Probe One

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Zine
Title: Probe One
Publisher: EVS Publishing Company
Editor(s): Paul Stuart
Organizer(s):
Author(s):
Cover Artist(s):
Illustrator(s):
Type: reviews
Date(s): 1970s-1980s
Topic:
Medium: print
Frequency:
Fandom: science fiction, multifandom
Rating(s):
Warning(s):
Language: English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Probe One is a multifandom non-fiction zine series edited by Paul Stuart.

The content consists of reviews of the shows. It contains many full-page official publicity photos for various shows.

Issue 10 (v.1 n.10)

Probe One 10 was published in November 1978 and contains about 48 pages.

cover from issue #10
from issue #10, a VCR and technology primer

The editor was Paul Stuart. The contributing editors were Jim Taggart, Joe Baldocchi, Bret Garner, and Michael Rupert.

Contributor were Steve Rubinstein, Gail McGuffin, and Don Blake.

From the zine:

EVS Publishing Company, an insignificant tax shelter for the Vast Telegalactic Empire, and is published at great personal expense at [adress redacted]. That portion of the contents which lends itself to such an egotistical power grab is Copyright 1978 Paul Stuart...

Issue 15 (v.2 n.15)

Probe One 15 (v.2 n.15) was published in October 1979 and contains about 66 pages.

cover of issue #15

The editor was Paul Stuart. The contributing editors were Jim Taggart, J.D. Baldocchi, Jonsey T. Catto, and Michael Rupert.

Other contributors were Steve Rubinstein, Gail McGuffin, and Anthony Stark.

From the zine:

PROBE ONE, a product of EVS Publishing company, is published quarterly at [address redacted]. Contents is copyrighted, 1979 by PROBE ONE, All rights reserved, while PROBE ONE tries to have as much integrity as human motivation will permit, we do have our price. Yes, it's true, the whole shebang is on the block. Interested conglomerates or wealthy/cavalier individuals, partnerships, syndicates or sheikdoms having a substantial six-digit figure in mind are invited to contact us for details.

  • from issue #15, some opinions on the new television line-up ("Tops and Flops")

    from issue #15, some opinions on the new television line-up ("Tops and Flops")

  • from issue #15, a peek into what the editor considered 1966 television nirvana - remember, kids, back then you only had three channels to watch, and if you missed it, you missed it...

    from issue #15, a peek into what the editor considered 1966 television nirvana - remember, kids, back then you only had three channels to watch, and if you missed it, you missed it...

  • from issue #15, mentions "The Galactic Spaceport"

    from issue #15, mentions "The Galactic Spaceport"

  • from issue #15, mentions "The Galactic Spaceport"

    from issue #15, mentions "The Galactic Spaceport"

Reactions and Reviews: Issue 15

I enjoyed your article on Battlestar Galactica in issue #10. and on the theatrical version in issue #15. I was wondering if you are planning on doing an article on Rocky Horror Picture Show soon? Winslow Yeomans, San Jose, Calif.
We are planning an article on the popularity of Rocky Horror and the cult status it has achieved in the near future as well as an article on the group Double Feature that performed at the Strand theatre in San Francisco. [1]

How do you select the films and television programs that you do your retrospect series on? If it is possible I would like to see retrospects on The Abominable Dr. Phibes, Logan's Run, Carrie, Land of the Giants, The Saint, The Time Tunnel and The Starlost. Randy Price, Burlingame, Calif.
Television and movie retrospects are selected from the requests sent in from readers like yourself and suggestions from our staff. There's a chance that many of your favorites will be included in upcoming issues of PROBE ONE.[2]

I picked up an issue of PROBE ONE at a.convention a while ago and I'm having trouble finding recent issues of this interesting magazine, where can I get current issues? George Philbin, Palo Alto, Calif.
You can always send for a subscription. $7.50 for four issues or mail $2.00 for single copies. In the near future we will include a complete list of stores in the Bay Area that carry PROBE ONE. Our retail outlet in Palo Alto is Movie Memories on University Avenue. [3]

Thoroughly enjoyed PROBE ONE #15. I found one item that was a mistake and I thought you'd like to be made aware of it: in the still of Olivier from Dracula-he is holding up not a mirror but a communion host encased in a gold holder with a glass on it. This is a liturgical item used for benedictions and other ceremonies - a larger version, called a monstrance, has this case set into the crossbeam center of a gold cross. - Barbara Fister-Liltz [4]

Dear Sir, I found your series of articles on science fiction conventions very interesting. I hope that you continue writing about them as well as comic book conventions. Can you do an article on science fiction and fantasy : We do have plans to continue our feature on science fiction conventions. We are in the process of preparing a feature on the Bay Area's largest comic book convention, Baycon, as well as on the many talented artists that draw fantasy and paint science fiction art. [5]

Issue 16 (v.2 n.16)

Probe One 16 was published in January 1980 and contains about 62 pages.

front cover of issue #16
back cover of issue #16

The editor was Paul Stuart. The contributing editors were Jim Taggart, Nicholas Blair, and Michael Rupert.

Other contributors were Steve Rubinstein, Jill Murphy, Eric Lang, and Carol Danvers.

The editorial:

As PROBE ONE advances into the 1980's you will see many changes in our publication, not only in style but in range and depth of coverage in our effort to bring the world of science fiction to the Bay Area.

with our circulation rapidly expanding we are acquiring more funds and resources to bring you, the science fiction fan, more news and interviews and better coverage on the world of science fiction and fantasy films, be it on television or on the motion picture screen.

In the upcoming months we will be bringing you updates and articles on "The Empire Strikes Back", "Superman II", "Clash of the Titans" as well as other films encompassing the realm of science fiction, we will look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions on what you would like to see in the way of coverage.

I hope that by expanding our world, we can also enlarge yours.

From the review of Star Trek: The Motion Picture:

No doubt one of the biggest debates in the beginning of this year will be whether or not you liked the Star Trek movie.

After waiting ten years and repeating slogans such as, "Star Trek Lives," over and over to fellow ST fans, the realization of actuality being able to see a bona fide Star Trek movie is enough to bring a tear to the eye of the loyal follower of this tv cult phenomenon.

Whether or not this reviewer gives this film a good or bad re view will not sway the faithful thousands who have watched the 79 reruns of the tv series so many times that they know what the characters are about to say before they say it. They will go in droves to see this momentous film based on the "series that would not die," at least once. A.bad review can not rebuff Star Trek's loyal fans but only make them aware of the flaws in the jewel. Many film viewers will be pleased and awed by much of the film, others will be slightly disappointed. But to have one's dream come true is sometime sufficient to overcome its shortcomings.

  • Editor's Notes (2)
  • Open Channels (3)
  • TV Update (5)
  • The Twilight Zone: Background & Episode Guide (6)
  • Star Trek: The Motion Picture, review (13)
  • Dirk Benedict Interview (20)
  • The Black Hole, review of the film (28)
  • Science Fiction Conventions, essay about some tactics by someone named "Mr. W" regarding science fiction conventions, gatekeeping, and profit (32)
  • Veronica Cartwright Interview (Cartwright portrayed the navigator in Alien) (34)
  • Mini Reviews (films and televisions shows) (42)
  • A Man Called Sloane (description and review of this short-lived television show starring Robert Conrad) (45)
  • Retrospect: Doc Savage, The Man of Bronze (description and review of the film) (48)
  • a full-page flyer for "Collector Con" on February 10th, 1980 at the University of San Francisco, McLaren Hall
  • full page flyers for The Dark Shadows 1897 Concordance, ShadowCon IV, A Year of Enchantment, The World of Dark Shadows, A Study in Shadows, and three cons by the Science Fiction & Fantasy Guild
  • Next Issue's Highlights (back cover)

Issue 19

Probe One 19 was published in September/December 1980 and contains 77 pages.

cover of issue #19

From the editorial:

With 1980 drawing swiftly to an end I look back at the science fiction, horror and fantasy films of the past year with mixed feelings.

Many of the films which the public waited for with high expectations such as "The Shining", "Xanadu", and "Flash Gordon" proved to be major disappointments. Large expenditures of money did not guarantee success at the box office. Neither did casting big name stars help sagging attendance in theaters.

Some blamed the growth of cable TV while others insisted that audiences were tired of science fiction. A few people accepted things as they really were, that the studios were turning out junk and that the movie audience refused to stand for it. Give the public what they want and they'll come see it. "The Empire Strikes Back" proved that to be true. A low budget film such as "Battle Beyond the Stars" proved that there is a large audience for science fiction and a film doesn't have to cost $30 or $40 million dollars to be good.

Television fared almost as bad with little in the way of science fiction to watch. "Galactica 1980" made viewers admit that "Battlestar Galactica" wasn't as bad as they thought. "Mork and Mindy" saw the writing on the wall as did "Buck Rogers" that changes had to be made to help improve their shows. PBS brought "The Lathe of Heaven" to viewers eyes and showed that science fiction isn't totally composed of rocketships and laser battles in outer space. It was an imaginative film which probably never would have gotten on one of the major networks because it wouldn't appeal to the kiddie market.

Regarding "Galacticon," a con that was supposed to take place November 28-30, 1980 at the Bonaventure Hotel, Los Angeles:

While the majority of Bay Area fans would have second thoughts about travelling - all the way down to Los Angeles to attend a convention its not surprising to see a number of familiar faces. Those with not enough money to fly will form car pools and drive to LA and share hotel expenses. The beautiful Bonaventure Hotel, set location for the Buck Rogers TV show, was definitely worth going to for a convention. Fate, however, had other plans in store for this much publicized convention was cancelled a few days before it was scheduled to begin. Numerous rumors circulated regarding the reason for the convention's cancellation:

- The hotel backed out of its agreement at the last minute.
-The promoters of Galaction backed out due to limited funds.
-Sabotage by a rival convention.

Probe One was unable to reach the promoters of Galacticon for comment. As soon as the true cause for the convention's cancellation becomes known, we will inform our readers.

For those who thought D.W.'s con by the airport was their "last hope" the words of Yoda seemed: to echo in--the. air "There is another!" This other convention was Loscon in Anaheim. [6]

  • Editor's Notes (2)
  • Open Channels (3)
  • Battle Beyond the Stars (5)
  • The Twilight Zone Guide, part 3 (8)
  • Flash Gordon (15)
  • TV Retrospect: The Starlost (24)
  • Science Fiction Conventions: A Report by Gail McGuffin (27)
    • Science Fiction Festival (SFF), see that page
    • Baycon IV, see that page
    • Fantasy Symposium 1980, see that page
    • Shadowcon IV (lots of photos), see that page
    • Metrocon (September 6, Centennial Hall, Hayward - ("This 9am to 6pm event called "Metrocon" consisted of a large dealers' room with dealers selling old bubblegum card sets, paperback books, comic books, comic related items and movie material. In a brisk 15 minutes you could tour the entire room, twice, with no other activities going on there was nothing to do but go home. Metrocon was nothing more than an indoor flea market for comic books. There were many hours when the dealers outnumbered the customers, who could have gotten the same service at their own neighborhood comic book shop. This was one event where both the dealers and the fans got short changed.")
    • Octocon III, see that page
    • Galacticon (canceled)
    • Loscon
  • Deluge of Horror (43)
  • The Battlestar Galactica Movies (50)
  • Upcoming Films (54)
  • The Empire Strikes Back: A Second Look (56)
  • Movie Retrospect: Barbaraella (62)
  • Sneak Preview: Superman II (70
  • Next Issue's Highlights (76)

References

  1. ^ from a letter of comment in "Probe One" #15
  2. ^ from a letter of comment in "Probe One" #15
  3. ^ from a letter of comment in "Probe One" #15
  4. ^ from a letter of comment in "Probe One" #15
  5. ^ from a letter of comment in "Probe One" #15
  6. ^ from Probe One #19
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