A Shot in the Dark (Robin of Sherwood zine)

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Zine
Title: A Shot in the Dark
Publisher: Robin of Sherwood North American Branch
Editor(s): Barb, Sandy Stoltenberg, Chris (Edmunds? Haire?), and Nancy Miller
Type: newsletter
Date(s): 1985-1990
Frequency:
Medium: print
Fandom: Robin of Sherwood
Language: English
External Links:
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A Shot in the Dark was the club newsletter of the first Robin of Sherwood fanclub, Robin Hood North American Branch (ROSNAB).

It was succeeded by Spirit of Sherwood and its successor zine, On Target.

Issue 12

A Shot in the Dark 12 was published in November 1988 and contains 16 pages.

cover of issue #12, "Thank you to Andrew Anderson for the surprise cover art for this issue of "SHOT". He donated this to us as his last piece of fan art (please Andrew...we all want more artwork.... don't say this is the end!!!)."

From the editorial:

HELP!!!!! Barb’s camera was stolen from her car after MERRIES this year and all her pictures are gone, Nancy’s camera wasn't loaded correctly, Jean Dewey's flash didn't work, and Sandy only took 3 pictures. Needless to say, we need photos of Merries '88!! Any and all pics will be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance for any copies of your treasures! (for those of you who don't know what MERRIES WEEKEND is, it is our annual party for the fan club. This years guests were Robert Addie, and Mark Ryan. Despite all of these setbacks, we do have an illustration for the review of MERRIES!) Look for it later in this publication.

The interview with Praed and Mantle was one very much focused on money and royalties. Praed talked about his recording career, and his hobbies. There was also talk of a Robin of Sherwood film, and promotion of the franchise in Russia. Some excerpts:

ROS: Are you going to do any music videos, Micheal?

Micheal: It's not really a question of if you want to, but that you have to any more, to sell a record. I love to do it, and it certainly wouldn't be alien to me.

[...]

ROS: Micheal, are you going to change your name in the music business, or keep it the same?

Micheal: I [see] no logic in that. Micheal Praed and the Sex Gods, or Micheal Praed and the Four Skins. Something like that.

[...]

ROS: What are your hobbies?

Micheal: Flying, pool. I like lying around the house, doing little really. I have cats and dogs. I don't particularly like the cats.

[...]

ROS: I'll give you mine and Chris's phone number and if you change your mind [about attending Merries Weekend, a con] let us know. Nancy and I am going to England soon Clive, and Sherri is setting up a lunch with some of you would you like to come?

Clive: Does this involve the movie? Do they have the money for it?

ROS: Yes, the money is in escrow right now. The catch twenty two is that the American distributor says it will do it, if they see the finished product. The movie can not be released without a distributor signed. Disney wants it real bad.

Micheal: It doesn't make any bloody sense. Even if the picture is awful, the distributor can recoup by selling video tapes. Who are the money men?

ROS: Some Irish and English business men.

Micheal: Why don't they produce the film?

ROS: I don't know. I only know that, is that they won't come though without an American distributor. The film is now scheduled for next Spring due to the delays.

Micheal: The only problem with making a film, is getting the money together. Then everything else falls into place.

Clive: If they are a group of people who don't know how to handle it, they should get a producer and he handles it.

ROS: People are really interested in what you and Micheal do. You need to contact us, so we have some information for the fans to put in our newsletter, [A Shot in the Dark].

[...]

Clive: I don't mean to sound so mercenary about the money.

ROS: Oh, heavens no. It's your face on the screen and you deserve your $1.95 or what ever. It's good business.

Micheal: We even did an interview in Russia. They loved us by the way. They wrote thousands of letters begging us to come and promote the show.

  • miscellaneous club information, Robin of Sherwood information
  • information on the Silver Arrow Awards
  • information on non-fannish Robin of Sherwood books
  • information about the musical group, Clannad and its fan club
  • a blurb about the "ROSNAB" fanart calendar
  • con listings
  • short zine ads
  • a con report by Carole L. Abbs for Greenwood II
  • a newspaper clipping (World Press Review, November 1987) about young female fans going crazy for Robin of Sherwood and its star, Michael Praed
  • transcript of a 4-page interview with the show's associate producer, Sherri Strain (Touchdown Productions) by the leader of the fan club, date, time, venue not mentioned
  • transcript of a 3-page interview with Michael Praed and Clive Mantle by the leader of the fan club, date, time, venue not mentioned
  • club merchandise for sale

Issue 13

A Shot in the Dark 13 was published in February 1989 and contains 14 pages.

cover of issue #13, "We would like to thank Delayne Hostetler for the marvelous cover for this issue #13. It was a total surprise, and a welcome one at that. She says that she was so inspired by our last issue's cover, done by Andrew Anderson, that she just couldn't let "ASITD" go coverless this issue. Thanks a million, Delayne!!"

From the newsletter:

NOW we would like to discuss with all of you is the matter of "rubber paper"! We have had a rash of checks returned on merchandise ordered recently. Our new policy will be to charge an extra $10.00 per bounced check if you do not make payment on the check in question, we will drop you from the club and inform the Sheriff's men! And we know you wouldn't want that would you?!! Enough said.

  • an admonishment about fans sending bad checks
  • con report for the 1988 Merries Weekend
  • information about the 1989 Merries Weekend
  • information about two fan clubs that were being formed "Outlaws" in the UK by Jackie Roe and Catherine Knowles and "The Children of Herne" in Kirkland, Washington, US
  • pen pals listings
  • zines for sale
  • information about Robin of Sherwood reruns on television
  • many pages of poor photocopies of photos taken at Merries Weekend
  • club merchandise for sale

  • from issue #13

  • from issue #13

Issue 14

A Shot in the Dark 14 was published in May 1989 and contains 21 pages.

cover of issue #14

There was news about the hoped-for Robin of Sherwood movie:

Did you know that we will be only the second fandom (Star Trek did it!) to have a motion picture made from a TV series that was cancelled after 3 years?? Well, its true! "THE SON OF THE HOODED MAN. PART 512. THE SEQUEL" will start filming in Hungary on July i. 1989. (We made up the title, they don't have a working title yet!) Most of the main characters will return: Robin, Marion, Will, Much, Tuck, John, Nasir, Sheriff, Sir Guy, Herne, and the Earl of Huntingdon. No one has been signed yet as the protagonist in the film, so that will be a surprise to us all. There has been no American distributor signed as yet. but hopefully if we keep our fingers crossed and plead to Herne, maybe we will see this in our theaters by spring/summer 1990. For anyone going to conventions this summer advertising ROS guests, please check with the con committee on availability of guests. Thanks to EVERYONE for standing by ROS for the past 5 years...it finally paid off!!

  • from issue #14, not credited

  • from issue #14

Issue 15

A Shot in the Dark 15 was published in 1989 and contains 25 pages.

cover of issue #15
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