This day in geek history: August 16

1973

Sign directing attendees to some of of the exhibits and activities of the 1973 San Diego Comic-Con. Also notice, that about half of the people pictured are women.

First convention officially named San Diego Comic-Con. The convention that was to become Comic-Con started in 1970 and was called the Golden State Comic-Minicon, but in 1973 the convention officially changed its name to the San Diego Comic-Con and expanded to 5 days.

And please, PLEASE check out the pictures from that 1973 convention. They are eerily familiar. Most of the elements from today's convention have their seeds back then.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Diego_Comic-con

http://www.comicconmemories.com/2010/02/28/more-1973-san-diego-comic-con-photos-can-you-identify-people-in-the-pictures/