The Imaging Chamber

The Imaging Chamber is a quarterly letterzine that has 11 issues. It was the first fan-produced Quantum Leap publication.
==Summaries==
In an ad in the back of issue #2 of Quantum Quarterly: "The first Quantum Leap "zine" to hit fandom was a letterzine (discussion and in-depth analysis of the show by fans) called "The Imaging Chamber." This digest size zine is up to issue #4 and includes letters, photos and information." 
From Quantum Quarterly #3: "Published on an irregular schedule for no particular reason by Monte Cristo - Amethyst Press, which is just a fancy name for Kitty Woldow."
From July 1993 GAZ: "The first, the biggest, and the best, this letterzine devoted entirely to Leapers comes out approximately quarterly. Each issue contains mostly letters, but may also feature reviews of other QL zines on the market, articles, transcripts of panels or interviews with QL personalities, and other stuff."
==Topics Discussed==
* discussing episodes in great deal (by far the biggest topic)
* detailed discussion of time travel
* much discussion of smarm, a term Kitty Woldow (the editor) popularized
* the nature of the leaps: was it is his body, his mind, his aura that leaped?
* was God involved?
* fan behavior towards the stars, good fans and bad fans
* fan campaigns of various sorts
* an event called Leap Week in which NBC re-aired an episode each night, therefore growing their audience
* descriptions of "Quantum Leap" Screening for Fans (1991)
* how NICE Stockwell and Bakula were
* the appeal, or lack thereof, of crossover fanfic
* there was some discussion of fan fiction and zines, including zine reviews
* was Sam Beckett sexually repressed?
* did Al secretly dislike and not trust females?
* would Sam leap into a baby or a horse or a dog?
* the subject of slash was briefly mentioned, and always very much denigrated and reviled
* Sam leaping into a gay man or gay woman was discussed; some fans thought this would be okay as long as nothing sexual was portrayed
* many comments about Donald P. Ballisario (Don, DPB)
* the "Donna problem"
* fans loved it when Sam portrayed women and wore dresses
* network censorship of an episode in the fourth season that portrayed a gay character
* Dean Stockwell's star at the Hollywood Walk of Fame
* The episodes "Shock Theater" (highly regarded) and "The Leap Home" (troublesome because of certain plot points, and breaching trust between the show and fans, and trust between Sam and Al)
* declining fan support for the show
==Two Disclaimers==
From issue #6: 
From issue #9: 
==Regarding Editor's Interjections in Fan Letters==
Editors, by nature of the job, had a first-hand preview to fans' comments before anyone else.
Editors of letterzines had to decide what, if any, their own comments to their letterzine would look like. 
Some editors chose to add their own letter of comment along with other fans and made no distinction between themselves and other fans. 
Some editors added their own comments imbedded in others' letters as if it were a direct conversation. Many fans did not mind this, but others did and cited the unfair privilege that editors had regarding prior information and that they had "the last word." With issues of letterzines at least a month, if not three, and sometimes four times a year, fans were well aware that their opportunity to respond was a long way in the future. 
When editors chose this latter option, their interjected comments ranged from the very brief and somewhat innocuous (a quick agreement, a brief correction, a quick answer to a question). But some of these interjections were very long, very opinionated, and were basically letters unto themselves. 
Woldow, the editor of "The Imaging Chamber" made a choice in the beginning to interject often and with length and strong opinion. She referred to these comments as "interstitial commentary." She did, however, offer fans the opportunity to ask her not to add her comments to their letters directly. From the first issue: " If you have strong objections to my style of jumping in midstream to reply, put a note on your LoC and I'll keep out of the body of it." Since this was not stated on each letter in a public way, it was impossible to know if a lack of Woldow's comments to a letter meant that the fan had requested she not due so, or if Woldow simply didn't find anything of interest in their contribution. 
In all eleven issues, only one fan expressed her displeasure at Woldow's "interstitial commentary." That fan did not send in another letter. 
From a fan, Kate Nuernberg, in issue #3: 
A fan in issue #4 responded: 
From Woldow in issue #6: 
==Extensive Computer Submission and Readability Guidelines==
From issue #10 in 1992:
==Issue 1==
The Imaging Chamber 1 was published in October 1989 and contains 32 pages.
* Editorial (1)
* Fan Letters (5 of them) (6)
* Episode Guide (25)
* Scott Bakula Stage Credits (31)
 
=== Issue 1: Excerpts from Letters ===
==Issue 2==
The Imaging Chamber 2 was published in January 1990 and contains 36 pages.
* Editorial (1)
* Fan Letters (6 of them) (6) 
* Save the Leap, "Project Keep Quantum Leap" (how to write letters in support of the show, this fan campaign is run by Mary A. Schmidt) (31)
* Episode Guide (32)
* Suggested Reading (mainstream novels and books) (35)
===Issue 2: Excerpts from Letters===
==Issue 3==
The Imaging Chamber 3 was published in April 1990 and contains 52 pages.
From the editorial: 
* Editorial (1)
* Fan Letters (11 of them, one letter is a detailed report about having brunch with other fans at Star Fest '90) (4)
* Episode Guide (35)
* QL Panel (a complete transcription of the Los Angeles Museum of Broadcasting panel where Dean Stockwell, Scott Bakula, Don Belllsarlo. and Deborah Pratt answered questions about the show) (37)
* Film Reviews (40)
===Issue 3: Excerpts from Letters===
==Issue 4==
The Imaging Chamber 4 was published in August 1990 and contains 36 pages.
From the editorial: 
* Editorial (1)
* Fan Letters (14 of them) (5)
* Episode Guide (31)
* Ratings Review (32)
* Stockwell Filmography (34)
===Issue 4: Excerpts from Letters===
==Issue 5==
The Imaging Chamber 5 was published in November 1990 and contains 52 pages. 
This episode has a detailed account of several fans meeting and talking to Scott Bakula on the set of the show. They did not get to meet Dean Stockwell: "We were rather disappointed, but settled tor taking few snaps of Al's empty admiral uniform."
About a possible donation to Hollywood Walk of Fame: 
* Editorial (1)
* Letters of Comment (22 of them) (3)
* Episode Guide (47)
* QL Fanac (short blurbs about zines, clubs) (49)
* VQT Award Ceremony on October 12-14, 1990, description by Mary Schmidt (52)
===Issue 5: Excerpts from Letters===
==Issue 6==
The Imaging Chamber 6 was published in February 1991 and contains 53 pages.
The price of the letterzine is going up: 
* Editorial (1)
* Fan Letters (24 of them) (3)
* Interview: Chris Ruppenthal (49)
* a review of Quantum Mechanics, see that page (52)
* Episode Guide (53)
===Issue 6: Excerpts from Letters===
 
==Issue 7==
The Imaging Chamber 7 was published in June 1991 and contains 46 pages.
* Editorial (1)
* Letters of Comment (22 of them) (3)
* a review of Quantum Jones, see that page (41)
* a review of A Matter of Time #1, see that page (42)
* Episode Guide (43)
* Kitty's Smarm Ratings for QL Zines (45)
===Issue 7: Excerpts from Letters===
==Issue 8==
The Imaging Chamber 8 was published in December 1991 and contains 50 pages. The cover is credited to Karen Hurst. However, the cover appears not to have included this art. This may be related to the explanation by the editor in issue #10. 
* Editorial (1)
* Letters of Comment (18 of them) (3)
* review for Green Eggs and Ham #1, see that page (48)
* review for Look Before You Leap #1, see that page (49)
===Issue 8: Excerpts from Letters===
==Issue 9==
The Imaging Chamber 9 was published in April 1992 and contains 53 pages.
This issue contains a detailed fan-created timeline of Sam and Al's life.
From the editorial:: 
* Editorial (3)
* Letters of Comment (23 of them) (3)
* a review of Faces of Clay, see that page (50)
* a review of Out of the Blue, see that page (51)
* a review of Play It Again #1, see that page (52)
===Issue 9: Excerpts from Letters===
==Issue 10==
The Imaging Chamber 10 was published in October 1992 and contains 50 pages. 
The editor wrote: 
From the editor, regarding the cover: 
* letters by nine fans (6) 
* zine views by Sheryl Tribble (29)
** a review of Out of the Frying Pan, see that page
** a review of The Temporal Times, see that page
** a review of Temporary Difficulties Beyond Our Control... Please Stand By, see that page
** a review of Accelerator Accidents, see that page
** a review of Tunnels: Different Realities, see that page
* Quantum Leap convention -- March 1, 1992, transcript of a panel that featured Don Bellasario, Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell (38)
* Quantum Leap for-profit/pro calendar retailers (six pages of tiny type, listing bookstores in many US states) (48)
===Issue 10: Excerpts from Letters===
A fan wrote about her travails in traveling to Leap Weekend, her views on some episodes, and finishes up with information about the third issue of her zine: 
A fan is sort of happy with a schedule change:
A male fan comments on some characterization and censorship: 
A fan has a request: 
A fan wrote: 
One of the many comments regarding timelines: 
A fan comments on some fan meta: 
A fan wrote: 
A fan is worried: 
A fan has apparently too much fan goodies: 
Regarding show quality and some worries: 
==Issue 11==
The Imaging Chamber 11 was published in May 1993 and contains 33 pages. 
From the editor: 
* Editorial (3)
* Letters of Comment (8 of them)
===Issue 11: Excerpts from Letters===
==References==
Category:Quantum Leap Zines
Category:1990s