Descriptive Summary
Access
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Acquisition Information
Collection Scope and Content Summary
Biography
Arrangement of the Collection
Indexing terms
Descriptive Summary
Abstract: Cinefantastique was a horror, fantasy, and science fiction film magazine published and edited by Frederick S. Clarke that
began as a mimeographed fanzine in 1967 and developed into a glossy, offset printed quarterly in the 1970s.
The Cinefantastique magazine records were preserved in part by a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records
Commission.
Collector:
Cinefantastique
Dates: 1951-2004
Dates: 1979-2000
Collection number: 1759
Collection Size:
63 linear ft. of papers
16 linear ft. of photos
178 item(s) of artworks
Repository:
Margaret Herrick Library. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Languages:
Languages represented in the collection:
English
Access
Available by appointment only.
Publication Rights
Property rights to the physical object belong to the Margaret Herrick Library. Researchers are responsible for obtaining all
necessary rights, licenses, or permissions from the appropriate companies or individuals before quoting from or publishing
materials obtained from the library.
Preferred Citation
Cinefantastique magazine records, Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Acquisition Information
Gift of CFQ Media, 2008
Collection Scope and Content Summary
The manuscript series of the Cinefantastique magazine records span the years 1951-2004 (bulk 1979-2000) and encompass 63 linear
feet. The collection primarily consists of material related to the publication of Cinefantastique, including correspondence
between editor Frederick S. Clarke and his staff, article manuscripts, scripts, and research for articles in the form of presskits
and other publicity. Included is 1.5 linear feet of material related to one of Frederick S. Clarke’s other periodicals, "Femme
Fatales," a men's magazine focused on film and television actresses. This subseries includes correspondence, drafts of articles
on actresses, and publicity materials.
The graphic arts series of the Cinefantastique magazine records spans the years 1981-1996 and encompasses 178 artworks. The
collection primarily consists of illustrations used in the magazine.
Biography
Cinefantastique was a magazine dedicated to horror, fantasy, and science fiction film and television. Founded by Frederick
S. Clarke while a student at University of Illinois, Chicago, the magazine began as a mimeographed fanzine and was later relaunched
in 1970 as a critical review magazine. In its early years, Cinefantastique gained acclaim for its retrospectives on older
films and filmmakers along with coverage of both high and low budget genre films. As the years progressed, the magazine shifted
its focus to current films, publishing in-depth set reports by correspondents all over the world along with interviews with
both cast and crew, often giving special focus to effects technicians. The technical nature and thoroughness of Cinefantastique's
articles separated it from fan magazines such as Famous Monsters of Filmland and Starlog. However, Clarke's dedication to
revealing details of the production process sometimes got the magazine in trouble with studios and filmmakers.
In addition to serving as editor-in-chief of Cinefantastique, Clarke launched the magazines Imagi-Movies, Visions, AnimeFantastique,
and Femme Fatales. All were short-lived except Femme Fatales, a men's magazine featuring pinups and interviews with actresses.
The disillusion of Imagi-movies in 1995 allowed Clarke to dedicate more funds to Cinefantastique and the magazine shifted
from bi-monthly publication to monthly publication. After Clarke's death in 2000, staff writer Dan Persons took over as editor-in-chief.
However, in 2003 the magazine was sold to former Cinefantastique writer Mark Altman, who changed the name to CFQ. The magazine
ceased print publication in 2006. In 2007, former Cinefantastique writer Steve Biodrowski started Cinefantastique Online,
which is still in operation today.
Arrangement of the Collection
1. Production files, subseries A-B as follows: A. Produced; B. Unproduced; 2. Television files; 3. Other media files; 4. Subject
files; 5. Other papers, subseries A-C as follows: A. Production files; B. Other media files; C. Subject files; 6. Oversize;
7. Graphic Arts
Indexing terms
Periodicals
Special effects