CLASSIC IMAGES is closing its doors

[Richard M Roberts]

Hey Gang,

More wonderful news as CLASSIC IMAGES magazine has sent out a letter saying that its October 2025 issue will be it's last and they are closing up shop effective immediately.

This is, of course, an end of an era for a magazine that loomed large in many film collectors lives. Started in 1962 by Sam Rubin as 8MM FILM COLLECTOR, then later morphing into CLASSIC FILM COLLECTOR to cover 16mm film collecting as well, it was first purchased by Blackhawk Films/Lee Enterprises in the 1980's, with Rubin still editing it from the old Blackhawk Films former Brewery Building, then Lee Enterprises sold it to the Muscatine Journal in 1988 when Sam Rubin retired, and the editing chores were taken over by Bob King, who has edited it and it's sister magazine FILM OF THE GOLDEN AGE ever since.

A number of well-known historians, like Leonard Maltin, Sam Gill, Ed Watz and yours truly have written for the magazine over the years, and though admittedly the quality of the current writing was not near the standards of the magazine in it's heyday, CLASSIC IMAGES was still a monthly read for many still interested in the hobby and will be missed.

RICHARD M ROBERTS

[William Ferry]

Well, it was a pretty good run. I discovered it when I was a senior in college back in 1980 (having received a few of those free sampler issues they sent to prospective subscribers). I subscribed regularly for about 7-8 years. After a lapse, I decided to call them to renew (this was after the Muscatine Journal acquisition). Imagine my surprise when Bob King answered the phone! I kept it up for a few years, but finally gave up when it was apparent that silent films were no longer the main thrust (how many articles can you read about Universal's Jivin' Jacks and Jills, after all?) Well, in the words of Louella Parsons, tempus sure does fugit.