The McCallum Observer

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Zine
Title: The McCallum Observer
Publisher: Lynda Mendoza
Editor(s): Lynda Mendoza and Pat Tamarin
Type: letterzine
Date(s): October 1985-to spring 2004
Frequency:
Medium: print
Fandom: Man from UNCLE
Language: English
External Links:
Click here for related articles on Fanlore.
cover of issue #4
art for a 1996 issue, artist is vallib53
bookmark issued by the fanclub that issued this zine

The McCallum Observer is a gen Man from UNCLE zine edited by Lynda Mendoza.

It was published by the Official David McCallum Fan Club, and contains reviews of movies with David McCallum, discussion, short fanfiction, non-fiction, art, reviews, etc. The zine also carries fanzine ads and an extensive listing of fans across the world looking for MUNCLE pen pals. From a 1990 ad:

The "Official" McCallum Observer is a bi-monthly publication devoted to the career of David McCallum. authorized by David McCallum, each issue features material on his present and past career including: articles, reviews, fiction, photos, art, current news and much, much more! It is a must for all David McCallum fans! Sample copies $2.00 [1]

This zine was where Old Bold Spies was originally published.

"The McCallum Observer" won FanQ awards in 1991 and 1995.

There are at least 88 issues and several special issues called "The Observer: Fact/Reference Packet."

Charlie Kirby helped choose the title. [2]

Newsletter and Fan Club Cessation

This fanwork and its fan club ceased shortly after David McCallum began his stint as Dr. Donald "Ducky" Mallard on NCIS, likely due to contractual requirements.

The club's correspondence, publications, and ephemera is now housed at the University of Iowa Special Collections.

Fan Comments

I started subscribing to TMO in the early '90s and as I regularly sent illustrations, the editor made me official staff artist. This meant supplying a piece of artwork for each issue, which was published quarterly. Usually the subject was left to me but on occasion, Lynda would ask me for something specific. I did this from 1994 to it's close in 2004. I had great fun deciding what to illustrate, pouring over my collection to get ideas. I did one once of David doing the Boston > New York bike ride (or was it the other way round).

[...]

The first issue I contributed to was No 51 (Winter '94).[3]

It was a great fan club. I missed and I hate the way they treated Lynda Mendoza.

[...]

It was a bitter parting, especially for her. She had been his No 1 fan since she was about eight. I have a feeling it wasn't him, as much as Paramount wanting control over his fan club. Gosh, that seems like a lifetime ago, now. [4]

I must say I always looked forward to it's arrival each quarter and was very sad when Lynda said it was ending. I don't know any details apart from David saying he wanted to run his own fan site due to the success of NCIS.

I find that a bit odd as he seemed to have quite a close relationship with Lynda - lots of photos of them meeting up, letters of appreciation etc. [5]

Issue 1

The McCallum Observer 1 was published in October 1985 and contains 18 pages. It includes some fan fiction called "A Time for Truth" by Joy Ashenfelder, some photos, articles, news clippings, and art.

  • front cover of issue #1

    front cover of issue #1

  • back cover of issue #1, Laura Buckles

    back cover of issue #1, Laura Buckles

Issue 2

The McCallum Observer 2

Issue 3

The McCallum Observer 3 was published in February 1986.

  • cover of issue #3

    cover of issue #3

Issue 4

The McCallum Observer 4 was published in April 1986 and contains 26 pages.

Issue 5

The McCallum Observer 5 was published in June 1986 and contains 26 pages. The back cover artwork is by Vickie Lee Trueblood.

  • covers, issue #5, back by Vickie Trueblood

    covers, issue #5, back by Vickie Trueblood

Issue 6

The McCallum Observer 6 was published in August 1986 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of issue #6

    cover of issue #6

Issue 7

The McCallum Observer 7 was published in October 1986 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of issue #7

    cover of issue #7

Issue 8

The McCallum Observer 8 was published in December 1986 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of issue #8

    cover of issue #8

Issue 9

The McCallum Observer 9 was published in February 1987 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of issue #9

    cover of issue #9

Issue 10

The McCallum Observer 10 was published in April 1987 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of issue #10

    cover of issue #10

Issue 11

The McCallum Observer 11

Issue 12

The McCallum Observer 12 was published in August 1987 and contains 26 pages. Front cover by Vickie Lee Trueblood.

  • cover of issue #12, art by Vickie Trueblood

    cover of issue #12, art by Vickie Trueblood

Issue 13

The McCallum Observer 13 was published in October 1987 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of issue #13

    cover of issue #13

Issue 14

The McCallum Observer 14 was published in December 1987 and contains 26 pages. Front cover by Vickie Lee Trueblood.

  • cover of issue #14, art by Vickie Trueblood

    cover of issue #14, art by Vickie Trueblood

Issue 15

The McCallum Observer 15 was published in February 1988 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of issue #15, art by Vickie Trueblood

    cover of issue #15, art by Vickie Trueblood

Issue 16

The McCallum Observer 16 was published in April 1988 and contains 26 pages. Front cover by Vickie Lee Trueblood.

  • cover of issue #16, art by Vickie Trueblood

    cover of issue #16, art by Vickie Trueblood

  • cover of issue #16, Vickie Trueblood

    cover of issue #16, Vickie Trueblood

Issue 17

The McCallum Observer 17 was published in June 1988 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of issue #17

    cover of issue #17

Issue 18

The McCallum Observer 18

Issue 19

The McCallum Observer 19

Issue 20

The McCallum Observer 20

Issue 21

The McCallum Observer 21

Issue 22

The McCallum Observer 22 was published in June 1989 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of issue #22

    cover of issue #22

Issue 23

The McCallum Observer 23

Issue 24

The McCallum Observer 24

Issue 25

The McCallum Observer 25

Issue 26

The McCallum Observer 26

Issue 27

The McCallum Observer 27

Issue 28

The McCallum Observer 28

Issue 29

The McCallum Observer 29

Issue 30

The McCallum Observer 30

Issue 31

  • cover of issue #31

    cover of issue #31

Issue 32

The McCallum Observer 32

Issue 33

The McCallum Observer 33

Issue 34

The McCallum Observer 34

Issue 35

The McCallum Observer 35 was published in August 1991 and contains 26 pages.

  • front cover of issue #35

    front cover of issue #35

Issue 36

The McCallum Observer 36

Issue 37

  • front cover of issue #37

    front cover of issue #37

  • back cover of issue #37

    back cover of issue #37

Issue 38

The McCallum Observer 38 was published in Spring 1992 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of issue #38

    cover of issue #38

Issue 39

  • cover of issue #39

    cover of issue #39

Issue 40

  • cover of #40

    cover of #40

Issue 41

The McCallum Observer 41 was published in October 1999 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of #41

    cover of #41

Issue 42

The McCallum Observer 42 was published in December 1992 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of #42

    cover of #42

Issue 43

The McCallum Observer 43 was published in Spring 1993 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of #43

    cover of #43

Issue 44

  • cover of #44

    cover of #44

Issue 45

The McCallum Observer 45 was published in August 1993 and contains 14 pages.

  • cover of #45

    cover of #45

Issue 46

  • cover of #46

    cover of #46

Issue 47

The McCallum Observer 22 was published in December 1993 and contains 14 pages.

  • front cover of issue #47

    front cover of issue #47

Issue 48

The McCallum Observer 48 was published in Spring 1994 and contains 26 pages.

  • front cover of issue #48

    front cover of issue #48

Issue 49

The McCallum Observer 49 was published in Summer 1994 and contains 22 pages.

  • front cover of issue #49

    front cover of issue #49

Issue 50

  • cover of #50

    cover of #50

Issue 51

  • cover of #51

    cover of #51

Issue 52

  • cover of #52

    cover of #52

Issue 53

  • cover of #53

    cover of #53

Issue 54

  • cover of #54

    cover of #54

Issue 55

The McCallum Observer 55 was published in 1991 and contains 28 pages.

  • front and back cover of #55. Back cover art by J. Beecham

    front and back cover of #55. Back cover art by J. Beecham

Issue 56

The McCallum Observer 56 was published in Spring 1996 and contains 26 pages.

cover of The McCallum Observer #56


Issue 57

The McCallum Observer 57 was published in Summer 1996 and contains 14 pages.

Cover of The McCallum Observer #57


Issue 58

The McCallum Observer 58 was published in Fall 1996 and contains 26 pages.

Cover of The McCallum Observer #58


Issue 59

The McCallum Observer 59 was published in Winter 1996.

Cover of The McCallum Observer #59 (1996)


Issue 60

The McCallum Observer 60 was published in Spring 1997 and contains 20 pages.

  • Front and back cover of #60. Back cover art by J. Beecham.

    Front and back cover of #60. Back cover art by J. Beecham.

Issue 61

  • cover of #61

    cover of #61

Issue 62

The McCallum Observer 68 was published in Fall 1997 and contains 26 pages.

  • cover of #62

    cover of #62

Issue 63

  • cover of #63

    cover of #63

Issue 64

  • cover of #64

    cover of #64

Issue 65

The McCallum Observer 65 was published in Summer 1998 and contains 22 pages.

Cover of The McCallum Observer Issue 65
  • "Brunswick Gardens" Book Review
  • Nasty Little Secret Review
  • "Lights, Camera, Web" article
  • Photo contest results
  • "March in the Windy City" UK TV Show Review
  • Reprint of The Express (UK paper) of "The McCallum Affair" - article on David's career - IT's REALLY GOOD!!!
  • "Lost Civilizations: Pompeii City Captured in Ash" Review (David narrates Audio book)
  • Theater Review from NY Times "The Retold Orton Murder Gets Another Telling"
  • "The Bone Collector" Review (David narrates Audio Book)
  • "I was a Teenage Cave Girl" cute article from long time fan!
  • Photo Contest
  • Screen Scene - Davids upcoming UK and US TV appearances


Issue 66

  • cover of #66

    cover of #66

Issue 67

  • cover of #67

    cover of #67

Issue 68

The McCallum Observer 68 was published in Spring 1999 and contains 18 pages.

  • cover of #68

    cover of #68

Issue 69

  • cover of #69

    cover of #69

Issue 70

  • cover of #70

    cover of #70

Issue 71

  • cover of #71

    cover of #71

Issue 72

  • cover of #72

    cover of #72

Issue 73

  • cover of #73

    cover of #73

Issue 74

  • cover of #74

    cover of #74

Issue 75

  • cover of #75

    cover of #75

Issue 76

  • cover of #76

    cover of #76

Issue 77

  • cover of #77

    cover of #77

Issue 78

  • cover of #78

    cover of #78

Issue 79

  • cover of #79

    cover of #79

Issue 80

  • cover of #80

    cover of #80

Issue 81

  • cover of #81

    cover of #81

Issue 82

  • cover of #82

    cover of #82


Issue 83

The McCallum Observer 83

Issue 84

The McCallum Observer 84 was published in spring 2003 and contains about 20 pages.

  • covers of issues #84 and #88

    covers of issues #84 and #88

Issue 85

The McCallum Observer 85

Issue 86

The McCallum Observer 86

Issue 87

The McCallum Observer 87 was published in Winter 2003.

from issue #87, art by vallib53, art for the first part of a story

Issue 88

The McCallum Observer 88 was published in spring 2004 and contains about 20 pages. It was the last issue.

from issue #88, art by vallib53 for the second part of a story: "On a few occasions I was asked to illustrate a piece of fan fiction for The McCallum Observer. Here are two line drawings I did to illustrate one of those stories. They were usually published in two parts so I did an image from the first half of the story and one from the second half. Unfortunately, this story was a little longer than usual and was split into three. The final part of the story was never printed as TMO ceased publication so I'm sure most of the readers were wondering what Mark Slate was doing in the picture has he hadn't figured in the story up to the point where the story left off." [6]


The Fact/Reference Issues

The Observer: Fact/Reference Packet 1991 contains 12 pages. The Observer: Fact/Reference Packet 1993 contains 11 pages. The Observer: Fact/Reference Packet 2002 contains 18 pages.

  • 1985 Fact/Reference Packet

    1985 Fact/Reference Packet

  • 1989 Fact/Reference Packet

    1989 Fact/Reference Packet

  • 1990 Fact/Reference Packet

    1990 Fact/Reference Packet

  • 1991 Fact/Reference Packet

    1991 Fact/Reference Packet

  • 1993 Fact/Reference Packet

    1993 Fact/Reference Packet

  • 1994 Fact/Reference Packet

    1994 Fact/Reference Packet

  • 1995 Fact/Reference Packet

    1995 Fact/Reference Packet

  • 2002 Fact/Reference Packet

    2002 Fact/Reference Packet

References

  1. ^ from For Your Information #5
  2. ^ comment by spikesgirl58 at A Blast From the Past (Aug 17, 2019)
  3. ^ comment by vallib53 at A Blast From the Past (Aug 16, 2019)
  4. ^ comment by spikesgirl58 from MFU Gallery (July 6, 2018)
  5. ^ comment by vallib53 from MFU Gallery (July 6, 2018)
  6. ^ More Artwork from TMO (Oct 7, 2018)
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