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MUSEUM OF MODERN MYTHOLOGY AND POP CULTURE
RICHARD ALF MEMORIAL PAGE
The curator of this Museum was a close friend of Richard Alf, who passed away on January 4, 2012. Besides being one of the most beloved persons his friends have ever met, Richard was a man of many talents and interests. He was co-founder, under the guidance of Shel Dorf, of the San Diego Golden State Comic Con, which became San Diego Comic Con International. The photo on the upper left is Richard in his archives room during the summer of 2011. Photo by Rachael Wenban. The middle photo is Richard as a seventeen year old high school kid who was selling comic books by mail order; the VW became the Golden State Con-mobile. The first one day Con was attended by Forrest J Ackerman, and 100 people showed up. The graphic on the right is the program for the three day Con on March 27, 1970 at the U. S. Grant Hotel. Ray Bradbury and Jack Kirby attended this, and 300 people showed. Things went forward from there.
This is Richard's ad that appeared in the advertisement pages of Marvel Comics during the late 1960s. Shel Dorf was an artist and comic-book letterer who had worked on the Steve Canyon comic-strip for over a decade. After having helped to create the Detroit Triple Fan Fair, he moved to San Diego. Shel wanted to sell his comic-books, and through the advertisement above, contacted Richard Alf.
Above left, Richard during his later years in one of his hilarious moods. Shel Dorf, middle graphic, the man with a Golden State Dream. The thirty-five year old Shel Dorf and the seventeen year old Richard Alf became friends. Shel had a dream of creating a San Diego Comic Con.
It was Richard Alf who gathered a core group of friends: Mike Towry, Barry Alfonso, Bob Sourk, Dan Stewart. Shel Dorf recruited iconic comic-book creator Jack Kirby, shown in the upper left photo standing between Richard (the tallest guy) and Shel; and in the photo on the right next to Richard, who at six foot six was always the tallest guy in the room. Richard and Shel had run into Ray Bradbury, who couldn't make it to their one-day Con, but promised to attend the three-day Con they also had in the works. Forrest J Ackerman (editor of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine) attended the one-day Con.
The three-day 'San Diego's Golden State Comic-Con,' held at the U. S. Grant Hotel, boasted Ray Bradbury (above, middle with Shel) and Jack Kirby as the star attractions. But it was teenager Richard Alf, Shel's co-founder, who, through his comic-book mail order business, coughed up the money to get the whole thing going. Richard expended thousands of dollars over the next three years and Shel Dorf's Golden State Dream eventually became San Diego Comic Con International. The photo above on the far right was taken during the 2010 Comic Con, which hosted a celebration of the life and work of Shel Dorf. Shown are Mike Towery (one of the original founders), Greg Koudoulian and Clayton Moore in the back, Wendy All, and Richard Alf.
Above right, Richard Alf, Drew Rowedda of Suture Gallery, and Mike Towry at the Aftercon 2010 Celebration of the life and work of Shel Dorf, founder of the San Diego Comic Con International. The photo on the right was taken at Mysterious Galaxy bookstore in San Diego, and Richard is shown with Jackie Estrada. Jackie, a book editor/publisher, also is one of the organizers of the now called Comic Con International: San Diego.
Watching how easily Richard set his six foot six bulk into his car with hardly a sound (other than some mumbling) was always amazing. He had a calm, serious (but with humor) way of getting things done. This photo was taken by Rachael Wenban in the driveway of the last place he lived in San Diego.
Richard in his Archives room, with Fluffy above in the background.
An example of Richard's humor; another way of saying Keep Out.
The curator of this Museum going through Richard's Archives, with a signed copy of a photo of one of his favorite performers, Yolanda "Tongolele" Montes. Richard had introduced David and Rachael to the Rumbera genre of Mexican movies from the 1940s, and Yolanda had appeared in many.
One of Richard's grandfathers was a Swami. Yup, and Richard had stashed away some of grandpa's belongings, including...
...some way out Swami hats. The curator of this Museum had recently become an ordained Minister, so Richard did an anointment ceremony to celebrate this.
David's wife, Rachael, and Richard's friend Patty were part of the celebration. Rachael took a video of it on her phone, and it's hilarious.
Richard Alf, we all love you, and your presence in our lives will continue to be an inspiration.
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