A Tribute to Ken Krueger Panel at Comic-Con 2010

July 9, 2010

Comic-Con has just posted details for the Ken Krueger panel at http://www.comic-con.org/cci/cci10_prog_fri.php. The panel will be held on Friday, July 23, 2010. Hope to see you there (wearing your Ken Krueger Fan Club t-shirt, if you’ve got one). Here are the details:

1:30-2:30 A Tribute to Ken Krueger— He was the “go-to guy” and the “adult in the room” when Comic-Con first started 41 years ago. Ken Krueger was a dynamo who helped launch the country’s largest comics and popular arts convention in 1970. Comic-Con friends and associates pay tribute to the life of this larger-than-life retailer, publisher, and fan in this special panel. Moderated by author Greg Bear (author, Quantico), and featuring fellow early Comic-Con committee members Scott Shaw! (Oddball Comics), Jim Valentino (Shadowhawk), J.M. Towry, Janice Campbell, and Wendy All. Room 3

{ 0 comments }

A Message From Our Con Chairman

June 19, 2010

Message From Chairman Ken Krueger from 1970 Comic-Con #1 Program Book

Message From Chairman Ken Krueger from 1970 Comic-Con #1 Program Book (Drawing by Scott Shaw!; image courtesy of the Richard Alf archives.)

With Comic-Con #41 coming up next month (July 2010), I thought you might like to read Ken Krueger’s Chairman’s message from the program book for Comic-Con #1 (August 1970). Since Ken just gave first names, here is a list of the full names of the committee members he was thanking: Shel Dorf, Richard Alf, John Pound, Scott Shaw!, Barry Alfonso, Bob Sourk, Greg Bear, Dave Clark, Ron Cearns, Bill Lund, Gary Pagel, David McGlone, Pat McGlone, Steve McGlone, John Hull, Mike Towry, Steve Shipman, Dan Stewart, Bill Rupp, and Glen Walker.

Ad for The Gory Story Quarterly from the Program Book for Comic-Con #1

Ad for The Gory Story Quarterly from the Program Book for Comic-Con #1 (Drawing by Scott Shaw!; image courtesy of the Richard Alf archives.)

On the facing page in the program book was an ad for The Gory Story Quarterly, soon to be publish by Ken’s Shroud Publishers, and featuring work by committee members Scott Shaw! and John Pound. (For more on The Gory Story Quarterly, see http://www.kenkruegertribute.com/2009/12/03/gory-stories-quarterly-intro-page-with-sketch-of-ken-krueger-by-john-pound/

{ 0 comments }

Picture of Ken Krueger in 1974 Comic-Con Dealers Room

May 31, 2010

I’ve recently scanned over two-hundred of Shel Dorf’s original negatives from the 1974 Comic-Con, which was the second El Cortez convention. Here is one of those photos, which is of Ken in the dealers room.

Read the full article →

Ken Krueger and Progressive Fandom

May 14, 2010

When Ken Krueger became chairman of San Diego’s Comic-Con in 1970, he already had decades of experience in science-fiction fandom, of which he was a well-respected member. This can be seen from the following excerpts from the first issue of Hyperopia, the “official fanzine of the BUFFALO FANTASY LEAGUE,” which was edited by Robert J. Fritz. The month of publication – July – is given but not the year. However, internal evidence indicates this is from 1952. A few obvious typos were corrected and the name of one person was changed to her initials, “G. C.” So, now, read on and get ready to take up the chant: “We Want Ken, We Want Ken!”

Read the full article →

EerieCon 12 Honors Ken Krueger

April 21, 2010

Joe Fillinger, Ken’s longtime friend from his early days in the Buffalo, New York area, was kind enough to forward a copy of a tribute to Ken that will be published in the program book for the upcoming EerieCon 12, which will be held April 23 – 25, 2010 in Niagara Falls, New York. Herewith is that tribute.

Read the full article →

Ken Krueger at the March 1970 Comic-Minicon

March 25, 2010

On March 21, 1970, San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Minicon was held in the basement of the U.S. Grant Hotel in downtown San Diego. This small, one-day convention was held to raise funds and fan-recognition for the initial three-day convention, San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Con, to be held in August of that year. Richard Alf, who was Minicon Co-Chairman (Bob Sourk was Chairman) recently found a set of photographs from that small event. One of these is reproduced above.

Read the full article →

Shel Dorf’s 1973 Birthday Card for Ken Krueger

March 15, 2010

Ken’s son Timothy “Gus” Krueger just sent in these scans of a birthday card that Shel Dorf created for Ken’s 47th birthday in 1973. (Images are courtesy of The Krueger Archive.)

Read the full article →

Ken Krueger, Scott Shaw!, and John Pound on 1973 Comic-Con Panel

February 28, 2010

While scanning some of Shel Dorf’s black-and-white negatives of the 1973 San Diego Comic-Con, I came across this picture of Ken on a panel with Scott Shaw!, John Pound, and two as-yet-unidentified people. (Does anyone recognize them or recall what the panel was about?)

Read the full article →

San Diego County Board of Supervisors Honors Ken

February 19, 2010

Here are the text and certificate of an adjournment of the San Diego County Board of Supervisors honoring Ken Krueger.

Read the full article →

“Ken Krueger Fan Club” T-Shirts Now Available

January 28, 2010

When you saw the 1973 picture of Ken wearing a “Ken Krueger Fan Club” shirt, did you think to yourself, “That’s pretty cool, I wish I had one of those!”? Well, now thanks to Ken’s sons Gus and Pete, you can. Let Gus tell you all about it.

Read the full article →

← Previous Entries