The Comic-Con Museum has announced that an anonymous donation has been made to name the lobby of the main theater at the Museum "The John Rogers Lobby" in honor of their long time President and friend, John Rogers. Those at Comic-Con and the Comic-Con Museum are grateful for the donation, which allows them to honor John in this special way.
John Rogers was the man behind the curtain, the preverbal wizard, who worked the controls and helped make the magic happen. His vision and leadership was the force behind Comic-Con as it is today. He was always there, often completely unnoticed and unrecognized. The one place he stepped into the spotlight was at the convention’s Talkback panel on Sundays. He fielded comments and questions from attendees, who would form a long line in the aisle before the panel even started. He always stayed until every person had their time to speak, often well past the slated ending time. Every opinion and voice was important to John, and he wanted to make sure everyone felt like their concerns were heard.
John's connection to Comic-Con was a long and devoted one. He began as a volunteer in the Films program. From there he moved to serving as the Technical Coordinator for the show. In 1986 he was elected as the convention’s President, and ran uncontested for the position year after year. John’s years at the helm produced incredible growth, contributing to the increasing social acceptance of popular arts fandom and culture.
The annual event grew from a small group of die-hard fans to a huge cultural phenomenon known worldwide. He guided the show through the changes and challenges with a financial savvy that kept the organization on course through difficult economic times, establishing a strong business foundation that allowed the show to transform into the powerhouse it has become today. Much of what the convention as we know it is because of John Rogers.
The San Diego Comic Convention (Comic-Con International) is actually a California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation. That's right. That's why the above mentioned donation is such a big deal. The company that holds the rights to "the" Comic-Con is organized for charitable purposes and dedicated to creating the general public’s awareness of and appreciation for comics and related popular art forms. Which is really pretty cool if you think about it. Comic Books are a part of our collective culture, and are considered by many outside of the pop-culture fans, to be an art form - as well it should be.
The organization participates in and supports presentations, conventions, exhibits, museums and other public outreach activities which celebrate the historic and ongoing contribution of comics to art and culture. So, let there be a big thank you to the anonymous donor who is helping to keep alive the memory of a man who believed in the importance of this art form.
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