s (Pt 1 of 2): Tony Lewis, Leslie Turek and Mike Ward, moderated by Mark Olson

Boston in the 60s was a generative hotbed of fannish activities, with long lasting consequences. The first modern Boskone was held in 1965 by the Boston Science Fiction Society, as part of its bidding strategy for a Boston Worldcon. NESFA began in 1967, and the first Boston Worldcon was held in 1971.
Panelists Tony Lewis, Leslie Turek and Mike Ward are uniquely suited to discuss that period. Tony joined the MIT Science Fiction Society (MITSFS) in 1957, served as "Onseck" and "Librarian", is a founder of NESFA, and chaired the first Boston Worldcon - Noreascon 1 (1971). Leslie Turek discovered fandom in the mid 60s, is a founding member of NESFA, chair of Boskone 6 (1969), editor of several MITSFS fanzines, and chair of the second Boston Worldcon - Noreascon 2 (1980). Mike Ward, MITSFS "Skinner", founding member of NESFA, and editor of several MITSFS fanzines, was involved with the Boston in 67 bid and the MITSFS index. (And moderator Mark Olson chaired the third Boston Worldcon, Noreascon 3 (1989).)
In Part 1 of this discussion, you'll feel what fandom was like in those days, and how our panelists came to be part of it. There are anecdotes of the surprising way NESFA was funded, MIT's Building 9 (where the department of Magic is housed) and the day that Hugo Gernsback came to MITSFS. Isaac Asimov comes into it, as does the "The MIT Science Fiction Society's Index to the S-F Magazines". There are reminiscences of the big name fans of the area and the era, and the creative ways that Boston's intrepid fans helped create a community that is still vibrant today.
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