Lindsay Report

THE LINDSAY REPORT The sound of an aeroplane in the sky is no novelty in this the twentieth century; and unless it is very low and noisy we rarely lift our eyes to watch, yet all through the months before I left for America, I never heard one without a thrill. As I boarded the plane when the wonderful day arrived I suddenly felt a great sense of release, from now on-it was out ofr hands. I had planned and planner) for weeks and could now sit back and let events take their course. This blissful feeling lasted all through the inevitable holdups which landed me in New York many hours late. I listened to the two young men who sat at my back joking that as we were coming in to land we would probably crash as a fitting end to the series of ''mechanical failures'' which had held us up. I reflected that thia couldn’t possibly happen to me—the plane could crash on the way back, I thought, and it wouldn’t matter a bit—but not before I got there’. I remembered sitting in the airport at Iceland and sharing a table with four homecoming Americans...! recalled with amusement their groans of "We’re home againl’1' at the sound of rock and roll music over the American base wireless. I remembered that I had considered it a good omen for my journey that one of the men had turned out to be a reader of science fiction whose favourite author was Theodore Sturgeon. I sat feeling complacent and without a care in the world. This then, is the story of my holiday-of-a-lifetime. This report is dedicated to all those good fans who support TAFF Lfy grateful thanks to you all. Ethel Lindsay. Page 1 Tuesday August 21st. 1st Day As we flew over America I could see little because of the clouds; but as we started to descend I got a glimpse of a typical American road. There they were - a riot of cloverleafs, underpasses, overhead roads, winding in and out in a fascinating pattern. They looked for all the world like an SF illustration; as I gaped down I was gripped by a real thrill of excitement. The airport was huge, and I found myself in a long queue before a Doctor who peered at our Smallpox certificates. From there I went to the Immigration department. I handed over my passport and was asked for the address of the Lupoffs. I could remember it all except the street number’. I/ry address book was thcked -away in my suit case.... ’’Surely,1’ said the official reasonably, with only a slight degree of test iness, ’’you must know where you are going to stay?” "Yes," I wailed, "but I have forgotten the number’." So - I was given a special escort and pass to allow me into the baggage hall where I quickly took a note of the number. Then I returned to give the correct answer "which was checked in a large book; now I was allowed into the customs hall. There were long lines at each customs officer so I quickly got in place And then had time to survey the scene before me. I saw a long observation floor in front of me, and to my delight, recognised Don Wollheim right away. The woman waving an identifying rose at me must be his "wife Elsie; I waved back my tartan scarf of identity enthusiastically. Don is much like I had expected from his letters; he has a dry sense of humour,- and is the ideal person to have around when any debunking is necessary. Elsie is as small as myself, and she greeted me with a hospitable spate of talk that put me at my ease at once • From the word go - Elsie and I got on like a house on fire! They drove me to their home in Queens and as I walked in I saw...books, books, books,.. .lining the walls and arousing in me my first (but not last) feeling of envy for the space American fans have for collecting. On my return home my own room seemed to have positively shrunk. Although this whole house was delightful, !• envied them most the large basement where more of Don’s book and fanzine collection was kept. Don also showed me his other collection - of minature figures, both historical and military. He paints many of them himself and I was impressed by the minute brushes ho had to use. Elsie produced a welcome pot of tea, and then asked if I "would like to have a bath; when I approved of both ideas she seemed delighted. So I made my first discovery - that Americans really love to give and not hi ng pleases them more than a guest who lets them put themselves to all sorts of effort. It was soon time for us to set off for the Lupoffs. We passed through the centre of Nev; York and, in what seemed no time at all, we arrived at 210 East 73rd St. How often had I written that address (only excitement could have made me forget it) and now here I was. I saw a large apartment building with a pleasant entrance hall. I was feeling rather nervous; for I was still rather overawed at the thought of Don Wollheim, and now - Pat and Dick Lupoff! I looked at Elsie with gratitude...she hadn’t awed me a bit. Dick Lupoff is big and I quickly found he had a wicked sense of humour; right from those first minutes he tried to kid the life out of me. He strongly reminded me of Brian Varley, and of course this made me feel at home. Pat is 2 young and slim and very attractive. I quickly found that she had a restful personality that never fusses, which is a great help when you are feeling shy. Their child Kenneth was just at the crawling stage, hut he began to stagger a few steps during my stay. He was an unusually good- natured child; I never heard him cry, and he always greeted everyone with a big smile. Dick presented me with a nice surprise - mail’. • Among this was a letter from Bjo Trimble containing an invitation to travel with them from Chicago to Los Angeles with a sidetrip to see an Indian celebration; it was to be a camping trip and sounded wonderful to me. Elsie discovered that as yeu I had few plans and offered to take me out twice. Then Dick sailed in>with the BIGGEST portion of steak I’ve ever seen; into this he carved enthusiastically for us all. I was also confronted with a whole corn-on*the oob. I looked at this with some anxiety, once only had I tasted this before and I hadn’t enjoyed it. Nothing daunted however I tackled it and found the taste was entirely different and much nicer. Emboldened by this first step I therafter during my A icrican stay ate everything that was proposed to me from Chinese and Japanese to Mexican food. To say nothing of things like French and Italian cooking and odd things like Barbecued beef. I’m proud to tell you I ate them all without turning a hair. And what do you think we did after dinner? That’s right’."Collated Xero.. As I marched round the table with Elsie, Don, and Eat, whilst Dick stapled the bundles together, I reflected upon the sheer aptness of it-all. Though surely, of all the things I might have imagined - to watch Don collate a fanzine was the furthest removed*. He swung into it like an old hand; but it was Elsie’s first attempt and she kept hoping she ’’was doing it properly." Steve Stiles came in and was promptly set to work also and soon the piles of XERO grew. Stove was young and chubby-faced and entered gaily into his task. As with all group collating the time passed quickly with lots of gay chatter; but eventually we came to a halt and the visitors departed. For a little Dick sat to gloat over his fanzine, then I was shown to my couch and aank into it gratefully. Dimly I heard the traffic noise and tried to bf-lieoe believe that this was New York, but even as I grappled with the days impressions - I sank to sleep. Page 3 Wednesday August 2%rd. 2nd Day. __ I awoke at nine and heard the sound of Kenneth singing to himself in the nursery. I opened one eye in time to see Fat swhoosh by into the kitchen; then swoosh - she was out again with a feeding bottle. I got up and hied me to the kitchen and she showed me where the teabags were kept which I fixed whilst she cooked eggs. Dick went off to work with only a cup of cogfee inside him - a terrible habit among fans'. Pat and I had a leisurely walk sround the block with Kenneth. I eagerly gazed at the strange sights - the fire hydrants, the gaily coloured taxis, and the towering skycrapers. Then we took a bus downtown and I watched the driver with admiration. Ho accepts the fares and gives out the change, and in fact does the loti The plr.ce we headed for was Fifth Avenue and the first American shop I entered .. was - naturally - a bookshop, Doubledays. I was fascinated by the lovely large stores and imposing buildings.

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