Milton Rothman (1919-2001)
Jack Baltadonis (1921-1998)
Bob Madle (1920-)
How PSFS was formed:
While many regional fandoms could date their history back to the 1950s or even the 1940s, Philadelphia fandom could claim with pride that fandom originated in that city within a few months of the appearance of that 1934 issue of WONDER STORIES. However, what was remarkable was that the beginnings of organized fandom in Philadelphia can be traced to more than one fan club in December 1934, a small club organized by Milton Rothman with four other fans became the 11th chapter of the Science Fiction League at the same time, another fan club, the Boys' Science Fiction Club had come into existence as its name suggests, the members were a group of youngsters, none of them older than 14. Among the members were Robert Madle, Jack Agnew, and John V. Baltadonis, all of whom became much better known in fandom in succeeding decades, the two clubs soon became aware of each other, and with the decline of the Science Fiction League, they coalesced into one organization, the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society. (From Richard Lynch, 2001)
First Fandom Halls of Fame Awards
In Memoriam: Milton A. Rothman,
Philadelphia Science Fiction Society Founder
 Seeing Milt Rothman again after a time spent out of his company helps remind you of the varied interests of this modern day man of letters. In a recent visit he surprised his guest by commenting on how well the piano lessons have been going recently. After remarking that his music seems to be consuming more of his time, Milt went on to say that he is currently reading a lot of mysteries, as he knows too much science to enjoy a great deal of current science fiction.
This level of activity seems to characterize Milt's entire life to date. At age 16, Milt co-founded (together with Jack Baltadonis and Bob Madle) the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society, which just celebrated its 60th year of existence in October of 1995. In 1936, Milt chaired the first science fiction convention, the first Philcon, which was held in the living room of his father's house in Philadelphia. For the occasion Milt invited his friend, Donald A. Wollheim, to come down from New York with a number of other New York fans, including Frederik Pohl (the secretary of the first Philcon) and David Kyle.
He followed these historic firsts by chairing the two Philadelphia Worldcons, those held in 1947 and 1953. At the latter of these, the first Hugo Awards were presented.
In addition to his activities as an organizer of SF fandom, Milt was the long time publisher of the popular fanzine, Miltie's Mag, which ran from 1939-1945. He than changed its name to Plenum and continued publishing until 1950.
As a SF writer, Milt wrote two stories which were published in Astounding in 1939. He followed this early success with a number of other stories published in Astounding, Analog and Asimov's SF Magazine, the last of which was published in the 1970's.
Like the late Asimov, Milt is a popularizer of scientific principles in a variety of books he authored, including: Discovering The Natural Laws (reprinted by Dover Books) and A Physicist's Guide to Skepticism (Prometheus Books). Currently, Milt continues to write about the skeptical approach to the paranormal and the pseudoscientific in Skeptical Briefs, his quarterly column for The Skeptical Inquirer. He now lives with his wife, Miriam, in Philadelphia.
His contributions to the world of science fiction make his selection as a Guest at Bucconeer an honor which is long overdue.
M. Rothman, 81, scientist and writer
Milton Rothman, 81, a retired nuclear physicist who used his mind for science and his imagination for science fiction, died Saturday at Hillcrest Center in Wyncote of a heart attack after battling diabetes and Parkinson's disease.
He had been a resident of Center City.
Dr. Rothman had the ability to write science and science fiction with equal skill. A former research physicist at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, he wrote eight nonfiction books. He also published two science-fiction short stories and founded the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society.
The science-fiction world can thank Dr. Rothman for starting the society in 1935. The world's first and oldest sci-fi convention, Philadelphia's annual Philcon, is an outgrowth of a milk-and-cookies gathering of 12 science-fiction aficionados who met at his North Philadelphia home.
The scientific world can thank him for becoming a member of the Committee for Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal.
Of the two worlds, Dr. Rothman preferred "science," said his wife of 20 years, Miriam.
Dr. Rothman's nonfiction books include Physics for the Educated Layman, Discovering the Natural Laws, and A Physicist's Guide to Skepticism.
Dr. Rothman, who was born in Philadelphia and graduated from Central High School, earned a bachelor's degree in engineering from Oregon State University in 1944. After he received a doctorate in physics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1952, he spent the next seven years investigating nuclear-energy levels at the Bartol Research Foundation in Swarthmore.
From 1959 to 1969, he worked at the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory on Project Matterhorn, which studied methods of heating ionized gas to very high temperatures.
Dr. Rothman then joined the faculty at Trenton State College, now the College of New Jersey, before retiring from teaching in 1979.
He did not, however, stop doing science. For about 15 years, until he retired for good in 1985, he worked for the Franklin Institute Research Center.
Dr. Rothman was an Army veteran of World War II.
In addition to his second wife, he is survived by a daughter, Lynne Lyon; a son, Tony; and a granddaughter. His first wife, Doris, also survives.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Nov. 4 at the Trinity Center for Urban Life, 22d and Spruce Streets. Burial will be private.
Milton A. Rothman Dead At 81
Milton A. Rothman, science fiction writer and nuclear physicist, died on Oct. 6 of a heart attack after battling both Parkinson's disease and diabetes, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. He was 81.
In 1938, Rothman published "Holocaust" in Science Adventure Stories No. 2 and also penned, under the pseudonym Lee Gregor, such genre tales as Heavy Planet (1939), Shawn's World (1939), The Eternal Genesis (1979) and Prime Crime (1979).
Non-fiction works included Discovering the Natural Laws, A Physicist's Guide to Skepticism and The Science Gap: Dispelling the Myths and Understanding the Reality of Science. Rothman also co-founded the Science Fiction League, which eventually morphed into the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society. The author also had a hand in the formation of Philcon, which claims to be the world's first and oldest SF convention.
Rothman is survived by his wife, daughter, son and granddaughter. His son is SF novelist Tony Rothman. Services will be held on Nov. 4 at the Trinity Center for Urban Life in Philadelphia.
John Baltadonis's Tribute to Milton Rothman
John V. Baltadonis
Robert Madle's MILPHIL tribute to John Baltadonis
Robert A. Madle
A notable figure in First Fandom, Robert Madle was born in 1920 and was a contemporary of Ray Bradbury in the 1930s. He would later become a celebrity amongst fandom as an organizer and administrator of clubs, cons, and fan based organizations.
He was the 1st winner of Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund in 1957, devised to aid notable fandom figures to attend worldcons in London. During this time however, he became a scapegoat for cross country political debates as to how the fund was being run in terms of voter and nominee requirements. In 1958, he was a major contributor in rewriting and simplifying the rules that were applied to the fund.
In the early 50’s, Robert Madle was a leader in southern fandom having founded SECON in 1956. He (and his club) is also credited with the promotion of space exploration prior to Sputnik and a government-subsidized program.
Robert Madle is a lifelong science fiction fan and pulp collector. His "Amazing Madle" catalog is legendary and contains just about anything a pulp/SF/horror collector could want, including Weird Tales issues at respectable prices. For a catalog, call 301-460-4712 or write Robert Madle, 4406 Bestor Drive, Rockville, MD 29853
Robert Madle has contributed to the organization and administration of the following fan based entities: Philadelphia Worldcon 1953, Charlotte NC SECON (1956), Trans-Atlantic Fan Fund (1958), Suncon (1977), publisher for WSFA Journal 1963 (Worldcon bid).
Robert Madle's introduction to the Best of Fandom.
Robert Madle's First Fandom article for MilPhil.
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Bob Madle at the 1957 Worldcon
Bob Madle, 2nd from left with Ray Bradbury, far right (1939 Coney Island Worldcon)