Ken Moore, long time Nashville fan and founder and chairman of Kubla Khan, passed away June 30 after a long illness. He was 66.
Khen — as his name was fannishly spelled — always seemed bigger than life to me, a Dionysian figure. He was the soul of a good time and known for his friendliness to new fans.
Nashville fandom owes its origins to Khen Moore, John Hollis, and Dan Caldwell, who collected other Nashvillians they met at Worldcons and DeepSouthCons. Their Kubla Khan was reputed to have the best movie event of any convention in the South, with Khen at the projector. Such efforts as these helped Khen win DSC’s Rebel Award in 1974.
The locals became a big, teasing family, remembers Kathleen David:
When Jeanna Tidwell was three or four, John Hollis taught her the names of various Nashville fans – “Who’s that, Jeanna?” “Unca Dan [Caldwell]!”, “Who’s that?” “Aunty Fran [Bray]!”, etc., until it came time to point to Khen Moore and say “Who’s that, Jeanna?” “Unca Nickelnose!”
Khen was a dynamic extrovert among fandom’s many introverts. Usually literally — at one Midwestcon he and Cliff Amos appeared in bikini bathing suits complete with dress cummerbunds in the middle of the Holidome. But pretty much every other time Ken went around in short shorts, no matter the weather, the reason he also won DSC’S Rubble Award (1991) “for having the ugliest knees in fandom.”
He and Lou, then his wife, ran the art shows for the 1978 Worldcon and 1979 NASFiC.
Janice Gelb says her first convention volunteer work came as the result of bringing a slinky dress to Phoenix to help beat the heat: “Art Show head Khen Moore saw it and immediately requested that I wear it the next day to run art for the art show auction. Jobs based more on intellectual qualifications soon followed.”
In the late Seventies Khen and Nashville fandom reached their fanpolitical zenith. Ken Keller published a “Nashville is Neat in 100 Degree Heat” ad in a 1975 MidAmeriCon progress report, a practical joke on Khen. But in fandom, jokes can easily turn into serious bids. Khen became ambitious to run a Nashville Worldcon and investigated potential facilities. However, this was before the Opryland Hotel was a factor and the city wasn’t a viable site. Soon this energy was channeled into a successful Louisville bid for the 1979 NASFiC (a con chaired by Cliff Amos.)
In addition to fandom, Khen loved aviation and was a pilot. He was retired from AVCO Aircraft where he worked as an Aircraft Engineer and Quality Control Inspector.
If you’d like to toast Khen’s memory with a concoction of his own devising, here’s his recipe for Swill, which he served at many a room party:
“Take a clean wastebasket, add a gallon of real orange juice. Real Krogers orange juice that’s got the pulp in it that you have to shake up. A quart of ReaLemon juice. A quart of Welch’s Grape Juice. A half a gallon of cheap vodka. Stir it all up. Take a blender, fill it half full with the mixture, go all the way to the top with ice. Two tablespoons of sugar in the top of the blender. Put the lid on the blender and let it run for about 45 seconds, then enjoy. “
Khen’s obituary appeared in The Tennessean on July 4. A photo of him is in the Fan Gallery.
[Thanks to Joel Zakem and Andrew Porter for the links.]
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Naomi Fisher has shared more memorial details.
Joel Zakem
Kenneth “Khen” Moore, longtime Southern fan and convention runner,
passed away peacefully, in his sleep, at his home in Nashville, TN,
on June 30, 2009. Ken had been in declining health since the repair
of his aorta two years ago. Visitation and funeral services will be
held Sunday, July 5, at: Eastland Funeral Home, 904 Gallatin Road,
Nashville TN 37206 (615) 227-9558
Visitation will be from 1-3 PM, with the memorial service starting
at 3 PM. For the memorial service, we will be inviting Ken’s
friends to come up to the podium and share a favorite memory of the
inimitable Mr. Moore. There is no set end time for the eulogies,
though we may adjourn afterwards to the nearby Gerst Haus (a
longtime fannish favorite, for its German food and “Fishbowls” of
the house Bheer). All are welcome.
…Or as Khen would’ve said (when minding his manners!), “Gol DANG,
it’s good to see y’all!”
A photo board will be available at the visitation for those who
have pictures of Khen that they would like to share. Please be sure
to put your full name and address on the back of any photos, so we
can be sure to get them back to you. A memorial service and Irish
Wake will also be held at LibertyCon22, the weekend of July 10-12
in East Ridge (Chattanooga) TN . Exact date and time TBA, but the
Irish Wake will be hosted by Frank and Millie Kalisz, of Xerps’
party fame.
Thank you,
Naomi Fisher
As a child I accompanied my parents to many cons. I met Ken at the first con I attended, in the early 70s. Over the years, whenever I remember those cons, I think of Ken Moore. He was the most dynamic person I knew. In an environment that had few kids (and little interest in them) Ken was invariably warm, friendly, funny and kind. He was always willing to give my siblings and me attention. It meant a lot. I miss him.
That cummerbund with the swim trunks sounds like the Male Bathing Beauty Contest in the later 70’s. Ben Yallow turned up in swim trunks and bow tie, but Ken’s cummerbund did stand out.
I just saw this on the ASFS/Atlanta list 🙁
I will always have fond memories of Khen & Kubla Khan. R.I.P.
Just found out about Ken’s passing and am so sorry. Ken bought a number of aviation paintings from me and we had many telephone conversations about art and aircraft. He would usually call while sipping on some drink – I could hear the tinkling of the ice. His knowledge on art was great and it was clear that his understanding of the subject came because of a passion. I will never forget him – What a great guy!