John & Bjo Trimble Receive Inkpot Award, SDCC 2016

In 1974 Betty Jo Trimble (popularly known as “Bjo”) received one of the first Inkpot Awards presented by Comic-Con International (CCI) for her service to fandom and what has become known as pop culture – most notably leading the 1967 campaign to keep Star Trek on the air after its cancellation after two seasons as well as setting up the Art Show and reorganizing the Masquerade – both of which are staples of the convention to this day.

On Friday, July 22 she and her husband held their first panel as guests of the convention called “Spotlight on Bjo and John Trimble” which covered topics such as the SciFi/Fantasy scene in Los Angeles in the 1950s and beyond, how they met, their work to expand the reach of SciFi conventions beyond the literary fan base and more.

Before their panel began, San Diego Comic-Con International presented her with a redesigned version of her Inkpot – as the original was done on the cheap – and, even though the original Inkpot was for both their efforts, John received his own individual award as well.

The Inkpot Award has been given to luminaries in the worlds of science fiction and fantasy by SDCC since 1974, including writers, authors, artists, and filmmakers.

The iconic pair are both members of the Society for Creative Anachronism, in addition to many other fan organizations, and live in Pasadena, California.

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Wyatt D. Odd