Once Upon a Time... Is Now/Issues 047-048

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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: print
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 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 47

front cover of issue #47 (June), Rosemarie Hauer, portrays Diana Bennett
front cover of issue #47 (July), Barbara Gipson
the centerfold from issue #47, artist is Sandy Shelton: "You will also find in the centerfold something we've never done before. Sandy Shelton submitted this gorgeous piece of art for this issue and we would like to present it as a special gift from us to you. You will notice that it's folded but not stapled into your issue. If you would like to take this out and frame it, we have heard (but not tested) that you may use an iron on low heat to press out the crease and use a paper towel between the iron and the backside of the art. We hope you'll enjoy our little gift."

Once Upon a Time... Is Now 47 was published in June/July 1993 and contains 28 pages.

It is a double issue. Unlike the other double issues, it contains two "front covers," one on the front and one on the back. "We've split the issue in half, one half June and the other half July. All you have to do is begin reading the June side first and upon reaching the centerfold, close the letterzine and flip it over to the July side. Voila! Two-two-two issues in one!"

This issue has descriptions and photos from the UK con, Masquerades.

Issue 47: Excerpts from the Letters

This is my first LOC to you. It took a very important event for me to send these lines across the ocean to you. (Be lenient toward my English, but we usually speak sort of German over here in Austria.)

I was not particularly a fan of the B&B, though I believed the show to be one of the best and cannot remember that there ever was a better one. Through my wife's involvement with the show I have been quite familiar with it almost from the very beginning. I must admit I was a little skeptical when she started to re-watch the episodes the same evening she had taped them. NOW I can understand her completely. Let me tell you how this came to be:

Last October, I drove Rosemarie some 600 miles to the Halloween meeting of the German "Tunnel Community", expecting little more than being the driver.

I couldn't have been farther from the truth.

Though I knew there was to be a star guest named Jo Anderson, I could not know "that she would change my life forever". No kidding.

I enjoyed Linda Hamilton's portrayal of Catherine (and also her performance in T2) and was deeply saddened when she was killed off. But that couldn't keep me from liking the character of Diana from the beginning. (Aside from missing Catherine I couldn't help but notice how well the third season — well, most of it anyway — was done. There just was no easy way to continue without the female lead.)

I was completely unprepared for what happened to me when Jo entered the room Saturday afternoon. I was never one to idolize anybody, but when I saw her I felt a BIG smile of happiness spread across my face. That smile never left me for the rest of the weekend, except for the moments when I remembered that she'd be leaving Sunday night.

But what might be of more interest to you are the things she said about B&B and the way she said them. We couldn't help seeing that she liked working with Ron Koslow and Ron Perlman and the rest of the crew very much. You should have seen her smile and her eyes when she talked about seeing "Vincent" for the first time, feeling like a kid, wanting to touch him; telling us, how much she admired Ron's work in portraying Vincent; how much she actually felt for him.

Issue 48

front cover of issue #48, Barbara Gipson -- from a fan in issue #49: "I had to write and say how much I enjoyed the issue and how good I thought the picture by Barbara Gipson was on the front of the issue. Didn't it look just like Catherine (Linda)?"
back cover of issue #48, Rosemarie Hauer
inside issue #48, Sandy Shelton, portrays a long-winded charity art auction, the "David" mentioned is David Schwarz
from issue #48

Once Upon a Time... Is Now 48 was published in August/September 1993 and contains 42 pages.

This issue contains photos and con reports for the con, Great Expectations. One photo is of 19 fans in a hot tub with "Vincent" (Wayne Kelley).

This issue contains a segment of a round robin story by fans.

This issue contains the short column called "Jay Watching" (about Jay Avocone).

This issue contains a letter by David Schwartz.

Issue 48: Excerpts from the Letters

Roy [Dotice]? Isn't he the best??? A true fan's fan... Roy is the best thing to happen to fandom, in my book. Can't say enough about him, so I'll stop the one fan cheering section now.

I have started to watch 3rd season episodes again, for the first time since I taped them in 1990... these episodes do have value!

When I first [visited and] went into Central Park all I could think of was — Vincent may have walked in this very area... That sure is a very mature way of thinking. I am now 42 years old, and here I was standing in a REAL PLACE thinking about a NOT REAL person. But in my heart Vincent IS REAL, and so is everyone else connected with the Tunnels. Catherine and Vincent's love is something that will always make me sigh and get dreamy-eyed. There are times I even dream about the Tunnels. If we did not have our dreams, I feel there would not be much of a future for us. I believe the world is built on dreams.

It was wonderful to see everyone again at the con - like a family reunion you can count on every year. But I think the best thing to come of Great Expectations was the total INVOLVEMENT of everyone who rallied to pull together their monies to purchase Vincent’s costume for the fans. To raise over $3600.00 was monumental - to have done it AFTER two days' worth of shopping in the dealers' room AND the auction Saturday night was even more incredible. I fully expect to get an up-front and personal view of it at TunnelCon III next year! Now... if there was some way we could get our hands on a male mannequin and have it made up to look like Vincent... better than having it hang on some silly old hanger, wouldn't you agree?

On behalf of the Heart of Texas Beauty and the Beast Network, I want to say a very heartfelt thank you to everyone who attended and participated in GREAT EXPECTATIONS, this year's international convention in Austin, Texas, on July 16- 18. It was through support like yours that the con was the huge success it was, raising over $15,000 for the Austin Pediatric AIDS League after all expenses were covered! The Director of the League tells us that because of fund-raising efforts like ours, they will now be in a position to purchase a much-needed van to transport children for medical assistance. We can all feel proud in knowing that our contribution truly says "We Care!" to the children who needed our help! Thank you for making it all happen!

I’d like to address another topic that comes to mind vividly because of the con - that of fanzines — those original B&B stories that we can’t get enough of. Usually I am a guest - merely a visitor - as are most of us but this time, being a dealer as well, I had the opportunity to see the view from both sides of the table. I was surprised to note so few new zines at this con, although most of the buyers and browsers seemed to be searching for new reading material. I'm not into making comparisons but this time it's inevitable as I found myself thinking of the Star Trek phenomenon. There's no stagnation there and never will be, as the wealth of new writing bears me out - and it's not fanzines but expensive, mass market books that lead the pack and top the book sales. I doubt if ST would have come so far if they had adhered only to the original idea. Variety is the spice of life, so they say, an axiom that Republic would do well to note. Can you imagine being able to purchase at any bookstore original paperbacks which continue this most romantic of sagas? All themes are just waiting to be explored and romantic fiction is a surefire seller. Perhaps it’s time to begin a new letter writing campaign suggesting that while we're waiting for the movie, how about approving some original fiction. There’s no doubt it would be a hot seller not only with fans but with the buying public. And if it sparks a wave of interest in Vincent and Catherine and their world... who knows where that may lead to? Okay everyone! Get your pens out and write. We've done it before and we can do it again!

I have seen the B&B fandom referred to many times as a cult and I have always disliked this word. To be honest I hate it. Just the word conjures up images of Jim Jones, etc. For me, as I'm sure it's true for the majority of the people in this fandom, B&B has not only broadened my interests, it has also enhanced my life. I'm doing things now that were just impossible dreams about 15 years ago. My interest in B&B found me, once again, drawing. I have found an outlet for my work and it's been fantastic. I even started writing! I've also heard stories of people who have honed their skills in this fandom and have gone on to professional endeavors. So many groups have reached out to others through charities. There are too many positive things going on in this fandom to let us be labeled by such a negative word.