Scarlet Street (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Scarlet Street was an American
film
magazine
that primarily specialized in the genres of horror
, mystery
and film noir
. Its initial concentration was on Sherlock Holmes
and related film and television productions, but later its subject matter expanded to include a variety of other genres.
The title was chosen to reference several of its chosen fields: mystery and film noir (from the film
of the same name), and Sherlock Holmes (from A Study in Scarlet
).
, playwright
and Sherlock Holmes devotee Richard Valley, who was inspired to publish his views on the Granada television
series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
-- in particular, the home video
releases of the program, which began distribution by MPI
in 1990. His contact with MPI and their enthusiasm regarding Holmsian fandom led to a decision to change the format from newsletter to full-fledged fanzine
. (Years later Valley would be contracted by MPI to compose liner notes for their DVD collection of the Granada series, as well as for their releases of the Basil Rathbone
Sherlock Holmes film series.)
The 1991 premiere issue of Scarlet Street was a black-and-white photo offset
publication with a print run of about 500. Like many fanzines, it contained a combination of genre essays and articles, photos and original artwork. Articles were written by Valley, his friends and fellow film fan
s. Issues were sold by mail order
and at movie convention
s, and sold out quickly. Encouraged by the response, Valley (as editor
, with colleague Jessie Lilley as publisher) continued producing issues on a semi-regular basis.
With articles and interviews by respected genre authors, and increased circulation through nationwide distributors, Scarlet Street arguably transcended the fanzine appellation into magazine status, adding color covers and glossier interior content.
Scarlet Street reached its tenth year of publication with its 40th issue in January 2001. The magazine’s final issue was Number 55, published in June 2006. Editor Richard Valley died after a two-year battle with cancer on October 12, 2007.
In January 2008, several of the magazine's staffers announced their intention to publish a new magazine "in the tradition of Scarlet Street," entitled Scarlet: the Film Magazine. The new magazine debuted in June 2008.
agenda," due to gay-friendly content and articles that have included discussion of the sexual orientation
of genre filmmakers and its possible relationship to their work.
Valley (in latter years holding the position of both editor and publisher) stated on Scarlet Street’s message boards
in April 2007, "Scarlet Street isn't a gay magazine, but it isn't a straight magazine, either. It's a magazine for all genre lovers who are mature enough and smart enough to consider a different perspective on some old favorites. And it doesn't take itself too seriously..."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
that primarily specialized in the genres of horror
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
, mystery
Mystery film
Mystery film is a sub-genre of the more general category of crime film and at times the thriller genre. It focuses on the efforts of the detective, private investigator or amateur sleuth to solve the mysterious circumstances of a crime by means of clues, investigation, and clever deduction.The...
and film noir
Film noir
Film noir is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and sexual motivations. Hollywood's classic film noir period is generally regarded as extending from the early 1940s to the late 1950s...
. Its initial concentration was on Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes
Sherlock Holmes is a fictional detective created by Scottish author and physician Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. The fantastic London-based "consulting detective", Holmes is famous for his astute logical reasoning, his ability to take almost any disguise, and his use of forensic science skills to solve...
and related film and television productions, but later its subject matter expanded to include a variety of other genres.
The title was chosen to reference several of its chosen fields: mystery and film noir (from the film
Scarlet Street
Scarlet Street is a 1945 American film noir directed by Fritz Lang and based on the French novel La Chienne by Georges de La Fouchardière, that previously had been dramatized on stage by André Mouëzy-Éon, and cinematically as La Chienne by director Jean Renoir.The principal actors Edward G...
of the same name), and Sherlock Holmes (from A Study in Scarlet
A Study in Scarlet
A Study in Scarlet is a detective mystery novel written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, introducing his new character of Sherlock Holmes, who later became one of the most famous literary detective characters. He wrote the story in 1886, and it was published the next year...
).
History
Scarlet Street spawned from a limited-distribution newsletter created by community-theater actorActor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, playwright
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
and Sherlock Holmes devotee Richard Valley, who was inspired to publish his views on the Granada television
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
series The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (TV series)
The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is the name given to the TV series of Sherlock Holmes adaptations produced by British television company Granada Television between 1984 and 1994, although only the first two series bore that title on screen. The series was broadcast on the ITV network in the UK,...
-- in particular, the home video
Home video
Home video is a blanket term used for pre-recorded media that is either sold or rented/hired for home cinema entertainment. The term originates from the VHS/Betamax era but has carried over into current optical disc formats like DVD and Blu-ray Disc and, to a lesser extent, into methods of digital...
releases of the program, which began distribution by MPI
MPI Home Video
MPI Home Video is a home entertainment company that produces and distributes popular documentaries, films and television series on DVD & Blu-ray for the home video market. MPI Home Video is a subsidiary of MPI Media Group which was founded in 1976 by brothers Malik & Waleed Ali...
in 1990. His contact with MPI and their enthusiasm regarding Holmsian fandom led to a decision to change the format from newsletter to full-fledged fanzine
Fanzine
A fanzine is a nonprofessional and nonofficial publication produced by fans of a particular cultural phenomenon for the pleasure of others who share their interest...
. (Years later Valley would be contracted by MPI to compose liner notes for their DVD collection of the Granada series, as well as for their releases of the Basil Rathbone
Basil Rathbone
Sir Basil Rathbone, KBE, MC, Kt was an English actor. He rose to prominence in England as a Shakespearean stage actor and went on to appear in over 70 films, primarily costume dramas, swashbucklers, and, occasionally, horror films...
Sherlock Holmes film series.)
The 1991 premiere issue of Scarlet Street was a black-and-white photo offset
Offset printing
Offset printing is a commonly used printing technique in which the inked image is transferred from a plate to a rubber blanket, then to the printing surface...
publication with a print run of about 500. Like many fanzines, it contained a combination of genre essays and articles, photos and original artwork. Articles were written by Valley, his friends and fellow film fan
Fan (person)
A Fan, sometimes also called aficionado or supporter, is a person with a liking and enthusiasm for something, such as a band or a sports team. Fans of a particular thing or person constitute its fanbase or fandom...
s. Issues were sold by mail order
Mail order
Mail order is a term which describes the buying of goods or services by mail delivery. The buyer places an order for the desired products with the merchant through some remote method such as through a telephone call or web site. Then, the products are delivered to the customer...
and at movie convention
Fan convention
A fan convention, or con , is an event in which fans of a particular film, television series, comic book, actor, or an entire genre of entertainment such as science fiction or anime and manga, gather to participate and hold programs and other events, and to meet experts, famous personalities, and...
s, and sold out quickly. Encouraged by the response, Valley (as editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, with colleague Jessie Lilley as publisher) continued producing issues on a semi-regular basis.
With articles and interviews by respected genre authors, and increased circulation through nationwide distributors, Scarlet Street arguably transcended the fanzine appellation into magazine status, adding color covers and glossier interior content.
Scarlet Street reached its tenth year of publication with its 40th issue in January 2001. The magazine’s final issue was Number 55, published in June 2006. Editor Richard Valley died after a two-year battle with cancer on October 12, 2007.
In January 2008, several of the magazine's staffers announced their intention to publish a new magazine "in the tradition of Scarlet Street," entitled Scarlet: the Film Magazine. The new magazine debuted in June 2008.
"The Agenda"
Scarlet Street has been criticized by some for having a "gayGay
Gay is a word that refers to a homosexual person, especially a homosexual male. For homosexual women the specific term is "lesbian"....
agenda," due to gay-friendly content and articles that have included discussion of the sexual orientation
Sexual orientation
Sexual orientation describes a pattern of emotional, romantic, or sexual attractions to the opposite sex, the same sex, both, or neither, and the genders that accompany them. By the convention of organized researchers, these attractions are subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality,...
of genre filmmakers and its possible relationship to their work.
Valley (in latter years holding the position of both editor and publisher) stated on Scarlet Street’s message boards
in April 2007, "Scarlet Street isn't a gay magazine, but it isn't a straight magazine, either. It's a magazine for all genre lovers who are mature enough and smart enough to consider a different perspective on some old favorites. And it doesn't take itself too seriously..."
External links
- Scarlet Street's website
- Remembrance of Richard Valley by Forrest J AckermanForrest J AckermanForrest J Ackerman was an American collector of science fiction books and movie memorabilia and a science fiction fan...
, accessed 22 January 2008 - Remembrance of Richard Valley by Susan GordonBert I. GordonBert I. Gordon is an American film director most famous for such science fiction and horror B-movies as The Amazing Colossal Man and Village of the Giants....
, accessed 24 March 2008 - Remembrance of Richard Valley by Jessie Lilley, accessed 24 March 2008