All About Star Trek Fan Clubs

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Zine
Title: All About Star Trek Fan Clubs
Publisher: Ego Enterprises of New York, Inc.
Editor(s): Tony Tallarico (editor), Don Wigal (associate editor), Anthony John Tallarico (assistant editor), Charles Foster (art director), Donna Charles Thomas (assistant art director), "and most important of all -- you!! Star Trek fan!"
Date(s): 1976-1977
Fandom: Star Trek: TOS
External Links:
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All About Star Trek Fan Clubs is a for-profit magazine, "made by fans for fans." Issues had a barcode, an ISBN, and were sold for $1.

Its content was a fusion of professional boosterism of Star Trek and its actors, and of fandom boosterism.

Issues contained photos of the stars taken at conventions, fan creations and much fanart, Trek news events, fanzine reviews, letters, and write-ups about fan clubs.

Despite a somewhat nebulous statement by the editors in the third issue that answered a fan's request to include fanfic and fan poetry,[1] the magazines do not appear to have ever included those things.

It ran for six issues, the first published in 1976.

Reactions and Reviews

AASTFC was published in 1976-1977, ran six (I think) quarterly issues, and received national newsstand distribution.

The rather amateurish - though earnest and enthusiastic - magazine covered Star Trek fandom in all its pre-Internet/home video Seventies forms, with fannish articles on conventions, collectibles, episode trivia, pull-out posters, lots of fan art, interviews with the Trek cast (and prominent "Trekkers!"), fanzine reviews, and, as its clumsy title promised, extensive fan club listings.

It was an interesting magazine, and for a rural science fiction fan without access to conventions or fan clubs, it was a window onto a larger world of Trek (and sci-fi) fandom.[2]

Contains the typical biographical information, a woefully incomplete listing of Star Trek clubs and organizations, and the typical, almost obligatory listing of ST episodes, without any philosophical appraisal. Also, many drawings are used where photos would have been better. Rating 2 stars out of 5 stars.[3]

Issue 1

All About Star Trek Fan Clubs 1

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 1

I have shown ALL ABOUT STAR TREK FAN CLUBS to several of the members and they also liked it. I found the synopsis of Roddenberry, Shatner, Nimoy, Kelley, Doohan, Nichols, Koenig, Takei , and Majel very good and the drawings are the best I've ever seen done, but I've been unable to locate anywhere who the artist was.

The article on The Federation Trading Post was most interesting. The Trading Post Gallery was very enjoyable. They wouldn't part with their plans, would they, so we not-so-talented people could try?

I thought you would like to know the Clipper Trade Ship (fanzlne) Is very much alive and living In California.

The break down on the episodes was nice and I'm sure the newer fans found it informative. I know I had trouble at first putting titles with episodes.

The one thing I really enjoyed was your term Trekker and not Trekkie.

[from the editor]: Glad you liked the term trekker, rather than trekkie. The editors of this magazine have written to such influential mass market media as The New York Times, Playboy Magazine and even The Christian Science Monitor about the term trekkie. We received no reply and presume they will continue to use the less desirable term. [4]

ALL ABOUT STAR TREK FAN CLUBS is very interesting, and I am sure it will be great help to any Star Trek fan. - Shirley S. Maiewski - Star Trek Welcommittee PS - I'm a grandmother! [5]

We greatly appreciate your mention of Star Trek Welcommittee. En-closed are the three addresses we are using at present and all the correct information. - Helen Young, Chairman, Star Trek Welcommittee[6]

Star Trek Welcommittee is not, never has been, will never become a Star Trek fan club. It is a central source for ST information. - Allyson Whitfield
[from the editor]: For our readers, the following is the basic information on Star Trek Welcommittee: The Star Trek Welcommittee is a central information center (a non-profit SERVICE organization) made up of many volunteers in the majority of states and several foreign countries who devote their time and efforts to answer fans' questions about ST and ST fandom. The Welcommittee does this by receiving all fan inquires at their central mail room and then forwarding the letters through area captains to their volunteer workers. STW asks no charge for answering fans' questions, although a self-addressed stamped envelope is very much appreciated. (This courtesy is appreciated by all the fan clubs as well.)[7]

Isn't it time we in fandom knew ourselves what is going on? Thanks for your magazine. - Lori Chapek [8]

This letter is to protest the circulation of ALL ABOUT STAR TREK FAN CLUBS, a magazine in which the name and address of your organization recently appeared. It might be wise to familiarize yourselves with this publication, if you have not already done so. The magazine is of poor quality, disconnected, and in some ways incoherent; its facts are vague — in a few cases totally mistaken. It hardly does justice to its title and devotes some 14 pages to childish and occasionally meaningless plot synopses, adding facts which are unfounded in script and deleting other important information. The publication is badly written and disjointedly compiled; its only redeeming features are a series of anonymous sketches of Gene Roddenberry and the show's major characters, and a series of photographs listed as having been purchased at the Federation Trading Post.

As viewed by the uninitiated into the new world of ST, or by the novice "Trekker", the lack of quality displayed by ALL ABOUT ST FAN CLUBS could adversely reflect on your organization. To the knowledgeable fan, the magazine, especially the ’Fan’s Guide to All ST Episodes", is a waste of the newsstand price. As a magazine about the fans and fan clubs of ST, the publication practically defeats itself.

We hope that your organization will look into this matter; we trust that you will see, as we do, the need for protest.

I think I disagree with the group who complained about the All About ST Fan Clubs magazine. It’s not sophisticated in its manner, and it doesn’t attempt to say anything profound, but it’s a useful service to fans who don’t know that fandom exists (a large group!). Also, my impression was that the editors themselves like ST and consider a fan who likes the show also a normal human being. As most journalists seem to think that any enthusiasm is ridiculous, I give this magazine high marks simply because it treats us with ordinary courtesy — which is, I grant, a very low standard, but, alas, not a standard that many publications can meet.
You asked for some comment about the letter on page 25 of #30. I have a copy of this magazine and have just gone through it again. Whereas I agree it is rather poor, I don't see that it is necessary to get one's knickers in a knot over it unless as sort of a "test case"... It seems, in part, to be written by fans or with consultation of fans...to judge from tone it isn't patronizing and fans are always called "Trekkers" , and not "Trekkies", the latter term being a surefire give-away that the authors are not genuinely interested in ST fandom or else they'd see the difference. After all, it is only issue #1, and how many zines (pro or fan) come up to expectation with the first issue?
[Editor]: Nikki went on to discuss the zine in depth. I think something like this should appear in HALKAN COUNCIL, SCUTTLEBUTT, etc. There really is no space for full-scale reviews in Despatch at present.
In regards to the comments made about the magazine "All About ST Fan Clubs", I think these people are being a little narrow minded about it. The mag in my opinion is not that bad. It’s pretty obvious that it wasn’t designed for the hard-core ST fan, and it does give valuable information to a beginner... The mag tells about the Welcommittee, and after all, that's the best place to get complete information on ST.
In regards to the comments made about the magazine "All About ST Fan Clubs", I think these people are being a little narrow minded about it. The mag in my opinion is not that bad. It’s pretty obvious that it wasn’t designed for the hard-core ST fan, and it does give valuable information to a beginner... The mag tells about the Welcommittee, and after all, that's the best place to get complete information on ST.[9]

Issue 2

cover of issue #2, art by Tony Tallarico

All About Star Trek Fan Clubs 2 was published in April 1977 and contains 67 pages.

  • NASA Enterprise Poster (2, 67)
  • The Communicator, letters from fans (4)
  • Spock, Messiah!, book review, see that page (10)
  • And I Am Not Narab Either!, An Expose of Leonard Nimoy's First Role as an Alien (about Nimoy's role in "Zombies of the Stratosphere") (the title of this article is a riff on Nimoy's book, I Am Not Spock) (13)
  • NASA Names Space Shuttle the Enterprise (includes photos) (18)
  • Products Prosper: Action Star Trek Toys, article by Ann Sommers (raygun, tricorder, universal translator) (22)
  • Fans Sign Up (short promotional blurb about Nimoy signing his book, I Am Not Spock, includes a photo) (25)
  • A Trekker's Con-Fessions, essay by Roberta Rogow (topic is being a fan and going to conventions, includes many photos of fans at cons, some fans in costume, of John Townsley (26)
  • Star Trek Fan Clubs, list of titles and addresses, no descriptions (30)
  • The Smithsonian Becomes Enterprising, article by Carol McGreggor (lots of photos of the exhibit, one of two fans) (36)
  • A Guide to the Great Sci-Fi Films, article and filmography by Don Wigal (46)
  • 2001: Reviewing the Reviews, excerpts from mainstream reviews, compiled by Don Wigal (52)
  • "In Search Of...": A New Television Show, article by Charles H. Harpole (59)
  • Star Trek Facts by Anthony John Tallarico (editor's son) (62)

Issue 3

All About Star Trek Fan Clubs 3 was published in June 1977 and contains 68 pages.

front cover of issue#3 art by Tony Tallarico
back cover of issue #3 art by Tony Tallarico

It is online here.

  • Number 1 Star Trek Fan (pull out poster) (inside front and back covers)
  • The Communicator, letters to the editor (The space between each letter has "chirp" written. The editor writes that "Each issue of ALL ABOUT STAR TREK FAN CLUBS we flip open the communicator and share with you the messages we receive. The "chirp" you may hear at the start of each message is the sound of our communicator being activated.") (4)
  • William Shatner: Then, a filmography (8)
  • Now: An Evening With William Shatner by Anthony John Tallarico (a description of Shatner's appearance at Hofstra University Playhouse on November 10, 1976: "There was a crowd of over 1,000 fans outside the doors of the Playhouse waiting to enter the second performance of "The World of William Shatner". It Was a cold night and the crowd was eager to see the famous Captain Kirk. When we finally entered we were surrounded by Trek merchandise for sale, displayed on various tables. The show opened with a short cut-version of the episode "Shore Leave". At first the film kept breaking, but the crowd took it with good humor. The film started and the crowds went wild when the simple words "Star Trek" appeared on the large ten foot screen. The applause was even louder when the name "William Shatner" appeared on the screen. Everyone enjoyed the funny and strange episode, "Shore Leave". As soon as the film came to an end, a figure walked out on the stage. This figure had dark, curly hair. He wore a dark shirt and pants with a thin gold necklace around his neck. Then the spotlight shone on this man's face. It was William Shatner!") (14)
  • The Women of Star Trek: Those Fantastic Stars ("With the fantastic cooperation of Virginia Walker and the Nichelle Nichols Fan Club we are able to feature not only the two main female stars of Star Trek -- Nichelle Nichols and Majel Barrett—but we also feature young ladies who are first rate Trekkers: Connie Faddis, Joni Wagner, Elizabeth Marshall, Gee Moaven, and the "first officer" of the Nichelle Nichols Fan Club (she hates the term "president"), Virginia Walker. We will first review the two female stars of Trek with biographies and pictures. We have Nichelle's astrological chart, some candid shots, two of her poems, and a record jacket portrait. Carrying out our theme of the women of Trek, we then present a portfolio by Joni Wagner of some of the female characters of the series. Another outstanding artist featured is Elizabeth Marshall who shares here some of her Vulcan animals with us, especially her favorite Sehlet. Our third young lady artist is Gee Moaven who we hope you will see more of on these pages in the future. Finally, we present a brief biography of Virginia Walker, the first officer who put us into contact with Nichelle and all these other wonderful women of Star Trek.") (20)
    • two poems by Nichols, both illustrated by Connie Faddis, one being the cover of Furaha #5. The poems are "The Lady's Alone Again Tonight" (reprinted from Furaha #3 (1975) and "Oh, The Things You Can Feel." (regarding Connie Faddis: "Connie Faddis is one of the few married ladies in the ST artists world. She said she didn't mind if we said so. She is one of the best known ST creative artists and writers in fandom. We don't mind if we say so. She publishes INTERPHASE, the famous and priceless silk screened zine. She has won many prizes in costume calls at the cons, and last year won second prize in the dance contest of the Bicentennial Con 10. Is there anything this creative lady cannot do?") (21)
    • Majel Barrett (31)
  • Those Fantastic Characters: 14 Women of Star Trek, art portfolio by Joni Wagner (34)
  • Those Fantastic Fans
  • Those Fantastic Clubs: The Nichelle Nichols Fan Club (30)
  • Fan Clubs List (46)
  • Fanzine Facts (48)
  • The Players Who Made Star Trek (50)
  • Index of Episode Abbreviations (57)
  • The Aliens of Star Trek: A Survey of Literature (60)
  • In Memoriam: Jeffrey Hunter (62)
  • Great Sci-Fi Films, part two (63)
  • Spock Relaxes (66)

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 3

We love the art work in ish #3. Are the ladies as lovely as their artwork? Maybe the artists should have fan clubs also.

[the editor's reply]: Dear Art Lover: We don't really believe that you are a Male Chauvinist Pig. We received many letters praising the art work of fans, and It certainly will be a running feature of our magazine. By the way, to answer your one question very positively, here is a photo of Connie Faddis with her portrait of McCoy. Yes, Trekker artists such as Connie do have an appreciative following of fans. [10]

Issue 4

Issue 5

All About Star Trek Fan Clubs 5 was published in October 1977 and contains 50 pages.

It is online here.

front cover of issue#5 art by Tony Tallarico
back cover of issue#5

A fan's letter: "I would like to know how some things shown on Star Trek work. Could you send me details on the schematics of the ship, and computers. I would like to build some things that were used on the Enterprise. I am very good at electronics and I think It would be cool to build some of those things."

  • Animated Star Trek Cel (front and back inside covers)
  • The Communicator, letters from Trekkers (4)
  • Walter Koenig: His Autobiography (it is quite irreverent - the first paragraph: "I was born in Chicago and spent the first six months of my life being carried up and down back staircases in the dead of night. We seldom had the rent money and consequently were forced to take flight during the witching hour on the last day of each month.") (8)
  • Koenig Today: An Interview conducted by Susan Sackett (reprinted from an issue of Star Trektennial News) (12)
  • Walter Koenig: Photo Album (18)
  • Walter Koenig: His Fan Club ( 20)
  • The President of The Walter Koenig Fan Club: Jack Townsend (22)
  • A Fan Meets William Shatner (24)
  • Leonard Nimoy: I Am Still Not Spock, review of I Am Not Spock, book by Nimoy (28)
  • Nimoyans Raise Money for Charity (32)
  • Gene Roddenberry: The Great Bird on Tour (36)
  • "The Movie"—Meet the Screenwriters" They Quit!! (42)
  • Eclipse, The Overshadowed Players of Star Trek (45)
  • The Animated Star Trek: The "Cels" Are Selling (an interview with representatives of Tuttle & Bailey Galleries out of Beverly Hill, CA, a company that sold the cels from the animated Star Trek) (46)
  • Stardating the Animateds (49)
  • The Fans: Trekker-to-Trekker, an explanation of a pen pal service that begins in the next issue (50)
  • Greetings from Walter (68)

Issue 6

All About Star Trek Fan Clubs 6 was published December 1877 and contains 52 pages. It was the last issue.

cover of issue#6 art by Tony Tallarico

A copy of issue #6 has been uploaded here: All About Star Trek Fan Clubs Issue 6, December 1977 (From Zombos' Closet), Archived version

References

  1. ^ "We agree [that fanzines have a lot of untapped creativity]. Hope you like the great contributions to this issue by some very talented fans."
  2. ^ space1970: ALL ABOUT STAR TREK FAN CLUBS Magazine... Revisited, Archived version
  3. ^ from Cosmic Borders (1976)
  4. ^ from a letter of comment in "All About Star Trek Fan Clubs" #2
  5. ^ from a letter of comment in "All About Star Trek Fan Clubs" #2
  6. ^ from a letter of comment in "All About Star Trek Fan Clubs" #2
  7. ^ from a letter of comment in "All About Star Trek Fan Clubs" #2
  8. ^ from a letter of comment in "All About Star Trek Fan Clubs" #2
  9. ^ from a group letter signed by many individuals, printed in Despatch #30 (Winter 1977), responses by Ruth Berman, Nikki White, two other fans in Despatch #31
  10. ^ a letter from a fan, unknown gender, printed in "All About Star Trek Fan Clubs" #5
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