Once Upon a Time... Is Now/Issues 001-002
| Zine | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Once Upon a Time... Is Now (Out-In, Out/In, Out...In) |
| Publisher: | |
| Editor(s): | Jeanne Cloud and Joyce DeBoard (issues #1-#27), Jeanne Cloud, Loreen Vanderkrats, and Linda Lakin (issues #27-#33 -- tho perhaps as far as #45), Jeanne Cloud and Loreen Vanderkrats (issues #46-#60 -- tho perhaps as early as #34) |
| Type: | letterzine |
| Date(s): | 1988 to 1996 |
| Frequency: | sometimes monthly, sometimes bi-monthly, at the end much more infrequent |
| Medium: | |
| Size: | digest-sized |
| Fandom: | Beauty and the Beast (TV) |
| Language: | English |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Once Upon a Time... Is Now (Out-In, Out/In, Out...In) is a Beauty and the Beast (TV) letterzine. It is digest-sized.
See List of Letterzines for similar fanworks.
Contents
The zine is a collection of letters from fans (titled "From the Helpers") of the show discussing aspects of the show including the actors, characters, stories, and fanfiction. This zine also contains photos (both xeroxed and original), some original artwork, con reports, open letters, and sometimes clippings and interviews.
Some regular features were: "OK Good...OK Fine" (the editorial), "From the Library" (zine listings), and "On the Pipes" (fan clubs).
There were 60 issues published between 1988 to 1996.
Issue 1
Once Upon a Time... Is Now 1 was published in August 1988 and contains 26 pages.
Issue 1: Excerpts from the Letters
As soon as I saw [Beauty and the Beast], I was absolutely awestruck at the magic, the "beauty" of this show — and at the fact that someone had actually gotten a show of this caliber on the air, past the network executive. (We all know that they've never really understood what it is that we like, or want to see on TV.) It is true that this concept, if left in less competent, inspired, and (obviously) caring hands than those of Ron Koslow, his producers, writers, and actors, would have been a joke, an embarrassing one. But we really lucked out this time, guys. Some of you may know me from STAR TREK fandom, which I have been a part of for over ten years, and I mean it as the highest compliment when I say that I have not seen a TV show with this kind of richness, resonance, and open texture since STAR TREK.
So, the bottom line is — I am heavily in love. Obsessively, in fact. Since last October, every Friday night, all I can think of is "Is it 8:00 PM yet? How many hours until B&TB?"
First, there's Vincent. Need I say more? Such a moving, soulful, sensitive, caring, character — Ron Perlman has made a legendary, mythic, and archetypal being live and breathe for us every week, so much so that, while I marvel at his skill and depth of his acting, I absolutely believe in Vincent as a reality. He's the perfect man! And if I hear one more journalist describe him as "the deformed man/beast" I am going to scream! Where are your eyes? Vincent is the most gorgeous man I've ever seen! Wouldn't you just love to play with that hair? Wouldn't you just love to be the recipient of one of those sumptuous hugs? Wouldn't you love to hear that voice whispering your name?
And then we have Catherine. This was the part I was most afraid of how were they going to portray this woman in the context of a fairy tale set in modern day New York? I really was expecting the worst. And I am ecstatically pleased to find a real, living, and growing woman, dealing with life in a strong, courageous way. Yes, she was a poor little rich girl at first, but as Catherine says to Vincent in "Ozymandias," "You helped me find the best part of myself." And isn't that what so many of us want from life — a partner who will help us find the best part of our selves? Not someone who will try to confine and circumscribe our life to accommodate their own life and work, but someone who realizes that our dreams and our inner lives are just as important as theirs, and who cherishes them, which leaves us free to also cherish theirs without threat or coercion, but out of mutual respect and joy. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to get carried away there, but I love Catherine so much, her strengths and her weaknesses — her realness—as well as her ability to take care of herself in a dangerous situation (don't laugh, how often do we see that on TV?)—she's just the greatest role model for women I have ever seen on TV, and I think that their (C & V's) relationship, although it is an idealized, roman tic one, still has more reality and honesty attached to it than all the "thirtysomething"s in the world.
This past weekend — April 23 & 24 — Howard Gordon, one of the Executive Story Editors of B&TB, appeared at a Creation Convention, He was really great — very enthusiastic, bowled over by the response they have gotten from the fans, and that he got at the convention, and obviously cared very deeply about the heart and soul of the show in the same way all of us fans do. I got to speak to him a little, and I really had a good feeling about him and the other writers and producers and their plans for future episodes (when Catherine's father meets Vincent — among other things!). And he seems to have a good feeling about fans as well; all of this makes me look forward to a long and happy association between the creators of the show and fans.
I'd like to say what a delight it is to see something unique on the air. Let's hope the powers that be out there don't try to copy B&B. I shudder to think what the result might be.
I find Vincent's voice to be very calming and reassuring. I can understated why Catherine is so taken with him.
[...]
I am so glad romance is alive, and well on commercial television. They have taken, what for some would have been a hairy hulk continually rescuing a troublesome "Lois Lane" type, and turned it into a loving relationship with well rounded characters who know more than two emotions.
As long as I'm on the topic of Vincent, I'm curious as to just how many cat qualities he has. I've noticed a number of mannerisms that come straight off the average Quat [1] --just take a look at the way he ends up laying in the cage in "Nor Iron Bars" and tell me Ron wasn't out studying sleeping felines first. He can growl and roar rather well, does he purr? When they bake bread Underground, do they have to pry him off the dough because he sits there kneading it with his eyes squinched half-shut and an ecstatic smirk on his face? Do I have a sick mind, or what? is his tongue raspy? Wouldn't I like to find out?
It's getting stuffy in here again.
[...]
Sooner or later this l/z's going to get around to the topic of whether or not the relationship ought to get more physical, so I'll jump in early [Having already proven I possess a disgusting turn of mind] and tackle it now. And my answer is...yes and no. Why does it have to be either/or? I'm in favor of getting past the plain hugging and onto a little light kissing -- heck, Father kisses him on the cheek, why can't she? This does not mean I'm in favor of going all out; just because you've gotten to the mild smooching stage doesn't mean you're obligated to hit the sheets right away as well... Besides you can't get rid of the force holding them apart, it would pretty much gut the tension that forms the premise for the show.
[...]
A lot of the articles about B&B that I've seen wonder why Vincent is so appealing to women, and end up concluding it's some deep, dark Freudian reason having something to do with the female equivalent of the Oedipus complex. Phooey. In my book, romance and pure adoration do not equate to unfulfilled prepubescent sexual longings, and besides, I'm pretty sure I don't even have any of the latter. Who wouldn't fall for a dude with a build like that, a penchant for wearing Terminally Romantic Shirts, and a voice of that timbre reading Shakespearean sonnets? Get real. The whole thing looks pretty obvious to me. But then I'm still trying to figure out why anyone with more than two connected brain cells would want to have anything to do with Bruce Willis.
[...]
And on that note, I think it's time for me to call this a wrap and go kiss my cat Remo goodnight [I think of it as practice! live in hope...)
I actually count the hours between shows. How am I going to make it through the summer with no new episodes to look forward to on Fridays? Well, actually I'm writing this the night before the final episode is due to air. So, at this writing, I have at least one more. I can hardly wait, and then again, I so wish it wasn't the last one for a while. Of course I hope they do kiss, but I understand the viewpoint of also wanting to keep the relationship 'pure'. Wanting them to conquer their pain and get it together and not wanting that at all. This show makes me crazy, but I love every minute of it. It's the passion without the passion, the love without the physical, the embrace without the kiss - The Great Tease. Well, maybe a little kiss tomorrow; that would at least be something. A little concession to this long season of at least my wanting to see him suck her lips off - Wanting and not wanting. I think they've accomplished exactly what they set out to do. They've made us all paranoid/schizophrenics who wait each week breathlessly for the words This is where the wealthy and the powerful rule... and who threaten to kill without remorse anyone who dares interrupt it.
Most of the women I know who really enjoy the series think he's sexy as hell. Ironically, though, "sex" has nothing to do with it. I don't think, with Vincent's true appeal or the series' appeal. It's the romance of his relationship with Catherine'. Again, this is so unusual for me because I generally don't care for "romance" that much — I loathe HARLEQUIN ROMANCES and all such books. But then, the characters you find in those books aren't real and Vincent and Catherine are. I'd be very interested to learn how MEN feel about the series, but all the women fans I know think that Vincent would be the ideal "man'." And why not? How many "men" do you find that have his strength, gentleness, intelligence, and wisdom? How many "men" love a woman to the point where she's his whole life, but yet, he still always treats as his equal and gives her the freedom to be herself? How many "men" would sacrifice everything they have and one, for the woman they love and risk so much for her? That's Vincent'. A poet, an artist, a gentle soul who never uses his strength to abuse or intimidate.
What woman wouldn't want to love a man like that?
We hadWe had a SF convention in January and I saw one "Vincent" roaming the halls. I also attended a media/SF con in March and there was a "Vincent" and "Catherine" in the masquerade that looked very good, [interestingly enough, "Vincent" was a woman).
At that same convention I noticed a flier proclaiming B&B was going to be cancelled and fans needed to write in so it would be renewed. Have you heard about any such campaign? I know that Stephen Cannel has a campaign to save WISEGUY, but from all I've read, B&B is CBS's biggest hit of the new shows. Perhaps they were being oven-zealous.
Also, at that convention, George R.R. Martin was a guest. I was hoping that he would talk about B&B, but no such luck. I was disappointed that not only were there no topics given for the panels, the panels were hand to find and often moved on canceled without notice. Martin only had a few panels and they were all with other writers. I didn't manage to attend any of the panels he was on (most of the programming was on Sunday from 2 to 6 PM), but was told by friends who did that the panels were terrible. I'm told that the writer's panel Martin was on talked mostly about agent contract disputes and their favorite movie vomit scenes, as they had no topic. I understand he was asked some questions about B&B but the topic was never followed up on.
Issue 2
Once Upon a Time... Is Now 2 was published in September 1988 and contains 24 pages.
- many photos from Space-Trek, most of Ron Perlman, some of fans
- a retyped article about Ron Perlman that appears to be from an uncredited mainstream source
- a retyped article called "An Unlikely Sex Symbol: Idealized Romans, Compassion Bring Out the Beauty in 'Beast', by Diane Haithman from the January 28, 1988 Los Angeles Times
Issue 2: Excerpts from the Letters
Regarding the letters in the last issue, I haven't seen a fandom this outgoing and friendly since RIPTIDE died.
Ah, Vincent. Even his name is romantic.
The boots. I simply adore those thigh-high orange numbers Vincent runs around in.
The topic of Vincent and Catherine getting physical, I may as well get my two cents in now. I believe we will continue to see the on-screen romance remain a chaste one, perhaps with them exchanging kisses on the cheek. But, what about fandom? So far, all 'zines I we seen ads for or received guideline from one strictly PG-rated. There must be others, like myself, who would like to examine the psychological dynamics behind their lack of consummating their love. I don't know if "Once Upon..." wants to open the book (pages) for discussion of this point, so I'll wait to see if someone else broaches this subject.
Why is Vincent so attractive to females? Well, that is obvious. He's surrounded by an aura of self-assuredness that allows him to be everything he is. There is no false bravado, no need for an inflated ego. He is a man who is at peace with who he is. He is, though doubtful of who he is is a relationship to Catherine since that is a different entity, it is not him, but them. I know this woman can't resist his velvet voice reading Shakespeare or guiding Catherine in her search for self-actualization.
"A Happy Life" has inspired a bit of awe in me — overall, the show was excellent — if Linda Hamilton doesn't get an Emmy for her performance, I'll find it hard to believe.
The ending [of the season finale] was quite frankly, a cop out.
[...]
Vincent's physiology is certainly not an issue. He is obviously predominately human — I've never seen an animal quote Shakespeare or cry or love with such self-sacrifice. (I suspect that Father and Paracelsus genetically engineered Vincent, and he's Father's natural son.)
On the basis of various interviews that I've seen, Ron Perlman feels that the viewers would feel too satisfied with a kiss. MY GOD, MAN! 22 shows of teasing and sitting on the edge of my chair, waiting for a kiss (since the third episode) and I'm not going to feel totally fulfilled by one or too loving, tender kisses at such an emotional time. I felt that the ending they gave us was rather anti-climactic.
What are they going to do next season? Increased intimacy for V. and C. is only a natural plot development if they want to grow and progress. If not, I suspect that stagnation will set in. They're committed now; they're going to forge a life together, one way or another. Kisses are only logical. My projection for their future is this: Catherine will see the futility of trying to live "separate and apart" from Vincent and will use some of her wealth to construct a [drum roll please) "Secret Stairway" from their apartment to the tunnels. They'll get married and live as normal a life as they can. Let me stop here, I've already written 55 pages on this subject. Catherine will probably have to introduce V. to some of her world next season. I'd like to see V. meet her Dad, and for him to approve of V. They've got a standing invitation to visit her friends in Westport. I'd love to see them have that picnic for real, (time to get rid of the "life that can never be" crap).
What can you say about a TV show that inspires long discussions about classic literature and music, Jungian psychology, and religious symbolism? What can you say about a male lead who looks like a lion and acts like a prince? I don't know about the rest of you, but all I can say is "Argh!"
Howard Gordon was at a convention here in NY. It was his first convention, and he was so nice. Between his presentation and talking with a few of us afterwards, he must have spent about 2 1/2 hours chatting and answering our seemingly endless questions. He was thrilled by the attention. It was delightful. I'm hoping to talk with him again in June. He'll be at the con in L.A. on June 18, with Ron Perlman. I never thought I'd see a star and writers of a current prime time TV show appearing at conventions. I guess maybe dreams sometimes do come true.
Since I had to work the following day, Hubby and the kids decided to make the trip to grandma's without me. I was left with the house all to myself, a rare and cherished event. I felt absolutely giddy with the possibilities. There would be no ball practices to attend, no dinner to cook, and more importantly, no interruptions of any kind. Just me, the TV, and B&B. I turned the lights down low and the volume on the set up. Balancing a plate of take-out Chinese on one knee, I settled back into my favorite chair and prepared myself to be entertained. The music stirred. His voice floated out into the room, deep and melodious. I was definitely in the mood to be carried off to some far away place. And carried off I was. Geez! [The episode "A Happy Life"] blew me away. Fifteen minutes into the show I found myself sobbing into my sweet and sour and searching in vain for a box of Kleenex. All I could find was a dishtowel, which turned out to be a good thing since this was a job beyond the abilities of mere facial tissues. I hadn't had such a good cry since THE COLOR PURPLE.
[...]
B&B has everything a woman could ask for; romance, drama, romance, action, romance..
Although hope springs eternal when it comes to relationships, I think many women still feel, rightly or wrongly, that when searching for the ideal mate, their ultimate option often narrows down to a choice between a "wimp" or a "jerk".
We tend to think of wimps as nice, bland, colorless fellas who follow us around like puppy dogs and need help opening ketchup bottles. They're apt to seem inept, have boring personalities, and are totally lacking in charisma.
The other alternative is the jerk. At first glance, these guys can appear charming and exciting. On closet inspection, however, they can behave like petulant little boys who have a need to control and a desire to be mothered. A sub-class of this group of men are the "Don Juan" types who run from commitment like the plague and consider each new woman a challenge to be conquered and discarded.
So where does Vincent fit into the above two categories? He doesn't. And that's what makes him wonderful and unique. For the first time in recent memory, we're witnessing the creation of something brand new in a member of the male persuasion. Vincent, an intensely masculine character, is nurturing, sensitive, and affectionate in the extreme. These attributes are extended not just to Catherine, but to Father, his friends, his "family", and anyone else who needs his strength and wisdom. Throw in liberal doses of nobility, compassion, empathy, courage, and we begin to get a fairly good picture of why we find him so irresistible. He's that rarest of prime time personalities, someone with emotional depth and complexity.
References
- ^ "Quat"? Is this a typo in the original letter and the fan meant "Cat"?