Loneliness of the Serial Fan
I think the internet has been a Godsend for a lot of people, especially for the serial fan. Just from personal experience, it was tough being a serial fan in the early nineties before the internet took off. Finding videos and books on the subject wasn’t difficult, libraries were stocking books by William Cline and Jon Tuska while places like Suncoast and Best Buy were carrying videos of old serials.
All well and good, but every enthusiast needs someone who shares their interest, and I had none. Why wife is patient and understanding about my hobby (computer techie that she is, she helped me set up first my web site and then later this blog), but she doesn’t get into it and so we don’t really talk about it except to mention a recent purchase I have made or an interesting e-mail I have received. I have friends who are into old movies but I have given up trying to interest them in serials, memories of previous disasters cut too close to the bone, they end up either bored or crack jokes and point out technical flaws through the whole thing.
A bright spot in the pre-internet days was when I began corresponding with William Cline, meeting him and other serial fans at a western film fair. But as always happens at such events, you have to go home, back to your solitary existence.
Which is why the internet is so important to our fandom. Thankfully we have the message boards and fan sites to meet and discuss with like minded people who don’t act perplexed or condescending to our choice of entertainment. Sure squabbles erupt between people and flame wars break out with everybody choosing sides. But as irritating as that is, could you imagine how bleak everything would be if we went back to not being able to discuss serials with people around the world. Which is why whenever things turn into a fight between two people I don’t get upset anymore, and complain that they are ruining the message board, or leave the site to never come back. I simple remember what it was like before the internet and wait for it to blow over.
Having been a serial fan since the early 1970’s and Matinee at the Bijou, I have found the internet to be a great resource to find serials and other serial fans.
Hi brother. Fully understand your sentiments. Among my closer friends, there isn’t a single one who knows what I am talking about when I mention “Serials” or “Cliffhangers” to them. And off course that’s pretty frustrating. Like your wife, my wife trys to accomodate my discussions on the subject but it is really acadamic and understandably she has no passion for it at all.
I am from Singapore and it’s really difficult to buy serial titles. HMV has only two titles, Zorro Rides Again and 3 Musketeers (John Wayne). The few titles that I have were mail ordered from the US and with additional postage is not only expensive but its a long wait for delivery and also good chance of damage during delivery.
I am a retiree and money is an issue. Anyway all the best to you and enjoy your great hobby!
John