I went to my first con in Philadelphia, too, ’81 when I was 12. Koenig (lol) was the guest and they screened “Space Seed” & the blooper reel. I probably had $20 – more money than I’ve ever had to spend at one time – & went home with a Raiders of the Lost Ark one-sheet, the Raiders issue of American Cinematographer, a Star Wars theater program, the SW Hidebrandt poster, the three SW Palmolive promo posters plus whatever free stuff they were giving away, like Wrath of Khan flyers (for me growing up, I was more likely to be treated to a comic or magazine over a toy & always kind of kept that mentality).

That was my first and last con until 1995 when I started going to the insanely awesome annual StarCon in Pasadena before Creation took over everything like the Evil Empire. The saddest experience I had there was seeing Grace Lee Whitney sitting alone & looking depressed with no one at her table. I’m a big fan but I didn‘t go over, but I sure as hell wish I did.