The US independent film magazine Filmfax has announced that its 165th issue will be its final one: more here.
Some sad news, here. Filmfax magazine, an independent publication covering ‘unusual film, television and retro pop culture’ is closing its doors after a 38-year run. The independent publication has announced that its 165th issue will be its last.
80-year old editor and publisher Michael Stein has confirmed the news, telling the Classic Horror Film Board that “it’s the end of an era. I have no choice. It just got harder and harder”.
Stein didn’t want to close the doors, but eventually was outrun by the rise in printing costs (can relate to that), the fact that “distributors still owe me money” and the fall away of retailers.
“Paper publication is just not possible unless you’re a big market magazine”, Stein argued. “I tried to retire 10 years ago and I just couldn’t do it. I couldn’t stop! … But it’s no longer feasible.”
Stein is looking to get a Filmfax website back up and running, itself a huge challenge to get noticed in the Google algorithm and sponsored post era. He’ll also be continuing to sell back issues and assorted bits and bobs.
It’s sad to see such a long-running independent magazine come to the end of its road, and inevitably we’ve got some skin in that particular game. But what an incredible achievement for Stein, who before he set up Filmfax was also behind Fantastic Films magazine.
The final issue of Filmfax is going on sale imminently, albeit a slimmer issue than usual due in part to advertisers dropping out late on. There are no colour ads in the final edition.
We’ve spotted that Hemlock Books sells the magazine in the UK, although at the time of this article going live, it hadn’t added the last issue yet. But there’s a lot of back issues to enjoy, and Michael Stein’s work is set to endure.
Thanks to Mark Pledger for the heads up on this story, as sad as it was to write up.
