Amid rumors that the end was near, FILMFAX editor and publisher Michael Stein confirmed Friday that the 38-year magazine of "Unusual Film, Television & Retro Pop Culture" was ceasing publication with issue #165.
"I'm afraid that's the end of it," Stein said in a telephone interview from Evanston, Illinois. "It's the end of an era. I have no choice. It just got harder and harder."
Stein, 80, cited the same reasons plaguing so many niche publications: Loss of retail venues, advertising woes, and skyrocketing printing costs, which he said have jumped 40%. "And distributors still owe me money," he added.
"Paper publication is just not possible unless you're a big market magazine," he said. Helping force the decision: A four-page color insert of glossy advertising for the latest issue had to be pulled at the last minute because, Stein said, "all my advertisers are not doing well."
The final issue, #165 on sale now, has only 68 pages, compared to the usual 88, and went to press without reader letters, or the usual DVD and book columns by David Hogan and others. And as noted, no color ads.
The magazine, which launched in 1986, pioneered coverage of obscure or nostalgic science fiction TV, exploitation films, and near-forgotten genre personalities. "Filmfax is a timeless magazine," he said.
Stein, who preceded Filmfax with the magazine Fantastic Films, was an early member of the Rondo Awards' Monster Kid Hall of Fame. He is also a musician, and used a sister magazine, OUTRE, to highlight pieces on Woodstock, which he attended ("I still remember the mud. You could bake a cake with it!"), Jimi Hendrix and other counterculture heroes.
"I tried to retire 10 years ago and I just couldn't do it. I couldn't stop!" Stein said. "But it's no longer feasible."
Instead, Stein says he hopes to revive a Filmfax webpage and hopefully draw income from sales of historic back issues, and other products.
As for current subscribers, he says he plans to offer them credits for back issue sales, or issue refunds if possible.
One contributor, Michael Bonesteel, lamented the loss at the Comic Book Historians Facebook page:
"The good news is that part three of my series on science fiction comics of the 1950s is now available in FILMFAX #165 (spring 2024). The sad news is that this is the last issue of FILMFAX—the latest victim in the demise of magazine publications due to escalating printing and paper costs, diminished advertising, and a declining nerd subscriber base.
"I first began writing for editor/publisher Michael Stein’s brilliant but short-lived sister publication OUTRE in 1997 and have published occasional pieces on an array of topics for the combined FILMFAX/OUTRE ever since. I will miss reading and writing for it. Farewell FILMFAX. Many thanks for 38 years of unique and unparalleled coverage of retro pop culture."
Filmfax was always a family affair. Stein's wife, Judy, is office manager and copy editor. Both are facing medical issues. "I've been real busy with health issues, and I've been caretaking for my wife as well. Now I can begin to spend more time keeping us both happy."
As for what's next, Stein laughed and said, "hopefully I can play some music on the back porch."
"I'm afraid that's the end of it," Stein said in a telephone interview from Evanston, Illinois. "It's the end of an era. I have no choice. It just got harder and harder."
Stein, 80, cited the same reasons plaguing so many niche publications: Loss of retail venues, advertising woes, and skyrocketing printing costs, which he said have jumped 40%. "And distributors still owe me money," he added.
"Paper publication is just not possible unless you're a big market magazine," he said. Helping force the decision: A four-page color insert of glossy advertising for the latest issue had to be pulled at the last minute because, Stein said, "all my advertisers are not doing well."
The final issue, #165 on sale now, has only 68 pages, compared to the usual 88, and went to press without reader letters, or the usual DVD and book columns by David Hogan and others. And as noted, no color ads.
The magazine, which launched in 1986, pioneered coverage of obscure or nostalgic science fiction TV, exploitation films, and near-forgotten genre personalities. "Filmfax is a timeless magazine," he said.
Stein, who preceded Filmfax with the magazine Fantastic Films, was an early member of the Rondo Awards' Monster Kid Hall of Fame. He is also a musician, and used a sister magazine, OUTRE, to highlight pieces on Woodstock, which he attended ("I still remember the mud. You could bake a cake with it!"), Jimi Hendrix and other counterculture heroes.
"I tried to retire 10 years ago and I just couldn't do it. I couldn't stop!" Stein said. "But it's no longer feasible."
Instead, Stein says he hopes to revive a Filmfax webpage and hopefully draw income from sales of historic back issues, and other products.
As for current subscribers, he says he plans to offer them credits for back issue sales, or issue refunds if possible.
One contributor, Michael Bonesteel, lamented the loss at the Comic Book Historians Facebook page:
"The good news is that part three of my series on science fiction comics of the 1950s is now available in FILMFAX #165 (spring 2024). The sad news is that this is the last issue of FILMFAX—the latest victim in the demise of magazine publications due to escalating printing and paper costs, diminished advertising, and a declining nerd subscriber base.
"I first began writing for editor/publisher Michael Stein’s brilliant but short-lived sister publication OUTRE in 1997 and have published occasional pieces on an array of topics for the combined FILMFAX/OUTRE ever since. I will miss reading and writing for it. Farewell FILMFAX. Many thanks for 38 years of unique and unparalleled coverage of retro pop culture."
Filmfax was always a family affair. Stein's wife, Judy, is office manager and copy editor. Both are facing medical issues. "I've been real busy with health issues, and I've been caretaking for my wife as well. Now I can begin to spend more time keeping us both happy."
As for what's next, Stein laughed and said, "hopefully I can play some music on the back porch."
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