Pop Stand Express Interview with Ming Wathne
| Interviews by Fans | |
|---|---|
| Title: | Pop Stand Express Interview with Ming Wathne |
| Interviewer: | Marie Antoine |
| Interviewee: | Ming Wathne |
| Date(s): | 1991 |
| Medium: | |
| Fandom(s): | fandom, zines |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
A 1991 Interview with Ming Wathne was published in Pop Stand Express #25.
The main topic of this interview is the history, philosophy, and general as well as nuts-and-bolts functionality of the then-newly created The Fanzine Archives: A Library for the Preservation & Circulation of Fan-created Material.
Part of a Series
- Pop Stand Express Interview with Kate Wallace
- Pop Stand Express Interview with Kathleen Condon
- Pop Stand Express Interview with Linda Ploetz
- Pop Stand Express Interview with Lizabeth S. Tucker
- Pop Stand Express Interview with Ming Wathne
- Pop Stand Express Interview with Susan M. Garrett
Some Excerpts
The thrust of the Library is to make available to new fans the early zine material, much of which has long since gone out of print and can only been found in auctions -- if there. Only fans who have been around for awhile will recall the originality, beauty and creativeness of such zines as Alderaani Imperative, Kessel Run and Wookiee Commode. Thanks to the Archives, this material can once again be shared and enjoyed by all.
POP: Let’s begin with a little background. How was the Library started?
MING: Originally George Lucas encouraged fanzine writers who were writing Star Wars material to send copies of their zines to him, c/o Maureen Garrett, who you might remember ran the first official fan club. Shortly after the release of Jedi, Lucasfilm decided to terminate the club, and all the zines that had been collected over the years were scheduled for termination as well.
POP: You mean they were simply going to throw them away?
MING: That’s correct. However, prior to everything going in the trash, Maureen attended a MediaWest Con, where she was approached by members of the Seattle Science Fiction Group, who came up with the idea of the Library and persuaded her to donate the materials to them. Shortly thereafter the Library was opened for business, and I had the distinction of becoming their very first customer. The Library operated for approximately 2-3 years before they, too, decided to throw in the towel.
POP: Which, I assume, is where you came in?
MING: Not right away. I don't know the details, but after Seattle decided to abandon the project, I know they spent at least a year searching for another organization or University library that would be willing to take over and keep the zines in circulation. However, the only thing they managed to come up with was an offer of storage, which wasn't that much different from simply destroying them, as the zines would be locked away and never seen. When it looked as though no one was ever going to step forward, I decided to take the plunge.