Honoring Shel at Comic-Con
The Comic-Con committees, boards of directors, and staff have done a remarkable job over the years in building Comic-Con into the premier event of its type that it is today. With 125,000 to 140,000 attendees, it is the largest of its kind in the world. Thanks especially to the efforts and guidance of current Con President John Rogers and his core crew of the past decade, it is also renowned for being the best run.
However, all this good work was built upon a foundation laid by Shel Dorf. From his founding of Comic-Con in the fall of 1969 and throughout the many years he served as advisor to the ever-changing Con committees, Shel’s spirit and devotion were a constant force that shaped, guided, and nurtured the convention.
It seems appropriate, therefore, that Shel be honored by Comic-Con. He should be honored every year, but most especially at Comic-Con 2010, which will be the first convention following his passing. The question then is “How?”
How do you think Shel Dorf should be honored at Comic-Con International 2010? A Shel Dorf panel? A banquet at the Don Room in the El Cortez Hotel? A special memorial section of the program book? A separate commemorative publication? Create an annual Shel Dorf award? Host Shel’s family as guests at Comic-Con? Ask the city to name a street after him? All of the above? Please weigh in on this matter by commenting below and we will seek to convey your views and wishes to the Comic-Con committee.
Jack Kirby (left) and Shel Dorf — Nov. 9, 1969
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Unfortunately, if you asked 90% of current Comic-Con attendees, the name Shel Dorf would draw a blank stare. This, frankly, is unconscionable. Having worked with Shel as Comic Con Executive Vice President from 1984-1988, I may have had differences of opinion on certain issues but that did not minimize my respect on the man and the legacy that he left behind. I would be a different person if Comic Con had not occurred as would every member of the current board of directors. There needs to be some tangible way to keep his memory alive. There are awards for Russ Manning and others. I suggest that a new award is created-the Shel Dorf “Friend Of Fandom” (a tribute to an old Comic Con award). This goes to the individual who keeps the spirit of fandom alive.
Not trying to denigrate Shel’s contribs in the slightest, however, I think something named after Ken Krueger is in order as well, as both were powerhouse influences in Comicon’s early formative years. Of course, all this is up to some powers that be inside the San Diego power structures.
Let’s get the Convention Center named after Shel…..after all, Comic-Con is the biggest event held there. Think of it “The Shel Dorf Convention Center”. Sounds good ! There’s a Javits Center and a Mosconi Center…….why shouldn’t San Diego have the “Shel Dorf Convention Center ” ? LETS GO FOR IT ! And Yes, a street and a park would be great too !!!!!! Respectfully, Charlie
I agree with Charlie Roberts wholeheartedly. Someone should think about perhaps doing a dvd documentary on the man. Also, let’s not forget about Shel’s (and my) friend, Richard Alf, who was an integral part of the founding of the comic con.
Why Not? What other annual event brings MORE people into San Diego?
A mural, should be displayed at 2010 comic con. A Yeh original
I hope.
Also the San Diego Conv Center should name an exhibit hall after Shel
I brought up the idea of the city of San Diego naming a street in Shel’s honor at the 40th anniversary party in a conversation with Richard Alf. I recently floated the idea on my facebook page and a woman called Martha Lamdin, her son Phil is a new young fan of mine whom I met recently in Northern California, suggested we name a park in Shel’s honor.
Since we have painted more than 1800 murals all over the world on our Cartoonists Across America & The World tour since 1985, I would also add that we could do a really nice mural with some of the great comic book and strip characters in honor of the man who founded Comic-Con. Perhaps we can have artists actually take a little time to paint this mural at the site during the convention next year but knowing how slow the government wheels tend to turn, maybe we can paint a mural with some of the many artists right at the convention center for framing later in this new park. The whole project could be paid for from donations from the fans, the pros, and even some of the movie studios and publishers who have made so many BILLIONS from the creativity of artists and writers in our field. There is a park in Springfield, Mass. with statues honoring the work of Dr. Seuss and I am sure that there are other parks with cartoon character statues in this world. Of course, this mural would have to be placed in a building in the new park which might be a museum dedicated to the cartoon arts!
The park and this museum would celebrate comic book and cartoon strip characters and their creators and would be something that people attending the convention each year or just visiting the city of San Diego could visit to fully appreciate what Shel and the young people who helped him, did to advance the cartoon art form in this country. Shel’s vision was to honor the people who create the comics and other aspects of popular art, the actual writers and artists and the film directors and so many others who do the real work to bring their creations to the world. In the old days, Comic-Con was a place where so many young people could meet professionals and learn about how things were done. Many of these fans themselves became professionals. I believe that a park and this museum named in Shel’s honor would really keep the spirit of Shel’s vision alive for future generations. It could be a place that could inspire young people to create their own dreams in all fields of the arts as Comic-Con inspired my own generation of artists and writers in those early days when you didn’t have to worry about the con being sold out!
I know that with Phil Yeh at the helm, it would be a beautiful mural indeed.