ACTV's - Partners

ACTV's - Partners is a very early Starsky & Hutch newsletter edited by Pat Massie. It had the subtitle: "Dedicated to the spirit of Starsky & Hutch."
The newsletter was mostly typed in caps.
 
It was published before most fans did not have access to, or the financial means to purchase, VCRs, and were therefore completely dependent on television stations to air re-runs (often crudely edited to allow for more commercials). Or to listen to the show on passed-around audio recordings.
This newsletter's purpose was to be a cheerleader for the fandom, and to bring the show back as re-runs on national television. In the first issue, the editor wrote: 
==Similar Endeavors==
While never mentioned by name, much of the push back to television programming and decisions was in direct response to the kraken, The Nielsen Ratings. 
Fans have had a long history of fighting back against what they saw as bullying by The Nielsen Ratings, and some of those fans created home-grown attempts to make their voices heard.
Some of these attempts were fan campaigns which often took the form of letter campaigns.
Other fans created organizations. Some examples:
* Voice (1967)
* Viewers for Quality Television (1984)
==Issue 1==
ACTV's - Partners 1 was published in January 1980 and contains 3 pages.
The theme word was "Teamwork."
 
The editor, Massie, used the show, "Paper Moon," as an example of a successful fan campaign to bring back a show, stating that this was done after the networks received 20,000 "signatures and cards" from fans: "ISN'T THAT INCREDIBLY REASSURING NEWS? IT CAN BE DONE!"
From Massie: 
From Massie, reasons to bring the show back, plus some hatred of the show B.A.D.C.A.T.S.: 
From Massie, more on boycotting ABC entirely: 
File:Actvpartners1-2.jpg|from Issue #1
File:Actvpartners1-3.jpg|from Issue #1
==Issue 2==
ACTV's - Partners 2 was published in March 1980 and contains 4 pages.
The theme word was "Loyalty."
The TOTM for this issue was "The thing that I liked best about S&H was..." 
* many encouraging words from the editor about fan power and how to leverage it
* the lyrics to "Gypsy Wind" by Dan Fogelberg in honor of Paul Michael Glaser's birthday
* several responses to the TOTM
* a letter by Naomi F. Marrow in response to Thomas P. Chisman, WVEC General Manager
From Massie: 
From Massie: 
Massie congratulates newsletter recipients of bringing B.A.D.C.A.T.S. to its knees: 
Some more encouragement: 
Response to the TOTM: 
Response to the TOTM: 
Response to the TOTM: 
 
Image:actvpartners2-2.jpg|from issue #2
Image:actvpartners2-3.jpg|from issue #2
Image:actvpartners2-4.jpg|from issue #2
 
 
==Issue 3==
ACTV's - Partners 3 was published in May 1980 and contains 3 pages.
The theme word was "K.T.F. (Keep the Faith)."
The TOTM was "What is my favorite S&H episode and why?"
 
* This issue, like all the others, includes very detailed instructions on how to write to the networks and television stations and what to say on your letters and postcards.
* a review of the pilot episode of the show: "I JUST CANNOT TELL YOU HOW NICE IT WAS TO SEE THOSE TWO SMILING PAGES AGAIN. IT WAS LIKE SEEING TWO OLD FRIENDS."
* fans' short answers regarding the question in the previous issue, "What's your favorite episode?" (Gillian, The Set Up, The Game, Shootout, Sweet Revenge, and Partners were mentioned, and the two top winners were Gillian and Sweet Revenge)
* some song lyrics that remind Massie of David Soul (Minstrel Gigolo by Christopher Cross)
From Massie: 
There are many short reports of which cities are airing reruns of the show, and how new fans are becoming converts: 
From a fan in Philadelphia, Maria Farina: 
From Massie: 
 
Image:actvpartners3-2.jpg|from issue #3
Image:actvpartners3-3.jpg|from issue #3
==Issue 4==
ACTV's - Partners 4 was published in July 1980 and contains 4 pages (one of those pages is a full-page flyer for Zebra-Con).
The theme word was "Pals."
The TOTM was "Who's your favorite, Starsky or Hutch, and if both are, say why?" 
* short description of visiting a fellow fan for two days and availing herself of a VCR and some previously unseen episodes: The Fix, Gillian, and Ballad for a Blue Lady
* uplifting news about the show going into syndication and being shown on more channels
* mention of a short-lived fan club, The Paul Michael Glaser Fan Club, out of Beverly Hills, "You get letters back from Paul and everything." (the next issue apologizes and says this fan club is defunct)
* comments about Soul and Glaser in new movie roles, Soul in "Rage" and Glaser in "Phobia" 
* lyrics to Ambrosia's "Biggest Part of Me"
* a con report by Maggie Lowery for Zebra-Con '79, see that page
From Massie: 
From a fan named Karen: 
 
Image:actvpartners4-2.jpg|from issue #4
Image:actvpartners4-3.jpg|from issue #4
 
 
 
==Issue 5/6==
ACTV's - Partners 5/6 was published in September 1980 and contains 5 pages.
This was the last issue.
 
The theme word was "Always."
The TOTM was "What first attracted you to the program?"
* a poem addressed to Spelling and Goldberg, the show's producers
* some inspirational sayings about partnerships
* a short essay by Marion Hale called "Thoughts on Television" (all networks are "in it for a buck," television is big business, fans have power by refusing to watch and therefore hitting networks in the pocketbook, the fall line-up being presented by television is bad and appeals to "the lowest common denominator, of which I'd like to believe I'm not a part." But "LONG LIVE STARSKY& HUTCH." But despite bad television, "those benighted souls, such as the PTA, who are selflessly trying to save my mind or my soul. Lord save us from altruistic do-gooders! Englightening self-interest is, in my not-so-humble opinion, is the only logical motive for doing anything.") 
A fan, Venta P. Lee, submits a poem about the first show of the fourth season, addressed to Spelling and Goldberg: 
From Massie, who comments about how this is the last issue: 
About Massie's planned new publication, one that became Frienz but not until another eight years! 
 
Image:actvpartners5-2.jpg|from issue #5/6
Image:actvpartners5-3.jpg|from issue #5/6
Image:actvpartners5-4.jpg|from issue #5/6
 
Image:actvpartners5-6.jpg|from issue #5/6
 
==References==
Category:Starsky & Hutch Zines
Category:1980 Zines