Soul Mates (David Soul fan club)
| Fan Club | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Soul Mates |
| Dates: | 1983-? |
| Founder(s): | Jackie Allison |
| Leadership: | |
| Country based in: | UK |
| Focus: | David Soul (Starsky & Hutch actor) |
| External Links: | |
| Click here for related articles on Fanlore. | |
Soul Mates was a David Soul fan club in England in the early to mid-1980s.
It sponsored at least one fan gathering: Soul Mates Weekend.
Preceded By: "Soular Energy"
'Soular Energy' is, as far as I know, no longer in existence and DS has most definitely severed all connections with it. It's now been replaced with 'Soul Mates' which is flourishing. [1]
Description and History
Having been in the running seat of Soul Mates for nearly 18 months now, and with our membership having grown to unbelievable numbers, I thought it was about time I did a bit of advertising. Not that word of mouth has not been good enough to swell our membership, but there is always someone somewhere who has not been listening.
Soul Mates is a David Soul official group and we have also been known to follow Paul's pursuits as well. But, as I say, it is a group for David Soul, the person, friends.
We have oodles of fun amongst our friends and raise much needed money for charity, so putting our friendship for David to good use. We don't spend all our time with fund raising though and if that doesn't interest you, there is plenty more that might. It is each member's choice to become as involved, or non-involved, in all aspects of the group, as they wish. Last year, we celebrated our first full year with a wonderful Soul Mates Weekend....[2]
If you're interested in Soul Mates, contact Jackie Allison [address redacted in London], and she'll be only too happy to send you the latest bulletin and names of folk - well, I should say, members, and when and if you write to her, let her know which radio station you listen to most, your choice of record and when your birthday is, and she'll add your name to the list, that way the radio station of your choice will be informed of your birthday and choice of David's record to be played. Hope that answers your question. "Soul Mates" is an independent "body" purely for David Soul fans, and we add our own comments etc, for the bulletin. [3]
Controversy
Fans of this club were quite strident in their support of it, and of the personal life of David Soul, in their comments in many letterzines. This caused other fans to either join them in their fervor, or resent the take-no-prisoners and the intrusion in fannish spaces of what they felt to be overkill. In this way, these fans would have been regarded as feral fans, "newcomers" that many fans felt didn't play by the rules of established fandom.
I wonder why the two groups of fans you mention - ie those who discuss S&H and those who discuss the actors, have to be mutually exclusive? It seems to me both groups have enough in common for this not to be so. I agree if there is an actual 'split' in fandom in this connection, it's a pity. We were not that large a group in the first place. However, I believe there has always been a section of S&H fandom comprising devoted DS fans, and undoubtedly, for them, DS more important than the show, or the character of Hutch. It may be that some of these fans have now broken away from S&H fandom. This seems to be borne out by what Debra says in her letter regarding attendance at Cons - that most Soul Mates members are not involved any more with S&H fandom, and would not attend a S&H Con. [4]
I would like to say the group is not a section of S&H fandom. It is a society formed by, and for fans of David Soul. As I've stated continuously, this is their prerogative. They have every right to celebrate D.S. in whichever way they choose. I have absolutely nothing against these people personally. On the contrary, I admire their loyalty. The only objection I raise is the fact that S&H l/zs are used as a 'platform' to discuss David's life and activities.
I'm not certain, Sara, whether or not you are a regular subscriber to S.O. and APB, so I can only assume you are familiar with the discussions and exchanges of opinions in these forums lately. whatever - I certainly don't want to bore everyone by rehashing old 'differences.' I believe everyone knows my opinions over the issue. I admit I'm about as subtle as a freight-train, but, like others, I am what I am.
[...]
We're all agreed that certain information about Soul and Glaser's careers etc. is most welcome but S&H letterzines were formed solely for the purpose of discussing the S&H phenomena, not the actors themselves.[5]
Other fans were upset that this club very specifically set up a win-lose situation in 1984, planning Soul Mates Weekend in such a way as to throw a wrench in the works of a long-running con, and therefore was instrumental in bringing down DobeyCon.
A second Soul Mates Weekend also brought down the proposed con Bullet.
From APB #37:
Well - most of you should know by now that 'Bullet' has been cancelled. Seems many people wish to adhere to Soulmates and DS fandom - which is, of course, their prerogative. I only wish these people had been serious when they claimed in past forums that they were most definitely fans of S&H - it would have saved my partner and I a lot of running around. Well, at least I now have answers to many of my past questions.
I would like to thank those of you who offered you whole-hearted support, those who registered and those who inquired about supporting membership - perhaps some other time, huh? - Lyndy Harding