ConFurence Zero, 1989

ConFurence Zero was the first specialist furry convention, a dry run for the subsequent ConFurence series. It was held on January 21-22 of 1989 at the Holiday Inn Bristol Plaza in Costa Mesa, California. The attendance was 65 people, although 90 had signed up. Even the original estimate of roughly a hundred attendees had been slim enough that the first hotel approached (the Red Lion Inn across the street from the eventual venue) had eventually declined to host the nascent convention.

The proto-convention had a small dealer's room and two programming rooms for events including "A Furry Starter Kit", "Furry Costuming", "Story Workshop", and a screening of Animalympics. Two-day membership cost $10 in advance.

The souvenir programme book featured cover art by Steve Martin, with interior art by Brian O'Connell, Ken Sample, Phil Morrisey, Monika Livingstone, Noah Miller and others. As for the art auction, over $1,100 was raised, and one Susan Van Camp painting went for $450. The ConFurence Filk* Contest was won by Tanith Teer's "Eyes of the Wolf". -Wikifur

Included on this page are photos of Hilda the bambioid, the 'first' fursuit. She was performed by Bob Hill.

Please note that most of the images here are a bit risqué. You know, with all the leather dominatrix stuff. All images that would get you a side eye (even more than the regular furry stuff) is blurred, so simply click (or hover, really) on the image to unblur.

*Filks (originally based on a misspelling of folk music) are parodies of songs that use the same melody, but different lyrics.
Not to be confused with Filk, the unholy yet joyous union between Milk and Fanta. It sounds repulsing, but hear me out, it tastes similar to a spider. There’s also the official milk flavour of Fanta which I just learned existed. Huh. Neat.