Hugo Negron's Blog - Posts Tagged "gary-gygax"
An Ernest Gary Gygax trek to Lake Geneva
I was introduced to Dungeons and Dragons/Advanced Dungeons and Dragons, a fantasy role-playing game created by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, by my 7th grade teacher, who brought her collection of gaming manuals and miniature lead figures used for the game into her classroom to teach leadership, creativity, and how to work in a team. I became hooked, collected my own manual copies as well as various miniatures, and played both on the dungeon master side and on the player character side. Atari, comics, Star Wars, and AD&D - talk about a golden era of imagination back then!
I decided to take a day to visit Lake Geneva, the birthplace of D&D/AD&D, and see if I could find some of the hidden gaming landmarks amongst the boutiques, resorts, wineries, and bistros (including the many mansions owned by such families as the Wrigleys, Schwinns, and others that a lake cruise tour can bring to one's attention). Would the quest be fruitful?
Here we have Gary Gygax's home at 925 Dodge Street in Lake Geneva. When he was just a kid, Gary and his family moved from Chicago to this stately home - the home of his mother's parents - back in 1946. Not sure who owns this now, of course, but they have obviously done a great job maintaining this residence.
In 1976, Tactical Studies Rules (TSR), the company Gary founded to produce the D&D game that both he and Dave Arneson created, takes up a house on 723 Williams Street in Lake Geneva to be their new office/hobby store location. It was known as "The Gray House." Again, its obviously currently inhabited, but hey, it's still there!
Directly before the Riviera, there are various plaque dedications surrounding a small fountain. There is a particularly interesting one with a dragon perched atop the image of a 20-sided dice...
And here it is - a plaque honoring Gary Gygax. A hidden gem indeed!
Horticultural Hall - where Gen Con started back in August of 1968. Nearly 100 gamers and fans attended that initial gaming convention. Compare this to Gen Con's attendance in 2017 of nearly 208,000 fans who came from around the world to attend the event now located in downtown Indianapolis, IN. I wonder if any present at that inaugural day would ever have believed the growth that was going to take place?
This is it. In the early 60's, Gary got married and moved back to Chicago. Just a few years later he would return to Lake Geneva to rent this house at 330 Center Street. Here he builds an infamous gaming table in his basement to host various miniature wargames - and eventually this is the birthplace where the D&D game was created.
I decided to take a day to visit Lake Geneva, the birthplace of D&D/AD&D, and see if I could find some of the hidden gaming landmarks amongst the boutiques, resorts, wineries, and bistros (including the many mansions owned by such families as the Wrigleys, Schwinns, and others that a lake cruise tour can bring to one's attention). Would the quest be fruitful?
Here we have Gary Gygax's home at 925 Dodge Street in Lake Geneva. When he was just a kid, Gary and his family moved from Chicago to this stately home - the home of his mother's parents - back in 1946. Not sure who owns this now, of course, but they have obviously done a great job maintaining this residence.
In 1976, Tactical Studies Rules (TSR), the company Gary founded to produce the D&D game that both he and Dave Arneson created, takes up a house on 723 Williams Street in Lake Geneva to be their new office/hobby store location. It was known as "The Gray House." Again, its obviously currently inhabited, but hey, it's still there!
Directly before the Riviera, there are various plaque dedications surrounding a small fountain. There is a particularly interesting one with a dragon perched atop the image of a 20-sided dice...
And here it is - a plaque honoring Gary Gygax. A hidden gem indeed!
Horticultural Hall - where Gen Con started back in August of 1968. Nearly 100 gamers and fans attended that initial gaming convention. Compare this to Gen Con's attendance in 2017 of nearly 208,000 fans who came from around the world to attend the event now located in downtown Indianapolis, IN. I wonder if any present at that inaugural day would ever have believed the growth that was going to take place?
This is it. In the early 60's, Gary got married and moved back to Chicago. Just a few years later he would return to Lake Geneva to rent this house at 330 Center Street. Here he builds an infamous gaming table in his basement to host various miniature wargames - and eventually this is the birthplace where the D&D game was created.
Dragon Days Fantasy Festival, Lake Geneva, WI Sept. 27-29!
It's about time!
A fun fantasy filled extravaganza, with food, medieval crafts, music, costume contests, gaming, and more, all in beautiful Lake Geneva, WI, celebrating the birthplace of D&D and fantasy!
And guess which epic fantasy author will be boothing there, in costume this time?! Aww, someone must have told you...!
https://www.dragondays.org/
A fun fantasy filled extravaganza, with food, medieval crafts, music, costume contests, gaming, and more, all in beautiful Lake Geneva, WI, celebrating the birthplace of D&D and fantasy!
And guess which epic fantasy author will be boothing there, in costume this time?! Aww, someone must have told you...!
https://www.dragondays.org/
I'll be Horticultural Hall for DragonDays this Sat and Sun, 9/28-9/29/24!
DragonDays this Sat/Sun in Lake Geneva WI!
Talk about history!
I'll be boothing my books at the legendary Horticultural Hall, site of the first Gen Con!
Look for me at table 10!
330 Broad Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 - 10am-5pm!
Be there - or Those That Stand in Shadow will getcha!
https://www.dragondays.org/
Talk about history!
I'll be boothing my books at the legendary Horticultural Hall, site of the first Gen Con!
Look for me at table 10!
330 Broad Street, Lake Geneva, WI 53147 - 10am-5pm!
Be there - or Those That Stand in Shadow will getcha!
https://www.dragondays.org/
Dragon Days!
Dragon Days was yet another amazing experience! Pre-setup at DragonDays was to happen this past Friday, but not actually for me, lol! Horticultural Hall (the place I was to booth at - talk about gaming history - the birthplace of Gen Con I!) had a wedding going on, so my official first day ended up being on Saturday.
However, this was the official first day of ceremonies led by DragonDays Co-Chairmen Harold “Wisconsin” Johnson and Paul Stormberg. Wielding a +1 sword drawn from a stone (actually a prop stuck in a bale of straw, but run with the imagery) was the mayor of Lake Geneva Todd Krause leading the ribbon cutting honors, accompanied by former mayor, Charleen Klein. Gail Gygax, Gary Gygax’s widow, was also present, and surely proud of this wonderful salute to his creative efforts.
A big tip of ye olde helmet to Kevin Maurice, Site Director for the event, who was extremely patient with all of my email questions, and who gave me a warm welcome amidst the many vendors clamoring for his attention. Thanks again, Kevin!!
Cookies and fun drinks were to be had, with free T-Shirts from last year’s pilot effort for the event.
First day at DragonDays started off with a bang! Not only being at Horticultural Hall, but having Tom Wham hosting games right in front of my table! One of the original TSR’s employees, Tom drew some of the original conceptual illustrations of the beholder, a classic AD&D monster, in addition to creating such games as Snit’s Revenge and The Awful Green Things from Outer Space. It was great talking to Tom and especially watching my son playing a game with him - one gaming generation teaching another.
How do you top that? How about having Heidi Gygax, daughter of Gary Gygax, boothing right next to me along with her husband Erik! They were both a treat to talk to and Im already looking forward to hearing more about their convention plans for an “Egg Con” next year…!
Finally on the second (and last) day, some familiar names were still in attendance - Harold “Wisconsin” Johnson, DragonDays co-chairman, and Ernest Gygax, son of Gary Gygax who not only visited my booth for a spell, he even bought a copy of the 1st book in the Forging of a Knight series!
A glorious sunset brought an end to this new adventure in Lake Geneva ends…but an adventure I will return to next year!
However, this was the official first day of ceremonies led by DragonDays Co-Chairmen Harold “Wisconsin” Johnson and Paul Stormberg. Wielding a +1 sword drawn from a stone (actually a prop stuck in a bale of straw, but run with the imagery) was the mayor of Lake Geneva Todd Krause leading the ribbon cutting honors, accompanied by former mayor, Charleen Klein. Gail Gygax, Gary Gygax’s widow, was also present, and surely proud of this wonderful salute to his creative efforts.
A big tip of ye olde helmet to Kevin Maurice, Site Director for the event, who was extremely patient with all of my email questions, and who gave me a warm welcome amidst the many vendors clamoring for his attention. Thanks again, Kevin!!
Cookies and fun drinks were to be had, with free T-Shirts from last year’s pilot effort for the event.
First day at DragonDays started off with a bang! Not only being at Horticultural Hall, but having Tom Wham hosting games right in front of my table! One of the original TSR’s employees, Tom drew some of the original conceptual illustrations of the beholder, a classic AD&D monster, in addition to creating such games as Snit’s Revenge and The Awful Green Things from Outer Space. It was great talking to Tom and especially watching my son playing a game with him - one gaming generation teaching another.
How do you top that? How about having Heidi Gygax, daughter of Gary Gygax, boothing right next to me along with her husband Erik! They were both a treat to talk to and Im already looking forward to hearing more about their convention plans for an “Egg Con” next year…!
Finally on the second (and last) day, some familiar names were still in attendance - Harold “Wisconsin” Johnson, DragonDays co-chairman, and Ernest Gygax, son of Gary Gygax who not only visited my booth for a spell, he even bought a copy of the 1st book in the Forging of a Knight series!
A glorious sunset brought an end to this new adventure in Lake Geneva ends…but an adventure I will return to next year!
