The Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS) held its first convention at the International Hotel in December 1975 to celebrate the club’s 2,000th meeting. First known as LA 2000, it featured no formal programming or guests of honor. The following year, LASFS renamed the event LosCon and scheduled it in October in honor of the club’s anniversary.

LosCon was held twice in 1977, with the second event featuring its first official Guest of Honor, journalist and author Dr. Jerry Pournelle. Since LASFS is a literary nonprofit, many of LosCon Guests of Honor have included well-known science fiction writers such as “Opening Atlantis’” Harry Turtledove (1996), “The Postman’s” David Brin (1998) and “Ender’s Game’s” Orson Scott Card (2000). In 1997, “Babylon 5” creator J. Michael Straczynski, was feted as a Media Guest of Honor, and in 2003 Armin Shimmerman of “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” received the same honor. Artist guests have included “Star Trek” model and prop designer Rick Sternbach (1993) and “Elfquest” creator Wendy Pini (2004).

Over the years, LosCon has shifted to a variety of locations, including Culver City, Inglewood, Anaheim and Buena Park. It’s enjoyed regular homes at the Pasadena Hilton (1983-1989) and the Burbank Airport Hilton (1993-2003), and LosCon has been with the LAX Marriot since 2004.

Membership at the convention grew steadily over the years from 196 at its first meeting to more than 1,000 in 1980. LosCon has consistently brought in more than 1,000 attendees each year since 1984 with themes such as, “Where Anything Can Happen” (1989), “Relax in the Company of Friends” (1996) and for the turn of the millennium in 1999: “It’s the End of the World as We Know It … And We Feel Fine.”

Loscon is a completely volunteer endeavor with all proceeds benefiting the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, a 501c3 charity.