Tell Me Something I Don't Know!

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Zine
Title: Tell Me Something I Don't Know! (alternating between "Tell Me Something I Don't Know!" and "Tell Me Something I Don't Know...")
Publisher:
Editor(s): started by [M B], continued by [M M], then by [M F]
Type:
Date(s): 1987 – 1991
Frequency:
Medium: print
Fandom: Starsky & Hutch
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.

Tell Me Something I Don't Know! was a 23 issues gen and slash Starsky & Hutch's apazine. Many fans referred to it simply as "the APA" for two reasons: there was only one apazine for this fandom, and because the title was so ungainly. A fan in the second issue said: "I have high hopes of APA. I like the title, but it's too long for me to type out everything, so I'll stick with the APA, okay?" Other fans referred to it as "TMSIDK."

It was started by [M B], continued by [M M], then by [M F]. A fan named [A W] tried to keep the APA going, and asked for submissions for it in issues of Frienz, but "Tell Me Something I Don't Know!" did not continue.

About

Tired of the glassy-eyed response to your enthusiasm over what appears on the surface as a 'wise talking, hard hitting, fast action, cop show'? Want to share to share some of that 'soul, dignity, and inner flash' on a 'relationship between two men that could be anything.' Then join the APA and rap to your heart's content. [1]

To all S&H fans who would like yet another outlet for your creativity — how about joining us in the Starsky and Hutch APA? It's called "Tell Me Something I Don't Know!", and by the time you read this, issue #10 will be out. We "publish" every other month — letters, copies of articles on S&H or Paul and David that everyone sends in, etc. If you're at all interested, please SASE me at this date, we could use 6 more participants (30 is our upper limit.) Spread the word! EDITOR'S NOTE: I love the APA! It has an energy, vitality, and sharing that brings me right back to the early days of S&H fandom. It's great to get one every other month with an original artwork cover and never seen articles and pics inside. You can't go wrong becoming an active part of it. [2]

Encouragement and Support: 1987

A fan in 1987 said:

It is my hope that this APA will fill the gap that will be left when the various letterzines give up the ghost. I do hope we can keep this going so we have a source for news on S&H zines and the doings of David and Paul. We need such a "clearing house" -- a place we can turn to for information and pleasant conversation on S&H. This APA tells us the "things we don't know" as well as the things we like to hear. And it's up to us to keep the lines of communication open. The easier we make it on Maureen, the longer she'll be able to keep us in great covers and the good stuff in between. [3]

Description

flyer

From the Central Mailer, on a flyer:

A.P.A. (Amateur Press Alliance) is an internal means of communication amomg fen. Briefly, the menbers (that's you) send in a specified number of copies (let's start with 20) of their individual contributions/letters (zines) to the Central Mailer (that's me) who then collates everything together and nails out one complete set to each menber. So what we have is a letterzine of sorts. Got it? Great.

APA's are a great place to try out your story drafts, sketches, share newspaper articles, poems, etc. There are no page limits and no rules on appearance, typed or handwritten, as long as it's legible. You can make your zine as plain or farcy as you like. Give your zine a title and remember it will be collated with the others so leave me margins to work with or we'll be reading in the crack.

First zines should include some intro information, where you discovered SH fandom, your first experience with the TV show, that sort of thing. Our goal is to share ideas, favorite zine stories, S/H, other works by Paul and David, and other cop shows and male bondings.

Let's try and keep the main theme STARSKY & HUTCH. This APA isn't for general publication and will be read mostly (you know how fans share) by the members only so we don't have to worry about sounding eloquent, proper spelling, loosing our train of thought or writing in the stream-of-consciousness mode. Your only limits are your ability to have your zine reproduced 20 times the nmnber of pages you have in your zine.

I'm hoping to get at least 20 members, but if we get a large response we'll have to limit it to about 30 and start a waiting list. I've found that these things start out strong and usually settle down to a core group of participants and even these people drop occasionally and new ones add keeping things fresh.

Now the rules! There really aren't any. As far as editing. There isn't any... (which is good because I don't) you're on your own. Arguing and debating is fine. Just remember our attitudes and tolerance of others is a reflection of ourselves. Let's talk but remember Starsky and Hutch dug IDIC too.

Ground rule #1! the APA appears every other month. You are not required to contribute to every issue but if three issues go by and I haven't heard from you, a fourth issue won't be mailed to you.

#2! Postage is paid by you (let's start with $2.00). I'll also take cost of covers out of this. I'll list your balances in each issue and it's up to you to keep it up to date. The cost will go up with the size of the zine but will usually run under $3.00 per issue unless we get real talkative all at once. The bank balance will be accompanied by members addresses and a table of contents for that issue.

So... that about covers it. If you have any other questions I haven't made clear or confused you on something, drop me a line. For now, get writing and send in that introductory zine along with the postage fee and we're on our way. Looking forward to getting to know all of you.

This Fandom's Letterzines

  • S and H (June/July 1979-Jan. 1983) (gen, non-explicit slash)
  • Wanna Share?? (German language) (Sept. 1995-April 1998) (gen, non-explicit slash)
  • Me 'n Thee Times (Feb/March 1999-2000) (gen and non-explicit slash)

One Zine's Beginning

Some of the zine, Convicted, was serialized in this zine, and later finished and published as a separate novel.

Also in this APA was the installments of The Huntingdon Chronicles.

Early Contributions

The introductory flyer encouraged members to title their written contributions and referred to these sections as "zines." For about half of the APAs, fans followed this practice. Later contributions were simply listed by their first names and give no title. The topics of the personal letters were introductions and comments about the show; they are a reminiscent of LoCs to letterzines, but much more casual, much less confrontational, and in many instances, less focused.

The majority of "contributions," especially towards the end, were clippings from whatever sources fans could find. The main topics of the clippings of this time period focused on some current professional projects that David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser were involved in, news reports of the time about David Soul's personal behavior and legal troubles involving alcohol and domestic abuse, and the revelation that the Glaser's family was terribly impacted by AIDs with the death of their daughter Ariel (in August 1988) and the social activism of Elizabeth Glaser (who passed away in December 1994, after this APA was no longer published)). A fan in September 1989 wrote: "I discovered with shock, this very depressing news item, in my local newspaper today. I could hardly believe it, but since it's the AP, I suppose it's true. I've heard nothing of this earlier -- did none of you know this?" [4]

The Editor Announces the End

In early 1993, the editor lets people know her decision about continuing the zine:

I want to thank every APA member for their financial and creative support and patience awaiting its resumption, but, alas, I've decided to cease publication, primarily because I've lost interest in and the lack of time to put together a worthy zine. I thought perhaps once I were truly settled in CA, I'd want/be able to continue the APA, but that's no longer the case. If anyone is interested in taking over "TMSIDK!" write me and maybe we can arrange a transfer of materials. [5]

In 1994, the editor wrote:

Sadly, the APA has folded. It had a marvelous run, but membership dwindled to only eight subscribers and three submissions for the latest edition, so it's time to call it. quits. I will put together a final issue of "TMSIDK!" and return balances soon. Thanks again to all who participated through the years. [6]

Issue 1 (January 1987)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 1 was published in in January 1987 and contains 17 pages. The Captain is [M B].

cover of issue #1, artist is [M M], "There's Hutch on the phone again and Starsky styling a tribble."

There are 9 members.

[From the Captain/Central Mailer]: I want to thank all of you for getting your zines to me during the busy holiday season. Without them we couldn't have gotten the ball rolling. Thanks also to Kendra and Diana for supplying stamps.

As of the first of January we have nine members in the APA and a few who are interested in joining ish #2. Feel free to pass the word to your friends. We are going to limit membership to 30 which is a usual cut off point for APA's considering cost of Xeroxing, postage and such.

I've printed out THE PIGGY BANK to keep you abreast of the $$$ situation. I'd like for us all to keep that up to at least $3.00 considering I won't be sure of how much the postage will be so send in your change to bring your balance up. Thanks. Don't forget to give me a good left hand...er... margin on your pages. (right AND left if you're printing both sides). An inch should be plenty (I'd be greatful [sic] for six inches but, oh, never mind).

RECYCLE, RECYCLE... I'd like to recycle envelopes so send a sturdy one next time you send your line then I'll send the APA back to you in the same. LABELS... I appreciate your sending 5 or so mailing labels addressed to yourselves. All this helps save on the monies and we can use it all for postage and covers. Sometimes I get a break at the printers (I used to work there) and it depends who's in the office, the boss or my old work pals. Got it? Mentioning covers I welcome covers from all members. I'm not going to be able? to dig something up for every issue. I'll have to get creative with photos and such if I run out of creative input from you and myself. TITLES...give your zines a tit1e, it'll help with the table of contents. Looking forward to our next. Should be some fresh reports showing up in the files next issue, so sign your name on the DUTY ROSTER and get your zine on the Captain's desk before the...deadline.

Summary of contents:

Issue 1: Excerpts from Contents

  • Pausin' on Starsky n' Pausin' on Hutch by [E A]: (one focus is her newly-acquired VCR and its ability to freeze frames of enticing body parts):
After dinner Maureen and I sneaked into my bedroom, where my 25" incher is, and we sat down and had a Starsky and Hutch "put it on pause" party in the most wonderful places on different episodes - especially "Murder Ward" and Starsky in his hospital pj's at the end of the episode when he tackles "Matwick". We were screamin' our heads off with laughter and sheer joy!!!!!!" [snipped] "Maureen lent me her Zebra Three fanzines and others to copy AND duped for me a video musical tape which she had and I tell you - I have not been the same since NOR do I ever want to be the same again. I play it almost every night and can't get enough of it. Am I making sense to you S&H people out there? You don't have to answer that! Who gives a Taco!

  • Whenever We Get it In Report by [G B]: (much about "character parties" (LARP):
    There's a group of us here in the Bay Area that like to get together for character (detective.) parties. My Hutch (Sandi) and our friend Kristine (Descoine), with the help of Quincy (Steve) came up with the scenario for the party in question. There had been a murder at Descoine house while he was out of town (supposedly)and S&H, being in charge of the case, asked several of their friends and such to help solve the case. ...Some of the people there were: John Steed & Emma Peel, Colombo, Magnum, Illya & Napoleon, Ben Mears & Mark [7] (me and Mark couldn't get over how much Hutch and Ben looked alike), Clarisse Lovelace & Daniel Valentine, and Remington Steele.

  • A Couple of Aces by [M B]: (her introduction to the fandom):
    My introduction into SH isn't an unfamiliar story. Nothing especially exciting about it except that it was my "first time". It was at a K/S party where I first met Kathy Resch and [Sharon G], also [Georgia B], and [Marie A]. (Marie, was writing SH back then). We sat around talking K/S zine stories and relationships — could you really see it in the show. Sharon piped up about then and said "If you want to see a relationship that is actually on the screen you've got to watch Starsky and Hutch." Starsky and Hutch??? Yeah, Starsky and Hutch. Sharon tried to explain, the hugging, the holding, the intense hurt comfort. It boggled MY imagination... on TV? I'd like to see those sometime says I, my interest piqued. It wasn't long after our gathering that my kids, always on the look out for my latest interest, called me into the room to catch the end of a SH episode, and which other should it be than "Starsky vs. Hutch". How do you interpret two men walking off with their arms around each other and a gleam in their eye after being rejected by a beautiful blonde? Whether you read it straight or "/" it was obvious that these two men loved each other. It would be many episodes later and going through the 4th season before I'd understand all the possibilities that episode represented. [snipped] We had a difficult time at the [K/S] gatherings after that. Every time we'd get together there'd always be some SH tapes to watch and trivia to talk about. Of course zines were being loaned about and suddenly it seemed that those in the group who couldn't get behind S&H were grouping together keeping the talk strictly K/S. We were mutineers. We couldn't seem to keep out the SH moments when we'd watch ST tapes. We soon started having SH parties, yet still trying to include the slow pokes. Understand, ST will always be my first love. It was there for me to give me a hope for the future beyond racial/cultural hatreds and futile wars, but I had also hidden away in a future that I would never see. Yet with S&H there were two men wearing their armour [8] of leather and detective shields, struggling in a world that all too often seemed to prove their efforts futile. The streets were familiar, the cloths and the food. The relationship was an ideal. Two men, who above all else cared about each other. I could relate.

  • Intro by [T B]: (one main topic was the original fiction universe of Vas & Dex, which this fan authored):
    I discovered [Starsky & Hutch] at the end of first season, started writing SH after reading the Max Franklin novelisations, and the rest is history. I didn't discover fandom until my partner and I had already written fourteen SH stories and realised we weren't going to find fame and fortune that way (HAH!), which spawned those bastard sons of SH, Vastarnyi and Dexter, who swiftly grew to resemble their unwitting sires hardly at all. But who did give us a great chance to explore other possibilities that might not be right for S&H. I'm a strong believer in writing to fit the canon of the show — if I want to write something that doesn't fit, I write about someone else. But that still gives us a vast amount of scope, which is a debt we owe to the characters created by the two actors. This being said, I'm also a firm advocate of S/H — not merely for the homo-erotic charge, but because I'm fascinated to see how the two protagonists would deal with the problems. My main quibble about much of the S/H being written is that once the writer has put them through the traumas of guilt and finally got them into bed, the assumption is that they'll live happily ever after. Well, they might — but the odds are most empathically not on their side. What I want to read (and therefore try to write) is how they face the problems, come to terms with the difficulties, and eventually win through. The partnership has to 'make it through the night'. But let's see some of the struggle first — it makes the eventual success so much more worth having. Not that I'm against the Good Stuff. I just think it tends to become a tad repetitive. There are only so many positions and variations on a theme, no matter how many times you've read THE JOY OF GAY SEX. I love to read about the love — but I want to see that love tested. My other failing is an inability to see '/' in the majority of the other male bondings at present in vogue. I may cry... I guess part of this problem is that I have to be able to believe in the characters and their feeling for each other — and that kind of chemistry is rare as hen's teeth. But I'm always looking for it. A bit like the Hunting of the Snark...

  • Untitled by [T D]:
    I should have learned by now to feel no surprise at the versatility of SH fandom and all the varied form it takes. Over here [in England], a new tradition has grown up within the past year or so, of SH fan meetings, just on one day, in London. Our distances are negligible compared with some of yours and there's no problem for most people in getting to the rendezvous. The SH LONDON DAYS have really become established now. They are not CONS in the way most of us would understand the word. They are just a chance for fans to meet, talk, share, trade, exchange news items and other things. We can run video-tapes if people want them, but that particular demand seems minimal now when most people have access to a VTR. You could say that SH fandom in UK now has a London headquarters, we found the ideal place: central London, very reasonable hiring charge for a very pleasant room, very good lunch, etc available on the premises, video facilities, and a most friendly and interested staff. There have been four such meetings so far in a little over a year - and three more are planned for 1987. Originally, two were proposed, but by general request the number was raised to three. One date is The Fourth of July — could there be a better choice? By then, some of the American fans should be here too — will be great to have them join us.

  • Intro by [S G]: (contains much about the LARP activity):
    I wanted to tell you about a Mystery party I went to awhile back. [Kristine T] and [Sandy R] had set up the clues and put a lot of work into this (with some help from others). Anyway, at a mystery party you go in character as your favorite detective and help solve a murder. [MUCH plot and character description snipped] There were also a few lover's quarrels (three pairs were playing their characters as "/". Starsky/Hutch, Napoleon/Illya and Ben/Mark [9]). At one time during the evening Starsky comes running out from behind the house yelling Huuuuutch!! and says he saw a vampire which Hutch of course doesn't believe. Later in the evening the group had found a lot of clues but were missing some vital ones to piece it all together. Ben and myself were in the house with some others when we heard a commotion and what we later realized was a gun shot outside. We all go running out on the deck to see what was happening and find Hutch lying in a pool of blood. Everyone was in shock, not sure what to do. Starsky went to Hutch and tried to help, asking what happened. Hutch said not to blame Descoine and some other things ending with "I love you", then died in Starsky's arms. Starsky realizes that Descoine shot Hutch and goes after him. It took 4 people to wrestle Starsky to the ground. He just knelt there holding Hutch's leather jacket, holster and gun, rocking. It was so strange to sec this happen. At first it felt like I was living a fanzine story, standing there watching Hutch die. Then I remembered my character, but to Mark it looked like Ben Mears lying there dying. I thought about what it would be like for Ben to be gone. The whole thing was great. There were only a few people in on Hutch's death so it made it even more dramatic. I also found it is very difficult to explain to most people how the highlight of a party could be watching someone die. It was really like watching a fanzine right in front of us.

Issue 2 (March 1987)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 2 was published in March 1987 and contains 65 pages. The Captain is [M B].

cover of issue #2 -- "Stan and the Babe"

There are 7 new members, bringing the total to 16.

[editorial comments from the Captain]:Evie, Georgia, Meg, Sharon, Sandi, Kristine and Sydney made this issue special. We wish we could have shared it with every one of you. Maybe we can pull a similar event together for Z-Con and all those of you who can make it. A note of thanks to those who donated APA supplies, such as extra manila envelopes, labels, etc. It's nice to have a back up, partners!!!!!!!!!!!

Summary of contents:

  • the fresh detail a "clean" VCR recording tape can provide, the new things one sees with a bigger screen and the ability to pause the show, and how this provides much inspiration especially of the artistic variety
  • creating original characters when ones on the screen do not satisfy or have outlived their usefulness
  • having sympathy for the postal service
  • fears that ZebraCon wouldn't have enough Starsky & Hutch programming
  • a story about Starsky & Hutch in England meeting Robin of Loxley
  • meeting David Soul
  • LARPing
  • many clippings
  • Anybody's Cat, poem by [P M]
  • Seaside Lullaby, poem by [M F]
  • The Huntingdon Chronicles, part one by [C D] and [M D] (later published in The Fix #4)

Issue 2: Excerpts from Contents

  • A Couple of Aces... by [M B]:
    I'm a rural carrier... I've learned all the nitty gritty get down dirt about the functions of the Post Office and I'll never again in good conscious be able to use the term Post Awful again. I'll get off on that tangent at another time. [snipped] How many of you are seriously planning on attending Z-Con this year? ... I mentioned my fears of the con being too Professionals oriented, but Karen has assured me that there will be plenty of SH and I know she's as good as her word. Besides there's all those of us who refuse to be swayed Pro and we have a fun tine running around saying cruel things to the Pro's fans like Boobie and Boil. Sorry about that Karen, I know IDIC. IDIC. Sheesh!

  • also from A Couple of Aces:
    We did it again... A midnight to 3 am "Puttin' it on Pause". I tell you-- with that 25 incher you can see the tear filled eyes I never knew were there on Hutch in the "pushing the odds" scene from Sweet Revenge. Shall we try for 70mm next? .... Evie is responsible for much of the inspiration for the illoes I've just finished for Karen's CODE 7 #4. Especially the Sweet Revenge piece. [10] Those four little drops of blood are dedicated too, Evie, without whom I wouldn't have seen such a minute detail. Her 24 incher provides just a bit more peripheral vision. It helped with the buns too. I don't get as much bun as you do on my 18 incher. Thanks, Evie. She pointed out the blood running from Starsky's nose when Hutch lifts his head in Shootout, I have just acquired new copies of the episodes thanks to our Channel 20's recent airings and was surprised to see the blood on Hutch's hand after he's attacked in the hospital garage in Sweet Revenge. My old copy just showed a lot of red and I thought that was the red hanky he had wrapped around his hand, but you see different on the clean copy. Of course my seeming perverse fascination with blood is only in relation to the lack of bloodletting and impact shots they allowed on TV in those days. On the other hand, it's so... personal. Blood that is.

  • also from "A Couple of Aces"
    The Murder Party was more like Murder Ward with Quincy running around looking like Matwick gone insane... Play acting is great fun, especially playing your favorite characters.

  • also from "A Couple of Aces"
    ...regarding the struggles of Starksy and Hutch's relationship. Whether straight or "/" there are going to be conflicts as there are in all friendships, I think the closer two people are to one another the stronger their disagreements can be. I think there are few people we allow ourselves to work through or problems with, but it is those we are to closest to that we allow to see our worst side. I think because we know them well enough to know they will forgive us everything. I'd say Starksy and Hutch know each other that well, wouldn't you? Your title for your next zine, NO EASY ANSWERS, says it all about two people who decide to spend their life together. I don't see "/" in any other TV shows either. For that fact I don't see the male bonding either. In comparison to SH I sometimes think it will be impossible to find. I remember hearing about Miami Vice and hoping we might see something, especially what with David and Paul directing, but it just doesn't exist. You can't put something there that ain't, and that is why we are always so grateful to Paul and David for doing what came naturally, lovin' each other. [snipped] But where you can't find a relationship the next best thing is to create your own, as [T B] has with Vas and Dex. I much rather that route than trying to make something work that doesn't exist between two actors, although some people just use the characters to work from and are really maneuvering the characters to suit the writers desires.

  • Dirtball Dispatch by [G B]:
    Well I just reread the first APA and I still don't know what to say — kept I'm glad to know I'm not the only crazy person around. I've been trying to get my thoughts together on why I think Starsky is the Spock in the S & H relationship — but my brain isn't cooperating (too much work and school. I'm in my second quarter of Russian.) At first I sorta thought that Hutch would be the Spock (like in those few fanzine stories I've read), but the more I thought about it, the more I realized that Starsky fulfills the same role for Hutch, that Spock does for Kirk. It's a case of opposite sides of the same coin. (Why else would Spock've liked me [11] so much in Mixed Metaphors? He did keep wriggling his eyebrow at me!) Starsky is the balance of sanity to Hutch's intensity, just as Spock, no matter how differently, is the balance for Kirk. Starsky's joviality is as much a front as Spock's lack of emotion. Threaten their 'others' and see how quickly the pose is dropped.

  • A Word in Edgewise by [T B]:
    The character party sounds like insanity and fun in equal portions... Though I can't think of many people this side of the Pond who'd be willing to play -- or to "let the geek out" as Paula Smith so succinctly put it in the last issue of WDWTT. Shame.

  • also from "A Word in Edgewise"
    Got to thinking, recently, just how REAL those guys are. Now I grant you that a whole lot of the credit for that has to be laid at the feet of the two actors who put flesh on the bones conceived by Blinn. But there were still large chunks of Terra Incognita, and it's fanfic that fills in the maps -- often with large signs reading HERE BE DRAGONS in big friendly letters -- until the pretty images on screen are living, breathing entities.

  • also from "A Word in Edgewise"
    ... with the AIDS epidemic gaining ground, is anyone going to give [Starsky & Hutch] an even break? (Ah. Did I sense a wince or two via telepathic precognition? AIDS being a Subject Off Limits? But I'm talking about realities here, and that's real. However, if anyone ever writes a story where either one of them gets it... Let's put it this way. I haven't forgiven Armistead Maupin for BABYCAKES even yet. And I can carry a grudge a l-o-n-g time.) (Then again, if it's written right...)

  • Contribution by [T D]:
    I don't forget the generous help when the zines and the letterzines began to arrive [to me in England] from California. They were our first channel and contact to link us with SH in USA — where the real SH action was. Back in those distant days of '79, the dream began to materialize so that I made that first pilgrimage to L.A. Six thousand miles to see among other things, those legendary episodes we had only heard of...The Fix... Murder Ward... Nightmare...first step in making it possible for UK fandom to share in them too.

  • Another Fine Mess by [M F]:
    Maureen was kind enough to invite me to join in spite of my relative ignorance of this particular fandom. I may be familiar with the fan writing, but my exposure to the episodes has been severely limited (to date, approximately 7 viewed), but now that our house has finally been blessed with a VCR, hopefully ignorance won't be bliss much longer. How ever did I come to be involved with yet ANOTHER fandom... just when I promised my pocketbook (still in shock from my last visit to local xerox) that I'd refrain from such nefarious activities... Seriously, I am so very impressed with the characters. Takes courage to put something on the tube that treads on prevailing social attitudes... I'm surprised this program ever got off the ground. Personal space is not shared in our culture... ESPECIALLY not by two males.... ESPECIALLY not on network television.... Nobody (in my opinion) has managed to come close with any other TV show. I am a (very faithful) Star Trek fan who's dabbled a bit in a few other fandoms, but for sheer caring... wish the Powers That Be would take a tip from the popularity of this show. (Although I'm afraid they broke the mold when they created the characters...).

  • The Lavender Report by [S G]: (about meeting David Soul]:
    A whole big group of us went armed with cameras and pictures for David to sign. I had just finished a pencil drawing of David that [Sandi R] had commissioned me to do and she wanted me to get David to sign that, plus I had a photo of him for myself. Well, we got there and everyone was milling around talking waiting for David to show up. He entered from the back of the store (this was at a book store in the Mall). I saw this gorgeous tall blonde walk to the front of the store and my heart stopped beating. (Well, it at least skipped a couple of beats). They had a table set up for him to sit at and a line had formed. Many people were trying to think of something intelligent to say to him when it came their turn. Unfortunately I didn't have a single intelligent thought in my mind. David would shake each person's hand before he signed their picture. It came my turn, he put his pen down took my hand and held it while looking right into my eyes. Well, I was a puddle on the floor. I couldn't think. I said something about enjoying his work - acting, singing. He then asked my name to sign on my picture and I asked him to sign the drawing. I stood back to just watch him and to take pictures once I stopped shaking....I know I was glad I didn't drive I don't think I would have made it home in one piece.

ill by Ruth, dated 1976: "They sat on the couch with a couple of bears and stared at each other."
ill by Ruth, dated 1986: "Happy 10th, buddy!" and "OKAY, OKAY, SO IT'S ALMOST 12 YEARS NOW!!! Ain't that great?!?! And we still love 'em!"
  • Reminiscing by [R K]:
    I had just discovered Star Trek fandom in 1978, the first I knew there were other people in the world who loved characters on TV, and Teri White was already well into S&H. It didn't take much for her to interest me, too. I drew this picture from a photo I had tried to take from TV because I had no VCR and didn't like to be without the two lovelies to look at between episodes on the air. Remember back when it was new for you? The love we felt was fresh and exciting. Now it is a warm glow, different, but still beautiful. Back then I couldn't get enough pictures to draw from, or just to drool over. Now my collection is all over my walls -- floors, closets, shelves, cupboards.... Sure I've gone on to add other interests, that's growing, but hearts are built for love, there's always enough from somewhere for the new without losing any for the old friends in our lives. STARSKY and HUTCH -- old friends for always! It's funny, once I start thinking about S&H I don't want to stop. The memories are all good. Take Zebra Cons, for instance. I've been lucky enough to attend all of them, and I've never loved any con more, although the Paul Muni Special had the same kind of warmth and closeness that I look forward to at Z-Cons. At other cons I rarely attend panels, just seek out my friends and discuss S&H and our other interests, for to me fandom is friendship and a sharing of ideas and the pleasures we find in the episodes and stories about these caring, loving, and beautiful guys. It is always wonderful to find a kindred soul, someone else who knows what we mean when we talk about Blondie and Curly with an air of appreciation. Some fans want to keep S&H forever young, but at my age I don't mind watching them grow older, so long as they are always together. I can't see them apart. I suppose it's unrealistic, but that's what fantasies are for --to have the things we love forever. That's why STARSKY AND HUTCH will always be special to all of us.

  • Pausin' on Starsky N' Pausin' on Hutch by [E A]: ("A Reflection of Shadows and Silhouettes" -- is her analysis, using a VCR of filming techniques, of color and shadows in some episodes):
    I've always been interested in black and white/color photography and art - and I love both equally. I don't know the logistics of photography be it color or black and white - but one thing for sure - I've always believed it to be magical. Throughout S&H episodes we are treated to some pretty wonderful shadows, a few reflections and a couple of silhouettes. I really haven't seen or studied all of the episodes but of those that I have seen let me tell you what I feel and think about some of them. [snipped] What I'm trying to say here is that we live in a miraculous world that encompasses every imaginable color. I thank God for my eyes because for me to see the contrasting world of black and white in that world of color in our every day living is something that I feel very deeply about. Even more so throughout S&H episodes - the contrast of shadows against the color is what does it for me. To discover that both worlds of color/black and white can come together so terrifically in Starsky's and Hutch's world is happiness to me.

Issue 3 (May 1987)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 3 was published in May 1987 and contains 99 pages. The Captain is [M B].

cover of issue #3

There are 6 new members, bringing the total to 20.

Summary of contents:

  • Vas & Dex
  • why contort Starsky & Hutch, Doyle and Bodie, and other characters, when one should just write original fiction?
  • comments on April Valentine's songtape
  • comments regarding The Huntingdon Chronicles
  • the "second exciting installment of" "The Huntingdon Chronicles" does not appear in this issue
  • a long report of three fans (with photo) going to see the movie "Hanoi Hilton" (one character was portrayed by David Soul), touring Los Angeles, and in doing some LARPing out side of the airport
  • a fan wants to know why there aren't more established relationship stories
  • Healing, fiction by [M L]
  • Murder on San Carmelappolis (a parody of Murder on San Carmelitas) by Ima Fool, unrelated to the 1988 ZebraCon play
  • a fan compares Star Trek to Starsky & Hutch, concentrates on power imbalances and the presence/lack of the science fiction
  • a fan wants to know why there aren't more stories about SH and AIDS, speculates how the disease would affect their lives, describes her work in an AIDS counseling clinic -- these comments were made about 14 months BEFORE it was widely known to the public [12] about the terrible ways AIDS was affecting Paul Michael Glaser's family [13]
  • there is a photo of three fans in front of a movie theater which accompanies a description of their weekend in L.A.
  • a fan describes a fan-get-together: "Cinnamon Teal Weekend" in which six fans hung out, watched tapes, talked and ate, and talked some more, and made fannish dolls do explicit things with each other
  • Dreamers (believe in magic, will chase a rainbow) by [T D] is one-page collage
  • a short description of a fan gathering where several fans flew to visit
  • Is That a Way to Treat a Convalescent? by [R K], trib that thanks many fans for their support during her illness and personal challenges
  • Partners/A Virgin in These Woods by [M M] and [J G], a long, stream-of-consciousness fan history and squee
  • Pausin' on Starsky and Pausin' on Hutch by [E A], much about a fan gathering
  • Dirtball Dispatch by [G B], handwritten personal notes
  • a hand-typed transcription of a interview by Bryant Gumbel of Michael Moriarty (topic is the movie "Hanoi Hilton"), April 17, 1987, NBC News Today
  • many clippings

Issue 3: Excerpts from Contents

  • A Word in Edgewise by [T B]:
    We didn't create V&D just to get another 'relationship' story. They grew out of S&H (Athene from the brow of Zeus?) and thereby hangs a tale. We were writing S&H long before we knew of fandom, and during one story it became abundantly clear that we weren't writing S&H (as seen on the screen) but two other guys with a passing resemblance and the same names. The question was -- who the hell were they? A little research, and there they all were in their glory (?) -- no longer mere clones, but personalities in their own right. This established, we were able to go back and write S&H according To Canon without anyone else muscling in. Or not that much.

  • more from "A Word in Edgewise":
    We can all name a story or three where the protagonists are named Starsky and Hutch, and who look very like their screen counterparts, but ... are just being used to suit the writer's desires. Thereby giving rise to that anguished cry from the reader, "But that's not my Starsky (or Hutch)!" Of course, we each see them just a little differently -- we are all individuals, and view things from different angles -- but I can think of several "universes" where my only thought is "why didn't the writer just invent her own characters rather than perpetrate this on S&H?" There could be several reasons for this -- Maybe she genuinely thingks she's writing S&H. Maybe she can't be bothered to invent or create her own pair. Maybe she thinks no one would be interested if she did. (I've been this route. I was wrong...) And there's no law saying your written characters have to conform to the Canon. I know that. But it bugs the hell out of the discerning reader -- and a bugged reader is not a happy reader. So -- the trick would seem to be to realise when your characters are slipping the leash, and either haul them back on course or let'em run... and enjoy the voyage of discovery. I've seen it in other fandoms, too -- I think PROFS is one of the worse offenders. It isn't really had for an American to write Brit, you know -- no harder than for us to write colloquial American. You just need to be able to listen to the words and the speech patterns. And have a good editor in the country you're writing about.

  • Amapola Cruise by [M B]:
    I participated in Trek fandom for ten years until branching out into SH. It's been wonderful. The last three years have been fun and I've enjoyed writing and reading about the characters we treasure. To me, they are very real, very human, two men who make mistakes, but whose integrity will not let them sacrifice what they think is right. I don't really think they can or should be compared to the characters of Kirk and Spock -- they are totally different. Kirk and Spock were born (read created) to be heroes. Starsky and Hutch are heroes made of circumstances. They don't live in the idealistic, fantasy universe that Kirk and Spock inhabit, where getting out of trouble is as easy as saying, "Beam me up, Scotty." Starsky and Hutch are stuck right here, in our world, like it or not, and they have to learn to cope and take care of the people they are sworn to serve and protect. They relate on different levels than Kirk and Spock or any other two characters, but the main difference is in their equality. Kirk outranks Spock and that sets a different tone on their relationship. Starsky and Hutch are equal, in rank and in strength. There has to be more give and take, more sharing, more intensity in their relationship.

  • also from "Amapola Cruise":
    You mention AIDS, and wonder if it's a subject that is or perhaps should be off limits where Starsky and Hutch are concerned. I, for one, really couldn't bear to read a story where one of them has AIDS. Death stories for Starsky and Hutch are much more real and immediate for me than for Kirk and Spock -- in another universe, those two will live on, but for Starsky and Hutch death is really death. [snipped] A death from AIDS is the worst suffering imaginable, I know, because I do volunteer work for our local AIDS organization... I've learned a lot and I feel I've helped a lot people to stop fearing the disease and to begin changing the behavior that does spread it. If we believe Starsky and Hutch would become lovers, the subject is bound to come up. Fandom taught me to understand and be sensitive to the issue of homosexuality and is one reason I decided to volunteer. But if Starsky and Hutch truly love each other and form a monogamous relationship following Sweet Revenge in 1979, in all likelihood, they would not have been infected by the virus that causes AIDS. Though L.A. has a high concentration of AIDS patients and the virus was arriving in the country by that year, the odds are in their favor, especially if they were sleeping exclusively with women before they became lovers. (Now, if you see them as being gay all along or sleeping around after S'Rev, that's another story.) Starsky did receive massive blood transfusions when he was shot in S'Rev, so it would be a good idea for him to have a blood test, just to make sure. ... The other way AIDS could be contracted is through the sharing of IV needles by drug abusers. But if Monk [in "The Fix"] had used a dirty needle when he was shooting Hutch up with heroin, our hero would have likely only caught a case of hepatitis, not AIDS. The virus which causes the disease did not exist in 1975 -- at least we don't think so, though it may have been mutating in some other country back then. Thus, doing an AIDS story for S and H would mean seriously questioning the relationship -- who did you sleep with that passed the virus on to you? Believing as I do that they weren't gay all their lives previous to falling in love, I can't see Starsky and Hutch participating in your typical gay, promiscuous lifestyle. Of course, they slept with plenty of women, but in '79 there probably were very few females infected, possibly only prostitutes. At any rate, speculation is interesting, but I think it would really shake the love they have between them if this question arose. I'd just rather not see them suffer the pain, the dementia, the infections, the incontinence, the wasting away that AIDS brings. If they must die, then let them die as they lived, to the limit of their potential.

  • A Couple of Aces by [M B]:
    I've often wondered where [David Soul] had seen my [fanart] before. I've sent a set of prints to Paul and David to PMG (oh, what a fantasy to think that was the connection). Then again, heaven forbid, it could have been a fanzine. Have I ever been in anything but a "/" zine?

  • also from "A Couple of Aces"
    The flight home was a game of pantomime charades with us taking turns miming scenes from different episodes. When we were finally free of the confines of the seats in front of the airport was the stage of our varied versions of Hutch running through the alleys in "The Fix." You can imagine three women, in skirts yet, falling to their knees and elbows... Evie pushes up my sleeve and says, "Oh, my god, she's a junkie."

  • Contribution by [M F]:
    Because of [Starsky & Hutch], I've had the pleasure to meet and get to know some of the nicest, most generous, talented and created people who've not only enhanced my participation in S&H fandom, but have enriched the rest of my life also. Anyone who says S&H was "just a tv show" was blind to the beauty exemplified by the protagonists. For me, David and Ken's commendable, inspiring, lovely manner is a way of life! STARSKY and HUTCH FOREVER!!

  • Another Fine Mess by [M F]:
    Thanks to Sydney I have also been catching up on all those zines I never read (not being involved in this fandom at the time of their printing). One of the nicest things about fandom is the way people share.... several people in this APA have been willing to trust me with their treasures, not to mention introducing this virgin in the woods to the video material. Ruth, what you said is so true... fandom is friendship. Where else to find such soul kin?

  • also from "Another Fine Mess";
    I wanted to comment on another matter you brought up in the 1st issue -- namely, the fascination (and challenge) of "continuing relationship" stories. Like most of the stories I've read in the other two fandoms with which I am deeply involved (Star Trek and The Professionals), most slash stories are "first time." To my admittedly limited knowledge, the only writer who has set up a "continuing relationship" series is Eva Stuart (ST in Classified Assignments and different Voice issues). The excellence of these stories is proof of the appeal that can attend such an exploration of a relationship, and the timeline on her stories ranges from academy to second five-year mission. (The separation - Spock to Gol and Kirk to the Admiralty - does not occur in her universe.) What is particularly satisfying is that her male bonding is the subject to the kinds of stresses that will happen in the best of pairings. Adds a dimension of reality which most first times lack. Despite my own predilection for happy endings, "and they lived happily ever after" just isn't true! (And the ones that see us at our worst are the ones we trust to love us in spite of ourselves.) I shouldn't say Eva Stuart is the only fan writer to have done this. Come to think of it, the gal (I'm not sure whom) who wrote the stories appearing in The Water is Wide (the first story originally published in Code 7, I think) did the same thing. Unfortunately, I've never seen any more additions to that series, and it, too, was fine writing. Tremendous possibilities in this kind of writing as you peel back the infinite layers possible to a viable pair of personalities... and what's more, a lot of terra icognita as fan writers simply haven't chose to examine the territory.

  • Lavender Report by [S G]:
    I'm sorry I am going to miss the next Bay Area SH get-to-gether at Sydney's but I will be at 4-play in Phoenix. I am really looking forward to it. I sure am not prepared for it though. I didn't get any artwork done and I didn't finish the songtape I was going to do.... Oh well.

  • Untitled by [N G]:
    How about a bit of a con report? Cinnamon Teal Weekend, March 27-30, '87 held in a rented cottage (fortuntaly with no close neighbors) on Chincoteague VA... In attendance were April Valentine, Bright, Davis, Decker, [Nancy G] and Perry. Six women and a few things one needs on a weekend trip were sufficient to trash the place within minutes of arrival. Highpoints of the weekend included food, S&H dolls entwined in the 69 position suspended by rubber bands, episode and songtape viewing, food, reading, food, wild pony sighting, food, pinwheels and badge (seashell) tossing on the beach, food, teddybear porn, food, vegetable sex (staring the cucumber "club of his sex") food, assorted silliness and crudity, and food. Blackmail photos abound. I don't dare give more details for fear of embarrassment and murder.

Issue 4 (July 1987)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 4 was published in July 1987 and contains 156 pages. It is "the Buddy Issue." The Captain is [M B].

There are 18 members.

cover of issue #4
from issue #4, "The Insiders" art by Sharon G.

Summary of contents:

  • Script List by [N G]
  • Convicted, chapter two by [M B] (fiction)
  • some comments about AIDs and Starsky & Hutch
  • a bit about Vas & Dex, including a list of available stories, as well as the opportunity to buy some stationary and art
  • a fan wanted some help in putting together a SH concordance, as she had a "years-long dissatisfaction with the extant concordance."
  • some comments about the lateness of Bird of Paradise, with one fan saying the last she'd heard about it was in 1985 and that she was "betting my $10.00 is long gone."
  • The Huntingdon Chronicles, chapter two by [C D] and [M D] (later published in The Fix #4)
  • Contribution by [M F] is a very detailed and opinionated review of what is in the written script and what was shown on the screen -- one observation was how much the actors improvised and added various male bonding goodies
  • there is a mention of "Lucy's songtape"
  • Another Fine Mess by [M F] discusses usage and history of the word "buddy" in media shows
  • much about fan appreciation of the show The Insiders
  • a LOC by [R K ] or Code 7 #4, see that page
  • comments/review of "Shootout"
  • Pausin' on Starsky and Pausin' on Hutch (E A]
  • many, many clippings and transcripts of interviews
  • fiction: "Lucy Cribb Walk started this round-robin story at the last APA party and several of us took turns adding to it."
  • a fan comments extensively on the women's movement, the Far Right, portrayal of family and women in media
  • a mention of "Tabby's story books (have you seen these? Stories interspersed with cut out and pasted in pictures, mounted on special embossed papers, calligraphy...oh, drool.)"
  • Pat's Page by [P M], very short
  • Olympic Flames by [T D] is a collage of clippings and headlines

Issue 4: Excerpts from Contents

inside page sample from issue #4, Lethal Weapon fanart, artist is Sharon D.
inside page sample from issue #4, possibly Vas & Dex fanart, artist is Sharon D.
inside page sample from issue #4, fanart, artist is Ruth Kurz
inside page sample from issue #4, fanart, artist is Ruth Kurz
  • A Word in Edgewise by [T B]:
    I agree with you on AIDS -- though discussion of the subject in the SH context makes for some gut-wrenching moments. Don't tell me you've never played a game of "what if..." And there are SH universes (not mine) where they have both had promiscuous homosexual lifestyles -- or at the very least, enough to make them "high risk."

  • also from "A Word in Edgewise":
    Since we'd written quite a lot of V&D before their advent into fandom, I guess to the new readers it seemed that there was a never ending supply of it. But of course, we don't have the mythical manuscript tree in our garden, so it tends to seem like a long time between stories. There is plenty on the horizon, however. See the attached list of available material. I'm pleased you liked the portraits [of Vas and Dex in issue #2] -- in spite of excellent attempts by fannish artists, no one had produced pictures that looked like both of them and not like SH clones. Then came Todd Hamilton. The rest is history. As for THE THRESHING FLOOR series... yeah, you could say interesting. Enjoyable? Let's say,m if we did this to S&H, we'd be lynched. We may get lynched anyway after NEA anyway. Ah me. Such is live. Ars longa, vita brevis, and like that.

  • Contribution by [S B]:
    An AIDS story involving the guys. A couple of years ago I suggested to various fan friends I was thinking of writing a piece in which Hutch contracted AIDS. No one really wanted to hear about the idea, much less go any further with it. So I dropped the whole thing (although I update my reference file and flesh out the plot outline every so often.) It seems to be the one topic fandom won't accept as part of the S&H universe.

  • A Couple of Aces by [M B]:
    I agree an AIDS story wouldn't be a positive one, but ideas cross our minds, people are always going to "what if." In reality, we are starting to experience knowing someone who is dying of AIDS or at the very least know someone who knows someone. Our lives seep into the works, too.

  • Lavender Report by [S G]:
    My favorite fan stories (before I discovered "/") have always been Hurt/Comfort (I still love hurt/comfort). They show such love. "Male Bonding" -- I was watching avidly for it in every show, movie & book before I even know what it was.... I seemed after Starsky & Hutch had been so popular I saw male bonding in more shows -- I'm not saying S&H started bonding although I think it is one of the finest examples. Everyone tried to copy S&H first with the violence (there have been many shows with more violence but everyone always seems to go back to that) then with the bonding. I remember watching almost any Spelling show looking for "the formula." I saw one of his movies that made me laugh, you could actually see the script call for one to put their arm around the other. Where as with S&H it was natural, it wasn't in the script.

  • England Bound by [R K]:
    I was especially pleased to hear that some of you at one of your S&H get-togethers were watching Kendra and Diana's song tape and when the H/J bit ("Ooops, wrong universe") came on you began to talk about your favorite H/J stories. That gave me some nice, warm feelings. Thanks. It was my interest in David from S&H that made me want to find a way to keep him alive at the end of MAGNUM FORCE. Thus H/J was born after I discovered S&H. You can imagine my surprise to finds some people like Melissa and Joanna, discovered S&H and the Yellow Rose because of H/J!

  • Partners/A Virgin in These Woods by [M M] and [J G]:
    We particularly enjoyed Martha's "Amapola Cruise" and would like to take this opportunity to thank Martha for all the good zines she's put out, and the promise of more to come! We are constantly yearning for new good zines! I also very much agree with Martha's comments regarding AIDS--this is definitely not a good topic for a S/H story--please, I hope no one will use it! Betsy Barr did have a reference to the possibilities in a short story in the new Code 7, Vol. 4, but the way it was written, that was OK. I'd much prefer to ignore the whole subject in fan fiction, however. Speaking of Code 7, as most of you probably know by now, it's great! I got my copy Friday evening, and by Saturday night had read it all the way thru, and enjoyed virtually every story, which is a rarity in such a nice, long zine. I'm looking forward to re-reading it soon.

  • also from "Partners/A Virgin in These Woods":
    To those who have mentioned being anti-Professionals, we're with you! We know many people in this fandom love both SH and BD, but we frankly cannot see the attraction to BD, and while we want very much to go to Zebra Con this fall, we're not looking forward to being the minority fandom there. I've been involved with SH fandom for about 2 years now, and I'm sad that it sometimes seems that the fandom was dying out just about the time I found it! I know there are still some of us who are interested, and some wonderfully creative people, thank goodness, but it seems to be such a small and dwindling group, and that makes me feel sad, since I enjoy SH, PMG and US so much, and much of the fun comes from sharing!

  • Case Notes by [S T]/C.J. Lorrane] who states that her comments are "dedicated to the premise that what women think is erotic is best described by and for women, ourselves":
    I am so glad you are writing for us again, Terri. OMR is one of my all time favorites, but I have to say that your contribution to Code 7 hints at a LOT of growth in how you see the "relationship" since the "healing" time. I am really looking forward to it. I also recently got some new-to-me Vas n' Dex: is Dance Unrehearsed a different universe of Threashing Floor? Talk about cliff hangers. Urrrrgh. I enjoy your letters to us, but do please stop apologizing for "tone"; I don't take your contributions in any way as "negative" but rather as an opportunity to explore different facets of their relationship. After all, there was only one episode called "Dandruff"--the rest of the series was more dark- with-high-lights, don't you think? I'm all for escapism in my zine entertainment, but some of the more gritty stories give me the opportunity to "rehearse" how I might cope with some of life's less pleasant curves. Besides, the name of this apa is related to "something I don't know"; in my case, that's a bunch!

  • also from "Case Notes":
    Speaking of dreaming, I use the pseudoname of C.J. Lorrane when I create. I chose it myself. There is something magical about naming myself. Something positive and powerful. I think of C.J. as a special part of me, some part that does daring things: she dreams. I have a hard time relating to sort of negative comments about pseudonames; in particular the comments from Della Van Hise about the PocketBook blacklist of any fan authors being published if they ever were known to be associated with "/" writings. Personally, I think that the "Power Structure" is scared silly of us women taking our pleasure into our own hands, so to speak, so they are seizing any excuse to avoid publishing us. Of course, at this time, I do not plan to pay the mortgage with my writing, so it is very easy for me to say the hell with Pocketbook's blacklisting practices. I respect other women's concerns about their career, but council them to assume whatever credentials will be "publishable" but not to join in the publishing companies' "bashing" of feminist erotic literature. ("I'm not a libber, but I believe in equal pay").

  • also from "Case Notes"
    I'm going to share one of C.J.'s draft stories with you. It is a sequel of sorts to "After the Ping Pong Ball Bounced" which was printed in Hanky Panky. That story was a combined effort with two other women, and set in Alexis Roger's "Cost of Love" universe. (I wanted to "get Nathan" and Alexis obliged!) This story, while it follows Ping Pong in time, is not in the Cost universe. It is dedicated to the many librarians amoung us, whom I innocently made furious by the reference to throwing books away. My apologies. PLOT, PLOTS, PLOTS: HAS ANYONE SEEN THIS ONE? This plot has been running around in my head as a possibility: Why was Hutch assigned to the prestigious Metro Division (see clipping) after Starsky? Something held him up, since they were in the same class at the Academy. They could not have their Rookie year together in any event. It would also be unlikely that they would pull Metro as their first assigment because they lacked the experience on the force. Government agencies believe you have to pay your dues and learn the rules before you get assigned to the unit that is the "plum." Given that Hutch has a reputation of being somewhat of a klutz and that Starsky is generally credited with having mere "street smarts" there has to be another explanation for the delay. I saw this reference to Santa Monica Police Department's Calamity Jane, and immediately thought of The White Knight. Hutch just got into so many dangerous situations his rookie year he spent too much time on sick leave status to rack up enough hours to pass the probation, and he had to do his rookie year all over again. He has a reputation of the White Knight, but it is also accompanied with knowing grins. What do you think of this possibility? [MUCH MUCH snipped about interviewing an LAPD cop and info on politics and structure] THE OBLIGATORY POST "SWEET REVENGE" STORY: DRAFT ONE: Untitled

Issue 5 (September 1987)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 5 was published in September 1987 and contains 66 pages. The Captain is [M B].

cover of issue #5

There are 19 members.

Summary of contents:

  • Starsky's Persuasion, poem by [G B]
  • chapter three of Convicted
  • one author of "The Huntingdon Chronicles" says the next installment is not in this issue but will be in the next issue, the author author says "don't hold your breath"
  • Contribution by [M F], includes these comments: she liked the last issue's lovey cover, "but was disappointed with all the non-S&H, P&D enclosures. This is supposed to be a publication devoted to the above-named, and I'd rather not have anyone else take up space. As for the "/" stories, the less of them the better."
  • the Captain says she has gotten some complaints that too many fans are sending in things other than Soul and Glaser related, and that there is too much talk of / -- she says that this publication is not a letterzine, but an APA and "that's the way" an APA works: "Like I said. I don't edit. If it doesn't interest you, skip it."
  • Marlene, fiction by [P M] (genderplay, spanking, erotic -- the author says it was rejected by several zine eds)
  • "SH Fanday London" -- there are descriptions of a "Mystery Party" that appeared to have much fan role-playing and LARPing
  • * A Fanday for the Fourth by [R K], an American fan, describes a UK fan-get-together (July 4, 1987) at which she was a guest of honor; it was attended by 25 fans, at a restaurant, and was a bit of a mini-con complete with snacks, chat, and SH fan-created goods; there are many photos
  • a new fan wants to know where the use of "babe" came from, that she never heard it in the episodes, and wants to know if it is like bonding in Star Trek (not actually seen, but is fanon)
  • there is more talk of SH fandom and AIDS
  • a copy of the very first Press Release sent out by Metromedia when Starsky & Hutch was first launched.
  • many clippings
  • * Lavender Report by [S G], there is a lot of descriptions of another "Mystery Party" where there was much role-playing and LARPing from "The Insiders," "Yellow Rose," roles by Tim Curry, and other shows
  • Partners/A Virgin in These Woods by [M M] and [J G], a long, detailed description (tongue-in-cheek) of kidnapping Paul Michael Glaser and "having their way with him"
  • Pausin' on Starsky and Pausin' on Hutch by [E A]: "I wanted to write an article entitled "I'll Cover For Ya," but I didn't have time - so it'll be forthcoming sometime in the future. The episodes which I would like to write about are "RUNNING," "THE FIX." How right or wrong was Hutch in covering for Starsky in "Running," and how right or wrong was Starsky in covering for Hutch in "The Fix.""
  • Dirtball Dispatch by [G B] has many comments about real life, violence, desperate people, and the people who don't have experience with this kind of poverty and what it can drive people to do
  • Starsky's Persuasion, poem by [G B]

Issue 5: Excerpts from Contents

  • Tabtalk (erroneously called Tabletalk in the table of contents) by [T D]:
    What interested me very much in a very interesting issue was Maria's in-depths analysis of episodes. Those comparisons and differences between the script texts and the aired episodes are fascinating and, often, very revealing. It's an aspect of the series which has interested me deeply for a long time. A number of eps. don't have a scripted tag. I don't know why not. But educated guessing suggests that may be experience had taught that writing a tag could be wasted effort, in view of the strong possibility of re-writing. Consider the episodes for which we have both scripted and aired tags — but tags which bear no relation to each other. 'Starsky's Lady' comes to mind there : that midnight kitchen belongs to a different world from the scripted schoolyard ball game scene. Or take episodes such as 'Murder Ward' or 'The Crying Child' — two eps. in which the script-writers introduced a girlish element into the tags — and in the screened version, someone obviously wrote it out again. There's a lot of mileage here. Maria's kind of textual microscope work gives a lot to think about...and encourages me to try to be more systematic in the same kind of very rewarding and revealing 'research'. treatment of an important subject.

  • Pat Rap by [P M], very short and basically an introduction to some fiction called "Marlene":
    I've been debating with myself about publishing this short story, which follows this letter. It's a fantasy piece, a prose poem with erotic overtones. Two eds. said nix to it, yet it came back un- red-penciled, so I know it can't be the writing. It's just a different kind of look at S/H, I guess, and doesn't quite fit the established formula. But, I like it. I like it a lot. And, I believe it's one of the best things I've done so far. It's called "Marlene." And, I figure if some people choose to write about hankies, enemas, and hairbrushes, I can choose to create an unusual Hutch. Just skip this if you don't read "/". Otherwise, meet "Marlene.'

  • Introduction by [R M]:
    I am heavily into K/S fandom, but would like to learn more about S&H fandom. I loved S&H as a teenager when it was on prime time. I knew nothing of fandom then, and thought I was the only one in the world who watched the showbecauseoftherelationshipbetweenthetwocharacters. IknewotherS&H fans, but they seemed more interested in the Torino and in DS and PMG's good looks. It was a big relief to learn later in life that there are many others who have the same feelings that I do. My primary interest at the moment is in reading good zines. CODE 7 #4 has already been recommended to me, and I would be interested in learning what other fans feel are zines that I absolutely shouldn't miss. I am mainly interested in "slash", but I can also enjoy a good hurt/comfort tale if it has a well-developed plot (i.e., not just h/c for the sake of h/c). Maybe readers can list their five favorite zines in the next issue. Perhaps other members of the APA would like to see such a listing, as well. The only two S/H zines that I have read are HEAT WAVE and PUSHIN' THE ODDS. I wasn't particularly impressed with either. HW was very flat and almost completely devoid of drama. PTO was better, but very hard on the eyes, and I didn't really care the the way everything tied into the final episode. (I've noted from the letterzines that have been loaned to me that "Sweet Revenge "is a favorite of most fans. I was disappointed in that episode. I thought their final story should have been one where S&H were together throughout most of the episode; it would have made a much stronger statement about their friendship.) I have also read HALF ME, HALF YOU and thought it mediocre. That reminds of a question I am dying to have answered: Where does the endearment "Babe" come from? In four seasons of S&H, I only missed one episode, and that was in its last season. I can't for the life of me remember either one of our guys calling the other that. Did I miss it, or is that something that was started by the zines? (Just like the word "bonding" was started in ST zines, and never actually spoken in an episode?)

  • Amapola Cruise by [M B]:
    Of course, I've played the old 'what if game. I just don't want to write this particular fantasy — it'd be more like a nightmare. I don't know whether I managed to work out all my hurt/comfort fetishes in Star Trek or just that because of the fact that Starsky and Hutch are real and living in our reality, I have a much more difficult time hurting them physically and permanently. I've often said jokingly that I can't give Hutch a paper cut -- don't want to damage that perfect expanse of golden skin. Sure, physical and mental suffering is fine -- they do it so well, and I love to see the comfort phase, but I just wouldn't like reading or writing an AIDS story for these two beloved characters. I'm out there fighting homophobia and ignorance — maybe I'd just like to think that Starsky and Hutch would learn to practice safe sex soon enough to avoid infection with the virus. Yes, of course, if in someone's universe one. or both of them led a promiscuous gay lifestyle, that would differ from my universe where they had never been with another man. Even if that would be the case, though, it is possible for the AIDS virus to be transmitted heterosexually, and we know these guys weren't exactly living like monks. (AIDS can be transmitted from a woman to a man, just not as efficiently as from a man to a woman or to another man.) Betsy Barr's story in CODE 7 #4 is about as far as I'd like to go in seeing the harsh reality of AIDS impinge on the SH universe. [snipped] Anyway, if most of our fiction is set during the series or in the first couple of years following it, AIDS wasn't looming in the headlines quite so overwhelmingly, so it can be left out of the world of news and problems faced by the characters. It's important -- probably the most important health crisis ever, and something I care very much about working for -- but despite the fact that I want to make Starsky and Hutch as real as possible, I want them healthy, not wasting from the ravages of this terrible killer.

  • also from "Amapola Cruise" (one of many comments describing the differences between filmed shows and their scripts):
    Though I love the scene where Terri dies in the hospital room in "Starsky's Lady", I can't help but pine for the lost scene that was scripted instead. We see Hutch standing alone in the hospital corridor, then Starsky emerging from Terri's room. The script says that he isn't able to tell whether or not she has died, until Starsky comes to him and begins to sob in Hutch's arms I want to see it!!! This was definitely a case of the director or someone not understanding Relationship. We fanwriters would have wanted to see the scene with the partners -- forget the interfering female!

  • also from "Amapola Cruise":
    I love buddy shows and films and with some of the characters, like S and H, I can enjoy a "/" relationship. Others I feel are definitely "&" relationships I don't see Riggs and Murtaugh of "Lethal Weapon" that way, as "/", I mean. A partnership that is strictly non-/ is just as attractive to me -- and sometimes hurt/comfort works better that way. Speaking of buddy relationships, a friend of mine, Nancy Kippax, is doing a media zine on male/male relationships, to be called "Empathy" [14]. If I can find the flyer today as I finish this letter, I'll enclose it.

  • also from "Amapola Cruise":
    Ah, yes, that reminds me of something else. If you're waiting for me to mail you a zine you ordered, please drop me a note. My SH order book has been lost -- I've never done anything like this before. I know I'm slow, but I'm not that disorganzied. I've searched, my husband and kid have searched, the dogs have been kicked, Valium has been ingested, but we still can't find it. I haven't given up al_l_ hope, but I'm getting further behind than ever. I'm just now collating some new copies of MURDER ON SAN CARMELITAS and I'll be printing more NIGHTLIGHTs and DAY BY DAYs soon. I'm also reprinting NO PANTS, NO BADGE, NO GUN for ZebraCon. Send me a SASE if interested in getting this. It contains "The Hours Between Four and Nine", which inspired Suzan Lovett to write "A Fine Storm".

  • also from "Amapola Cruise":
    ... you'll also find a flyer for a new project enclosed in this APA. Along with Carol Davis and Merle Decker, I'll be doing the first issue of THE FIX in time for ZebraCon. I really need more art and letters for the first issue, so please sit down and send something! I'm trying to work this into a new concept for a zine. It's not quite a letter zine; there will be letters, but I'm stressing fiction, poetry and art. I'd like to focus on a different episode in each issue, and take stories inspired by it, or what-ifs based on it, along with poetry and art from the episode, too. Stories can be on any topic at any time, though. LoC's can be on the fiction from the previous issue, and I'm taking letters on what you readers would like to be reading about in fanfiction for the first issue. Other letter topics will be designated, and will also cover the suggested episodes of the issue. Carol and Merle will be doing SNITCH every two months and it will be simply a zine listing and a place for people to advertize their sales of zines and other items. (And they are also taking care of orders and mailing, in case you're worried about me losing my books again. Send zine listings and orders to Carol, letters and stories to me.) It's all explained on the flyer, so I'm just being redundant here. I hope lots of you can participate. Tell your friends!

Issue 6 (December 1987)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 6 was published in December 1987 and contains 62 pages. The Captain is [M B].

cover of issue #6, artist is [G B]

There are 23 members.

The Captain is losing a little Starsky & Hutch steam:

Well, it's always been the obvious explanation for tardiness in anything and that is usually lack of interest. I told myself when I started this APA that I would have to really discipline myself to keep to the deadlines, which I managed to do quite well with the help of [S] and [E] who were major inspirations for me. However, fandom being what it is our interests are always changing and rearranging. Now this isn't to say I've lost interest in Starsky and Hutch, it's just gone to the back burner area for now.

Current interests are shared with you fellow Beauty and the Beast fans, and although I toyed with the idea of starting a Beauty and the Beast APA I have to admit to giving up all such ideas so I can devote some serious tine to some serious income. That can fall into a lot of areas, but I think I'll start with art since it's what I'm most prepared for at this time, but I also have a few other fun ideas I want to explore and organizing then all into my life means just cutting down on some responsibilities to include others. For now as far as fandom is concerned I'm planning on being a just that and leaving the projects to others.

There was a wonderful influx of interest after the last Z-Con so I'm hoping there will be enough of it to continue the APA. All it requires (listen to her will you) is that someone coalate the various APAs's sent your way. Let me know if you're interested.

Summary of contents:

  • many clippings
  • Pausin' on Starsky N' Pausin' on Hutch by (E A], very short
  • a fan writes: "Imagine, all this magic because of a tv show!"
  • a fan writes: "Hanoi Hilton never ran here either; I doubt it played in more than five cities prior to being pulled from theater distribution. Thank God for vcrs..."
  • Times 2 by [P P] (a reprint of "The Artsy Guy With the Beard," an essay this fan wrote about PMG's film directing, reprinted from another letterzine, the Who Do We Trust Times)
  • the Captain includes some information on Help Save the Beast, a Beauty and the Beast fan campaign to pressure CBS to order more episodes: "I took addresses at Z-Con for people interested in any BATB: info we might cone upon. I thought I'd go ahead and include that stuff with the apa mailings for those of you who are members."
  • many fans are just back from ZebraCon and have a lot to talk about
  • one fan writes a great deal about her love of Tim Curry and his creations: "Tim Curry is in town and I don't think I'll be right until the man leaves again."
  • The Captain says "fandom being what is is our interests are always changing and rearranging. Now this isn't to say I've lost interest in Starsky and Hutch, it's just gone to the back burner for now." This fan has become very interested in both Beauty and the Beast (she writes she is interested in starting an APA for that show) and in the actor Tim Curry
  • a fan lists her favorite slash and gen zines; some "gen" zines are in her "slash" pile, an example of fannish perception/translation of the term
  • a fan describes her introduction to fandom in general (buying The New Voyages at a bookstore and Half Me, Half You at The Atlantic Fantasy Fair, and specifically Starsky & Hutch fandom (her copy of Commitment was missing two pages, she contacted the editor and struck up a friendship
  • a fan asks the rhetorical questions: "Will we still be involved [in S&H fandom] twenty years from now? (Hand me my bifocals, dear, I want to check out this crotch shot!) It's hard to imagine, but even harder to imagine giving it up. Well, Mick Jagger didn't think he'd be singing Rock 'n Roll past the age of forty, either!"
  • Scenario by [P M]: a short vignette called "Din-Din Through the Years" about their changing eating habits and relationship with each other
  • Fandom Collection Sale by [R K], a fan is auctioning off some of her massive fannish collection to pay for medical costs
  • A Virgin in These Woods by [M M], very short
  • Partners by [J G], a review of "Manchild in the Streets"
  • a fan's intrigue with Led Zepplin RPF fic

Issue 6: Excerpts from Contents

  • A Couple of Aces by [M B]:
    I had a great time at the convention. We finally got to get together and discover each other in person, and we found out that we are all falling in love with a brand new fandom called "Beauty and the Beast".

  • also from A Couple of Aces:
    On top of all of this I finally braved working with color pencils. I'm Just ecstatic with the results. Of course My first piece was of Tim Curry and then I did another one of Curtis Mashy who portrays the Good Doctor in the "Indecent Exposure" cast which I presented to him myself. I'm planning on working up another one of the great guy who styles my hair for me, Richard. All these beautiful faces. I'm anxious to do some work on the beautiful Beast, but haven't cone upon any good material to work from yet. Well, now you know where my head is at besides still loving our guys, so keep me in mind when you see anything on dear Timmy, especially if he's in your area with ME AND MY GIRL.

  • Contribution by [M F]:
    Not to seem a wet blanket [regarding the RPF/self-insertion outline described by a fan in a previous issue]: , but the "Great Glaser Grab" sounds just like rape to me. I doubt many of us would relish the idea of a man knocking us out, stuffing us in a car trunk, tying us to a bed, stripping off our clothes and forcing himself on us against our will. Most of us would want to file criminal charges (or worse). We'd be disgusted and outraged. Why's it different when the culprits are female and the "object of desire "male?

  • also by [M F]:
    Thanks for your comments. It bugs me too that almost every time H gets hurt, to whatever degree, by tag time, he's all better. Why aren't we allowed to see him recuperate? The unfilmed Murder Ward tag sounds much better than the one we saw. I sometimes wonder how most scripts for the series were accepted. They were so minimal (and oftentimes stupid) and required much embellishment and enhancement from Paul and David. The actors truly DID make the show. I've always thought there was a scene or two omitted in Revenge between the time Terry dies and H finds S alone in the schoolyard. I was never satisfied that H didn't accompany S to the hospital or at least show up later to take him home after Terry's death. I would've LOVED to see him fall into H's arms and sob! DARN!

  • Southern Solitary by [L M]:
    How did I get into fandom? One day in a bookstore I innocently bought The New Voyages. Reading the fan-written stories reawakened my dormant interest in Star Trek, and soon I was a "closet" fan. I collected all the professionally published books, but with the exception of The Entropy Effect, none dealt with the aspect of Trek that drew me most — the RELATIONSHIP. I knew that somewhere "out there" people were writing stories, but I had no idea how to find fandom. Finally, in August 1984, I saw a news item concerning The Atlanta Fantasy Fair, and decided that that would be a good place to start looking. I went the next day and discovered zines. And one of them was Half You/Half Me. I'd been an avid fan of the series while it was on the air, but had no idea it had a fandom. /Starsky and Hutch? People are writing stories about Starsky and Hutch? Hmm.../ I bought the zine, and was hooked immediately. I even thought about writing the editor, but at that time was far too shy to take so bold a step. If Lucy Cribb weren't dyslexic, things might have ended there. But — "Homecoming" was missing a page! A crucial page. One minute Hutch and Nicky are out jogging; the next, Starsky's trying to convince himself that being shot in the head doesn't necessarily mean Hutch has to be dead. Desperate, I thumbed through the zine about a dozen times. Nope, the pages weren't misplaced, they were definitely not there. With this as an impetus, I took timid pen in hand and wrote the editor, raving about the wonderfulness of her zine. And "Oh, by the way, my copy is missing pages 65 and 66. Could you send them to me?" Lucy sent the pages, along with a very nice letter inviting me to visit sometime. At that time she only lived ninety miles away. I called her, we made plans, and after explaining to a highly suspicious husband that I was going to spend the weekend with a woman I'd never met before, we finally got together! It was an incredibly warm, fun-filled weekend, and Lucy sent me home with a double-sized laundry basket filled with S&H and ST zines. What a wonderful welcome to fandom! (Thank you, Lucy. I'm eternally grateful!) So here I am, three years and hundreds of blissful hours later, not only reading the stuff, but writing it as well, and immeasurably enriched by the influences of fandom in my life. I'm all alone here in [redacted] now that Lucy's moved to [redacted], but friends are only a letter or a phone call away. Will we still be involved twenty years from now? (Hand me my bifocals, dear, I want to check out this crotch shot!) It's hard to imagine, but even harder to imagine giving it up. Well, Mick Jagger didn't think he'd be singing rock'n'roll past the age of forty, either!

  • Broadway Local by [J S] (uses pseuds Ellen Morris (fiction) and Jessi (art)):
    Up until IDICon this past April I was strictly a Trek fan. That all changed, though, when I met [L M] at the airport before even getting to the con. She initiated me into S&H by plying me with episodes and encouraging me to take a look at Heatwave (sizzle sizzle). Then, at Shoreleave [M B] took command (bless her heart) and I haven't been the same since. I did watch the show when it originally aired (let's see, I was ... 14 or 15, I guess . . .) and loved it even back then (especially Starsky—there's just something about a nice Jewish boy with deep blue eyes . . .), so rediscovering it in this new light is all the more pleasurable for me. I discovered Tell Me Something I Don't Know at Zebra-con—this year was my first (who's a virgin in these woods?)—and read it through by Tuesday night. There's wonderful stuff in here!

  • also from Broadway Local:
    [Meg], you had to ask about continuing relationship fiction. Well, while at Z-con, I met the most fascinating lady, [C P], who told me that there's a group of fans writing Led Zeppelin (yes, the rock group) and Queen relationship and slash fiction! Now I don't know if you're the music fiend that I am, but Jimmy Paige and Robert Plant are a pair of pretty hot numbers and them I'd like to read about. I haven't seen any of this stuff yet, but I'll be writing to ask her about it, since she invited me to correspond. Let me know if you're interested and I'll be happy to keep you posted.

  • also from Broadway Local:
    One tidbit 1 wanted to mention for everyone's edification, since there's been all this discussion about buddies, is Nancy Kippax's proposed zine Empathy. What she's doing is putting together a zine about any "buddy" relationships any of us can think of, whether it be from the movies or TV. I think it's a great idea and have already contributed. So after all this studious discussion you come up with story ideas for your favorite buddies (outside our regular favorites, of course) write them up and send them out! I know she's hungry for material and very enthusiastic about the project. [15]

Issue 7 (March 1988)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 7 was published in March 1988 and contains 32 pages. The Captain is now [M M], who has taken it over from [M B]. [M M] mentions that another fan [M F] is also considering taking over.

cover of issue #7
the "piggy bank" in issue #7, all names redacted -- each issue included this feature which was a record of the APA's finances and member monies

There are now 23 members.

Summary of contents:

  • [R K], more auction items for sale
  • a fan talks about her drawerfic: "My second S/H effort has been buried in a clay pot in my backyard and is fermenting, hopefully to emerge this summer. Got any clay pots buried in your yard?"
  • more comments about the RPF/self-insertion fic that caused at least one fan offense
  • comments on ZebraCon
  • lots of Laurel and Hardy photos
  • an episode listing
  • a fan describes some script changes in several episodes
  • many clippings

Issue 7: Excerpts from Contents

  • Partners by [M M]: She and a friend had a super time at ZebraCon:
    We both had a terrific time at Zebra Con. I don't know if I'll be able to come again next year, much as I'd like to, but this time was a time to be cherished. I'm really looking forward to the video tape we're supposed to get of it one of these days, especially so I can relive the skit--and the art room, etc., etc. Anyway, it was great to meet everyone we did, and even those we didn't actually meet, we usually got to see and identify, at long last, so we have faces to go with the names we've appreciated for so long now! Starsky and Hutch Forever!!

  • A Virgin in These Woods by [J G]:
    I had a hell of a grand time at my Z-Con deflowering, and if I'd known they were that much fun I'd have gotten my plump rump to one sooner! Putting names to faces is always fun, especially when no one looks anything at all as you'd expected. On the other hand, you have the discomfort of meeting people for the first time and, as they look at you, seeing plastered across their faces the thought:"Cripes! She doesn't look ANYthing like I'd expected!" It was especially nice to finally meet you.

  • also from A Virgin in These Woods:
    ...I don't really believe that SH is "dying out", but just in the brief years we've been in this fandom, there has been a sense of waning, with many of the "names" we had just become familiar with drifting into other fandoms. Something we sensed again at Z-Con, and as was evidenced by the relatively low prices at the art auction for SH work, as opposed to the inflated prices for PROS work. SH has faded somewhat - PROS seems to be in full flower - ST is experiencing a new influx of neofen, coming from the ST IV and ST:TNG audiences. But with the explosion of affection for BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, I can well believe that that will be "thee" fandom, next year...

  • also from A Virgin in These Woods, a response to the fan who found offense at a RPF/self-insertion tale of assault:
    Re your comments concerning "The Great Glaser Grab". I fear you've injected an overly earnest note of melodrama into what was intended as nothing more than a joke. An admittedly juvenile joke. What is at issue (and what a trivial issue it is) is not the reverse sexist difference "when the culprits are female and the 'object of desire' male" - it is the difference between brutalizing Reality, and tongue-planted-firmly-in-cheek Fantasy, I do realize that your reproof was well meant. But so was my joke. Both seem pretty damned silly.

  • also from A Virgin in These Woods:
    as we all know, listening to someone burble on and on (and on and on and on and on and on and on) about their favorite fan obsession, when you don't share it, is teeth-grinding business. (As I was forcefully reminded at Z-Con, when [M] and I accidentally found ourselves, at the dinner, sitting with a table of frothing-at-the-mouth PROS fans.) (It was a horrible experience.) (I think I'm emotionally scarred for life.) WHY she hasn't fallen in love with 'Vincent', I can't fathom. He is, after all, the perfect balance between two extremes - immensely strong, literally animalistic, yet intellectual and sensitive enough to quote Shakespeare. AND he dresses like a medieval (or post holocaust) poet,..with a football player's shoulders! I have never been, nor will ever be, a fan of the "He swept me off my feet!" school of Gothic romance...but - all my feminist instincts protesting loudly against it - I confess I'd love to have Vincent appear in my bedroom one candlelit night, sweep me up into his arms, and carry me off to an amber-shadowed Underground. A more than willing Persephone! It's fascinating to me that popular culture seems of late to be taking a romantic turn...though the definition of "romantic" to most people too often parallel that of fashion designers - a row of lace ruffles on Joan Collins' behind. But the classic definition of Romance has a darker side, a melancholy or even tragic aspect, something we see clearly in BATB,..and in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, the other entertainment "hit" of the year. Some tantalizing conclusions can be drawn from the popularity of those two dramas...

Issue 8 (June 1988)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 8 was published in June 1988 and contains 59 pages. The Captain is [M M].

There are 24 members; the Captain would like to see 30 members join.

cover of issue #8

The APA has a new Captain who has just purchased a new big stapler:

I'd like to remind everyone that while S&H is a small fandom, it's a good one, and well worth any extra effort to keep it alive. I'm doing my bit by taking this on for a year, and I hope you'll all do your bit by writing in--at least every third issue, but preferably more often. I plan to concentrate firmly on S&H and DS and PMG--I won't resort to white-out on anyone's letters, of course, but please, everyone, keep our primary interests firmly in mind when you write in. And if you want to send in any articles, if you can possibly send it in early, just one copy, so I can tell you if anyone has already sent that in, for instance, or if I've copied it from my own collection for inclusion that issue, or if I feel it doesn't deal enough with our principal concerns, I'll be able to save you time, photocopy costs and postage, by warning you of any of these potential problems with things you might want to include. Also, I'll sometimes throw in flyers or whatever that someone may ask me to include (like [M B's] BATB flyer this time, and [S Landry's]s zine want list), so you can see them, but I won't staple them into the zine itself.

Summary of contents:

  • there is much angst about the state of SH fandom: one fan thinks perhaps more zines should be advertised in other fandom zines, another fan is happy about the fact that SH art is now cheaper, another fan both chides fans for writing the "wrong" kind of fiction and then wants to know why fans aren't producing more fic
  • "What If" (from "Moments" - Passage of Time), poem by [P M]
  • clipping on Teri White by Kathleen Kisner, supplied by [R K]
  • the author of No Easy Answers says the zine is finished and she comments on its ending, says there is "No S&H deathscene"
  • several fans write that they feel the SH fandom is dwindling and disappearing, their proof: less zines, less personal correspondence, the fact that SH art was getting cheaper at ZebraCon and being outsold by Pros art
  • Case Notes by [S T]: lots of personal things about other fans, a plea for fic
  • Untitled by [S G], was so desperate to see the episode The Fix that she agreed to hold a Tupperware Party
  • Convicted, chapter 4 by [M B]
  • Nature vs. Hutch, fiction by [M D]
  • The Ascent of Man, fiction by [C D]
  • Amapola Cruise by [M B], very short comments about Convicted
  • many clippings
  • A Couple of Aces by [M B]
  • Untitled by [M F]
  • Hollywood Grapevine by [S B]: updates about what the actors are up to

Issue 8: Excerpts from Contents

  • A Word in Edgeways... Again by [T B]:
    The good news is that we finally got our fingers out (this may not be an American expression, in which case...) or quit procrastinating and started getting to grips with NO EASY ANSWERS. I know it's taken us four years. I know there are few other novels that have been promised and then lain fallow for so long. I just hope that you lot out there agree that it was worth waiting for. If you, like us, want to know how S&H react to being gay in a straight world — how they resolve the trauma of Starsky's rape — how revenge is a dish best served cold — then you'll want to read NO EASY ANSWERS. I'm not guaranteeing that you'll like it. But, to ease your minds, o ye of little faith — there is NO S&H deathscene. And they are together, and just as much in love if not more so, at the end of the story. I'd tell you more, but I don't want to give too much of the plot away, Those who know us will not be disappointed — it's every bit as convoluted as anything else we've written. I can't give a definite date for availability, but anyone who is interested can either write to me, or send SASE to [redacted. NEA will be a limited edition, and presubscribed. You have been warned!

  • also from A Word in Edgewise:
    Sifting idly through a stack of zines, deciding what I wanted to keep and what could be donated to the needy, I found myself wondering about a few of the unused plots and subplots in fanfiction... You know, the ones we think about secretly, and maybe share with a close friend? Once upon a time, such was S/H. Now that's out of the closet with a vengeance — indeed, what else is there in today's crop of fanfic? -- what's left? Well, there's the marriage plot. No, not the one where Starsky or Hutch gets married and she dies and Starsky or Hutch is then comforted by his partner — this is the marriage followed by the cottage with the roses around the door and the little white picket fence and the curly (or blond) headed kids and the dog. Now don't all stick your fingers down your throats and make gagging noises. That could be a pretty good story, when you take it to its logical conclusion. There's the untold story of the famous partnership breaking up, the friendship cooling It happens, you know. That would be a real three-hanky tearjerker. But I'll give even money neither of those stories ever gets written. The fashion nowadays seems to be for the fantasy-setting. Don't get me wrong — I enjoy fantasy. But, for me, S&H are firmly in the late 20th century, living in California, and with a solid ten or more years background as cops. Anything else — the names may be the same, and the physical attributes, but they're not S&H. A man is a product of his environment. So David Kihkailovich Starski of the Imperial Russian Army, and Kenneth Hutchinson, the young American travelling in Europe to further his education, are product heir environment, and won't have more than a passing resemblance to the S&H we love. (I mention the above because it's my pet fantasy. I am not immune. Never said I was.) That's why although I have the characters and plot in my head, I'm not going to write it. Or the one about the young crusader at the Horns of Hattin, and his rescue from certain death by a blue-eyed Saracen Emir... Or the half-dozen others swimming around in my cerebellum. I may use the ideas -- I'm a writer, I use everything, and nothing is Sacred — but it won't be S&H. Nothing I have said is news to any of you, I'm sure. After all, Chris and I went and created the Vastarnyi & Dexter series, which may have started off as poor copies, but have certainly matured into something entirely other than S&H. As a friend of mine mentioned, when voicing the suggestion that the two pairs should meet -- "..but S&H would probably arrest them..." She's probably right. But then, with any characters of your own, you're, freed from the necessity to conform to any canon except your own. Okay, it may be harder work — but it's FUN!

  • also from A Word in Edgewise, immediately after scolding fans for getting too imaginative and not sticking to reality in SH fiction, this fan, ironically, wants to know where all the fanac has gone:
    And right now, any form of fun is thin on the ground. Where are the zines? Where are the projected novels, novellas, tributes, compilations, ANYTHING? It can't be — can it? — that S&H fandom is sinking slowly in the west? Forgive me if I seem pessimistic — it's the view I get from over here [in the UK]. Our homegrown 1/z has ceased production -- the weekend Con is a thing of the past. Even the personal correspondence has slackened to a mere trickle. There's a hard core of fans over here — many of them personal friends — and more than ever we are feeling like Exiles. Poor relations. Without a 1/z to keep us in touch, it's inevitable that we drift further apart, to other interests, other fandoms, or out of fandom entirely. I DON'T WANT THAT TO HAPPEN. I don't want platitudes, people. I want to see evidence. There's the gauntlet thrown down. Anyone gonna pick it up?

  • Partners by [M M]:
    I know what you mean about burbling on about a newfound fandom. I've been fortunate in that most of my friends are into B&B at least to the point that they watch the series regularly, but it's not their priority. I agree with you about not being the gothic romance novel type, but I do have roots in DARK SHADOWS. The most enjoyable aspect of having B&B as an obsession is that it has brought romance back into my life as well as a certain sensitivity that 1 had lost touch with to a great extent. I'm enjoying my garden again, especially the roses and somehow fantasy has become a more acceptable reality for me once again. Somehow, with the harsh world S&H live in I can see them allowing the luxury of appreciating fantasy.... Well I may have a new obsession with B&B, but I can still sit here and put on my old SH episodes and find them just as endearing and captivating as the first time I ever watched them. I'm viewing Crying Child and I've always been fascinated with the scene where S&H look at Guy's back and Starksy walks out. Hutch stays a moment to convey comfort and safety to the young boy, but then he's out the door to basically comfort/communicate with Starsky. Even in the less obvious moments where the two men are expressing their caring for one another the emotions are intense.

  • A Virgin in These Woods by [J G]:
    The gloomy suspicion...and growing conviction...that SH fandom is indeed on the decline is something [M] and I have been noting, discussing, and fretting about for some time now. Most especially since Z-Con...for although that first time experience was a terrific high for us - one difficult to come down from! - it was also the first time we'd been presented with the opportunity to, in effect, "take the pulse" of SH fandom (for surely Z-Con Is the "heart" of fandom). And, as I commented in TMSIDK #7, we came away from the con with a definite sense of a fandom on the wane. That impression was reinforced at the art auction, where PROS art outsold SH art, and for obscenely high prices. Which, by the way, is the only reason [M]and I could possibly have afforded to buy coveted pieces - Melissa stunned by her ease in obtaining one of Suzan's gorgeous illos, myself deliriously pleased at being able to get my greedy hands on two delicate and powerful portraits by J. Jones, and a lovely one of Paul by Ruth Kurz. Startling good luck for us - bad luck for the artists, whose SH work sold for far, far less than it deserved to. (And we didn't even hafta go out and sell our tender young bodies on the streets of Chicago to pay for 'em, either!) A seemingly stark indication that SH fandom simply is not what it once was, even a year ago. We had also been very much looking forward to an exquisitely fat TMSIDK #7, filled with details of everyone's 2-Con adventures, but instead were presented with pancakes in our mailboxes. Disappointing, And disheartening. So, in essence, we've bean asking the same questions you have. Where IS everyone? Have all the SH fans gafiated? Have we all abandoned the streets of LA, for the labyrinth of PROS' London, or the corridors of B7's spaceship, or the candlelit tunnels of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST? ...or is it just that everyone's suddenly decided that right now would be a good time to go down to Bolivia and maybe rob a couple banks...? ... Yes, I agree that SH fandom is waning. Has waned. Perhaps a hell of a lot. And I think that's a melancholy situation we're going to have to learn to live with. For awhile. Because, although we may be at low ebb at the moment, or damned near to it, I cannot bring myself to believe that the tide is permanently out. From what I've seen of fandoms - and I've been both passive observer and enthusiastic participant - they're very much living things, ebbing and flowing with the lives of their members. It would seem that the only thing we can do to keep ourselves from being stuck in the sand of low tide is to take great pains to keep our fan relationships vital, I know - easy to say, difficult as hell to do. Hey, I'm willing to paddle out there and make my own little waves, if I have to. I've just had my virgin S/H writing effort published, the shortest of short stories - I have a somewhat more lengthy S3 nearing completion (which I intend to submit to Martha, so I hope she has a large supply of Tums on hand) - and, as I'll describe a bit more later, I have, may all the Gods help me, a much larger project in its' seedling stages. All this from an 3H virgin In these woods who, two years ago, had never seen an episode and could not tell you Which One Is Starsky and Which One Is Hutch. (And didn't give a shit.) I'm now happy to say that I can tell you the differences between Our Boys in great anatomical detail... I suspect that what I'm really trying to say here, is...yea, like you I can't help but get terribly down at times about the current state of fandom. But, being an obstinate and thoroughly self-centered woman, I say that SH fandom isn't finished until I'm done with it. AND DAMN IT, I'M NOT DONE WITH IT YET!

  • Southern Solitary by [L M]:
    Are any of you folks getting concerned about the size of SK fandom? Even with some new people coming in, we're shrinking! The small number of publications which have come out over the last year is very discouraging! If I might step on on a soapbox for just a minute, we need more people, and more zines, if we're going to survive. It's occurred to me that Star Trek fandom might provide a great source of new members. After all, these are people who are already open to the fandom concept. A lot of us came into SH through Trek, but I never see SH zines advertised in Datazine, anymore. I personally would never have discovered it if I hadn't found a copy of Half You Half Me at a science fiction convention. Seems like there might be a lot of potential SHers who aren't even aware that this fandom exists. Maybe we need to advertise in Trek publications.

  • Untitled by [J H]:
    Well, this is how it happened... I was minding my own business, reading and re-reading my K/S zines, when a friend of mine told me she had a "grab box" of zines for sale. I looked through it, decided that if I didn't want some of them I could sell them and get the money out of it, so I bought it. Down at the bottom of the box, I found a small, plain, blue zine with the title "The Water is Wide." It looked innocuous enough, so I read it. Well, let me tell you that I LOVED it!! I had read some Starsky & Hutch before, but the warmth of that zine made me feel wonderful. I had to have MORE!! So I called a friend, to get the number of a person who had advertised some S/H zines. I left a message on her machine. The very next day she returned my call and we talked for a half an hour. Then the next day I went to he rhouse to see what she had. Well, I left eight hours later with about ten zines in my backpack, a filk tape, having perused three episodes (Coffin for Starsky, Shootout, and Sweet Revenge), several songtapes, the bloopers, and an insatiable appetite for more. I was up all night reading, took some time off from work to read the next day, and I haven't opened a Star Trek zine since. I'm sure that this experience sounds familiar to you. Anyway, I just sent off my membership for ZebraCon, even though it is a week before IDICon, to which I'm already committed. Maybe I'd better take out a loan from the bank to cover this habit.

  • Untitled by [S. Landry]: See: General Thoughts on "/" (Homosexual) Zines-Stories.
    Decorated for Death is one zine I will not read again. It was very well done, but I could not accept the maiming and sadness. It had love and concern, yet it hurt too much to read it. I don't want to go through that again! Regarding "/" stories. I have read some S&H ones which I thought were handled very well. As long as there is no "bed hopping" stories, I have no problems with slash. A real change in my thinking on slash has occurred in the last year when a friend and I discussed it.

  • Food for Thought by [R M]:
    I'd like to address a few themes that seem to stand out in S&H zines in general. It seems that, in my limited reading, I've run into a lot of "/" stories where Starsky and Hutch constantly question each other's love and acceptance of the relationship and their own worthiness to the other. In the series, they never seemed to doubt each other and that, for me, is what made the relationship so wonderful. Of course, when sex is introduced to a relationship, it's almost always going to make it more complicated, and I wonder if S/H writers tend to enjoy creating more 'real-life', painful scenarios, while the majority of K/S writers—myself included—tend to want to escape reality and create 'as long as Kirk and Spock love each other, everything is fine' stories. .Anyway, after viewing the television characters as two people who enjoyed the ultimate friendship, it's been a bit of surprise to come across so many stories that stress negative aspects of the sexual relationship. Another surprise has been authors' treatment of Hutch as one who is extremely insecure, cynical, and full of self-doubt. While I don't think this viewpoint is wrong, it's something that I never considered when watching the series as a teenager. I guess I just never picked upon the subtle vibes that Hutch was giving off. After reading so many of these stories, I don't think I'll ever again see Hutch in the same light when I watch the episodes. Switching to hurt/comfort, I've found the same frustration with S&H zines that I've experienced with Star Trek zines: that of the hurt tending to far outweigh the comfort. (Remember when Hutch finally got shot in the series, and he was simply whisked away to the hospital? That's the same disappointment I usually feel when reading h/c stories.) Perhaps the answer lies in a discussion that took place in a letterzine published years ago: H/C was so wonderfully portrayed by the actors in the series that writers simply can't match it in fanzines.

Issue 9 (September 1988)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 9 was published in September 1988 and contains 49 pages. The Captain is [M M].

cover of issue #9: artist is Maureen B. -- "Don't pout, Hutch. I'll let you read my copy."

There are 25 members, but only 9 of them contributed to this issue.

Summary of contents:

  • a fan feels that there are David Starsky and Kenneth Hutchinson "clones" in the pro Star Trek novel The IDIC Epidemic; she includes some photocopied pages with some excerpts underlined, and the handwritten note: "Does anyone know if Jean Lorrah is a S&H fan, as well as a Star Trek fan and writer? It certainly sounds like she had them in mind for these two ambulance drivers. What do you all think?"
  • a fan describes the fanwork The Grief and the Glory
  • many clippings
  • this issue has a questionnaire for fans, the answers to be included in the concordance that fan [S B] was planning: the topics were favorite and least favorite episodes/scenes, various fan speculations....
  • A Couple of Aces in a World Full of Jokers #8 by [M B]
  • Untitled by [I C]

Issue 9: Excerpts from Contents

  • The On-Going Legend by [T D]:
    There's no aspiration here to offer platitudes or to make any pronouncements on the state of SH fandom. We can all tell it only from our own experience? Mine reflects no decline in the quality of fandom. Changes — of course. Decline — no. At first reading, I was disheartened by some of APA's pages...but then I couldn't make some of the unhappy and negative comments fit with the fandom I know. Which proves nothing... but does demonstrate a different and, I suggest, equally valid, experience. Looking back on ten goodyears, I find that people who began writing to me a decade ago, showing me my first way into fandom, are still writing. That's two-way, of course. But if we're thinking of personal correspondence, rather than a diminishing 'trickle', a better word here could often be 'torrent' (and very welcome, too). Zebracon, whether one happens to attend or not, is the great and glorious zenith of our SH year. And thanks to Karen and Jean who have gone on making it all possible for so long. I've been lucky enough to attend ZCON several times, including 1987, and I think my only problem was in finding enough time to talk to like-minded SH people about all our projects/hopes/ideas - trying to say and share all we wanted in limited time. Certainly no sense there of "fandom on the wane' — not as I saw it. True, other series feature at ZCON and naturally people have individual priorities - which, obviously, is fine. I wouldn't know about those, SH being my ZCON priority. And I did find gorgeous SH artwork — e.g. in Jean's beautiful 'Moon and Star'; the texture of that paper was perfect to complement the superb drawing. I have it now in a narrow silver frame, I love it. And don't many of us know of SH zines in various stages of preparation? (The flyer for COMMITMENT arrived last week.) So...ZCON associations for me? NOT 'low ebb'! -but new zines and some gorgeous SH artwork, new SH Song-tapes, full of creative imagination and talent, a lot of SH fun, the ZCON banquet- and THE ROSE —'and, most of all, the time spent with so many friends who share SH. Worth travelling 4,000 miles. Maybe it's all just a matter of emphasis? But rather than brood too much over things we think we may be missing, wouldn't it be constructibe to concentrate more on the positive aspects? There really are a lot of those. As for U.K., I think a lot of our fans could find it rather puzzling to recognize themselves in some of the pessimistic references. True, the composition of fandom changes — could hardly be otherwise. But not everyone moves on, permanently and exclusively, to new interests; and new people come in all the time. The fact is that there is a lot of activity of various kinds in U.K. fandom, all aspects of a balanced picture. For example, April brought another SH Fanday in London, and June a SH weekend, with another proposed for August, plus another London Day planned for September or October. I haven't been able to attend any such meetings this year and future ones are not going to be possible either, but, as always, all are welcome and address for details has often appeared in 'Torino Times'. I know from many fans how much these occasions have been enjoyed. They are nothing like ZCON: how could they be! But profitless to cry for the moon; they are just friendly SH get-togethers for anyone who likes to meet other fans, share ideas, plans, talk, tapes, zines - whatever people choose to do with the time. Doesn't really mesh with notions of a moribund fandom? Truly, we're not so bad! As for SH L/Zs - true, the U.K. "Torino Times' closed after approximately two years - same kind of lifespan as for 'Between Friends' or 'WDOTT'. For a variety of good reasons, L/Z editors don't go on for ever; we could see that just as an elementary fact of life rather than as symptomatic of deline? We need not feel ' deprived when, currently, we have SNITCH - welcome, regular and splendidly informative; we have THE FIX covering different ground and with a different role; we have APA with yet other facets of fan interest. Makes THREE regular publications, a happy and healthy situation. I don't know much about other fandoms but I wonder how many have as much in this way. Cause for gratification? - and for thanks and congratulations to all editors involved. It doesn't bother me at all that none of the three originates in . U.K. In ten years, I've never felt like an 'exile' or a. 'poor relation'. Doesn't come naturally to think in terms of "Brits' and others just fandom. Unconfined by geographical frontiers. Fandom can leap those - or so I've often found. [snipped] Perhaps there's a related point with regard to subscriptions for L/Zs and fanzines! A single subscriber may often represent a much larger number of interested readers. So, finally...can only say that here is one fan who does not sense this alleged indifference or decline. Makes me recall Mark Twain's comments on those reports of his death - 'greatly exaggerated!'. Besides, in Starsky's memorable words ('Pariah'), we 'don't go down so easy.'

  • Capital Crimewave by [J H]:
    I would really love to follow these guys into a mid-life crisis or two, into their realization that they're no longer overgrown kids, and what do you do when you can't depend on your body to do everything that it used to (especially when you're a cop who's living on the edge all the time)? It must happen, there are old cops, old fighter pilots, and old professional athletes. (By old I mean past their mid-thirties, into their forties and fifties.) I loved Lynna's S&H in "A Place to Hide", I also loved the older S&H in the last segment of "The Water is Wide" where both S&H have taken desk jobs. But are there older cops who are still working the streets? What kind of adjustments would our "boys" have to make? What kind of changes are inevitable?

  • also from Capital Crimewave:
    I wish that I had something creative to contribute to this. I love Martha's Convicted series and also Carol & Merle's Huntingdon Chronicles, and I'd love to see more of the same. But my one poor story is terribly bogged down, it seems to have nowhere to go. It wouldn't be so bad if I felt that I could write a gratuitous sex scene and leave it at that, but I think I need a little more practice before I try that. Did anyone else notice how heavy the overlap is between IDICon and ZebraCon? As of the 1st progress reports, the overlap was at least ten people (probably more by now.) I have already written to IDICon asking them to be more considerate in their timing next year. If there are others who feel as I do, a letter might make a difference.

  • Comparing Notes by [L G]:
    This is my introduction to all the fans in the APA of Starsky & Hutch. I've been a fan for about two years and am just crazy about these two. I'll tell you how it started. . .I used to subscribe tc a K/S newsletter where they had an absolutely fascinating article about one of my favorite subjects: chemistry. The author, Sharon F, mentioned many TV shows, most of which I had either heard about, or had seen one time or another. Except one — Starsky and Hutch! I had heard about it while it was still on TV but never saw it for some reason. So one afternooon I sat down in the den and put it on. They were showing 'Moonshine' and it completely fascinated me almost from the beginning. Not the show they were airing particularly. . . but them! I hadn't seen such on-screen chemistry since the hey-day of Star Trek! (another one of my favorites, by the way). S&H still amaze me and I'm still trying to figure out exactly why. . . The zine that I have entitled Zebra Three had a short piece in the back called "What's the fascination?". The gist of the writers' reasonings being that through the vicarious "adventures" of S&H we, the viewers, idealise through their friendship what we would want for ourselves. Interesting thought—but is that really what we think when we're watching them or reading them? I honestly don't know. In the foreward of two beautiful novels by Susan Lovett, her Editor—Paula Smith, probably comes close to the truth as I see it. I quote Ms Smith: "Should we despise the love S&H teach us because of their gender? I think not." Perhaps it goes further than that. . .In a VERY short work entitled Heatwave, the author Syn Ferguson has their friendship blossom into a love affair. While I read any of the above writings, or watch a tape of the series, I often wonder about this fascination we seem to have with them. Do they fill a lack in our lives? ARE they the idealisation of a "perfect" friendship/relationship? Or does it go further than that as so beautifully done in Heatwave? Maybe we watch S&H just for the satisfaction of two such compatible personalities. . . .I don't know.

  • A Virgin in These Woods #3 by [J G]:
    It's just struck me...that the three television/film worlds with which I'm most in love - ST, SH, and BATB - could not be more dissimilar. ST is a future universe of glowing optimism...the setting of SH is a place of past (and present) grim reality...and BATB is a timeless sanctuary of Romantic fantasy, Hmmm. Well, perhaps I love all three so passionately for the same reason my favorite playtime outfit, when I was a little kid, consisted of bright red pants, a sunshine yellow shirt, and a sky blue pair of sneaks. I loved the way they clashed!

  • also from A Virgin in These Woods:
    Perhaps part of the answer to your puzzlement re the seeming overabundance of S/H ss, as opposed to K/S, wherein the lovers/friends constantly question themselves and each other concerning the nature of their (now sexual) relationship, and the strength of it,,,is as simple as the fact that K/S and its writers have had a decade more in which to explore the genre, and their own insecurities. My shelves are filled with stories depicting Kirk and Spock engaged in that same, almost ritualistic "Does He-Doesn't He?/Dare I-DareINot?"dance. Another part of the answer would indeed seem to lie in the differing natures of the two series - fantasy versus realism -- and in both their longevity and their timescapes. TheST universe of the future continues to evolve with each newly released film. The insular world of SH is forever frozen in the final four years of the 1970's... And perhaps... just perhaps yet another fraction of the answer might lie in the feminine perspective on and practical experience of formerly platonic friendships metamorphosizing into sexual liaisons. No matter what the depth of emotional Intimacy friends may share, the introduction of sexual intimacy can trigger dramatic, and often shattering, alterations in attitudes. And perhaps that experience finds itself reflected in the more reality-based fiction of SH.

  • also from A Virgin in These Woods:
    It is interesting that the idea of "Me & Thee" is so essential to SH, and so ingrained in its fans, that we (un?)conciously imitate that closeness in our real life fan relationships. Do you suppose that if we took a close look at current ST fandom, we'd discover friendships divided into Triads...

  • A Word from Her Partner #7 by [M M]:
    OK, everybody, I'm convinced. We are not a dying fandom. As many of you pointed out, we have Snitch, The Fix, and this Apa coming out regularly, plus we will have Pat's new letter-zine soon. And there are, indeed, new people coming in. Perhaps some of the pessimism [J] and I've felt has had to do with the overlap-exodus into Professionals fandom. Yes, fans can love both sets of Guys (just because [J] and I find the idea of anyone being even remotely interested in B&D to be absolutely incomprehensible...). But Pros did seem to be the bigger group at Z Con, and since we were only interested in S&H, we found that aspect of the con dismaying. All the S&H aspects, however, we found absolutely delightful, and we only wish we could go again this fall, but alas, it is not to be. Maybe next year. As [M] says this issue, it is depressing when talented people leave our fandom. However, if we all make an effort to welcome our new people, maybe some of them will be writers, too, not just readers. But not ME--no way, Partner, no matter what you or [L] try to say, I am very definitely a reader, not a writer. And fandoms need people like me, too, you know, the kind who gladly plunk down our money for any new zine coming out, who write in to letterzines and Apa's and writer-friends and beg for More Stories--More Zines!! So we can't write--we still can--and do--read-voraciously. And bully our partners who are talented as writers, into writing.

  • also from A Word from Her Partner:
    I was surprised and very pleased that 90 people sub to Snitch. I guess too many of those people tend to be the same sort of fan that I am--basically passive. I love to read zines, letterzines, Apa's, etc., but mustering up enough to say to write in to a letterzine or Apa is something else again. I do it in S&H fandom more than in ST or K/S, because I know this fandom is relatively smaller and needs more enthusiastic input from all of its members. I'm not capable of putting out a letterzine. but I knew I could put out an Apa, so I volunteered. And I expect one of you good fen to volunteer to take over for me in a year, when I of steam (or kill myself fighting this damned stapler, whichever comes first! [T's] suggestion of "more sharing" to revitalize S&H fandom is a good idea. Since starting as Captain of this Apa, I've had some long phone visits with Maureen, Linda, Martha and liana, all of which I've enjoyed very much, and which have left me feeling newly energized and enthusiastic about S&H and David and Paul. Maybe all we need is a big phone line to tie us all together!!

  • also from A Word in Edgeways by [T B]:
    I don't mind a bit you putting your five cents' worth in in advance! I'm glad it's not just me being despondent about the State of Fandom. I'm with you. We're not done with it yet! The only thing I can think of to inject enthusiasm into the ailing creature is maybe more sharing. It used to happen — people would share their ideas and stories far more freely, as well as publishing far more in sine format. It doesn't have to be perfect (a lot of our stuff has holes you could drive a fleet of trucks through) but get it out of the bottom draw and let us see It? The idea of the Library, which Karen B. has started so successfully with the PROFS fanfic, is one solution. Or make a charge for xeroxing the MSS, as we do for the V&D chronicles.

  • also from A Word in Edgeways:
    I'm one of the S/H writers who create the 'real-life, painful scenarios' — it's not that I enjoy them, actually, it!s more that's the way life is. Unless (as I mentioned last time) we transmogrify S&H into a fantasy-type situation which may not be quite as traumatic. But without trauma, where's the story? I'm not into Harlequin Romance. K/S doesn't have to be 'real-life' because no one knows what real life in the 23rd century is going to be like. We do know what real life in this century is like, and like it or not, we can't deny that. Escaping reality is something we all need to do, once in a while — but, speaking personally, I have to believe in what I write. And I can't believe that even the 'ultimate friendship' (what a lovely phrase!) can be without flaw. Love that isn't tested isn't the fullest flowering of love. Loving isn't easy. Partnerships take hard work... Ah, yes. The preponderance of 'partnerships' in fandom. Well, Chris and I have had a writing partnership for eight years, or thereabouts. And while we can write solo (my HOUSE OF CARDS, Chris's Profs stories) we definitely write more easily together. And Chris is a very close friend, too. But my partner, in the S&H sense of the word, is my husband. Twenty-three years of partnership. Everyone should have the same good fortune! Does this mean I have two partners? Chris is my fannish partner, certainly. I'm confused...

  • Untitled by [M F]:
    There are a number of pairs in S&H fandom: you and Joanna, of course; [Karen B] and [Jean C]; Carol Davis and Merle Decker; Ruth Kurz and Teri White and Pat Massie and me. We've known each other eight years (and I consider her my partner). I think it's lovely that so many of us are fortunate enough to share with another fan a special friendship to a degree like the one between David and Ken — must go with the territory ...

  • The Incredible "Shrinking" Fandom by [C D]:
    Nope, this isn't going to be a story. Instead I have decided to get up on a soap-box. I found the tone of the last APA to be disturbing, and a little depressing. To those of you who would like to wallow in pessimism, and believe that SH fandom is dying: read no further. Long, long ago, when the SH Letterzine was still in production, Kendra Hunter mentioned that SH fandom seemed to be riding at a steady 150 members. And she was just guessing from the numbers who subscribed to the letterzine. I admit Merle and I have an advantage, putting out SNITCH, over those who don't get to see the people come and go. We have only put out 5 issues so far, it's true, but as I see it, no one has left, and plenty of people have joined. Here, I'm talking about the letters that proclaim: I Am A New Fan, etc. As a matter of fact, I just got another one today from West Germany. I am willing to bet we still have that magic number 150, plus. It is very difficult to get an accurate roster, I know not everyone gets SNITCH, yet we still manage to unload about 90 issues a printing. That ain't bad. My belief is that the problem lies not so much in our numbers, as in the distribution of those numbers. In the beginning, the proportion of producers was much higher. It wasn't so difficult to get 3 or 4 zines out at a time because more people were writing, illoing, and compiling. I am not saying there are NO producers now, as a matter of fact, the list of proposed zines is pretty impressive. There are a good many people working on stories, but they seem to be working on LONG stories. The lag time is greater. It comes down to the question of how many things a person can do at the same time. This year, Merle and I have put out a bi-monthly newsletter, Good Kisser, and have been working on SHADOWPLAY. We hope to get the latter out by September. I could list the things I know other people are working on, but I won't; they might not be ready to let their cats out of the bag yet. This is not the indication of a dry fandom. I would love to see more zines coming out, at more frequent intervals, but to do that, there have to be things to print. So if everyone who is despairing about not having anything to read would write something, we'd have a literary Renaissance on our hands. Easier said that done, you say? Okay, I'llagree. But just remember: if you don't vote, you shouldn't bitch about who gets elected.

Issue 10 (November 1988)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 10 was published in November 1988 and contains 66 pages. The Captain is [M M].

cover of issue #10

There are 24 members.

Summary of contents:

  • Convicted by [M B], part five
  • long poem called "Ode to Red Underwear" or "Ransom of Red Briefs" or "Satan's Britches" by [C H] and [S]
  • there is much discussion on whether S&H fandom is dying
  • a new fan writes: "One thing that has become very obvious is that S&H fandom is a very closed fandom. The zines are hardly ever advertised in DATAZINE or CC, and one rarely comes across them at media conventions. There's very little opportunity for anyone to find out about S&H fandom, particularly if they aren't already a member of other fandoms."
  • a fan comments on the recent spate of domestic fiction and says she likes it
  • there is some discussion about fanon
  • Totally Uncreative Title by [J H]
  • Another Day, Another Dollar by [T D], a photo collage with captions
  • progress report #1 for Spectrum
  • a fan points out that in a fandom as small as this one, disagreements seem bigger
  • there is some discussion of song tapes adventure: "Your mention of song tapes reminded me how passionately I love them... and how long it's been since I've seen a new one. Best of luck making your own; Melissa and I tried our hand at it last summer when I visited her, and failed fairly dismally. Well, it might have had something to do with the fact that half a dozen trips to the appliance store finally revealed that we'd bought the wrong audio jack... For a long time I've been dying to make a song tape using Peter Cetera's "Glory Of Love", a piece that seems to me to be a perfect anthem for all our favorite media relationships, "/" or &..."
  • this issue has a fan review of the episode "The Vampire"
  • a fan begs others to write a ZebraCon report as she can't be there; some tongue-in-cheek highlights she wants to know: how many fans cried during The Rose, how many Pros fans went berserk when the waiters at dinner ran out of fruit cup, how many people had to be hospitalized after busting a gut laughing at the skit, who out-bid who at the auction,
  • many clippings
  • Letterzine Announcement (Frienz) by [P M]
  • Ode to Red Underwear, poem by [Sheila]
  • DG's Here Comes The Brides articles and more current info by [S B]
  • A Word from Her Partner #8 [M M]

Issue 10: Excerpts from Contents

  • Amapola Cruise by [M B]:
    And I also think that we are on the way to becoming a thriving fandom again. I got involved in all this about four years ago. At the time, the only zines coming out were "Between Friends", Elaine Hauptman's G-rated letterzine, and "Hanky Panky" which was bom in SH fandom but graduated to discuss all kinds of"/" characters. [Karen B] did an issue of "Code 7", stating in her editorial that she felt it was time to move on to other things. (Of course, she did do another issue, number 4, just last year - thank goodness! The editorial in #3 really depressed me.) But that was it. Oh no, I thought, have I just discovered this wonderful world only to have it die out and fade away? NO! Look at us today. We have an APA which is up to 30 copies an issue. We have several zines coming out: "Shadowplay", "No Easy Answers", "Penal Code" and I'm continuing "The Fix". I've heard Pat Massie will be starting a new letterzine. When you can count this many upcoming publications, I don't see how anyone can think we're on our way out. I'm not ready to let this fandom fade ~ I felt that way in '84, and I still do. Kendra Hunter may have had to drag me "kicking and screaming" into this fandom, but once here I've been determined to keep the faith, and keep the flame burning. As long as editors are planning new zines and new people are reading them, we're going to make out fine. Of course, we are a small fandom. But that's jake with me. I like it this way. We're more select, more selective. Special. Like a small town, but with big city ideas... No five hundred zine print runs, that means it's less expensive to do zines. We can all fit in one room at ZebraCon for the reception and awards and skits and an auction. We can go to a con and practically know everyone there, and there is time to make friends with the ones we don't. People come and people go in a fandom, but we always seem to keep the same number of members. Still, without work on the part of all of us, this is only theory. Numbers are not enough ~ we must continue to keep a core of producers: those who write, who draw, who publish and discuss. Having only consumers or readers is not enough. If you can't illo or write, at least contribute letters to the APA, to Pat's new zine, to "The Fix" - hey, where are all of you out there? You're not in my mailbox, that's for sure. And come to the cons. Our only annual get-together is ZebraCon, and who'd want to miss it? True, it's not only SH anymore, but as long as those of us who do only SH come, there will be plenty of wonderful ideas to share. But there are other media events where we could meet and greet and be treated to watching the best buns anywhere (via tapes, more's the pity). SH fans don't suggest programming at MediaWest, maybe because there aren't enough of us there. But SPECTRUM is planning lots of SH (could it be because I'm on the committee? You bet!) So if you can't get all the way to Chicago, come to Baltimore. And there are other cons, like WEEKEND IN THE COUNTRY, that do accommodate our interests. I'm still excited about Starsky and Hutch, even after all these years. If you are, too, then this fandom is far from on the wane!

  • Untitled by [M F]:
    Liked your bit on the beautiful chemistry between S&H/Paul and David (except for the "/").

  • The Flirts #2 by [L G]:
    S&H make me happy. They make me glad to be alive, to be uncompromising in my own relationships--to just ENJOY them on TV. I never seem to get tired of them. The beginnings, the endings--the comedy, the drama, the flirting, huh? Yeah — the flirting-- I mean with each other! It's no wonder that their puzzling relationship drove me nearly crazy!

  • Food for Thought by [R M]:
    I haven't been in Starsky and Hutch fandom long enough to add much to the "shrinking fandom" question, but I do know that there's been almost no new zines out in the past year. There are quite a few "in-progress" zines listed in SNITCH, but new fans—who don't want to spend time and inflated $$ on trying to find old zines—really don't have anything to sink their teeth into when they enter fandom. I hope this has just been an unusually slow year. One thing that has become very obvious is that S&H fandom is a very closed fandom. The zines are hardly ever advertised in DATAZINE or CC, and one rarely comes across them at media conventions. There's very little opportunity for anyone to find out about S&H fandom, particularly if they aren't already a member of other fandoms. (I think someone else pointed this out in an earlier issue of TMSIDK, but I can't recall who.)

  • also from Food for Throught:
    I've always found it interesting how DS was almost always on talk shows— and did few magazine interviews—while PMG was just the opposite. When you read interviews with Paul chronologically, one can see how he becomes more and more depressed as time/years goes on. I think the most depressing interview he gave was one that appeared in Playgirl. (He made reference to how he wished he could see his psychiatrist more often, but he just didn't have the time.) After that, he seemed to pull out of it somewhat, and was a little more positive up until the demise of the show. [16] Anyway, it always amazed me how DS, who everyone seemed to think was always so wonderful and kind, ended up on the cover of People for beating up his wife.

  • Cheerfulness Breaks In by [T D]:
    Perhaps it really is a question of emphasis and attitude? — as exemplified in, say, Starsky's remark (in 'Coffin') about those two kinds of bottle - the half-full and the half-empty. Over more than a decade, fandom sees inevitable changes, but the essential SH qualities are still there. Those are unchanged and they don't go away - just find new varieties and channels of expression to add to the old ones. I enjoyed [C's] thoughts on our 'incredible shrinking fandom' — incredible, indeed! It's true there is a lot of SH writing in various stages of preparation and progress, doubtless to be announced closer to completion dates. Right - this is not a "dry fandom." And ninety issues of SNITCH must represent many more than ninety SH fans/readers. [I] sum sit up the way I see it, too: as long as we're here, doing what we're doing, our fandom is alive.' And we are here, and we're still doing all sorts of good SH things. I hear there's a new single released in U.K., a new arrangement of the SH series theme music...how evocative that always is, especially First Season. And the very welcome news of Pat's proposed new L/Z is truly uplifting-great news. SH fandom has seldom been long without at least one L/Z, Thank you, Pat, for this new initiative and good luck with the enterprise.

  • Untitled by [S L]:
    I had thought that fandom was supposed to be a fun hobby with fans who have a level of understanding and rapport. It seems to be getting catty, sometimes nasty with attacks over a difference of opinion. It would be easier to stick to very general subjects then to give ones personal opinions on how they see a TV series, subject or characters. It is no v/onder people leave fandoms. We should stick together and be more tolerant of opinions. I've read other fans opinions yet never felt I should attack or "tear apart" those opinions. Fandom should be a place where we can say "this is how I see it" without having to contend with attacks or criticisms of ones opinions. We get enough of that in our daily lives, be it with employers or friends, relatives etc. Fandom should be fun. When LOC's become catty or nasty with regard to anothers opinion then it's time to become a passive fan and enjoy the zines and episodes.

  • A Vampire in These Woods #4 by [J G]:
    When MIAMI VICE first came on the air, I went through that same phase that all SH fans do when a new show pops up which features actors in "paired" characterizations-could this be a new SH in the making? Certainly it appeared that the show had potential, and it did seem that the makings were there; two extremely good-looking men in extremely tight pants, partnered in life and death situations} So, I watched. And Iwatched. AndforawhileItriedtoconvincemyselfthatIdid seeafamiliarspark. But, alas, after just a few weeks it became painfully apparent that the only thing that 'Crockett' and 'Tubbs' had in common were high cheekbones. There was (and continues to be) a complete lack of "chemistry" between the two characters, and actors. Blank walls where there should be vibrant colors. White noise where there should be sweet harmonies. Numbness where there should be a wealth of passionate emotions. You could pick these two guys up, hang 'em upside down, and shake 'em 'til Tubbs' platinum watch fell off and Crockett's Perry Ellis t-shirt flipped over his face, and you still would not get a single ounce of "chemistry" out of 'em.

  • also from A Vampire in These Woods:
    I believe that the comments I made (TMSIDK #8) on the Decline of Western Civilization, excuse me, of course I mean, on SH Fandom...are valid, and I stand by them. Equally valid is [J H's] point that "in a fandom as small as this one, any major shift" sends out Inescapable Shockwaves, effecting us all. But I don't view those two perspectives as contradictory, or in compatible, I readily admit that I have more experience of ST fandom, where there are frequent cloudbursts, as opposed to SH, where there are - apparently - periodic earthquakes. My judgment of the state of this fandom was culled from my own experiences, and indeed may be far off the true mark. And I take no umbrage at all with anyone who feels moved to say, "I think your opinion is full of zebra shit, and here's why..." Please grant me the right to make an exclamation of surprise, and yeah, maybe even dismay, when, taking almost my first step into SH fandom, I discover that the ground isn't entirely solid... I confess that I cannot find anything impressively magical about "150". Can't even find a trace of faery dust about "150 plus". The number of fans isn't really the point...is it? Assessing the extent and quality of their participation in that fandom would seem to have greater relevance. It should be of concern to us all when, among those fans drifting away from SH, are some of its most creative and talented members... If we were holding Fandom General Elections, I'd agree with the comment that "if you don't vote, don't bitch about who gets elected". But there are a hell of alot of people in this, and in any other, fandom who - because of lack of talent, lack of the self-confidence needed to risk exposure of that talent, or simple lack of time and energy - don't "produce". Don't write fanfic, don't illo, don't go to cons, rarely even mail in a LOC. But damned if I'll deny them the right to comment, maybe even to kvetch. If the only people who were allowed to complain about the state of a fandom and/or the quality of its creative output were those few who actively contribute to it, not only would that be elitist, and a distortion...it would be pretty damned boring, too.

  • also from A Vampire in These Woods:
    Your mention of songtapes reminded me how passionately I love them...and how long it's been since I've seen a new one. Best of luck making your own; Melissa and I tried our hand at it last summer when I visited her, and failed fairly dismally. Well, it might have had something to do with the fact that half a dozen trips to the appliance store finally revealed that we'd bought the wrong audio jack... For a long time I've been dying to make a song tape using Peter Cetera's "Glory Of Love", a piece that seems to me to be a perfect anthem for all our favorite media relationships, "/" or &...

  • A Word in Edgewise #9 by [T B]:
    '... the introduction of sexual intimacy can trigger... alterations in attitudes...' Right on... This is something that I find fascinating. We have tried to explore this in our SH writing, and maybe even more in the THRESHING FLOOR alternate of our V&D stories. Well, we're freer there to delve into the dark side — less chance of anyone jumping down our throats screaming 'That's not MY S&H!' And from what Jody tells me of requests for TF, we must be doing something right... Seems people want to read little else, and when are we going to write more? That, if you're interested, is a question we hope to answer just as soon as we get NEA off our backs! Soon, Henry...

Issue 11 (January 1989)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 11 was published in January 1989 and contains 73 pages. The Captain is [M M].

cover of issue #11

There are 20 members.

Summary of contents:

  • a fan describes her and another fan's visit to the Star Trek movie set, meeting William Shatner and Harve Bennett, watching filming of ST: TNG, touring things, more
  • several long con reports for ZebraCon #8, plus some photos, see that page
  • a fan describes making a song tape
  • a review by a fan of the episode "Little Girl Lost"
  • a fan writes a long essay about death stories, uses many stories as examples of the emotions they create
  • a remark about S&H being a "closed fandom": "We've got a great deal going; it probably wouldn't hurt to let some others in on the secret. By not making our existence known to large fan groups (specifically, Trek), we're probably missing the chance to enlist scores of eager new writers and artists."
  • a fan gives a very short con report for Spectrum, see that page
  • a fan bemoans the fact that only two zines premiered at ZebraCon: Penal Code and Commitment
  • many clippings
  • Double the Duo by [P M] (perhaps a poem?)

Issue 11: Excerpts from Contents

  • Untitled by [M F]:
    Your term, "the most beautiful pair bond in the history of relationships" is probably the most appropriate description of S&H I've ever heard! Marvelous!

  • Responding by [T D]:
    [R] suggests the existence of a 'closed' SH fandom. Yet it's the last word I'd think of for the fandom I found. Ten years ago, I didn't even know the word, 'fandom', though I knew that (for me) SH was a series in a league of its own. By good fortune and by some very kind contacts, thousands of miles away across that ocean, I was finally able to borrow my very first fanzine....another word to eniarqe my vocabulary of those days. But after that, an end to searching: nothing was "closed'. 'Zebra Three', gave me names ... addresses... keys to fandom, sources of the information which, I somehow knew, existed somewhere. My enquiries, then as always, brought me the most generous and ready help in discovering the routes into SH fandom. Perhaps, my limited knowledge of fandom in general, beyond SH, makes me untypical. I wouldn't really know where to look for info on any other fandom. I have heard of something called 'Datazine' - even saw a copy once. 'CC , in my uneducated way, I have never heard of til now; what do the initials mean? I can't believe there's any intention to make SH a fandom 'closed' to anyone... would hate to feel that could be so. Perhaps I'd know more if I didn't live in this remote island outpost...but I've always found an open and a warm welcome. Seem to have missed out on any earthquakes too... numbers,..how many people needed to make a fandom? Theoretically at least, you could have a fandom of ONE? Or would there be some other label for that situation? All just academic questions? Does it matter? The real depths and value of SH fandom doesn't depend primarily on counting heads; the essential strength is in the quality of shared interest, which, for me, has never been less than satisfactory. You could consider that an understatement. Participation in any fandom is very much a personal matter (and some of you will know my gift for stating the obvious). I mean there's no rule book. But there's surely space and place in SH fandom for anyone who wants to be involved, in whatever ways. The diversity is enriching. Uniformity is for stereotypes. Guess expressions such as 'true fan' will always elude definition. I don't think they have much meaning - they don't hold up to being thought through. Speculation about anyone else's involvemebt could surely prove an unprofitable anifi pointless exercise. Not so long ago, in a (UK) SH L/Z,I read a contribution which actually proposed assigning SH fans to one of two groups — (a)the 'wheat' and (b) the 'chaff! There's really no rational response to that kind of simplistic and arbitrary categorizing. None of us, surely, would claim the kind of overview which it implies — except, maybe, some kind of hypothetical, omniacient 'superfan'...and who would aspire to that role... Here's something I've said before, probably more than once. But it's close to the way I see fandom. There's this parallel between fandom and icebergs. There's a fanberg, too. In both, parts are readily visible, others less so. We all know some aspects of fandom but there could always be some we happen to miss — not being 'Superfan*, able to get her mind around everything. But real interest, plus good fortune, plus help from one's friends, does, I believe, lead us into areas and activities which we * most enjoy, and our own small corners can be quite expensive in lots of ways Inevitably, we may not always be familiar with every one of fandom's warm and wonderful manifestations, and that acknowledgement may save us from the snare of facile generalization. Zebracon helps us to fill in a lot do the other regular SH publications — total of four. Aren(t we lucky! And the of things. So does TKSIDK. So counting FRIENZ, I make that zines, available or forthcoming And, in another w'ay, fandom is perhaps rather like that magical setting of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream'...somehow, by some process akin, maybe, to water-divined, we, like those characters, do find our ways into our 'part of the forest' where we can find so much to share. It happens, we get there.

  • Meeting of the Waters by [I G]:
    Behind this typewriter sits one happy SH fan! I have for the first time in my life attended a. SH con0 Even though it was a small con, there were only the three of us, according to us we have made history. This must have been the first ever Starsky and Hutch international Mid European mini con! Whatever. WE ate,, drank, talked, thought, breathed, and dreamed of Starsky and Hutch during those three days. It was wonderful It was even better for me, because I had never been to ANY SH con before. I always was quite on my lonesome out here until I discovered a couple of German fen, who were willing to share. Which was rather wonderful for me, because one gets quite hung up on one's own ideas when you have no one to talk to. So. We watched tapes. We discussed zines. We talked about our ideas. We sighed ("i wish I could draw like that!"). We read stories. We agreed about a lot of things ("We do like those buns!!"). And we sighed again. You might say it was like your everyday international Mid European SH mini con. And we had a great time! Hoping to haer from all you lucky persons who attended Zebra con, what it was like. We feel, because none of us could afford to go, we made up for missing it quite nicely this way.

  • also from Meeting of the Waters:
    You'll be glad to know I started trying to make songtapes and am succeeding. I have almost got one finished and suddenly all sorts of Ideas start to come into my head about new ones. I am all of a sudden getting episodes from one of the fen in Germany (Thanks Iris!).Fortunately almost all of them are in English, hearing German voices dubbed is really quite ridiculous, but anyway, they're good for making songtapes.

  • Death Stories #3 by [L G]: an essay using Whom Death Could Not Part, Nighthorse, Delivered to Thee, It's Always Toughest, Invictus, Mojave Crossing, Goliath as examples. Closing paragraph:
    As I mentioned at the beginning of this report, I do believe that there is a Purpose to all "death-stories" that one might suppose otherwise. So much of Life is a series of partings and separations of ALL kinds. Indeed, one of the few things that CAN be counted on to happen in our lives IS separation. There is no friendship or relationship without a sense of the dying that goes with them. And as with all endings, we take into our hearts the thoughts and feel- lings of the ones that have gone on before, leaving us behind. V/e may not enjoy "death-stories", but we can appreciate them for what they try to tell us about living and dying every day. Starsky & Hutch stories prove again and again that Love is deathless, endless, immortal—and I think THAT is the best thing about the "death-story" we encounter!"

  • A Virgin in These Woods #5 by [J G]:
    (And God help me if I happen to spot Paul on a street out there [in Los Angeles], 'cause the utterly decadent, lecherous, and incredibly illegal things I'll try to do to his well built body is something for which they will not only toss me into the clink, they'll melt down the key and make it into souvenir earrings for Elisabeth!) (But it might be worth it!)

  • also from A Virgin in These Woods:
    .. .to everyone who scribbled oy name onto a Huggy Award ballot for best SH ss! Carol Davis was kind enough to- mail the darlin' thing to me, (thank you, Carol!) and when it name floating out of the envelope I was as dumbfounded as I've ever been in my life. My gast was thoroughly flabbered! Actually, my rattled thoughts ran something like: "God's breath look look LOOK I won a Huggy Award a HUGGY. Award I can't bloody believe it would you LOOK at it yay yay yayyyyyyy who'd a'thunk it I must be wonderful I must be terrific I must be a helluva batter writer than I think I am a Huggy Award for cryin' out loud and for a little tiny three-page short short that I wrote in as many days I'll be damned I'm gonna frame this sucker and hang it on my office wall oh sure I mean I know it's not the Nobel Prize for Literature and that Susan Lovett has enough of these things to paper the entire inside of her house and possible her garage but this one's MINE I wonder if ever In my life I'll win another one probably not!! seriously considering ripping off all my clothes and rubbing this thing all over my plump naked body awwwwwww hell I wish I'd been at the Con to pick it up in person I woulda died when they called out my name JEESH oh sure I don't go to this year's Con and I win a writing award I'll probably be at every Z-Con from now on and never ever win another one my first and final Huggy and I wasn't there I was sittln' on my duff at home trying to get the cat hair out of my tape player boogers and oh crap I just thought Melissa's nagged me like crazy to write moro SH wait'll she finds out I got this award maybe I won't tell her nahhhh she'll find out soon enough from somebody else and beat the baJesus out of me when she sees me in L.A, aw hell I'd better get crackin right away and sit my rump down at the typer and start writing more SH stuff well I love this thing I can feel my ego bloating as I look at it I wonder if I can get a facsimile tattooed on my bosom??" 'Overreact'? What do you mean, 'Don't overreact'? Moi? Overreact? Hahhhhhhhhhl You must be thinking of somebody else who overreacts... Huh? 'Other people'? What 'other people"? Did somebody else win a Huggy Award too? Oh. Oh, right. Uhhhh...yeah! Sure! CONGRATULATIONS! Whoever you are. Really!

  • A Word from Her Partner by [M M]:
    I got my copy of Frienz from Pat Massie Monday, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. And thanks, Pat, for the plug for the Apa. After I'd finished reading, I decided to go back thru the letters and see who had written in who was not already in the Apa, and maybe drop them a line and ask them to join us. And what did I discover? That everyone who wrote in was already in the Apa, with only 2 exceptions-- [J], who had been with us, but dropped out last month due to pressures from work, and [MRK]. I do hope that once the letterzine is further established there will be more people writing in, but for now, we seem to be stuck with just a small group of people who contribute--letters, or ideas, or whatever.

  • This Writing Business (previously titled Southern Solitary) by [L G]:
    It seems a bit ironic, when looking at the two guys ten or twelve years ago, to realize that wild and crazy Paul would have had a long, apparently successful marriage, while golden boy David is on his fourth try now. (Now, don't attack me, I'm wild about David and hope this will be a wonderful relationship for him. I'm just commenting on the disparity between public image and the picture, at times.)

  • also from This Writing Business:
    I'd like to add a hearty "amen" to your assessment of SH+WOMEN Recipe for disaster. I'm not talking about "real" women like Terry, Gillian, Rosey, etc. I mean those...others. Would that I could forget the shameful encounters played out in Velvet Jungle, The Heroes, Foxy Lady, Satan's Witches, and far too many other episodes. Excruciating to watch, impossible to take seriously, If there's one aspect of "series canon" I choose to ignore, this is it. I prefer to pretend that those two shallow, inane, adolescent yo-yos never existed.

  • also from This Writing Business:
    To everyone who's written with positive comments on the state of fandom: Thanks! I feel so much better! See, I'm not going anywhere, and it's reassuring to know that, fifty years from now, when I'm peering through my bifocals at a faded photo of our guys, there'll be other gray-haired little old ladies drooling over my shoulder..

  • also from This Writing Business:
    I do think that [R's] comments about SH being a "closed" fandom are important. We've got a great deal going; it probably wouldn't hurt to let some others in on the secret. By not making our existence known to large fan groups (specifically, Trek), we're probably missing the chance to enlist scores of eager new writers and artists. And as [M B], and others, pointed out, we need to be a productive group, since we're so small. I hope the lack of new material available now is temporary. Based on my own experience, it seems to take a while after entering a new fandom to absorb the "canon" and get to know the characters before feeling equipped to write them. We've got a lot of new folks — maybe it will just take a little while before some of them are ready to take the creative plunge.

  • Daughter of the Totally Uncreative Title by [J H]:
    Several people mentioned that they would like a ZCon report, since they would not be able to attend. I can't promise a comprehensive report or even terribly accurate one (since I've been to three cons in the last four weeks), but I'll do my best. [see remainder of this con report at the ZebraCon page] </ref>

  • A Word in Edgeways #10 by [T B]:
    I don't think I can really write a Con Report — I mean, I didn't all end everything. I hardly touched the video-room. I was conspicuous by my absence during the auction... But I did most definitely have a terrific time. And after being fortunate enough to attend three ZebraCons, I would be surprised if I didn't have a terrific time at any future events [see remainder of this con report at the ZebraCon page] </ref>

Issue 12 (February 1989)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 12 was published in February 1989 and contains 31 pages. The Captain is [M M].

cover of issue #12

The APA has gained two new members, has about 23, but the Captain notes that it is losing members.

Summary of contents:

  • there are lots of comments about being old fans, one them: "the drooling old ladies scenario is adorable — I can see most of us still gathering for a Z-Con in 40 years!"
  • "The Foundering Gourmet," a vignette by {m F] in dialog form relating to "The Frugal Gourmet"
  • Valentine by [P M]: an ad for back issues of Frienz
  • Untitled by [M F]
  • many photos by Ruth Kurz of fans in their homes
  • A Word from Her partner #10 [M M]
  • many clippings
  • "Our Visit to Venice, or D'ya Think If We Got a Screwdriver and Hoisted the Door of Hutch's Apartment Off Its Hinges To Take Home As a Souvenir, Anybody'd Notice?" -- a description of a trip to Venice Beach and other parts of California: includes some color photos

Issue 12: Excerpts from Contents

  • Endearments #4 by [L G]:
    We cut away from this—uh, soapy scene for the moment to try and find out the way that endearments fit into the Starsky & Hutch Universe—or do they? Is the Love between our two darlings always of the non-verbal variety? With some endearments, we have to wonder if we're not stretch ing things a bit when we think of 'sweetheart', .or 'dear', .or 'darling' being said by our two courageous sweeties! But then again we have the "Blondie"'s—the "Dirtball"'s—even the "Blintz's"!! There are others too: The obscure and softly spoken "babe" as spoken by both Starsky AND Hutch. Once in The Plague when Starsky suddenly learns that Callendar is on the way to save Hutch; the scene in the alley in The Fix where Starsky finds Hutch, then carries him to his car; that scene in Shooutout after Theresa tells Hutch that his partner "needs you" ( very obscure! ) There are, of course, the usual words of endearments that we'd hear from ANY friends—'pal', 'buddy'—or 'partner', the last one being the one used the most often in the Series. In the Alternate Universe of Starsky & Hutch, (referring, of course, to S/H) there is much more of a variety that we imagine them saying to each other as Terms of Endearments. In Lynna Bright's Murder on San Carmelitas, she has Hutch call Starsky by his given name "David". It seems especially appropriate at times because it's not only a beautiful name, but that the scene clearly calls for something Special, in other authors', we find 'sweetheart', or 'darling'—but in this particular genre, the words fit them very well. All in all, I think, the Endearments that we hear from S&H only prove once again the unconditional love that is so apparent in all SH!

  • A Word in Edgeways #11 by [T B]:
    Death stories. Yes, well... Having perpetrated a few myself (and I'm glad you liked INVICTUS, Leslie. That was my first attempt at the genre.) I have to say they hold a Fatal Attraction (ouch) for me. After all, S&H aren't immortal, and as the saying goes, there's nothing certain except death and taxes. Since we have never seen them on the run from the IRS, they must pay their dues to one -- and eventually, the other. I think we prefer the 'togetherness' endings because we know how devastating bereavement can be, and in spite of all the other pain and agony we inflict on them, which we know 'gets better', this is something that can't be cured. However, if you believe in reincarnation, there's a whole new ballgame to consider.

  • also from A Word in Edgeways:
    [Chris and I] had a good time deciding what we were going to write next. Well I had a good time, anyway, and after three glasses of mulled wine, I did get her into an amenable mood. More SH? Well, just lock out for the by-line. More Vas & Dex? You bet. (And contact Jody, who'll keep you up to date.) Just because we've finally got NEA off our backs, it doesn't mean we are for fresh wood9 and pastures new. Mainly because — well, it's cold outside, and fandom is so warm and appreciative!

  • also from A Word in Edgeways:
    There has always been a hard-core group of fans over here who are pledged to be d.o.bs in their nineties (we should live so long!) Wanna join? Actually, Jody and I were discussing the idea of a GrannyCon, to qualify for which you would need either a grandchild or any two of a number of " age related diseases. It was a sobering thought to discover that we actually already had one. No, I'm not telling which. Anyone guessing at senile dementia had better watch out, or I'll hit ya with my walking-frame...

  • Untitled by [C L]:
    I've been associated with fandom of some kind for as long as I can remember, first Star Trek- just watching the shows with my mom as a very little kid and idolizing both Kirk and Spock. They were my heroes. When I turned thirteen, I learned what conventions were. I remained solely in Trek, generally unaware that the other fandoms existed, attending as many cons as I could afford. And to make a long story (I tend to run off at the mouth- the keyboard, in this case) short, it was at a DeForest Kelly Con in Los Angeles, mid-October 1987, that I was enlightened. I was picking through ST fanzines (the "/" kind that trip, I remember) and a woman next to me informed me that I should try some different stuff. She told me that Starsky &Hutch was excellent, both in the relationship (non-'V") stories, and in the slash as well, and to read it. I said, "Starsky & Hutch? You mean that old shoot 'em up cop show? You've got to be kidding." She politely informed me that I wasn't remembering the show if I didn't recall the relationship between the characters, and spent a few minutes trying to convince me. After a serious effort on her part I was mildly curious, but not to the point of actually reading or buying anything. Bless her, she offered to come up and visit me (she lived about two hours away), bringing along "a few episodes you might like, and some examples of the zines available". She also offered to share some of her considerable ST library. Well, she did indeed come for a Saturday visit, bringing eight VHS tapes of S&H and an entire milk crate full of fanzines. When we settled in front of the television, she announced that "there are a couple of episodes that really show the strong caring these two men feel for each other, and I think they're pretty good. Why don't we start with those?" The woman smugly proceeded to show me "A Coffin for Starsky", "The Fix" and "Satan's Witches". Somewhere in the middle of "The Fix", she nudged my hand with something and I tore my eyes away from the screen long enough to take the fanzine she was passing me— "Murder on San Carmelitos." Need I say more? Well, not much, anyway. I spent the next several weeks devouring everything S&H, reading zines for several hours each day and watching episodes into the wee hours of the morning. My husband was disgusted, and I was permanently hooked. It took me awhile to level off, and I thank Rick for putting up with me during my "overwhelmed" phase— it was hard on him, believe me. I don't know why, but he would get upset when I'd simply bring a zine with me to read at the supermarket... and I was really that bad for awhile, too. Over time, my new friend also introduced me to "The Professionals", which I encourage S&H fans to try, and Blake's 7, which I like so far (I haven't had to see fourth season yet, though, and I understand that's a toughie). I've branched out in fandom to the point that here is always someone new to see, and something new to read, and new people to meet and enjoy. I've made friends from across this country and Canada, and I'm enjoying fandom more now than I ever have before. However- Starsky &Hutch is my favorite. Those men care about each other, no bones about it. Their relationship, no matter what "version" one ascribes to, is one of beauty and love and compassion. And of course, they're the best men to look at that I can think of! By the by, I prefer 'em not-so-tall, dark and curly....

  • A Virgin in These Woods #6 [J G]:
    Your comments re the "death story" phenomenon made interesting reading. Realizing that some (in this fandom and others) are fond of the genre, I'm forced to confess that...I loathe it. And my partner made me swear on a stack of SH Monthlies that I would never EVER write a story that ended with death, crippling, or permanent separation, and that if I absolutely had to separate the boys during the course of the story, I was to make bloody sure I got 'em firmly back in each other's embrace by the final paragraph...a pledge I was very happy to make. Guess I'm so completely in love with the vision of a middle-aged Starsky and Hutch settled into a satisfying, comfortable relationship, ("/" or no) that even the most brief excursion into unpleasant fantasy, no matter how beautifully written, dismays me. Death is a reality that touches us in some manner every day - I don't want to deal with it in my dreams as well...

  • Confession: I Am a Radical Feminist Starsky & Hutch Fan by [M R K] (the bulk of this trib is a reprint of an essay about "pornography," sexuality, slash and K/S... entitled Pornography by Women, For Women, With Love. The fan who submitted this essay doesn't mention its author (Joanna Russ). The contributing fan introduces this essay with:
    I know the first letter to "TMSIDK" is supposed to be a letter of intro- duction--& I promise that next time, I'll tell you all about me (more than even my mother wants to know) But for a real introduction, not to mention an absolutely fascinating article that, although specifically about K/S, also applies in many ways to S/H, & I hope will be of interest to everyone. And, in a way, this is just as relevant to my H l i t H l l fanaticism. Before I ever got my hands on an actual S&/H zine, I read an excerpt from this in "off our backs," a radical feminist paper I subscribe to. It was sheer luck that got the first S&H story into my hands, but God, was I primed. So, here is a pre-introduction.

  • Yes, More Uncreativity by [J H]:
    I do think you could have a fandom of one. It might not be as much fun if you couldn't share it with anyone else, but who's to say that one person couldn't love a show, the characters, maybe even the actors, by herself. If she chooses to write about them for her own pleasure, or even just fantasizes, isn't that what we do and share? How can it be fundamentally different if it's only one person? I think it must be the same. I know that I've had interests in the past that would fall into this category. I never really thought of them as fandoms, but they were almost as important to me then as SH is now.

  • also from "Yes, More Uncreativity":
    Okay, I'll admit it! I'm a sicko. I love death stories I have a different name for the "What if" story, though. I call it the "My partner is dead...JUST KIDDING! " story. Now, I can enjoy one of these if it's well done, but in a lot of cases it seems like a cop-out (no pun intended). I mean, when I was a kid, I used to fantasize about dying for a short time, then coming back so I could see how much people loved me. Using this as a plot device, to get the characters to display their grief for public consumption, seems wrong. I guess it's like anything else though, if you can do it well enough, I'll read and love it (And then read it again...) I'd much rather read stories that deal with how the remaining partner manages (or doesn't manage) to rebuild his life afterward. Good examples: Legacy (from One Shot) and The Fighter Still Remains (from Code 7, #1). If you magically resurrect the dead, then you cheat us out of the incredible emotional effort required to adjust to such a loss. I'd rather read about the remaining partner continuing to live as a real person (or in some cases deciding to stop living) than have a trite happily-ever-after ending. That's one reason I read fan literature rather than gothic romances.

Issue 13 (May 1989)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 13 was published in May 1989 and contains 47 pages. The Captain is [M M].

cover of issue #13

There are 20 members.

Summary of contents:

  • Confessions of a Radical Feminist TV Addict by [M R K]
  • After the Fact, a vignette by [M F] written in dialogue
  • Plotless Foamy Fluff, fiction by [J H]
  • a fan discusses the fourth season and how odd and moving it was, see 4th Season.
  • a new fan talks about how hard it is for her to read letterzines, that the intense emotion in the letters mirrors that of her own, and she finds this difficult
  • a fan writes that men don't talk the way they do in fanfiction, "I think Pat was right in a WDWTT issue when she said that at times she thought we was eavesdropping on a couple of passionate girlfriends. Guys don't talk what way! Even gay guys! If we wanted to write about women, we'd be writing Cagney & Lacey. (If anyone does, I don't want to know. That would be asking me to suspend my belief!)"
  • fans comment on Pornography by Women, For Women, With Love, which was reprinted in the previous issue
  • many clippings
  • No News is Good News by [J H]
  • a fan describes a March 1989 SHareCon

Issue 13: Excerpts from Contents

  • A Word in Edgeways #13 by [T B], regarding a fan named [J G] who wrote a letter in the previous issue about winning a Huggy Award and feeling unsettled as the story wasn't THAT good, and did she win just because there weren't that many other choices out there due to the "dry" period from which many fans felt the fandom was suffering from:
    Bravo! It took courage to say that your Huggy should have gone to a better story, had such a thing been written. Not that I decry your Award --far be it from me to pass such a judgement — but I can sympathise of your feeling of confusion, that maybe you won by "default". No one would want that -- and for the record, I'm not especially reassured, either. Particularly when so many 'Projected' zines never even make it off the starting blocks — and why? Because so little is being written. Has it all been said already? Surely not -- as we are all individuals, we all have a unique way of seeing the SH magic, and as unique a way of expressing what we see. I share your hope that '89 will have a fine crop of new fanfic!

  • also from A Word in Edgewise:
    THANK YOU for the article!!! It was indeed fascinating, and it does arrwer a few of those questions that creep up on us during a sleepless night --life 'Why am I writing this stuff anyway? I'm not gay!' Now I never saw the K/S premise myself -- probably because I was never that deeply into TREK fandom -- but the conclusions drawn are just as appropriate for S/H (except the 'alien' aspect...) particularly in the hurt/comfort scenario. Anyone who has had any experience with injury or illness knows that there's very little romance in cleaning up blood or changing dressings or bedpans. Or in dealing with a mental problem. And Amor doesn't always vincit omnia. But these situations provide us, the writers, with a necessary 'conflict' to put our characters through — eh, voila, a plot... Or at least a 'plot device'. One thing I really do object to, however, is the classification of '/' as 'pornography I've said this before, but I AM NOT A PORN WRITER. 'Pornography' stems from the Greek, and denotes literally 'Whore scribblings'. Well, I'm not in that profession. Pornography also suggests smut. And while I admit to writing erotica, I'll take issue that it's smutty. I read a definition once that defined porn as 'Books to be read with one hand'. If anyone wants to read my stuff one-handed, that's up to them -- hell — I find it erotic to write, so I expect the reader to be likewise affected — but, gentle friends, don't tell me I'm writing porn... However, I'm not labouring under the delusion that I'm producing 'art', either!

  • Responding Again by [T D]:
    The 'Confessions' article served to remind me how marginal is my knowledge of Star Trek or of K/S. Guess the article does have more relevance there, when though there's some common ground. Some very interesting evaluations there.

  • A Virgin in These Woods #7 by [J G]:
    God bless fans who share! Your tale of your introduction to SH is like many, many others I've heard, and not unlike my own...and my reaction to the idea of an SH fandom was identical to yours. I couldn't believe that anyone in their right minds would give the smallest damn about some dumbass, violent, shoot-'em-up cop show...let alone publicly admit it! My, how attitudes change...

  • also from A Virgin in These Woods:
    I think that I, like most "/" connoisseurs, first read Joanna Russ' essay when it was originally published, but I hadn't seen the piece since then, and it was interesting to review her ideas. Her analyses struck me again as it had four years ago - as being at the same time too shallow, and too convoluted. But on the whole I agree with her conclusions, and believe that "/" is ingenious, creative, deeply rooted in feminist conciousness... and, for the greatest part, healthy. And have often wished that some enterprising psych student would do a thesis on the "/" phenomenon...or, for that matter, on the entire phenomenon of fandoms themselves... (About five years ago a LOC of mine, printed in an ST lz, garnered an amazing number of personal responses, astounding the little neofan I was then. On a day when I'd received one letter too many, and was beginning to wonder where it was all going to end, I got a note from sone Godforsaken midwestern spot,,.Nebraska or Idaho or Missouri, or some such place (being a New Yorker means that my map of the U.S. includes the East Coast, the West Coast, and a big blank space in between)...and decided to "dispatch" this one quickly by openly declaring my love of "/" with words to the effect, "I love men, I love friendship, I love love, and I'm kinda fond of sex, too," Little did I know that the person I was writing to was even more perverted than myself, and I've spent the past five, jeesh, come to think of it, it's six, years in the delightful depths of "/" corruption, aided and abetted by that same midwestern pervert.)

  • A Word from Her Partner #11 by [M M]:
    I did get out my copy of the S&H Monthly Mag., #12, p. 24 again, and peruse it carefully (such a chore, ha, ha!) And I have to tell you, [M], that although I don't have a greatly varied sexual background, I have seen a few cocks in my day, and that is very definitely an aroused and very interesting one! Just like what I'd envision for Starsky, thanks to Suzan's lovely action portraits, in fact! But if you'd rather think it's his plaid shorts, that's your perogative. I'm equally positive that it's Paul in the flamboyant flesh, however!

  • Untitled by [M F]:
    The "Starsky & Hutch Party" took place March 17-19 in Md and was a warm, casual, mutual give-and-take. All attendees freely mingled, shared precious collections, personal histories, read stories, made food runs. We viewed and discussed episodes, played trivia, "pin the wound on Starsky" (a sick bunch, no?) and "psychodrama" -- re-enactments of key scenes from certain episodes (what fun playing a dead Gillian!). We were able to dub long-sought tapes and copy articles (THANKS, Martha, Susan and Jennifer). We even welcomed 2 new fans, which is always exciting! The highlight for me, however, was the aforementioned discovery in Shootout -- how could I have missed that all these years??!! Thanks again, Jennifer!! Can we have another SHare Con real SOON?

Issue 14 (July 1989)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 14 was published in July 1989 and contains 45 pages. The Captain is [M M].

cover of issue #14

There are 20 members.

The current Captain is passing on her duties to [M F] and says all outstanding debts are not being passed on to [M F] but should be settled with [M M]:

Please remember that I won't be passing on any debts to Maria, so please look at the next page--if you have a negative balance, that amount is still owed to me. If you have a positive balance, that will of course be passed along to Maria. If you haven't paid, and we haven't heard from you, Maria will have to assume that you no longer wish to remain with the Apa, so if you want to stay with us, send money to Maria!

Summary of contents:

  • Convicted part 6, fiction by [M B] (the author warns that it is "kinda... for mature audiences, okay..." -- This is the first sexually explicit fiction/comment in the APA, and marks the end of this story being serialized here. The fic was finally published in its entirely as a standalone zine nine years later.
  • A Word from Her Partner #12 by [M M]
  • many clippings
  • Confessions of a Radical Feminist in Baltimore by [M R K], one of several ZebraCon con reports
  • A Word in Edgeways #12 1/2 by [T B], fan casting for her novel No Easy Answers, see that page
  • Untitled by [M F], one of the several comments about 4th Season (1989 essay), see that page
  • Hollywood Grapevine by [S B]
  • This Writing Business by [L M]
  • there is a con report for the very first SHareCon (the SHareCon that precedes ALL of the others), see that page
  • the author of No Easy Answers fan casts her novel

Issue 14: Excerpts from Contents

  • Amapola Cruse by [M B]:
    I've been so busy lately that I haven't been able to contribute to the APA for a while. At least this time, I've done a new chapter of "Convicted" -- hope you like it. By the way, this one is kinda... for mature audiences, okay? Nothing too extreme, just wanted to let those of you who want to know those things know, (did that sentence make any kind of sense?) So this is Melissa's last ish, and now Maria will be taking on this wonderful venture! Congratulations and commendations go to Melissa for all her hard work and in advance to Maria. You both are terrific to take on the responsibility. Even zines that don't require much work do take a lot of effort. And the fandom needs to have on-going ways of communicating.

  • A Virgin in These Woods #8 by [J G]:
    "Erotica", lovely word, that. It rolls off the tongue like... like, uhmmm, well, never mind, I'm of the firm opinion that "/" is the most sensual, exciting, comforting, heart- (and other vital organs of the body) stirring writing there is, and as I mentioned in the last APA, it strikes me as be ing so uniquely feminine, and feminist, that I haven't been quite able to analyze it to my own satisfaction yet. And despite the intelligence of Joanna Russ's essay, she hasn't quite got a hold on it either. Myself, I've never taken great offense at being accused of writing "pornography". Coming from the kind of people who are up tight enough to label it that, it's a compliment, I'm actually kind of fond of being told I write "trash", "filth", and "obscenities". And I especially enjoy being called a "pervert", 'Cause it gives me the chance to grin smugly and say, "Yep. Jealous?" (Personally, I've never read an S/H zine with one hand, but I've certain ly taken my share of ice cold showers. Long ones. Susan's illos do that to me, every time. In fact, if I didn't know better, I'd swear that Suzan's responsible for the drought in Missouri...)

  • Untitled by [R K]:
    Since this will be [M's] last issue of the APA, I'd like to express my gratitude to her for keeping S&H fandom alive for us at a time when there were no letterzines and a dearth of zines with new stories for fans. It is entirely likely that having the APA regularly inspired those people who have now come out with lots of S&G for all of us. Now, let's all give [M F] all our support for future APA issues! I look forward to my issues of the APA as well as FRIENZ, FIX, and news of S&H mini-cons, even when I can't attend them. As for many of you, reading is still the mainstay of my "active" participation in fandom. An occasional LOC seems to be the extent of my creativity these days, unlike the days when I was able to contribute more. I look forward to ZEBRA-Con. Haven't missed one yet. Even though it began as a Starsky and Hutch con, it has always been flexible enough to include other interests. I can remember when I was pleased to see the "oops, wrong universe" H/J bit in the middle of an early song tape at an early Z-Con. That kind of open-minded warmth is what kept me coming back to ZEBRA-CON year after year. It occurred to me that this will be the first year I won't have any artwork in the art show unless the mundane loosens its grip on my life and I can get back to drawing this summer.

  • More Random Responses by [T D]:
    I couldn't agree more than in disliking any readiness to categorize an S/H writing as 'pornographic'. S/H takes in many facets and concepts of relationship. I recall an early SH L/z letter whose writer disclaimed ability to write S/H because 'I can't write red-hot porn', How could one answer that simplistic naivete? Can be harder to explain the obvious than the abstruse?

Issue 15 (August 1989)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 15 was published in August 1989 and contains 39 pages. The Captain is [M F].

cover of issue #15

There are 16 members.

The new Captain says she had to badger some fans for contributions, she also suggests folks discuss an episode or two but warns she will not publish "overt, explicit "/"."

Summary of contents:

  • contribution from [M M]
  • [M R K] episode synopsis
  • Up & Down, fiction by [J H]
  • [L G's] Torino Tales (about seeing a red and white Torino in her town)
  • S&H zine listing compiled by [S L]
  • many clippings
  • European Treats from [R K], many S&H clippings from European magazines

Issue 15: Excerpts from Contents

  • From the Desk of [P M]:
    I "found" my set of Max Franklin novelizations recently and am ^ having fun re-re-re-reading them. They are rather sexist (but so were the shows, what with their 'bimbo of the week' approach to females). I got a kick out of Hutch hanging up wet clothes and borrowing stuff from Starsky to wear. Cute. Franklin does have some nice bits to ponder, ' I think, we get an undressed Hutch in one of them, too. Anyway, all those lean muscles are interesting, to say the least.

  • also From the Desk of [P M]:
    I wrote a spring term paper on small press publishing (aka: the S&H 1/z)... got an "A". Wrote a response paper in Intro to Mass Media about "TV's Influence on Me", and brought in S&H and a brief look at the wonderful friends I've made in fandom. I found out, through this short paper that the Prof. is a Whovian. See! There are more fans out there than we think!

  • [T D] Goodies:
    My area of Cleveland has finally joined the world, and I now have cable TV. It's wonderful, especially getting clear reception on all the stations, but with all the channels, not one is showing S&H. Thank goodness for VCRs. Still, it's especially nice when they actually broadcast a show we love to watch. Although if it is as chopped up as some people have said, I'm better off with my own tapes.

  • Maria's Midsummer Mailing by [T D], commenting on the differing definitions of "frenzy" ("wild excitement" vs "violent agitation") and how some fans have been speculating on the name of the letterzine: Frienz and what that could mean:
    SH (like sex?) has too often been bracketed with violence. I d rather not see that kind of association perpetuated in whatever context. Shall not be able to do as bidden - i.e. watch out for the frenzy at ZCON, '89, since there's no chance I could be there...if only it were otherwise... But I have some wonderful memories of ZCONs, far removed from the mundane in every possible way. They are truly sustaining and I'll lose the.... glorious, creative times to treasure always. But, returning to the original point, I think Terri and I are saying just the sam things, talking about the same ZCON qualities. Only I'd never want to call them "frenzy." That's something else again.

Issue 16 (November 1989)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 16 was published in November 1989 and contains 36 pages. The Captain is [M F].

cover of issue #16

There are 19 members.

Summary of contents:

  • a reprint of the L.A. Times article, the National Enquirer article
  • several ZebraCon reports, see those pages
  • Treats from [T B]
  • News Bulletin from [S L]
  • Sympathy Card, copy of a card and message to the Glaser's from fans
  • contribution from [S B]
  • Christmas Presents, fiction by [M F]
  • many clippings about PMG and AIDS, also clippings about Teri White and her career
  • fans have just heard the news about PMG's family, that their daughter (Ariel) had passed away a year earlier from AIDS, and that Elizabeth Glaser and their son, Jake, were also HIV-positive; it is a sign of slower times and no internet that S&H fans (who got their information from magazines, newspapers, and the clippings sent by friends) appear to not have known Ariel had passed away in the first place, much less the reason.

Issue 16: Excerpts from Contents

from issue #16, a reprint of a photo from "National Enquirer" that a fan comments upon
  • intro by [M F]:
    By now, I'm sure everyone's heard of the horrible tragedy Paul and his family have suffered. Enclosed in this issue are several accounts of the terrible events, including the L.A. Times article that broke the sad story to fandom, graciously sent to me by [S B]. If anyone hasn't done so and would like to mail a donation to the organization Elizabeth's started, write to: The Pediatric AIDS Foundation. Did everyone see Paul & Elizabeth on the October 25 "Entertainment Tonight"? They had hosted a movie premiere the night before to benefit the PAF. Elizabeth looked lovely and stood proudly by Paula she explained to the reporter about the charity. He appeared haggard, but was still exceptionally attractive. I'm certain the event was a great success. To lighten the somber tone of APA #16, I've included a number of happier pieces, and even relented and put in a particular segment of the October 17 National Enquirer after Pat told me about it. I'm sure the majority of readers have also viewed the photo I'm referring to, and all I can say is, that Paul & David with Ariel and (I think it's) Brandon) is the MOST EXQUISITE photograph I've EVER had the blessing to see! It's painful to view, yet also very, very warm and positive. It's thrilling to know that so many years after their series had ended, Paul & David were still socializing and sharing one another's lives! What's really astonishing is the sensitivity of the accompanying article; I believe the NE tried to "make up" for its earlier cruel, sneaky invasion of the Glasers' privacy. Would anyone know who took/where the lovely photo was taken? Had anyone seen the picture prior to its NE publication? I wonder what NE "source" obtained the photo, and if perhaps it came from either Paul's or David's personal collection ... ? I find it hard to accept that some paparazzi snapped it.

  • contribution by [M M]:
    I received The Fix last week, and enjoyed reading it, and then Maria's debut-as-Captain issue of "Tell Me Something I Don't Know..." arrived a couple of days ago, so I'm in S&H heaven. I confess to being not so avid for S&H these days, since I'm still devoting most of what fandom type energy I have to Star Trek, my first love, this summer. I enjoyed STV, and have recently returned to the mundane world, after spending a weekend at a ST con with my Friend and Partner, Joanna, where we got to see other fan friends, and, most exciting of all, spent some time with the shining star of my ST galaxy, Harve Bennett -- he's such a sweetheart! So that's what we've been up to this summer, and it was a great time. Unfortunately, for both Joanna and I, this means our finances/time away from home is now more limited, so neither of us can go to Zebra Con this fall, much to our dismay. So we very much hope you will all write long, newsy con reports for the next issue of this APA, so we'll know all the great things we rnissed--pretty please?! I enjoyed everyone's contributions to issue #15, but obviously we need a lot more of them, to make the Apa interesting and enjoyable. I know just how Maria feels, trying to coax contributions from people, especially now that my own interest is waning somewhat with ST ascending. But then again, I do love S&H, and I love the fandom, and it's only one contribution every other month--surely we can all manage just a short note, at least?! So come on, gang, WRITE INI! Help Maria out--she can't put out an Apa, if no one sends anything in for her to publish!!

  • contribution from [S M]:
    Guess you could say I'm a "new" fan in the sense that I've just started making contact with organized S&H fandom, but I'm by no means new to the series. I followed it avidly during the first run, but had no VCR to collect the episodes. I bought all my zines by mail, never corresponded with any of the fans, and had no money to go to Z-Con. After a while I couldn't find many zines, and on my first visit to MediaWestCon when I inquired about S&H fandom, I was told it was dead - that a few stories survived in gen-zines, but not much else, Thank goodness they were wrong! Anyway, so about October of 1988 some newer friends of mine were getting into PROS fandom. They had been to IDICON and brought back some music videos. Among those they collected were several S&H. My heart leaped, my pulse raced. "I sure love that series!" I sighed. Several heads turned. "You do? Do you have the episodes? Have you read these zines?" Turned out several members of the group had been avid S&H fans and had collected tons of materials. They have been wonderfully supportive of my obsession. I borrowed. I cloned. I spent a fortune at the xerox store. This time when I went to MediaWest, I met [M B], I signed up for Z-Con. I'm re-hooked, and I'm here. Hello again. Hope I get to know all of you.

  • Not "Alchemical Lightning," Not "Nemesis Kid Lives" Either by [C A]:
    I've never had the opportunity to discuss [slash] many people, so of course, my views are biased. I am mightily fond of series where two of the male heroes, or not heroes) are, or can be made to like each other excruciatingly (that means slash or tender ampersand, yes?). In this respect, my pet series run from the Man from U.N.C.L.E., Buck Rogers, Robin of Sherwood, Magnum Force, Sherlock Holmes, Star Trek to possibly Route 66. Not that I like only slash-series (To find a whiff of slash in Sledge Hammer or Max Headroom would take dedicated, creative imagination, not to mention a heavy dose of "tinkering"). The ease with witch I am able to be conquered by a series is quite disgusting. [snipped] Also, my liking of Starsky & Hutch can hardly be due solely to the slash aspect, since I only moderately like Miami Vice, a bit more the Professionals (but that is due mainly to very good friends of mine liking then) and hardly at all Simon and Simon or Riptide, or most cop shows...

  • also Not "Alchemical Lightning," Not "Nemesis Kid Lives" Either:
    If I were to take sides, I'd say that I am "officially" a Blake's 7 fan. To wit: I am in the process of acquiring all the B7 Video episodes (I already have one/fourth, but the rest is on order. The point of this, you may ask, since I do not have a TV set, and much less a video? Blake's 7 is totally unknown in France, and Star Trek is fairly recent (the series was run for the first time in France three years ago, that's how recent), so to find French SF series fan with videos wishing to broaden their horizons, and who could invite me along with my tapes, is not an arduous task, and and excellent excuse to make converts). As to Starsky and Hutch, they have "always" existed in France. Actually, Starsky's French voice is so peculiar, that I found PMG's original voice quite dull compared to it, before I got properly used to him.... As to Starsky and Hutch videos, I am getting merely: "A Coffin for Starsky", "The Fix", "Partners" and "Murder Ward". Why chose those? the first three are pretty obvious, but I like "Murder Ward" because Hutch looks so much like Johnny Davis in it, and there is so little of him in Magnum Force. I do seem to have a taste for frivolous reasons. But the fact is, I have as oft spot for baddies, so I can't wholeheartedly love fiction characters who are too pure and innocent (this is why Kirk and Spock are not as high on my favorite's list as they should be). Indeed, ay second favorite Dr Who Companion (the first one being Leela) is Turlough, who does not seem to be well beloved by most people, but I can't resist a "hero" who will only do good deeds when threatened by terminal loss of face. On the other hand, I don't like characters who do "bad" things, when it is not done with a flair for the absurd, the theatrically showy and tortured or when they take themselves too seriously. That is how I can like Sledge Hammer, Darth Vader, the Replicant played by Rutger Hauer in Blade Runner, the Sheriff of Sherwood, and his right arm man,((although when you consider results, he looks more like a left arm man, but that's part of the fun), (what's his name again, Guisbourne? something like that...)) and a bevy of other villainous and semi-villainous characters.(I can't think of any villain of that type in Starsky and Hutch, which is nice in a way, because I never have to suffer divided loyalty when watching the show. And although Starsky and Hutch are certainly "goodies", they are most certainly not "pure", for instance, they can be most charmingly disrespectful! Of course, Kirk can be disrespectful too, but coming from a dashing Starship Captain, who is usually in a position of authority, it does not feel as daring. And he is so traditionally disrespectful). When I think of it, I like my "villains" to be bad, but I don't like it when they do bad things. Maybe because it spoils my fun when people get hurt too much. Or maybe an evaluation of comparative merits? A villain, who will do an heroic good deed that does not serve his interest is a much more dramatic figure than a hero doing a similar heroic deed. Not that the hero has no merit, but it is easy do take it for granted that he will act this way, so there is less of an element of surprise in his action.

  • also Not "Alchemical Lightning," Not "Nemesis Kid Lives" Either: [C A]:
    As to the slash aspect of a story, why does a story interest me more if it is slash, when I tend to speed through the sex scenes (which is a problem, since many stories, especially the short ones, consist almost mainly of that)? Not that I'm not interested in them, but after a while, one feels there is just so many ways to originally describe sodomy, and that after reading a number of slash fanzines, one has come upon every possible description of it. Or maybe a lengthy sex scene is something I can ad lib adequately by myself, whereas i find the writing of witty dialog, intricate engrossing plots and meaningful new angles much more difficult, and I am grateful when others can do it for me. Speaking of witty dialog, that is one thing I love about Starsky and Hutch. Gems like the "I know I saw what you thought I thought you saw" comedy routine (not an exact quote, but surely, those who have seen it, remember it), played the way they did it, will always delight me. My only problem, is that I find it difficult to look beyond the characters portrayed. I like Starsky and Hutch, but PMG and David Soul are totally unreal to me.

Issue 17 (January 1990)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 17 was published in January 1990 and contains 38 pages. The Captain is [M F].

cover of issue #17
art for issue #17 by [C A]

The Captain says she needs more input from members and that some of them are being financial dead beats:

HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone! Hope "euphoric sentimentalism" was a part of the holidays for all. A new decade's upon us and I look forward to another 10 years of S&H fandom. As always, the previous APA was a pleasure. I greatly enjoy being"captain" of this worthy endeavor, but must say, I miss feedback from other members. I've asked for comments, ideas, suggestions and contributions, but only a few regulars have come through. Like Pat, who begged for submissions for Frienz, I too am pleading for more consistent participation from all APA members... I await contributions, but am only minimally satisfied with what I receive. That's not to say that everything mailed in isn't wonderful, informative and interesting, only that there are 18 members of this APA, yet only the same 6 or 7 of us actively participate each issue. As Starsk asked Hutch in Omaha Tiger: "Why aren't we talkin' to each other?" I don't at all mind putting this delightful publication together and wish I had thicker issues to send out! I'm sure members anticipate every APA; wouldn't it be more lively if everyone contributed at least semi-regularly? PLEASE PARTICIPATE! Also, not only am I faced with a dearth of submissions, but a number of members are in arrears for postage. If I don't receive back-debt funds, plus money for future issues, if interested, from those I've written to, I'll have to cancel those members' APA subscriptions with this issue. I want the APA to grow, not shrink, so please do your part if you want the APA to continue. THANKS.

Summary of contents:

  • much about the role of sex in a story
  • description of a house party at Marian Kelly's
  • a long-time fan is burnt out, and predictably complains about how boring this fandom has become
  • Pat's "Lifetime," a poem
  • [M K]/PAF correspondence, a recount of presenting a check for $3500 (raised at ZebraCon by 175 people) to the Pediatric Aids Foundation, includes a photocopy of the check
  • translations of unknown French articles that was printed in the last issue, subject was PMG and his family's recent tragedy
  • [M R K's] "autograph/episode synopsis
  • many clippings

Issue 17: Excerpts from Contents

  • contribution by [M M]:
    Much as I loathe the National Enquirer and its usual tacky (at best) reporting, I do occasionally break down and buy a copy when it has an article about one of my favorite actors. I was totally disgusted with the first story they wrote "breaking" the news of Paul's family's AIDS tragedy, and had vowed to boycott the rag, till a friend told me they had a new article, with an exquisite cover picture of PMG and DS and two of their children, so I broke down and bought a few copies for myself and friends. It is truly an incredibly wonderful picture, which I'd never seen before.

  • A Word in Edgewise by [T B:
    Well, I doubt if many of you actually missed me during my absence -- the pressures haven't exactly eased off, but I'm making an effort to keep up to date, and I promised a letter this time. Also it seemed the perfect opportunity to scotch a rumour that I have gafiated. This is not true. Neither is it true that Chris and I hold fandom in contempt. Quoi, you say, and well you might, but I've heard both theories, and I'd like to go on record that while we might be feeling the need to rest on our laurels a while, we are still firmly rooted in SH fandom. Please pass the word if you hear differently! I was sorry to miss ZCon, but I'm sure a great time was had by all regardless -- and I was delighted (but not surprised) by the total raised for the PAF. After all, I've always known that fandom contains dome of the nicest people I've ever come across... Maria, I think you said it for all of us. Thank you — and thank you for the extra clips. I've been able to pass them on to people who were less informed. There isn't much of a fannish grapevine in U.K., alas -- or if there is, it passes me by!... I loved the 'just so many ways to describe sodomy'! So true... I think fanfic has used them all and is on a second run-through. Or maybe a third. Like [C A], I tend to speed-read the sex-scenes these days, so I can get to the real meat. Has any one else noticed the dearth of Real Police Stories these days? So many we are offered seem to consist of sex-scenes precariously strung together by a very flimsy plot-line. I may soon start emulating that U.S. ad where the granny-type peers into the bun and demands 'Where's the Beef?' I might indeed wonder where the MacWhoppa Brunch has got to -- there's been a sad lack of any kind of fanfic recently, in spite of optimistic rallying cries. Take a look at SNITCH #12. Lots of reprints on offer, but hardly anything new. And barely a handful of 'proposed' zines. I heard only last week of another being cancelled through lack of interest. I hope this isn't a symptom of something terminal.

  • Radio Code 311 by [C A], who had complained of "only so many ways to write sodomy" in the last issue:
    Never Again by D.C. Black in Late Night was a good "&" story: Starsky's mounting state of anxiety brought by the belief that Hutch had had an accident, and the satisfyingly complex description of his reaction to it. That story was not slash, but the adding of a single sentence could have made it so. So what is the big deal? Why is the presence or absence of such a sentence important to some? lt is to me. Even though sex scenes are not all that important. This I said last time, but I want to make clear that I don't dislike the sex scenes, I love them! Just the proportion isn't always right, for instance, Heatwave, by Syn Ferguson is, in my view, a disaster, since the characterization of S/H, which led to the endless sex scene seems perfunctory and totally inane (Can that really be the same person who wrote Courts of Honor?), but Murder on San Carmelitas is nice enough, because none of the sex scenes are gratuitous, (some will say, sex scenes are always gratuitous, but that isn't my point), and each time, the people involved learn something new. But they did tend to drag on (the sex-scenes, not the people). (My favorite K/S slash, is one where you don't get any slash sex scene before, what was it? page 300 or so). If it isn't important to me, why do I go on about it? Because the meaning of it puzzles me. So,starting from the basics, pornography is (sorry about repetion Maria) any text written or work produced, with the purpose of arousing. Erotica is a sub-genre of Pornography, which is also written with the purpose of arousing. It will be tastefully stated, and might even suggest rather than describe explicitly, and includes sexual arousal, but also, "amourous" arousal, and thus, to a milder degree, it can include works portraying any sort of general interaction between two beautiful, sexually attractive people. Indeed, for what reason should they be sexually attractive, but for the audience to be sexually attracted, I ask you? [snipped] But watching Starsky get shot, or Hutch fighting drug addiction, and enjoying the drama born of it, is a different matter. And thus, any work of pornography that is pure fiction cannot really be objected to, and parameters of the acceptable in this context is purely personal. (as an example, anything involving Nazi uniforms is quite likely to make me throw up, but I don't object to leather and studs as a rule.) (And, Yes, I think that Avon is scrumptious) So this about the ethics of portraying sex at all in fanzines. But since I'm in favor of it, why am I complaining? Sex can be a boring activity if excruciatingly described.

  • also from Radio Code 311:
    Though my favorite Starsky and Hutch stories would be those protraying them as lovers, the bits I would like best in those are how they integrate that relationship into their working lives (and I don't mean by that endless blow-jobs in a cramped torino), or other people's reactions to it (preferably including someone very bigoted and narrow minded determined to make life difficult for then. It might not be politically correct, but conflict where one enjoys despising the villain makes better reading than stories where all is peaches, roses and cream and nothing goes on at all), (but then, so much depends on the writing skill, right?) As to why it should be a gay relationship at all, despite needing to twist facts, or presume facts you don't see? (Keeping in mind that the twisting is not due to love of deviousness, but because there is not other way to get what is desired).

  • [S M's] Treats:
    Over the holidays, I was invited down to Los Angeles to attend Marian Kelly's Christmas party. My friend [E A] and I drove down (about 8 hours from my place), and the party was definitely worth the effort (although I deeply regret having to miss Romanovsky and Phillips in concert that Saturday night). There were many fans present from all different fandoms from S&H to PROS, Blake 7, Star Trek etc. Marian had assigned many of us some form of entertainment, a song or poem etc. Others became "Hummers" to help with songs, or "Volunteers", who were used however the "Doers" saw fit. There was a lot of laughter, and a wonderful feeling of camaraderie . Even the teddy bears who attended had their own picnic accompanied by dolls and other animal guests. A great time was had by all. And as an extra bonus, Marian let me roam around in her zines, and I trucked home an enormous stack to read. Pure heaven! Wish all of you could have been there.

Issue 18 (March 1990)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 18 was published in March 1990 and contains 61 pages. The Captain is [M F].

cover of issue #18

There are 18 members.

From the Captain:

Apparently, begging for submissions last issue went a long way: including myself, 11 members have contributed to #18-that's the highest level of participation ever! PLEASE keep up the good work. Special mention must go to [M R K] for her generous 17-page submission, especially the affecting tabloid article on Paul, Elizabeth & Jake. At last we get to see photos of Paul's son. In a more serious vein, I was dismayed to receive letters from several members stating they didn't have anything new to say/write about S&H! What about the pilot and 85 episodes, plus Dave & Ken's emotions and reactions in each to study, dissect and expound. There are always bits and pieces we've all overlooked in every show that we could alert one another to. We could concentrate on the tags for several APAs, or the h/c or lighter pieces. We could speculate on childhoods, occupations prior to police work, who approached who first at the police academy (and if we believe that's where they initially met). We could offer opinions on just when either or both decided the other was his dearest, most trusted friend. And how about: fave individual performance(s) in an episode, do the guys follow police procedure?, was their first assignment as partners successful? What was it?, what other Christmas gifts have Dave & Ken exchanged? fave non-h/c episode Just for starters. As far as I'm concerned, there's a plethora of topics to discuss about S&H. To feel that all possible observations have been made and that all comments stated, is to sell short S&H, fandom and ourselves. Perhaps, as [S]suggested, it'd be easier for many members if the APA were published quarterly instead of bi-monthly. Although I don't mind putting this worthy project together every other month, I'd be willing to adapt to the new schedule if a majority of subscribers consent to it. [S] also mentioned trying to have S&H re-instated on syndicated tv. I unsuccessfully tried a letter-writing campaign to bring S&H back to Philadelphia a number of years ago, but it's always worth a shot. Anyone interested?

Summary of contents:

  • David TV Guide blurbs
  • Corinthians 13 (?)
  • a Torino illo
  • there are 15 half page photocopied pieces of S&H art by some BNFs, contributed by a fan's personal collection
  • the author of the Vas & Dex stories says that "in many cases, friends are better than lovers. (And yes, we are exploring that theme in THE THRESHING FLOOR.) (We'd be lynched if we tried it with S&H!)"
  • many clippings
  • a fan writes: "I extend this as a challenge to all. If you haven't written a story or poem, the APA is a fantastic place to start. It's awful to say this, but we're all so desperate to read something new, you are guaranteed to be appreciated for it. And there are people like [M B], [S B], and [T B] who have a lot of experience writing. If you want constructive criticism, I'm sure you need only ask."
  • a fan writes: "I don't nave anything new to say in S/H. Not without twisting the characters into pretzels, anyway, and I'd rather do that with my own creations, [Vas & Dex]."
  • Hollywood Hotline by [S B], very detailed recount of being at the Glaser's premiere PAF gathering, various Hollywood speculation regarding what Glaser and Soul are up to professionally
  • [R K] included some photocopies of some artwork she owned
  • a fan writes: "On sodomy, well, I guess we don't exactly agree. There's a lot more to love and sex than fucking of any variety. I guess that's obvious. I agree that there are stories whose sexy sides outweigh the plot; but there are also stories with plot and character development that never manage to capture my interest, to make me care what happens to the boys. I'd love to think up deep plots for every story I write, but sometimes it just doesn't happen that way. Sorry."
  • a fan responds to another's toss-away line in a previous issue: "Is the world ready for Han/Chewie, you ask? Well, I can think of more unlikely pairings. I mean, it gets awful lonely out there in space, and you can get used to the idiosyncratic Wookiee body odour, and he is nice and furry to snuggle up to..."
  • a fan suggests that long, detailed descriptions of explicit sex are more appealing to fans/people who aren't getting enough sex themselves, not unlike the appeal of someone on a diet reading an expansive description of food
  • a fan writes that " we are too small a fandom to support people who only consume without returning something"
  • contribution by [M M]
  • contribution by [P M]

Issue 18: Excerpts from Contents

  • Scribblings by [M R K]:
    Can't say I have a lot to say this issue. Not much has been going on in my life, except for fighting off the flu & trying to write. The trying to's not going so hot. Winning a Huggy can be a very intimidating thing; I keep worrying, will I ever write anything good again?... There's one thing I would like to know-what is all this doom & gloom I keep hearing about "will fandom survive?" I haven't been active in SH that long, but I have been reading the old letterzines, & it seem to me that one of the major topics of conversation is "why are we here? How long will it all last? And that was from the very beginning. I don't want to appear shallow (though those of you who know me know that I am) but I thought we were here 'cause we want to be. And if there aren't a lot of zines being put out — well, I don't know about anybody else, but I'm writing my little heart out.

  • contribution by [S M]:
    I've been trying to think of things that might help APA expand. Since I'm a new kid on the block to all of this, you may have tried some of this without much result. One thing I thought of was a change in the number of publications. While I'm greedy enough to want to get TMSIDK every two months, I question whether a quarterly schedule might not work better. Reality is that STARSKY & HUTCH went off the air more than ten years ago. New information about the series is scarce. Most of the submissions are either new material on David and Paul or reprints of old articles that we xerox and share. It's hard to keep coming up with information for each publication, but at least a quarterly schedule would give us more time. It would also stretch the postage money out over a longer period, making it easier on our hardworking publisher. She should not have to foot anyone's bills! Also, for fans who are trying to handle submissions to other publications, like FRIENZ and THE FIX, it would...make all the submissions due at one time. (This may be a no-win situation. I also wondered about getting the reruns of S&H back on the air. Don't know about you folks in other parts of the galaxy, but that show hasn't run on a channel in this area in years. It DID run for a long time up in San Francisco area, but 4:00 a.m. isn't a convenient time for many of us. Anyway, so many of the old series are being shown on Cable, that I keep hoping S&H will show up. If it were to be syndicated through Cable, we'd stand a better chance of attracting more fans. There may be other obstacles to this, or I may just be living in a place where they don't show the series. So how about it? Is the show on where others can see it? If not, could we write in and request that it be shown? While the show was considered violent in its time, I wouldn't think that would prevent it being shown now. I'm aware that other S&H publications always have a topic to discuss, so maybe that's old hat by now. However, I could see some advantages to trying to channel discussions for each issue. It would give more people something to comment on, and could stimulate some discussions. I'm afraid that's all I thought of to date.)

  • A Word in Edgeways by [T B]:
    I have been and am writing. Not exclusively S&H, I will admit, put also a historical novel (not featuring S&H clones, in case you were wondering! Sorry!) and the Continuing Saga of Vastarnyi & Dexter. (Commercial Break -- NEW! NEW!! NEW!!! After taking a sabbatical, tne V&D team are pack on the streets! Available shortly -- more from the THRESHING FLOOR '/' universe, more mainstream, and TRIVIAZINE! Fiction, poetry, interest, photos, art — AND that Hungarian Glossary we promised! Don't miss it! SASE Jody Lynn Nye for details!) (Yes, that is THE Jody Lynn Nye. Another fan makes it BIG!) Two of the SH ideas are slightly held up, due to my requested research material not arriving — these days i'm picky, I like to get my details right. The reader may not care, but I do! However, I have no plans for any further SH novellas. Why not? Partly because at present I'm fresh out of ideas. I need stimulation. I need feedback. I'm not getting any. This could be classified as a subtle hint. It will probably have as much effect as the other hints I've been throwing out. I told you I'd be repeating myself... [snipped] This is something I reaily missed, not attending ZebraCcn. The feedback and discussion -- sometimes it only takes a word or phrase to generate a whole new crop of ideas, and a Con is a good place to pick up and catch up on those things other people are thinking or writing about. I suppose I'm in withdrawal. There isn't even a FIX in view until May!

  • Missing in Action by [J H]:
    On comparing "Heatwave" and Courts of Honor, well, I wasn't that crazy about either one of them. I think that Courts had many weaknesses, but the primary one was the sex. It was totally irrelevant to the plot. I think it could have been a much better story if it was written straight. (Yes, I know that some of the motivations would have to be changed, but I still think it would be better.) My opinion is probably colored by the fact that I found the sex really offensive. While I might find a little light bondage, in fun, exciting, S&M turns me off, fast. Heatwave was short on plot and long on sex, and about the same as others I've read, but I would have liked it more if the sex had pushed my buttons. So, I guess what I'm saying is that it is all a matter of taste. Whether or not you want any sex at all, how it is written, and how it relates to the plot are all a matter of personal taste. Some stories may be written with more skill, and therefore less likely to offend if they don't fit your taste, but there is no absolute right answer. And no one is forced to read anything they don't like.

  • also from Missing in Action: comments on the "lack of new zines" comments:
    On the zine front, I am sorry to hear the constant refrain that there are not enough zines out. Of course we'd all love a constant supply of new things to read. I am not aware of any time in the past when SH zines came out at the rate of ten or more a year. To my count, from ZCon 88 to ZCon 89, these zines debuted: Penal Code (ZCon 88), Commitment (ZCon 88), The Fix 4 (ZCon 88), Frienz (several issues) (ZCon 88), The Fix 5 (March), No Easy Answers (May), Lifeline (May), The Fix 6 (August), Shadowplay (ZCon 89), The Fix 7(ZCon 89), I don't think that's a trivial record.

  • Responding by [T D]:
    Reverting to the promising prospects for 1990's SH zine crop, there are also plans for one more: [Bonaventure]]. The PAF pages in the last APA made interesting reading and one hears a lot about the ways in which the fund-raising continues (as, for example, in SHCONS and meetings on both sides of the ocean). We hope to make this zine, in part, one more effort of that kind. And, in the same connexion, I'd like to mention some sewing I've been doing - just a preliminary notice here. I've almost finished making a quilt (size 7 2inches by 45 inches). Colours? (what else?) — various blues...indigo...paler blues...denim... There's a design of stars — you could say a star sky. And some roses. No need to explain why those are there? The plan is to make the quilt a raffle prize among SH fans and to use it as one more way of thus raising a little more for PAF.

  • Amapola Cruise by [M B], comments on the current topics of SH fanfiction:
    It sounds like some of us are getting down on fanfic in general these days, and I guess I'd like to put my two cents in. I've done some thinking about it, and it seems to me that fanfiction in any universe goes through certain stages. [T] comments on the dearth of "Real Police Stories" these days, but I'm not surprised that there haven't been as many as there were in the early years of SH fandom. The earliest Trek stories were more SF oriented, because the writers and readers wanted to see more of the show, more adventures for the Enterprise and her crew. Then, shortly on the heels of this kind of story, came the character studies, the what-ifs, stories that explore a fact of the central character or characters, that ask the hard questions, put the man to the test. Get-ems and hurt/comfort are a branch of this type of story — and what in the hands of one writer may be a sensitive character story may in the hands of another simply be a get-Spock exercise. The readers are actually looking, all along, I think, for the feeling that they got from the show itself and from the characters they love. After awhile, even the best episodes don't hold the interest as strongly; in Trek, we know how all the adventures work out, we know what the crew learns. In SH, we know who the bad guys are in every episode. What we want to find in our fiction becomes the feeling we get watching the characters. It's not enough to describe Hutch in that black leather jacket wielding that huge gun, we want to see what he's feeling inside, we want to see him tender, anxious, caring, angry, hurting, learning. We go for more and more physical descriptions, trying to make our mind's eye see the characters, and we begin to explore the deepest feelings in their hearts. Could they love each other? What happens after all the bad guys are caught, after all the 'who do we trust' pacts are made, after the streets have taken their due? It all comes down to just two men who mean more to each other than anything else in the world. For those who view slash as a natural outgrowth in a relationship, this is where it comes in, my friends. And it packs such an emotional wallop that we can't help falling in love, too.

  • also from Amapola Cruise, this fan asks about something that reminded her of a subject they were discussing at ZCon on a panel:
    ...what kinds of zines are the readers looking for out there in fandom today? Would you rather have a small zine with very little art and mostly shorter stories, in order to get something in the mail more frequently? Would you prefer to get a novel sooner and have no art, or wait for some good illos to have the zine in your hands? I think there's room and a desire to read all lengths of stories, and I admit to enjoying the creative work that goes into publishing a major full-length zine. The problem, of course, comes when you try to put all the creative elements together. There are always fewer artists in a fandom than there are writers, so acquiring illos for a zine takes a major effort, and can really be exhausting and sometimes the most grueling part of the project. Writing your own stories takes time, so does editing the contributions of others' and so do the phone calls and letters that must be written.

  • also from Amapola Cruise, physical sex in fanfiction:
    Let me tell you something, for those who don't know me and my history in Trek. I wasn't into K/S. Didn't really agree with it, didn't actually write it (though, to be honest, I did try an experiment or two under a pen name.) But for S&H, that's the way I really see them. The ideas for stories that I write center around the fact that they love each other and express it physically. And when I first read SH love stories, the emotional jolt I received was like no other I'd found in fanfiction before it. Like cocaine, it's a terribly seductive addition. I want more to read, to recapture those first beautiful feelings. I'll always want more. Yes, I'm into S/H. And yes, what I like to read are the sex scenes. Let's face it — this isn't great literature, this doesn't have to be watered down for mass consumption. We're writing for each other, for our friends, for ourselves. If I'm in the middle of a"/" story and the writer fades to black after the first kiss, I feel cheated. No, I don't need this to get my own rocks off (but the juicy rocks-off stories have their place, too) but I just want to see all of what goes on between the characters. Some out there may not bother reading these scenes, but I do. And I'm willing to bet that I'm not the only one. (Yes, some scenes can be overdone, tell too much, go on ad nauseum. Some people are simply more skillful writers than others.) It's a matter of personal taste. Some people like making love for hours, others are more comfortable with the lights off and letting the whole thing take 20 minutes. In my own stories, I honestly try to make each sex scene as integral to the character development or plot as I can. To me, it very much matters who does what to who, who takes the lead, who is swept off his feet. I wouldn't turn off my TV the moment Starsky and Hutch reached for each other (oh, would that they did!), and I don't want the story to leave it all to my imagination, either. ([T], I hope you didn't skim my scenes in "Fatal Charm" in SHADOWPLAY... there was a lot in there that had bearing on the rest of the story. Besides, I spent a lot of time working on those scenes. I'd hate to think anyone said to herself, "sex scene — time to skip ahead." Not that everyone isn't entitled to skip and skim as she pleases in a story — some of us probably skip the 'boring parts' where we have all that police work or get a good look at the bad guys.) Some may feel that it's all been said before, that "there are only so many ways to describe sodomy." But writers should look at it as a challenge; find something new to say about it, a new way to think about it and portray it, or better yet, be inventive enough to have them do something a little bit different. I do feel that stories should have more to them than strung together sex scenes. But what if they do? Who am I to turn down anything that's published in this fandom? Zines are few and far enough between. Not everyone is the kind of writer who gets it all right. Some are good at plot, some are good at description, some at character development, and some write good sex. But, as I said before, this is fanfiction. Done by fans, for fans. We do this for enjoyment. And let's face it, it really is more work to deal with the police business, with the way crimes are committed and solved. Right now, after the major work on the novel that I did to the absolute exclusion of all else, including new issues of THE FIX, the last thing I want to do is figure out a police work story, or for that matter any kind of complicated plot.

  • also from Amapola Cruise:
    Of course, criticism has its place. All of us would probably like to improve our writing skills, we'd like to know what a reader likes best in our work, what she feels we should work harder on. And that's one of the other reasons that fanfic in SH and in every other fandom is in the state is it today. [M R K] wrote to FRIENZ asking if we really need LoC's. And I say, yes we do. That's where all this discussion should be taking place. Why can't the readers write to the writers and editors and make the kinds of comments that Cat and Terri are making in this current issue of the APA? How else can a writer leam what her audience wishes to see? I'd far rather hear "Martha, this particular scene was boring and gratuitous because... then" there are too many sex scenes in stories coming out today." And by the way, for the life of me, I can't think of any stories I've read recently that consisted of nothing more than a thin plot strung together by sex scenes. That's just a generalization, and an easy dismissal of some writers' best efforts. If anyone out there thinks our fiction can be improved, then I beg you to take the time to write honest reflections of the stories you've been reading. It used to be said that Trek fanfiction was the best school for writers around. That was true in the early days, but I can't say the same thing now. We edit, yes, and we learn from those who edit us, but there isn't that same creative give and take. More than a dearth of fanfic, there is a dearth of feedback. Doing a zine has become a fairly thankless job these days. Editors are putting in just as much work as ever, but the 'payment' in the form of letters from readers just isn't coming back. That, to me, is much more disappointing than too many sex scenes in a story.

  • also from Amapola Cruise:
    Hello, everyone! I haven't had the time to contribute to the APA for a while, but I'm really glad to have found the time for this issue. One major piece of news before I go any further — I have completed "Distant Shores", the l-o-o-o-ng S/H novel that pretty much everybody has heard me talking about for... oh, let's just say the last 'few' years. This has been the longest project I've ever done, complete with all kinds of research (including the medical kind — yea, there's lots of hurt/comfort in the novel, too) and I thought I might just never reach the end of it. There are actually people in this fandom who never knew me when I wasn't working on this thing, and I'm not talking about people who've met me in the last few months. Anyway, despite the fact that I thought I'd never reach the conclusion, I made it and can't help shouting it from the rooftops. Now, I know you're asking, when will it be out? Well, although I'm presently collecting SASE's for it (check the ad in the latest SNITCH), I don't have a publication date as yet. I would like to get some really nice artwork to go with the story. Suzan Lovett, bless her, has already completed the color cover — it's a beauty in water-color, and I'm consulting with a few other artists to do the interior art. Suzi may have time to do a couple of illos when she returns from Turkey at the end of the summer, so I may hold on to the story and have it out in the early fall. I h hope you all won't mind the wait too much. I promise to let you know about ordering it as soon as I get it all worked out, and not to keep it from the readers out there any longer than need be. Check this space, or look for an ad in SNITCH, or send me a SASE for a flyer when I know the price and timing.

  • also from Amapola Cruise:
    We don't get zines in SH every month, but we certainly had our share in the past year, and as far as a "sad lack of any kind of fanfic recently" what do you call SHADOWPLAY? That just came out, along with another issue of THE FIX, at ZCon. Granted, nothing has come out since then, but we are a fairly small group. And we must realize that the pace of life today is much faster than when our fandom first got started. I didn't work for nine years, so I had plenty of time to sit home and write. Anyone who works and writes and also has a family... you know how it is, [T]. It's hard to keep it all up, and I'm sure you'll agree with that. I'd love to have taken less time to finish my novel, but I just didn't have it in abundance. I know of a lot of people who are writing, and submissions are mounting for the zines I'm in the process of doing. By the way, NIGHTLIGHT II is going to showcase two major stories that not only have wonderful sex scenes, but also — hold onto your hats! — have police work, too. They are "White Feather" by Marian Kelly and 'The Proving Time" by Ellen Morris. Slowly, but surely, TLC is getting closer to having enough to go to print, too. (And [T], I still love the story you gave me two ZCons ago.) And if anyone wants to write non-slash, police work with a hurt/comfort theme, that's what I'm looking for for TLC. And say, [T], how about another issue of THREE ELEVEN?

  • also from Amapola Cruise:
    ... regarding slash fiction. Probably the best stories are done by those writers who truly understand the relationship of the characters and want to explore it in a slash context. Where some people go astray, I think, is when they try to make a relationship slash that doesn't have much basis for slash inherent in it. Of course, that brings on the old argument of slash being in the eye of the beholder, but what I really mean is that if you really understand Relationship (yes, Relationship with a capital 'R,' as in male bonding, as in two men who are friends first, and willing to die for each other and who have shared so many other aspects of their lives) you will write good relationship stories whether they are hurt/comfort, police work, or explicitly slash or a combination of the above. If a writer just goes for the erotic content of slash, and doesn't understand the underlying relationship of the characters, or of Relationship in general, the result will just be strung together sex scenes. If you believe that the characters being lovers is a positive force in their lives and a natural extension of the portrayed relationship in the series, then the stories will or should reflect that. If you think that them being lovers has a negative effect on their lives and their relationship, that might be one reason that writing such a relationship is so difficult. And I guess I believe that stories should be judged on that basis: is this a good Relationship story? Do I believe the characters will do these things, say these words, react to and touch each other this way? If yes, then, the story works.

Issue 18: Ruth's Art Show

"I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the artwork on my upstairs walls. Most are prints now, but I still have many originals all over the house. LOTS more!!"

  • one of Ruth Kurz's contributions, the artist is Leah Rosenthal (1982)

  • one of Ruth Kurz's contributions, the artists are Kay McElvain (1981), J. Jones (1982)

  • one of Ruth Kurz's contributions, the artist is Marian Kelly (1981)

  • one of Ruth Kurz's contributions, the artist is Jean C (1981)

  • one of Ruth Kurz's contributions, the artist is Connie Faddis (1981, 1980)

  • one of Ruth Kurz's contributions, the artists are Beth (unknown date), Nancy Broll (unknown date)

  • one of Ruth Kurz's contributions, the artists are Jean C (unknown date), Edith Crowe (1981)

  • one of Ruth Kurz's contributions, the artist is Paulie (unknown date)

  • one of Ruth Kurz's contributions, the artist is Cyndee Morand (unknown date)

  • one of Ruth Kurz's contributions, the artists are Bev Zuk (portrays David Soul and Shari Nims from the Star Trek: TOS episode, "The Apple," 1979), Gayle F ("Bookends," portrays Harry Callahan and John Davis (Harry/Johnny) and Hutch, unknown date)

Issue 19 (May 1990)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 19 was published in May 1990 and contains 51 pages. The Captain is [M F].

cover of issue #19

There were 17 members.

issue #19 contains a description of the the quilt fans have created as a fundraiser for Pediatric Aids Foundation

Summary of contents:

  • many photos from SHarecon (see SH:101)
  • some recollections and con reports from SHareCon by [P M], [M R K]
  • this issue has a review of the episode "Hostages" and of "Deckwatch"
  • [C A] writes a long essay called "Why Slash" and expounds why identifying with the males on a show is so much more rewarding than with the females, addresses misogyny in fanfiction, see Why Slash? (1990 essay)
  • many clippings
  • a fan writes a grumpy and combative letter and says she's actually written a new fic: "If we succeeded [in portraying what we saw on the screen], I hope someone bothers to mention it. LoCs are really thin on the ground, though looking back over the years, that isn't a new thing — we only got seven after 3-11. So the little pile we collected over NEA was at least an improvement on that."
  • contribution by [M M]
  • contribution by [R K]
  • contribution by [D R]

Issue 19: Excerpts from Contents

  • Notes of a Radical Feminist by [M R K]:
    I really don't think my sex life has any bearing on my fondness for SH sex scenes—or vice versa. I was under the impression I had a perfectly satisfactory sex life, improved on occasion, by certain stories . . .

  • Hold the Doom, Hold the Gloom by [T D]:
    THANK YOU again for APA. So #18 marked the highest ever level of participation.
Your appeals are working, Maria! I don't believe there's nothing more or nothing
new to say about SH. If that were so, could this publication have made it to this
point? The editorial had some convincing answers to those doubts. For me, too,
TMSIDK always lives up to its name and I welcome all the info and the articles
which I'd be unlikely to see in UK press. The four regular SH publications have
done a good job of partitioning the SH territory, so that they don't duplicate or 
overlap.... I'm not going anywhere, either (at least, not in any SH context). I'd echo your question : 'What is all this doom and gloom?' ...'Will fandom suvive?' Just watch this space - and quite a number of other spaces and you could see the answer to that one. The questions have been around as long as fandom has. Survive? It will. It does. In a score of wonderful ways. Lots of people could tell you. [J] made the same point in her zine listing. I don't think that's a trivial record, either. And now there's another title to add to the current list — love the SHarecon zine. The interest, the involvement and the zest lust don't go away.

  • also from Hold the Doom, Hold the Gloom:
    Nice to sight the Amapola sailing is again, with its cargo of interesting ideas and clear insights. Relationship is the key word, central to all the rest, the ingredient which puts the series in a league of its own. This is the criterion, I think, which most shapes our response to any story — allowing, of course, that interpretations and responses may well vary in details. But relationship stays central. Without that component, the writing becomes cardboard cut-out ... just two names in a narrative rather than two characters, doing this and this and this , in the course of some 'and then and then and then' kind of story line. Me ... I just welcome good writing. Don't we all? I've read good SSH and good S/H, of many varieties and POV in both genres. And I agree : one is conscious of a certain crudity in the suggestion, applied to readers of S/H (writers, too?) that 'if you're not getting any, you enjoy reading about it more.' (!) Really? Sounds rather like one of those wobbly generalisations, lacking any supporting evidence, — or, at least, none that is vouchsafed to us. TMSIDK. huh? As Starsky once asked, in another situation, - "How do you know that?"

  • Untitled by [S M]:
    Regarding the "will this fandom survive?" issue that keeps appear ing in theletters, I find myself in [M R K's] camp. Like her, I haven't been active in S&H fandom for long, but the stories seem gtrong, and the folks I've, talked to love the series very much. This is a small fandom, but those who are involved seem loyal. (Just look at all the money we raised at Z Con!) I suspect that S&H fandom will be around just as long as we want it to be. [snipped] New stories: like most of you, I'm dying to read them, but I'm guilty of not attempting any new ones myself. Lack of time is a convenient excuse, and I keep working at reforming my work and home life to little avail. Weariness is a bigger problem. I'm typing this late at night, and I'm working hard to stay awake as I do it.

  • A Word in Edgeways by [T B]:
    You'd rather I lied? Sure, I could tell you I'm just chockful of all these neat new ideas for SH, but sooner or later I'd get caught out, someone would cough politely and demand to know what they are. I'll discuss all you like, honest, but after throwing my hat in the ring several times (check past issues) and not getting much more than a sniff at my lure (and how's that for a choice mixed metaphor?) I'm not going to start anything. Unless I do get a really neat idea, of course, in which case ignore all the above... Whoever claimed I was consistent? ... I am up to my tush in deadlines. A short story, a novel, a V&D story, notes for another novel... What, you cry, no SH? Shock, horror, cries of heresy! Well, sucks to you, I just finished a SH story, so there. Whether anyone likes it is beyond my control. It isn't a death story, we don't kill the cat, no one gets shot, and it isn't S/H. It's the kind of story we saw on the screen. At least, that was what we were aiming for. If we succeeded, I hope someone bothers to mention it. LoCs are really thin on the ground, though looking back over the years, that isn't a new thing — we only got seven after 3-11. So the little pile we collected over NEA was at least an improvement on that.

  • also from A Word in Edgeways:
    [M] — if you want to know why there isn't going to be a 3-11-2, read the second paragraph of your own last letter. Having just finished DISTANT SHORES, you know better than most the feeling of relief that washed over me when I finished compiling a zine. And recently (perhaps because I have been and am so busy writing Other Things) I have wanted to turn to SH only for relaxation, not for stimulation. I don't want to start resenting them for intruding on my time, as happened to another fan of my acquaintance some years ago, when she was snowed under with requests for stories. Oh, being asked is nice — but just so long as refusal doesn't cause offence! Rest assured, all, that when I get an idea, I'll write it. But writing anything to order smacks of hack-work, and if I have to do that, I wanna get paid.

  • also from A Word in Edgeways:
    I want to comment on your 'if you believe that them being lovers has a negative effect...' This may seem odd, but that is an aspect that does interest me. For all the real-life relationships I have seen succeed, it seems there are even more that don't. Exploring the 'why' of this is a theme that Chris and I have been drawn into in our V/D TF universe. What happens when a relationship that starts out all champagne and roses turns into a trap? When the stresses and pressures inherent in a love that even now is regarded by the world as 'unnatural' begin to tear that love apart? Love isn't always sweetness and light. I have nearly twenty-five years of marriage behind me, and I can tell you that from experience. It's not all romance. It's washing dirty socks, and "cleaning up after him when he's sick, and putting up with moods and PMS and writer's block, and worrying about the kids, and the mortgage, and money... The rewards are beyond computing, of course. But they are earned. There's a good theme for any story. I guess what I am trying to say is that right now it is the conflicts in a relationship that interest me. I've done the sex-scenes('ad nauseam' as you say!) and what I want to read now is how they cope. In fact, that is what I have always enjoyed most -- reading how they cope. With love, with pain, with disaster, with triumph. (In TF, it's more how they don't cope, but that's another story. As I said last issue, we'd be lynched if we did this stuff with S&H...) But conflicts, the negative aspects of relationships, don't make the stuff more difficult to write. More challenging, maybe. But fascinating! This is Terra Incognita. Here Be Dragons...

  • also from A Word in Edgeways:
    Has anyone thought to consider how much communication has a part to play in relationships? And how little men actually communicate? Look what happens when communications break down. Kira had them at each other's throats. Why? A failure in communications. Men find it hard to communicate. I discussed this very thing with a gay friend at a DobeyCon. 'Saying what you feel is the hardest thing in the world,' he told me. Are S&H so much different from the rest of the human race? Of course not. They are not telepathic (Well, not in my universe !) and we have seen them fail to communicate with each other countless times on screen. Men find it much harder to talk to each other about things that really count than women, as a rule. Could be why some fanfic dialogue sounds, as Pat put it a while ago, 'like two passionate girlfriends'. Maybe I'm asking too much. This is indeed fanfiction, done by fans, for fans. But in my book, that doesn't mean it shouldn't be the best I can write, as valid as anything I believe in. We do it for enjoyment, yes -- but it's still work. And I hate to turn in a shoddy piece of work... So don't jump on me, please, for being honest enough to say that I have other projects more urgent that SH. I haven't cut my ties with fandom, like some fan-writers who have gone pro or are attempting to do same. I value it too much. I haven't quit writing fanfic -- it's just not top on my list of priorities, at least until I get past these deadlines. In fact, one of my own phrases has given me an idea — if it takes root and grows into story, you'll be the first to know!

Issue 20 (July 1990)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 20 was published in July 1990 and contains 56 pages. The Captain is [M F].

cover of issue #20

The APA has gained three members, but lost two long-time members -- there are now twenty members.

Summary of contents:

  • a fan introduces herself with, among other things, a description of her academic interest in fandom, making her a very early acafan
  • this issue has a list of SH stories in multimedia zines
  • many clippings
  • a fan writes: "I'd really like to see stories that were published before I joined up — I'll help with postage if you've written a ton. And it's okay if they're X or "/"„ I don't care! (And I am over 21.)"
  • a fan, bemoaning the difficulty in finding artists for zines, mentions meeting a new artist at MediaWest: "She was no Suzan Lovett, but who is? (and even Suzi's work didn't look in 1983 like it does now)."
  • a fan includes a long compilation of all the S&H and S/H stories in multimedia zines
  • the author of Convicted wrote: "I was thinking of breaking down and doing another installment of "Convicted", but time considerations were one reason I didn't. Then, too, Maria says there are some new members joining us, so perhaps I should repeat the earlier segments before doing any more. Does anybody care what happens with Starsky behind bars? I actually do have a whole story plotted out, and if there are any out there who want to know what happens, I'll be glad to de-mothball it and write some new chapters."
  • Report from Left Field by [P M]
  • contribution by [R K], photos
  • a reprint of an article by Wendy Wasserstein called "Winner Take All," the topic was the anxiety of winning awards
  • the Star Sky quilt raffle draw was scheduled for 30th June, the winner was [Joan D], the raffle raised about $150 for Pediatric Aids Foundation

Issue 20: Excerpts from Contents

  • there has been some conflict/tension in the APA regarding the nature of the relationship between S and H, as the editor begs another member not to leave: "Please don't quit the APA. Your opinions are valid, thought-provoking and appreciated. Plus, I for one would surely miss you."
  • contribution by [M R K]
  • Untitled by [C G]:
    While trying to discover a way to mix 20th century U.S. Intellectual and Social History with Frontier History [for my Master's Degree] I hit on doing a masters project on TV westerns from the 1960s and 70s. I quickly discovered that none of my degrees prepared me for understanding Media Arts, or television in particular, so after I limped through the History degree with really poor Media understanding, but a great background in U.S. History, I decided to take a second masters in Media Arts so I would sound like an intelligent human being when discussing TV with academics. I was, and still am very interested in the old TV western ALIAS SMITH AND JONES and one of the actors from the series, the late Pete Duel. I placed an ad in Writer's Digest book club, looking for info on AS&J and Pete and someone wrote and said, "did you see the great zine on Alias?" I replied, "Huh?" It took one zine to hook me, and within a couple of months I was the editor of my very own fan press... Then, slowly, the scope of fandom began to unfold... To say I was excited would be a criminal understatement. I started reading and writing for all my favorite old shows. My academic interest grew and I started looking at the shows that had tremendous influences on my life and I discovered that they are all relationship, buddy shows. A dissertation topic began to take a vague form in my mind. All the time I was looking at the shows that made a big difference in my life at a personal life, I was also looking at fandom as a phenomena and getting more and more excited.

  • Hello from New Orleans by [B C]:
    I've been wanting to join the APA for a long time, but with only a dozen episodes couldn't come up with anything to write about. I did write FRIENZ months ago and mentioned how I rediscovered S&H two summers ago. I was still into STAR TREK (McCoy) then and wouldn't listen when I asked myself if I shouldn't be taping these episodes every night at 11:30. One night we had to... [snipped] I thought about setting the VCR just in case, but my husband assured me we would be home in time. We got home at 11:50. Diana had just dropped the spaghetti on the floor. That was the only time TV Guide omitted the episode. I still can't believe it. I really should have started taping then because I knew from that upset and from each day's anticipation how important this show was becoming to me. But for nearly two months more I just watched. Taping this show would have meant I was giving up STAR TREK (I allow myself only one obsession at a time. Or is it that one can have only one obsession or it wouldn't BE an obsession?) I loved STAR TREK fandom--the episodes, the movies, the zines, the books and magazines, and especially the DeForest Kelley fan club. I didn't want to give all that up. Finally in early August I started taping, and the dumb station took it off three weeks later. I didn't know there was a STARSKY & HUTCH fandom, so I was elated six months later to find an ad for something called SNITCH. Through SNITCH I've gotten zines and episodes (thanks Merle and Carol, if you see this) and found a terrific friend (Hi, Shirley!). I feel that now I'm more involved in S&H fandom than I ever was in ST. I did leave STAR TREK behind. I know some people are into all sorts of other fandoms besides S&H, but with me it's all or nothing. It kind of bothers me that I could give up something that was so important to me for 3 1/2 years. (I saw ST V and that sure didn't reawaken my interest. I watched it halfheartedly once more on HBO, but I have no desire to see it again.) But I can't help wondering/fearing if this will also burn itself out in another year or two. I fought against it happening with ST, but it did. I really think I was losing interest before S&H came along, but there was nothing new to rekindle that spark. Of course now there are more zines for me to choose from (trying to find McCoy stories in a world dominated by Kirk and Spock wasn't easy, so I didn't have many zines). And writing like this and reading what other people think makes this fandom seem ALIVE all the time, not relying on movie releases and cons to get people thinking.

  • I Fell in Love With a Striped Tomato by [T P]:
    Tell you how crazy I was over the show [when I was a teenager] — my friends and I formed Baretta & Company and Starsky and Hutch, Inc. We took our nicknames from those and other shows; we had everything from Sweathogs to Baretta's bird, Fred. I was Starsky, and since two people liked Hutch — I was luckier than the real Starsky 'cos I had two partners to look out for me! We dressed like S&H, talked like them, and had more fun than the law allowed.

  • My Gutter, and Welcome to It by [N G]:
    Well, it's been almost two years since I graced or should I say sullied these pages. Yes! It's that same old excuse — no time. [snipped] Oh dear, is the 'our fandom is dying' conversation still going? Sigh. Call me Pollyana (of Nancy, or Larry, or Sparky, or....) but I think this fandom is in pretty good shape. It'll never be the size of Trek fandom, and I sure wouldn't like it to be -- I like the intimate feeling of Starsky and Hutch fandom. I won't say I wouldn't like to see more zines coming out -- but then zines are like Chinese food, no sooner do you finish one than you are hungry for another. And I think it would be great to have more writers and, as Martha has been saying, more artists. But we have had quite a few zines out in the past year or so as I believe Jennifer pointed out earlier. The SHarecon zine for example pulled from a group of only 25 people and yet we were able to put together quite a respectable little zine. Now I may be biased, but I've been reading a bit outside of SH fandom lately, and I have to say that in general the SH material if of very high quality as far as fan fiction is concerned. Still I think perhaps we ought to advertise our existence a little better -- it is awfully hard for people to stumble across our little fandom. And I think we need to improve our networking so that once people find us they don't find themselves isolated and frustrated trying to get hold of episodes, zines, and other fans.

  • Responding Again by [T D], a diplomatic response to the statement that "Starsky and Hutch" or "guys don't talk that way":
    About those speech patterns — a very interesting topic for discussion. Authenticity in dialogue is vital to convincing writing. True, their communication doesn't depend only on the~spoken word. -And I couldn't agree more that vapid and flowery vocabulary (plus those too-ready tears!) doesn't fit SH at all. But saying that doesn't exclude some very direct - and full - exchanges. If we judge by the series, those two do talk to each other about many things. I'm sure it's true that some men don't exchange personal confidences. (Some women don't, either. As so often, generalization leaves one with questions.) But, equally, some do. Starsky never spoke more truly than in warning Rosie Malone - 'Don't type-cast me.' And that, I feel, goes for the whole relationship. One of its essential qualities is a spontaneity, a kind of non-conformity which eluded certain contemporary gender stereotypes. — the very quality which engaged this viewer's immediate response. SH writing isn't less credible when it recognizes the way the series disregarded some common conventions. One of the more cheering aspects of our late 20th century society is that some of the stereotypes, though by no means obsolescent, are now challenged, or, at least, disregarded on various levels. There's no cosmic law that says that men don't 'talk* to one another and there are numerous examples of their doing so an numerous cultures and times. There's no law of natuxe here. I agree that one may find some unconvincing dialogue in fan fiction. Perhaps one doesn't brood over that — such examples don't predominate. One can turn, rather, to such superb SH novels as 'The Thousandth Man' or 'The Goliath' (and to many others) in which there is free expression of personal feelings, needs, hopes, anxieties. Such exchanges can and do occur. Perhaps the demands of that particular job are part of it. So ... I'm not sure that, in the context of SH, one could assume that some common conventions do apply or that one could safely be too emphatic in insisting on their relevance. What happens in some milieux may not be true for SH. Could be other considerations in this dialogue question. Getting the dialogue right has to be a priority but a relationship as rich and as complex as this one can't be too much constrained by conventional notions?

  • Amapola Cruise by [M B]:
    Tabby... as always, your letter is the most cheering of all. Indeed, I think we should hold the doom and gloom. Despite changes in correspondence and people coming and going, this fandom is healthy and a very happy place to spend time. Even if I reach a point where I'm not writing new stories, I'll return again and again to the episodes and continue to support our zines. Nothing beats coming home from a tough day at my health department job and turning on an episode of SH to escape from the pressure. That beautiful relationship offers so much, diversion, hope for the real world, and such wonderful scenery, too. I hope you made a lot of money on the raffle and I can't wait to see "Bonaventure".

  • also from Amapola Cruise:
    ...one last time, [T B], I agree that what we write should be "the best I can write, as valid as anything I believe in." I'm just saying if it's fun to include a graphic scene or even character descriptions or nice hurt/comfort moments, even if some professional editor would cross it out as unnecessary, it's okay to leave things like that in because that's what we're reading fanfiction for. And yes, your point that love isn't all moonlight and roses is a good one. Communications can break down. But that's not the only result of them becoming lovers. I've noticed that instead of writing soft, nice, happy sex scenes, in NEA especially, you only gave the specifics of the scenes where the love had a negative effect on the characters. That seems somewhat odd to me. I do, however, want to explore how becoming lovers could have a detrimental effect on the relationship, too. That's what I'm planning for "Separate Lives" the sequel to "Guilty Secrets, Guilty Pleasures" from THE FIX. Readers, beware. [snipped] I do understand the desire to accomplish something in the way of professional writing, too, and that it's hard to put aside the fannish interest and how it has to be done. But don't fault those of us who still wish to have more SH to read.

  • also from Amapola Cruise:
    Your article on "Why Slash" was interesting and sound reasoning, but [there's nothing that] isn't that new as a reason for the phenomenon. I just don't feel it's necessary to keep hashing the premise over and over again, or to need to find reasons for writing or enjoying something. It's difficult enough to tell outsiders (mundanes) about our fannish life, as [M R K] mentioned in her letter; we shouldn't have to explain ourselves to our fellow fans. You like it, or you don't. You believe the premise, or you don't. You see it for these characters, or others, or all male-male duos. It's a turn-on, a curiosity, a valid premise to write about, a gross-out — whatever. It exists. You've talked about how explicit scenes can go on too long, about psychological reasons women like "/" relationships, what I want to know is, what is your opinion of a "/" relationship for Starsky and Hutch? What do you think of those characters, either in the context of "/" or otherwise? Let's get to some commentary about Starsky and Hutch, not that I mind the discussion of slash fandom as a whole, but because this is a Starsky and Hutch publication. Some of us have read other universes (but as I've pointed out elsewhere, if all you know of slash is K/S or even B/D, it's something else again when you get to S/H) but others haven't, so the references are meaningless to them. Hurt/comfort and slash theory are fascinating topics, but after being in fandom 14 years, I guess I'm about as tired of discussing that subject as [T B] is writing explicit scenes. We all like it to a greater or lesser degree (hurt/comfort or slash, friends) so why try to figure it out? As they used to say about the space program, if you have to explain it to someone, that person isn't likely to be able to understand anyway.

  • also from Amapola Cruise:
    Jumping back to the subject of the state of this fandom, there's just one thing I think we desperately need. ARTISTS!!! Whether we advertise or dredge the rivers, we've got to come up with some new blood in that department. It becomes so frustrating to try to put together a zine if you can't get enough artwork to do a story justice. [C], your drawings are interesting, have you ever done illo work? You know, I'm always in the market for basic pieces that can be used in THE FIX. My alter-ego "April Valentine" is just not too talented, and only comes out when those terrible blank pages stare me in the face at publication time. Isn't anyone out there harboring a wonderful new talent? A young fan introduced herself to me at MediaWest and offered to do SH art. She was no Suzan Lovett, but who is? (and even Suzi's work didn't look in 1983 like it does now) She said she'd send me some sketches, but as of now they have not arrived in the mail, so I have no new artist to unveil in the upcoming FIX issue. Maybe I'll still hear from her before too long. We should be thinking about interesting some artists in our guys; it seems that artists are always in shorter supply than writers, though both activities take talent and perseverance. Either that, or we all invest in copies of "Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain" and stop writing letters, stories or APA contributions for six months until we've become competent illo-ers. Are you game to try, out there? Please, anyone who can draw, stop hiding your light under a bushel and contribute!

  • Untitled by [S M]:
    [J] and I stumbled over a new fan in the hall [at the last MediaWest*Con]. She heard us talking, and asked if there still was a S&H fandom. She went to [M B's] room and watched some episodes and talked. We're hoping she'll keep in touch. After the con, [M B] and I were talking about fandom in general, and we both agreed that if this fandom remains insular we aren't likely to find many new fans. MediaWest is a good place to find new fans since alot of the folks who attend enjoy more than one fandom. So next year we're going to take a stab at organizing some activities - maybe a panel, and/or a room party. We'll arrange our own programming, so to speak. Don t know if we'll find many new folks or not, but at least people will know we're alive. If any of you have any other ideas, please offer them. We're not locked into anything at this point, and are open to suggestions.

  • contribution by [M M]:
    For now, however, I have decided to make a regretful break from formal participation in Starsky and Hutch fandom. I'm extremely busy with my work, and I have no one nearby to help me rekindle that wonderful flush of new-love feeling that the first big paricipation in a fandom always brings. I am still involved in Star Trek, though to a lesser extent than in previous years. But I still have new episodes to watch, there, which always helps to keep me interested and involved. Obviously, we have nothing like that for S&H, and neither of the guys have been in any really outstanding acting projects for quite some time, unfortunately. I may be back--who knows?! I want to thank you all for all the friendship and sharing you've extended over the years- those of you I know fairly well are all a great bunch of women! Thanks for the memories...

  • contribution by [J G]:
    To all of us comes a time when shelter, no matter how comforting, can't protect us from the demands of Reality...and we're forced to abandon that shelter to deal with Life on its own usually damned unpleasant terms. I find myself at that point now. Time and energy devouring personal commitments have kept me from contributing to this APA for several months now, (I'd bet at least three quarters of you reading this right now are scratching your heads and muttering, "'Ginty'? Who the hell is she??") and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. So it would seem that the fair and common sense thing to do is to bow out as gracefully as my chubby waistline will allow. I suspect fandom isn't going to miss us much. The infusion of new fans in recent months is heartening, though I confess I'm jealous of that first time, lovely intoxicated feeling of "falling in love" with Hutch, and Starsky, and the moving, powerful friendship these two (gorgeous!) men share. ... Sure we're pitching our badges into the ocean, but we're planting marker buoys over the spot where they fall in, just in case we may want to paddle out and retrieve 'em, some day... Best wishes for you all, and for SH fandom.

  • from A Word in Edgeways, a long-time fan is feeling, among other things, unappreciated:
    I welcome good writing. Who doesn't? And SH fandom has been blessed with a higher proportion of 'good' writing, both S&H and S/H, than many other fandoms. I cannot be other than general on this, as I haven't read all the fan-fiction available in all the fandoms -- has anyone? -- I am merely expressing the opinions of several other readers and writers. So -- we're the tops. This should not mean we get complacent and accept everything with cries of rapture. Let's exercise our critical talents and say what we like and what we don't, and let's appreciate that honesty in others. [M B's] honest LoC on Nea was_ appreciated, even though it was at the opposite pole to [M K's], because she'd bothered to sit down and write it. I'm glad we were able to write something that triggered a reaction. So much disappears into the fannish Black Hole, never to be heard of again. (And that isn't a wobbly generalisation, my friends. That has been the case for most of the ten years I have been in fandom. Sometimes I wonder if anyone would even notice if I 'folded my tents like the Arabs, and as silently steal away'...)

  • also from A Word in Edgeways:
    Too much S/H concerns itself with the 'gazing at each other'. What I particularly liked about Lynna Bright's WINTER (in the last CODE SEVEN) was that her heros were 'looking outward'. I might not have agreed with her reading of their characters and decisions, but at least they weren't solely wrapped up in each other, to the exclusion of all else. should point out that I'm as guilty as the next person in writing the other stuff. That is the basic flaw in OMR. I excuse it only because the love-affair was so new that for a time they couldn't see anything else. But that stage doesn't last. Can't, or they'd live their lives in a hermetically sealed box, and wouldn't do any policework at all, and then who's paying the rent? At some stage they have to get out of bed and get to the mundane details of living. Okay, I don't need to know every time Hutch goes to the john, or Starsky waxes the Torino; I know they do these things, these are a given. I don't need to know, either, how many times they make it in bed, who does what and to whom and in what position. This, too, is a 'given'. I do need to know how they deal with their world, how their changed relationship changes their lives, their attitudes, their feelings. Look at Hutch in the alley-scene in GILLIAN. This is a man who has been abruptly goosed by this own mortality. Is this going to be intensified by his relationship with his partner? Or not? You tell me. This is what I want to read. And before anyone snorts that I should write it myself, I will silently point at the bulk of what I have written in fandom (good grief, trees died for this!) and raise a Spockish eyebrow. Just occasionally, y'see, I'd like to read someone else's work... There just hasn't been anything — good, bad, or indifferent — since SHADOWPLAY. Or has there? I realise I haven't told anyone anything they 'didn't know' — and I don't doubt that next issue I will either be ignored or have my opinions picked over for crudity and/or wobbliness. But what is this publication for, if not an exchange of opinions? If I'm wrong, someone please tell me. Then I can quit with a clear conscience.

Issue 21 (September 1990)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 21 was published in September 1990 and contains 56 pages. The Captain is [M F]. There are 20 members, two of which don't include their addresses, an oddity.

Summary of contents:

  • "And Lost Again," fiction by [S G] ("Rosey Malone-related)
  • a fan comments on the recent "conflict" in the APA, and wonders if "this couldn't — could it? — all be part of that *little conspiracy* I was told about recently? - the one designed to 'enliven' APA discussion??"
  • many fans write that they want to see more of the WIP novel Convicted, one fan wrote: "WE WANT TO SEE "CONVICTED"!! WE WANT TO SEE "CONVICTED"!! WE WANT TO SEE "CONVICTED"!! WE WANT TO SEE "CONVICTED"!! WE WANT TO SEE "CONVICTED"!! WE WANT TO SEE "CONVICTED"!! (and we want to see it now!)"
  • the publisher/editor of the recently-published Bonaventure writes that the "APA is hardly a relevant context for printing LOCs — they take up space and get sent to contributors anyway." So, she summarizes a bunch, which are very positive
  • many clippings
  • there is discussion about a Suzan Lovett illo that was used in Bonaventure; this discussion continues many years later when some fans complained that it was too slashy, see Frienz #25-#28
  • contribution by [D R]
  • a fan comments: "Good news that 'Bird of Paradise' is finally on the wing. That new editorship has achieved an effective launching. (Is that a mixed metaphor?) I have my original order/receipt for a copy - almost a historical document - dated 1981. Will be good to read again in actual zine form."
  • Love, a poem by [P M]

Issue 21: Excerpts from Contents

cover of issue #21
  • Untitled by [T D]:
    I've read very little fan-fiction beyond SH, so could never venture any comparisons, though I'm convinced that SH has produced some memorable zines - the kind one returns to again and again. We're lucky there. Haven't read a lot of Sci-Fi/Fantasy either and don't know a 'Wraethlu' series. I'll look out for it some time. Its cited, editorial statement on the popularity of 'the overt sexual activity on sale' is doubtless well-founded. Only I can't discern the connexion between the popularity of that series and the 'crude' speculation applied to the personal lives of S/H readers (i.e. in the suggestion that those who like to read S/H are 'not getting enough'! — writers too?) Where's the relevance of the popularity of a particular Sci-Fi series? Is one to conclude that the readership of Wraethlu and of S/H is much the same? Even then, lacking sone sort of survey, how would this support the original suggestion? One still wonders - 'How do you know that?' And in the use of the word, 'crude', I was, of course, quoting — it wasn't 'my' word originally. I was repeating the word which Terri had chosen to characterize the original suggestion. Couldn't agree more, either, on another point : APA is surely for exchange of opinion. Part of the raison d'etre of any such publication. These changes are stimulating? I never thought of them in terms of 'picking over' anyone's opinions... just as responding ... just as exchange of opinion. The diversities are enriching? Would some silent alternative be preferable? — like following the example of Jane Austen's Emma, a propos Mr Knightley, when 'she would not deign him the compliment of a rational reply'?! Doesn't really do with the lifestyle of any L/Z?

  • also by [T D]:
    I think there's interest potential in most aspects of SH fiction. The series presented us with a lot of scope. It's very satisfying to read the explorations of the profound, far-reaching issues - and the smaller-scale ones too - the domestic trivia, if you like. I wouldn't dismiss those. There's a lot of mileage in them. Place for all kinds? Depends, as always, on how whatever-it-is is handled? We can all think of marvelous examples of all varieties?

  • also by [T D]:
    As editor, I'm reluctant here to single out individual contributions [to Bonaventure). Obviously, readers will make their own choices and the zine has to speak for and stand for itself without additional words from me personally. But I'd like to make one break from that principle by referring to the 'Bonaventure' frontispiece - 'Hero's Heart', because Suzan Lovett's drawing reflects so exactly the starting-point - the ground - the basis - of this zine : the constancy of the friendship, the relationship, which is at the heart of the series. This is what (I hope) 'Bonaventure' is about, and that drawing is so close to it. Remember a poem in 'L.A. Vespers' - 'Non Constans' by Dotty Barry? [17] — a very distinguished piece of writing if (for me) it related to two other people. But (for me) alien to the reality of SH where, despite all the trials and the challenges, the constancy is central. Of course, as we all know, living brings changes but, in that kind of friendship, the centre, the essence, holds. That's why I was very glad that a drawing like that one, accompanied by the perception of Pat's 'Lifetime', could form the introduction to this zine.

  • also by [T D]:
    I enjoyed [C G's] interesting letter. 'Xeroxes of what has been said about S&H by the academics...' Isn't there, somewhere in Texas, a University which holds an extensive Star Trek archive? I never heard of any SH parallel. Could there be one? Over here, there's very little. There have been references to the series in a few university and college courses, but they tend to be of the oblique, foot-note kind rather then centre-stage. Occasionally, students have written extended essays on or around the subject and it has sometimes featured in dissertation themes, but not as an acceptable subject for a full academic thesis, in the published lists of registered titles. Perhaps it's time some institution copied Texas ...

  • Amapola Cruise by [M B]:
    August is close to being over, so is the summer... and it's been a year now since we learned the terrible secret the Glasers had been living with for more than four years. I will always remember the phone calls, the words of shock and disbelief, the tears. We had to reach out to each other; it was our hour of need almost as much as it was theirs. They were being forced into the light of disclosure, we were suddenly understanding of what they must have been going through. It answered so many questions: why we hadn't seen pictures of the children in so long, why Paul didn't seem to be working. And the questions it raised were difficult to answer: how could this happen to someone we love? For many of us, it was the first time AIDS touched our own world. It was terrifying, and terribly sad. I turned to a song tape, one afternoon shortly after learning the news, and seeing first season S&H... actually the young David and Paul, my tears came. He was so beautiful, so strong and sure of himself... so innocent of the tragedy to come. I went to Hershey Park with my family and felt pain with every little girl I saw...Ariel was lost. And when we saw them onTV, the gallant man and woman who bore their suffering with such dignity, it became real, finally.

  • also from Amapola Cruise:
    it's always difficult to understand how we can lose interest in something that was once such a consuming passion. Many of us are into multiple fandoms, but that's not how I can operate. I thought I'd be into Trek forever — I'm not fickle, though, that lasted eight years, and I'm actually still involved and doing the occasional zine, but it's not the passion it once was and never will be. I've been into SH since 1984 when I finally discovered the fanfiction. Actually, I had known about SH fandom and had read the earlier zines like ZEBRA THREE. But I had never read any of the more recent stuff, and I hadn't seen the slash. Finally, through a series of chance meetings and a zine or two falling into my hands, I saw CODE 7 #2 and WHO YOU KNOW, WHAT YOU KNOW & HOW YOU KNOW IT and was hooked for good. It was most surprising that the slash element was the one that sent me over the edge. I didn't see it in Trek, although sex between two men can be very...shall we say interesting. (One good explanation —if you like guys, there's twice as much beauty to appreciate.) But watching SH, seeing all the episodes in succession, the cumulative effect made me believe in the premise for these two characters. I wanted to write about them, explore them further. I think I was ready for something new in my life at the time I got re-interested in SH. They came along at the right time to pick me up and take me someplace I'd never gone before. And after six years, I'm still very much in love. Still don't get tired of watching episodes or song tapes and talking about them and reading about them. Part of that may be because I get an awful lot out of this fandom, so much enjoyment and so much friendship. That helps one stayed interested and involved. Anyway, welcome and I hope you find enough to keep you around for a good long time. Starsky and Hutch are wonderful characters and there is a lot more for their world to show us.

  • also from Amapola Cruise:
    We should try to make them sound like men [in fan fiction], not 15 year old girls. As much as any writer tries, this isn't always easy to achieve, unfortunately. And it has been said that slash written by women isn't the same as male-male erotica written by men. We are looking for something else in these kinds of stories than the male readers are. But I agree that we should try at least to make these guys communicate in the ways real men do; the fiction is so much more satisfying with that element of realism.

  • also from Amapola Cruise:
    I was having a conversation with a good friend in Trek fandom recently. We were discussing the differences between K/S and S/H. She was telling me that she likes all the "fantasy" stories in K/S, where very different permutations of the characters are shown, where many alternate universes are developed. To me, most of it just seems weird, all that love-slave stuff that abounds in K/S. I told her we don't have that kind of stuff in S/H, and she asked why. It just doesn't lend itself to that, I explained. They aren't the kind of characters you can do that to. And then we came to the conclusion that for her, that kind of fantasy element, seeing something entirely different for the characters in each story, is what she is looking for in fanfiction. And for me, something that is closer to realism is what I'm looking for. Kirk and Spock are larger than life characters. Starsky and Hutch are realistic, down to earth good guys, men who can be heroic, but who can also make mistakes. That's what I love about them.

  • from A Word in Edgeways:
    ... hell, yes, let's have some more of CONVICTED. I wrote a V&D story (ROUGH JUSTICE) in which Vas was behind bars, but that was purely as an undercover operation -- a slightly different scenario, We had Hutch in jail in Teri White's HOPSCOTCH — Starsky's experiences and reactions would be interestingly different. If you don't actually want to write it, [M], or your time (like mine) is restricted, or the Dreaded Writers' Block hits, why not just give us the synopsis? As an idea, I'd like to see a 'round-robin' story in APA -- we tried it over here in the now -defunct SHOOTOUT l/z, and like the curate's egg, it was good in parts. As a writing exercise, it could be useful for all of us. Anyone else game for a try? Looking at our 'rank&file' list, I can see at least ten writers (that is, those who have had something published in a zine) and maybe some undiscovered talents lurk out there as well. It's just a suggestion... In my more pessimistic moments, I remember other suggestions that rather sank without trace, but, hey, I'm basically an optimist, and maybe this time the idea could catch on, right?

  • I Fell in Love With a Striped Tomato by [T P]:
    S&H fandom isn't just, small and intimate — it's completely isolated, I feel like I took the wrong exit off the highway, and stumbled across a wonderful little place that I've been searching for for ages. The way to get more fans in is to advertise! Datazine is a great place to sell your zines, or' get fresh stories from new writers„ I've scoured it for years looking for anything to do with S&H, but until I found Snitch's ad & I was outta luck,, Since then, of course, I've found a whole slew of zines and things. Don't worry about, growing too big,, the more the merrier !

  • Untitled by [C G]:
    As a part of the work I do, I've gotten involved in the research being done on same-sex friendships. And the way men and women communicate with members of the same sex (in the arena of friendships) is very different. One of the things that I think I like best about fan fie is the ability to have two men who share both a male same-sex friendship, but they also share a female same-sex friendship... that's our contribution to the universe... with S&H we didn't have so much to add, and I wonder if that isn't part of the attraction.

  • Untitled by [B C]:
    In the last APA issue I wrote about how alive this fandom seems to me, and so I was surprised to read other letters wondering about the state of S&H fandom. I don't know what the previous let ters were exploring (the number of fans actively involved in this APA and FRIENZ, or writers and artists contributing their efforts?) so I can only speak for myself. I don't write. I can't draw. My credit card bills tell me conventions are not possible anytime soon. All I can contribute are my thoughts, whatever they're worth (unless I happen to stumble on something else in a newspaper or magazine).

  • also by [B C]:
    I agree that S&H fandom is awfully hard to find. After becoming interested in S&H, I searched DATAZINE for 8 months— looking for anything--before finally finding an ad for SNITCH. That's how I found out you all were out there. After all that searching with no luck, I really thought S&H fandom was dead. I've since been in contact with several fans, through both mail and telephone, and they've all been wonderful. I love being here with you all!

  • Notes of a Radical Feminist by [M R K]:
    Believe it or not, how they cope, how they deal, is what I'm trying to write. If I'm succeeding or failing, where are my LoCs? I have no idea what your feelings are about what I've published-- if your answer is that my output has been too skimpy to comment on, I'll repeat the question next year. I have a hell of a backlog of stories just waiting to see print. As you may recall, I took the time to comment on NEA--as well as OMM & OMR, which I read all in one fell swoop, God, was it only last summer? How time flies. I hope this doesn't make you feel picked over--& you certainly can't complain about being ignored.

  • contribution by [S G]:
    As for growing up with and rejecting the same silly ninny heroines, I will second the notion. I'm a straight woman, and all I can say was that I never found even ONE heroine that I wanted to emulate when I was growing up. My role models were male largely because they took action instead of fluttering helplessly. I'd watch some woman in a film or t.v. series shrieking away in a moment of crisis , and I'd say, "I'm not going to be like that. I'm going to be like (fill in the name of whatever hero I was watch ing) and gra b the gun and shoot the nasty." I have no idea if this helped prepare me to accept a slash relationship. Personally I doubt it. As [M B] commented in her letter, it all depends on whether or not you believe in the relationship. I'm not someone who sees every male male relationship in slash terms, but SH just made me nod my head and wonder why I hadn't noticed it the first time through the series. Love is love and theirs seemed as plain to me as the proverbial nose on the face.

Issue 22 (July 1991)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 22 was published in July 1991 and contains 49 pages. The Captain is [M F].

cover of issue #22

There are 22 members.

The Captain apologizes for a amount of time between issues (ten months).

Summary of contents:

Issue 22: Excerpts from Contents

  • Amapola Cruise by [M B]:
    MediaWest was fun as usual. And, as usual, I met some new SH fen. Yes, folks, they are still finding us! Not in the hundreds, but in numbers to keep me assured that this fandom is surviving. (In getting the zine reading room ready for SH:101, I pulled out my copies of the old letterzines, "Between Friends" and "The Who Do We Trust Times" and wouldn't you know? People were still bemoaning the fact that our fandom was "dying out" back then. Funny — here we still are, all these years later.)

  • also from Amapola Cruise:
    do I mention S&H/Paul&David to family and friends? Well, most of my friends are in fandom, too, so of course that's no problem. And my family knows, of course — it'd be pretty hard to conceal it with the art splashed all over the walls, the copy machine in the basement cranking out zines, the piles of color covers, the binding machine, etc. I don't see my relatives often, and no, they don't know. My work-mates don't really know, either. Although some do know that I like SH, I usually pretend that the zine I've been working on is Trek and the con I'm going to is Trek, just because it's easier. They don't know about slash. Of course, there are pictures on my bulletin board: one of Ariel in the PAF magazine ad, one of S and H from "Class in Crime" (in the auto showroom), one of them running on the beach and a small photo of the picture that was on the cover of the Star magazine of David and Paul with their kids on their shoulders. I kept talking about all the printing and Post Office problems with getting Distant Shores finished, and I know they would've been glad to browse through a copy, but I don't have the guts to take one in, even if I pulled the slash artwork. Still, fandom is important. It's hard to explain to family and friends just how much this all means to us. I know that as my job gets difficult, as the world at large seems a dark and foreboding place, I turn more and more to the magical realm of Starsky and Hutch. They had to deal with their share of violence and pain, but they were together, they were true to their ideals and that helps me put it all into perspective, as well as giving me brief escapes from it all. As they say, FIAWOL: fandom is a way of life!

  • contribution by [L P]:
    Do I mention SH/P&D to family and friends? That's an interesting question. When I bought the February issue of PEOPLE and had it at work, people had no clue at first who Elizabeth Glaser was, til I explained. Most of the time, I do not discuss it with my workmates, they tend to look at me quite strangely, and Lork knows, I give them enough reason WITHOUT going into detail about fandom. Most of them have NO clue what "fandom" is, and I'd rather keep it that way. My close friends and family are a different matter. My family is quite aware, as I was involved in Star Trek for quite a few years. Though not to the extent of S&H! Most of my close friends are at least aware, and some are involved in fandom themselves. It's not something I hide in a closet, but neither do I dvertise: "Starsky and Hutch fan". I try to keep up to date on what the guys are doing, and my friends usually make sure I've heard about the latest. My sister is generally the most tolerant. Until I found FRIENZ, she was the only one I could really talk to about the show. She's very indulgent, up to a point. And generous to a fault. She stayed up until 4:30 a.m. one night to tape Elizabeth Glaser on a radio talk show for me. I sometimes discuss "slash", and my views on it with her, but I would NEVER discuss it with my parents. They would not react well, I'm afraid.

  • This Writing Business by [L G]:
    There are people (my mother, for instance, and some friends) who know I like SH, but don't know anything about "/". This situation can be strange, as it means I can't say that I write , which is an important part of who I am. If I did, they would probably want to read somethhg I've written. Since I see the SH relationship as "/", that's the wiy I write it. So... Recently I've "come out of the closet" (no, not that closet — I'm happily hetero) to a few local friends. They know dl about my involvement in SH, and have been not only accepting, but actually curious. And I've discovered that it's very liberating to be able to talk about this interest which is such an important part of my life. I hate being secretive, and having to hem and haw when asked about my hobbies/Interests. ("Well, I like to read... and visit friends..." In conclusion, I feel a need to share who I am (Psychological Visibility: don't we all want it?), but have learned to be choosy about whom I share it with. When initially broaching the subject, I've found it helpful to start out mentioning Star Trek, and Trek fandom, sxice most people have heard of that. Then I segue into the concept of idealized relationship-friendship- partnership, which leads nicely into SH. If your listener then says, "Oh, I remember that show. I liked it'.", you're in good shape. If they say, "That cop show?!" in a disparaging tone, forget it. Even in the latter case, I've learned to see it as their problem, and their loss, rather than as a reflection on my taste or judgment. In this diverse country of ours, there are people fascinated by astrology, crystal power, Elvis Presley and mass murders. People collect stamps, baseball cards, comic books, Coke memorabilia, and insects. My involvement with SH fandom lias changed my life for the better in countless wa/s, and I don't need the permission or approval of mundanes to love that relationship, or the friends it has brought me. End of story.)

  • Untitled by [C G]:
    As to whether or not I mention S&H/Paul & David to family and friends... You bet! I even get to show episodes in the classes I teach. It's funny. S&H is one of the few series that my students, young and old recognize. It gets a better reception that a lot of the stuff I show, too. My friends are generally fans, and a lot of them were/are S&H fans, both inside and outside fandom. I find that I use S&H as the yardstick to measure all other buddy relationships against, and all of them come up short! What a classic! My family is supportative of my interest in Media/TV and they use me as the family Leonard Maltin. A lot of my female cousins are "mundane" S&H fans, and even my male cousins liked the show. Interestingly, my male Vietnam vet cousins all comment on the closeness the guys have, and their ability to be emotionally venerable with each other, and every one them envy that.

Issue 23 (September 1991)

Tell Me Something I Don't Know 23 was published in September 1991 and contains 25 pages. The Captain is [M F].

cover of issue #23, uses a publicity photo that some fans called The Wedding Photo

There are 21 members; three very long-time members have dropped out, there is a gain of one member.

The Captain notes she is disappointed in the number of submissions. She reminds folks that the deadline for next issue is October 26, and to send in "25 copies," but this was the last issue published

Summary of contents:

  • contributions by [C G]
  • contributions by [S L]
  • contributions by [A W]
  • many clippings

Issue 23: Excerpts from Contents

  • contributions by [T D]:
    The observations on the sharing of fandom interests with family, friends, colleagues all seemed close to my own experience. My immediate family (which is small) knows generally though not in detail of my interest in SH, and is aware of my attendance at CONs when my animals have to be cared for in my absence. Many friends know since so many share the same interests. Colleagues at work - no! That really would have complicated my life. My kind of job required a strictly professional approach in which such interests would not be understood. I don't mean, of course, that personal exchanges in conversation never occurred preferences might be expressed about favourite TV programmes - fine. But to enlarge in detail on aspects of SH fandom wouldn't have worked out. I didn't have that kind of job...

  • also by [T D]:
    A related topic came up in a discussion group at Reunion CON in L.A. last October. The question then was :: do any fans have any sort of problem in making arrangements for care/disposal of a fannish collection in the event of their own sudden death? Hopefully, there would usually be someone who could take care of things. Buy if there were not? We heard stories/speculation about treasured items - artwork, zines, mss. - being dumped or burned by those who didn't recognize the significance of what they were handling — or maybe didn't like or approve of it and destroyed it gladly. Remote possibility, one hopes. But what if — ?

  • contributions by [L G]:
    [A] and I have been discussing Hutch's "prove you love me"games. She asked me why I think Starsky is so tolerant most of the time. That's hard to answer, because most of us wouldn't tolerate such behavior, or would we? I think we do, at one time or another. Hutch obviously fills some need of Starsky's, maybe something we don't even realize. And Starsky knows Hutch needs this reassurance. And it's worth it to him to provide it. After all, it is a give and take relationship, even if it's not always equal. But what relationship is equal all the time? Opinions, anyone?

  • contributions by [M M] :
    Much to our monetary downfall, I've begun collecting many of the S/H and S&H fiction zines,and love every single one. Now there just aren't enough hours in a day to read and write and watch it all! I was attracted to the relationship/chemistry aspect of the series from the beginning, and love seeing it so superbly enhanced via fiction. I was sincerely astounded to discover that other people were still fans of S&H just like me. It's wonderful! I'm looking forward to "meeting" more of you through APA #23. I'm always open to correspondence. It's great to participate in a fandom where the people are so warm, friendly and willing to help a newcomer to their realm. Now if only the rest of the fiction writing and reading world would take lessons from all of you, we writers would have it made!

  • contributions by [P M]:
    I've been thinking about Maria's recent TOTM concerning "SH: Do we tell folks?" It's got me thinking about the nature of fandom, a positive and refreshing oasis within an ocean of the mundane, and what it has meant to me. I was remembering slinking around a drugstore in the summer of 1978 looking for fan magazines that might have a picture of my new heroes, S&H. As I look back, I wonder what it was I was so ashamed of that I didn't even buy the magazine I found with the nice two page story about PMG & DS "real" relationship. Here I was absolutely enamored with two tv cops, (I had just "met" them that summer of '78), and so completely fascinated with their caring that it seemed positively REAL to me. And, what do I do? I don't buy a magazine that had what has become a favorite pic for me: they are singing together at some event, standing close together. Their pose says, "Hey, we're friends offscreen, too." About six months later, now totally engrossed in the show to the point that my husband commented on the fact that I "watched" S&H differently from other tv shows, (Not having a vcr at the time, I was memorizing every moment and I guess my intensity was disconcerting.), I bought my first teen fan magazine. I pretended it was for my "daughter" at the if checkout counter. As I look back on myself that day, I can only relate my feelings to how it must feel to be a teenage boy buying his first box of condoms. So, what's it all mean? Well, I think fandom is one way I learned to give myself things that I needed. It was a very new sensation to move outside of the "otherness-oriented" focus of my life to focus on myself. So, what if it was "only" me buying that first silly magazine? (Article called something like: S&H--Their Feud, Their Friendship). I gave myself permission to buy something I wanted. Later on, I learned to give myself permission to feel the need for relationships because S&H "said" it was okay to need other people. I think fandom allows us as women to begin to have some of our needs met by ourselves first and then by the other like-minded women we meet who have been "schooled" in the S&H relationship. Do I tell folks about fandom? Oh, yes!

Notes

References

  1. ^ from an ad in Datazine #46
  2. ^ a fan in Frienz #1 invites others to join her; the editor of Frienz adds her opinion
  3. ^ from Ruth Kurz in the fourth issue
  4. ^ from Tell Me Something I Don't Know! #16
  5. ^ from Frienz #22
  6. ^ from Frienz #26
  7. ^ Ben Mears and Mark are characters in the Stephen King movie "Salem's Lot" which starred David Soul.
  8. ^ A lovely typo that is a bit like "amour" and "armor" put together.
  9. ^ Ben and Mark are characters from the movie "Salem's Lot." Ben is an adult. Mark is a child.
  10. ^ "Delivered to Me"
  11. ^ "Me" is a reference to how this fan identifies and role-plays as the character Starsky.
  12. ^ Ariel Glaser passed away in August 1988.
  13. ^ See Elizabeth Glaser
  14. ^ This zine was never published. See Proposed Zines.
  15. ^ This zine was never published.
  16. ^ What fans didn't know, of course, as the actor was struggling with terrible personal problems regarding the health of his family members due to AIDS.
  17. ^ This poem was actually in The Pits #2.
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