Check it out Comic-Con fans!
The America 250 exhibition at the San Diego History Center includes this cool display. It’s labeled San Diego Comic-Con Program (1970), Issue #1: Comic-Con Origins.
Under glass is what is described as an itinerary and artwork from comic artists supporting the inaugural San Diego Comic Convention, organized by Shel Dorf... The pages are all from the San Diego History Center’s Shel Dorf Collection.
Sheldon “Shel” Dorf was a founder of San Diego Comic-Con. That first con was called San Diego Golden State Comic-Con, and was held in downtown’s historic U. S. Grant Hotel in 1970. To learn more about the history of Comic-Con, click here.
Over half a century later, Comic-Con 2026 is a little over a week away! As a long-time downtown San Diego resident, I’ll be walking around the event again, photographing offsite activations, cosplay, and whatever catches my fancy.
Stay tuned!
The following two pages are from San Diego’s Golden State Comic-Minicon, the one day event in March 21, 1970 that preceded the three day San Diego Golden State Comic-Con held later that same year, on August 1–3, 1970.
Both events were at the U. S. Grant.
Admission $2 for all day! Old science fiction pulps! Original silent film Lost World! Flash Gordon serial! In person Forrest J. Ackerman!
And here’s from the later, three day San Diego Golden State Comic-Con:
Jack Kirby! Dealers tables! Displays of original art and fan art! Appearing in person A. E. van Vogt and Earl Kemp! Chalk talk by Bob Stevens! $3.50 for 3 days!
Jack Kirby art on wrap-around over of what is essentially the first Comic-Con souvenir book.
A few hundred copies of the program book from the 1970 San Diego Golden State Comic-Con were printed, and only a few dozen of them are believed to still exist.
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If you’d like to view my coverage of Comic-Con so far, which includes hundreds of cool photographs, click here!
