A fan magazine is a commercially written and published magazine intended for the amusement of fans of the popular culture subject matter that it covers. It is distinguished from a scholarly, literary or trade magazine on the one hand, by the target audience of its contents, and from a fanzine on the other, by the commercial and for-profit nature of its production and distribution. Scholarly works on popular culture and fandoms do not always make this terminological distinction clear. In some relevant works, fanzines are called "fan magazines", possibly because the term "fanzine" is seen as slang .
17-587: Modern Screen was an American fan magazine that for over 50 years, featuring articles, pictorials and interviews with film stars (and later television and music personalities). Modern Screen magazine debuted on November 3, 1930. Founded by the Dell Company of New York City it initially sold for 10 cents. Modern Screen quickly became popular and by 1933 it had become Photoplay magazine's main competition. It began to brag on its cover that it had "The Largest Circulation of Any Screen Magazine", and Jean Harlow
34-519: A $ 200,000 law suit in Santa Monica against Modern Screen , Dell Publishing Co. , and 17 year old Joyce Becker, a self-described actress and writer, who wrote an inflammatory article the magazine published titled, “The First Time Troy Made Love to Me.” Donahue protested that the article described them as better friends than they really were. His lawyer said they were only casually acquainted and had met only once, when Becker interviewed Donahue for
51-574: A certain way, and in exchange for this control, the studios would purchase plentiful advertisements. Well known gossip columnists like Hedda Hopper, Walter Winchell, and Louella Parsons, among others, were published in various fan magazines. Readers of the fan magazines enjoyed reading about their favorite celebrities in "candid" articles supposedly penned by the stars themselves, even though they were most likely written by press agents and usually served to defend recent behavior or deflect rumors. The reporting on stars in this period by Photoplay and others
68-441: A column entitled "Good News." Modern Screen remained a major success through the 1950s but a downturn in movie ticket sales at the end of the decade led to a general sales decline in the magazine. Still Modern Screen managed to remain popular. On January 3, 1967, The Film Daily declared that 50% of movie ticket sales were influenced by fan magazines such as Modern Screen and Photoplay . The magazine remained popular through
85-462: A major success through the 1950s but a downturn in movie ticket sales at the end of the decade led to a general sales decline in the magazine. Still Modern Screen managed to remain popular. On January 3, 1967, The Film Daily declared that 50% of movie ticket sales were influenced by fan magazines such as Modern Screen and Photoplay . The magazine remained popular through the 1970s, and Lily Tomlin released her 1975 comedy album Modern Scream ,
102-462: A parody of celebrity magazines. In the early 1980s, however, the popularity of general interest celebrity publications like People Magazine proved to be the end of old-fashioned movie fan magazines. Modern Screen became a bimonthly magazine, but in 1985 publication of the magazine ceased. On January 16, 1963, actor Troy Donahue filed a $ 200,000 law suit in Santa Monica against Modern Screen , Dell Publishing Co. , and 17 year old Joyce Becker,
119-434: A self-described actress and writer, who wrote an inflammatory article the magazine published titled, “The First Time Troy Made Love to Me.” Donahue protested that the article described them as better friends than they really were. His lawyer said they were only casually acquainted and had met only once, when Becker interviewed Donahue for a teen magazine. Donahue’s action claimed that the story violated privacy and said
136-479: A teen magazine. Donahue’s action claimed that the story violated privacy and said the statements in the article were “unjustified and untrue.” Eventually, Dell Publishing Co. printed a retraction, and paid Donahue an undisclosed settlement. Fan magazine American examples include Photoplay , Motion Picture Magazine , Modern Screen , Sports Illustrated and Cinefantastique . The film fan magazines focused on promoting films and movie stars in
153-464: Is seen reading a copy of Modern Screen in the 1933 film Dinner at Eight . During the early 1930s, the magazine featured artwork portraits of film stars on the cover. By 1940 it featured natural color photographs of the stars and was charging 15 cents per issue. Modern Screen had many different editors in chief over the years, including Richard Heller, who understood the importance of the fan magazine's contribution to movie sales and Mark Bego ,
170-423: The 1970s, and Lily Tomlin released her 1975 comedy album Modern Scream , a parody of celebrity magazines. In the early 1980s, however, the popularity of general interest celebrity publications like People Magazine proved to be the end of old-fashioned movie fan magazines. Modern Screen became a bimonthly magazine, but in 1985 publication of the magazine ceased. On January 16, 1963, actor Troy Donahue filed
187-449: The Dell Company of New York City it initially sold for 10 cents. Modern Screen quickly became popular and by 1933 it had become Photoplay magazine's main competition. It began to brag on its cover that it had "The Largest Circulation of Any Screen Magazine", and Jean Harlow is seen reading a copy of Modern Screen in the 1933 film Dinner at Eight . During the early 1930s, the magazine featured artwork portraits of film stars on
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#1732875958940204-428: The cover. By 1940 it featured natural color photographs of the stars and was charging 15 cents per issue. Modern Screen had many different editors in chief over the years, including Richard Heller, who understood the importance of the fan magazine's contribution to movie sales and Mark Bego , the latter of whom edited the book The Best of Modern Screen (St. Martin's Press, 1986). The editor most associated with
221-553: The latter of whom edited the book The Best of Modern Screen (St. Martin's Press, 1986). The editor most associated with the magazine, however, was Regina Cannon (1900-1992), but her standards for publication were so low that Carl F. Cotter, who wrote 'Forty Hacks of the Fan Mags' ( The Coast , 1939), declared her stories to be the worst of the entire lot. Contributors to the magazine included famed photographer George Hurrell and famed writers like Faith Baldwin . Louella Parsons wrote
238-438: The magazine, however, was Regina Cannon (1900-1992), but her standards for publication were so low that Carl F. Cotter, who wrote 'Forty Hacks of the Fan Mags' ( The Coast , 1939), declared her stories to be the worst of the entire lot. Contributors to the magazine included famed photographer George Hurrell and famed writers like Faith Baldwin . Louella Parsons wrote a column entitled "Good News." Modern Screen remained
255-488: The studios allowing for more scandalous content. Contrary to its reputation for double-checking its facts, the magazine knowingly published unverified allegations which opened themselves up to libel suits. Modern Screen Modern Screen was an American fan magazine that for over 50 years, featuring articles, pictorials and interviews with film stars (and later television and music personalities). Modern Screen magazine debuted on November 3, 1930. Founded by
272-475: Was often positive due to the studios' influence over the publications. Photoplay was one of the first American film fan magazines. Founded in Chicago in 1911 by Macfadden Publications, Photoplay was founded the same year as Stuart Blackton's Motion Picture Story , a similar publication. Photoplay , as one of the first and most popular fan magazines, is credited as the originator of celebrity media. Photoplay
289-417: Was published from 1911 until 1980, at several points merging with other publications. Other fan magazines include Modern Screen and Cinefantastique . Confidential was founded in 1952 by Robert Harrison and published until 1978. More of a tabloid than a fan magazines because of its salacious content and irreverent celebrity gossip. Unlike other fan magazines, Confidential did not cooperate with
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