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President’s Report
What’s Texas got that Florida hasn’t? Coors beer, that’s what! As your leader, I felt it my duty to check the Houston beer situation. I’m happy to report that Coors is available at the Shamrock Pub here in our hotel. I have tested numerous bottles since arriving this morning and haven’t had a bad taste yet. – FJL
One of the Texas papers printed a significant picture on the first day of the convention: a giant silo painted like a Budweiser beer can.
AAPA t-shirts, silk-screened by a local firm, went on sale at the convention. A re-run was necessary, though, because of a typo in the first batch. The word “amateur” had come out “amatuer.”
My third AAPA Convention finds two who were at the previous ones – Hawes and Liddle. New faces with familiar names are quite plentiful. Howdy, y’all! – GBS
At the Convention of the American Amateur Press Association in Houston, a group of us (AAPA members) boarded the elevator – one punched the “Go” & nothing happened. Again, and still nothing happened. One passenger said, “This is the Space Center of the world – and we can’t even get the elevators to UP.”
This is my first AAPA convention. It is certainly a pleasure at last to be able to put faces with names and publications. Look for our photos and further comments in a future Treadle Press publication. – Richard Cravy
It may be of interest to know that the Megill Co. gauge pin manufacturer makes a wide variety of pins in addition to the standard “spring tongue” variety. Many of these are for special purposes in a variety of jobs. Illustrations and prices on these styles of (about 52) are available from Edw. L. Megill Co. Inc., 2430 Atlantic Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y. – Bob Grunbock
Pratt Poff suggested naming the AAPA convention paper in honor of our retiring president, “Spaced Out in Space City.”
We weren’t the only conventioneers at the Shamrock Hilton. Comic strip collectors, bankers and other assorted characters filled the halls. Members of the Houston Oilers football team were everywhere, also, along with their wives (?). The Oilers managed to lose their game at the Astrodome on Saturday night.
Olive Roberts had the hotel lobby agog while she knelt on the floor to read Pratt Poff’s palm… Dave Tribby called from California to inquire whether Houston had survived the convention… John Vaglienti, official editor in 1948, dropped in with his wife Anna Beth, at the Saturday afternoon session. John builds custom homes; the current model sells for $485,000 – truly!
Thirty-three Attend
Those in attendance: Les, Elaine, Craig and Brian Boyer, Pratt Poff, Fred Liddle, Lee Hawes, Charles Bush, Regis, Regina and Jimmy Racke, Dale Clemens, Olive Roberts, Vince and Kathryn Rogers, Gordon, Gloria and Jeff Rouze, Guy Storer, Lewis Beczo, Rich and Jeanette Cravy, Bob Grunbock, Tom Whitbread, John and Anna Beth Vaglienti, Don Piercy, Cy Stapleton, Lynn and Jeff Millar, W. M. Von-Maszewski, Joe Dollar and John Chalmers.
Tom Whitbread declined responsibility for some vigorous baritone renditions from “The Mikado” which had been coming from his direction, suggesting that Elaine Boyer’s soprano voice “had reached a new low.”
Last minute surprise: A box of several nice proof planers and hand slug cutters from Iowa City for the auction. Thanks, Gehry!
For the record: Our President was seen with a beer in his hand on occasion, but never “spaced out” – despite some jests to the contrary!
Sometimes we live right department: The Rice Hotel had been among those considered for AAPA convention headquarters, but we were concerned about its financial situation. Sure enough, it announced Saturday that it’s closing its doors this very weekend. – L.B.