Short answers, pulled from the story.
San Diego Comic-Con opened its doors on the 21st of March 1970 as a one-day gathering known as San Diego's Golden State Comic-Minicon. This initial event took place in the basement of the U.S. Grant Hotel and drew between 60 and 75 people.
Shel Dorf orchestrated the first San Diego Comic-Con event, which was originally called San Diego's Golden State Comic-Minicon. He had previously organized the Detroit Triple-Fan Fair before hosting this dry run to test the waters for a larger convention.
The organization settled on the name San Diego Comic-Con in 1973 after operating under various names including San Diego West Coast Comic Convention. The official name shifted again to Comic-Con International: San Diego in 1995 when David Scroggy managed the associated trade fair until that date.
Over 130,000 attendees filled the San Diego Convention Center to capacity in 2010 for the first time. This milestone marked a turning point where the event expanded far beyond comic book roots to encompass film, television, gaming, and broader entertainment industries.
On the 17th of April 2020, the 53rd San Diego Comic-Con was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in California. Governor Gavin Newsom issued stay-at-home orders that forced the cancellation of the event originally scheduled for July 23 through 26, 2020.
SAG-AFTRA approved a strike on the 13th of July 2023 after failing to renew its contract with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. Major media companies including Disney, Netflix Inc., Sony Pictures, and Universal Pictures all cancelled their participation due to this labor dispute.