The Helpers' Network Gazette - Online
a newsletter for friends of "Beauty and the Beast"
__________________________________________________
December 1995 through February 1996

This is the news roundup from Nan Dibble and Helpers' Network.
Call the Central Hotline at 513-961-3317 or the East Hotline at
201-779-6040.

Hard copies of the Gazette are $1.50 each to Helpers' Network,
379 Amazon Ave., Cincinnati OH 45220-1148. Ad rates are 1/2 page
$5, 1 page $10, 2 full sides, $15. Classified FREE (and included
in the online version, as well).

In March, Nan was asked by Bjo Trimble, publisher of Sci-Fi
Spotlite (formerly Space-Time Continuum) to do a column on Beauty
and the Beast. Nan accepted this kind invitation and this, with
some material here added (mostly about the fandom) is what she
sent Bjo, adapted (as always) from the past months' hotline
scripts. If you'd like to subscribe to Sci-Fi Spotlite, a
handsome magazine running around 50 pages per issue, published
every two months, covering all major science fiction and fantasy
interests, it's $15 for a year, $25 for two years, $35 for three
years and $50 for five years (it pays to plan ahead) to Sci-Fi
Spotlite, P.O Box 13131, Reading PA 19612-3131 or, online, trekk
order@aol.com. This is by way of explanation why the format of
this news is a little different than it's been in the past.
____________________________

It's a good year that begins with a picture of Vincent in
the TV Guide (Dec. 23-29), in an article on celebrity hair, with
the caption, "Hopeless romantics find Ron Perlman's hairy Beast
unbearably sexy." And so we do.

On Dec. 2, Linda Hamilton (Catherine Chandler) won the Cable
Ace award as the best actress award for her role as AIDS stricken
Rosemary Holdstrom in A Mother's Prayer. She was also a presenter
on that show. Those who saw it say Linda looked both elegant and
"cute." So both the role and her appearance at the awards show
should do a lot to erase the Terminator body-builder prejudice
she's been running into, these last couple of years. In addition
to Linda's Separate Lives, recently released to video (January)
in which she co-stars with Jim Belushi, Linda has a co-starring
role in an action thriller, The Shadow Conspiracy, a new movie
that filmed in September in Washington, D.C., Richmond VA and
Baltimore. It's about the president's right-hand man stumbling on
an assassination plot. Linda plays a reporter for the Washington
Herald. The cast includes Charlie Sheen, Donald Sutherland, Ben
Gazarra, Theodore Bikel, and Paul Gleason.

The January issue of the fantasy-media magazine
Cinefantastique had a substantial article on City of Lost
Children in which Ron Perlman (Vincent) stars, including an
interview with Ron and lots of pictures. The French-made
futuristic fantasy is now playing in art houses nationally. In
connection with that movie, the SF channel is involved in a
contest whose winner will get a trip for two to Brussles for the
International Festival of Fantasy, Thriller and SF Films. A
hand-held computer game based on the movie has no involvement
from Ron, evidently. However, from helper Lisa Howard comes word
that Ron does a voice on a CD ROM computer game, Chronomaster,
due for release in February. He does the voice of the villain,
Korda. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with Cronos (1995
Mexican vampire movie in which he starred), despite the name.
Linda Hamilton has similarly lent her vocal talents to the CD ROM
game based on Terminator 2: Judgment Day, we're told; Nan doesn't
know whether at this point that game has been released yet.

Ron Perlman is appearing in the NY revival of Bus Stop
playing the alcoholic professor who's sympathetic to the awkward
young lovers. After a couple weeks of previews, the play opened
Feb. 22 and runs through Mar 17. (There was a brief piece on the
two stars, Mary Louise Parker and Billy Crudup, on the CBC
morning show, This Morning, featuring clips from the play in
which Ron (silent) featured. He had white hair, no beard, and
wore wire-rimmed glasses. At least, for a change, Ron is in a
sympathetic role and he doesn't get splatted in the end, so that
will be refreshing. Bus Stop is playing at the uptown Circle in
the Square theater. Ron's new movie, due for release in fall,
1996 is be a remake of The Island of Dr. Moreau starring Marlon
Brando and Val Kilmer. Ron is the bestial but dignified "Speaker
of the Law."

It's been reported that Superstitious (the novel by R. L.
Stine that Ron narrated as an audiobook) is to be made into a
movie. The director named in connection with the project is
Gulliermo Del Toro, the director of Cronos and an outspoken Ron
Perlman fan. We'll keep an eye on this and pass on any
developments.
________________________________

THE HOTLINE'S CHRISTMAS MESSAGE

Surely sure we've all wondered how Christmas is celebrated
in the Tunnel Community. Since as a member of Helpers' Network
Nan has helpers Below as well as Above, she asked and this is
what was relayed back in a scrupulously clean empty plastic
2-liter coke bottle that turned up on her front steps.

In the tunnels, all the familiar holidays of the world Above
are celebrated, as Vincent himself tells us in Dead of Winter. So
like Halloween, Christmas is a major event and eagerly
anticipated, particularly by the children of the community. There
is only one official Christmas tree; cutting more than one living
tree would be wasteful, destructive of the park. The official
tree is set up in the Great Hall and decorated with popcorn
strings and small handmade ornaments but no candles, lest it
become a fire hazard. Rough, shallow shelves on the wall above
it, however, are studded with hundreds of candles in small votive
glasses, so that they burn all through Christmas eve into the
following day. That is where William's Christmas dinner is held.
However, Mouse acquired a small artificial tree in his scavenging
expeditions Above, two years ago, and that, over Father's
protests, has been installed on Father's balcony each year since,
decorated with a single string of lights, since Father's study
has access to electricity. Father protested that it was a waste
of electricity and he didn't want it near his library; Mouse
retorted that it was pretty, and Mary agreed, so the tree stayed,
and Father's grumblings have become a regular feature of the
season ever since. Many in the community decorate their chambers
with evergreen boughs cut in the park, adorned with ribbon bows
and often ping-pong balls painted red with nailpolish, one of
Samantha's recent projects after Eric and Geoffrey found 10 dozen
in a box in the trash outside a sporting goods store.

Adults typically exchange a single gift in private after the
Christmas dinner--something handmade or scavenged and repaired.
The custom is that family and close friends and courting lovers
exchange gifts. One gift from each family unit or individual is
for the community as a whole, something everyone can use and
enjoy. Often several people will combine to make and deliver such
a gift. This year, for instance, Cullen and several others
combined to repair and install a 1940's vintage wringer washer in
the laundry.

And what of Santa, you may well be wondering? Well, that
legend is respected, too, like that of the Headless Horseman. But
by tunnel custom, Santa comes only to children, particularly the
orphans who live in the dormitories. Each wakes to find a special
gift, with a tag inscribed in a strong, flowing cursive, at the
foot of their bed. Several children have tried to stay up all
night to catch Santa in the act, but none ever has, even though
they swore they hadn't nodded off, not even for a minute. No
further information was given on Santa's activities, but Nan has
a good guess. Who would know what's in each child's heart, and
whether they'd been mostly naughty or nice during the past year?
Who can come and go like a shadow, making no sound, so that even
the most watchful will miss him if he chooses not to be seen?
Who's strong enough to carry a large sack of toys, sometimes
including a handmade rocking horse and countless lovingly
repaired dolls, and visit every child in just one night? We all
know the answer to that. There's no need of a costume or of
reindeer. On Christmas night, we know who goes through the
tunnels, making sure no child is overlooked or disappointed on
Christmas day. Vincent is the tunnels' Santa. And if you're
feeling particularly alone and blue this Christmas, Nan's sure
you won't be overlooked or forgotten either. Vincent gets where
he needs to go, no matter how far. And then returns to where he's
safe and loved and happy before the morning. No helper will go
unvisited this Christmas either, even if the gift is only a warm
thought or a kindness it may take you weeks to notice. It will be
there, just as Vincent and the tunnel community are always in our
hearts.

Merry Christmas.
________________________________

Jo Anderson's (Diana Bennett) most recent movie, Season of
Change, recently aired on TV on Lifetime. Her TV movie, Jack
Reed: Badge of Honor on was on Lifetime. Gloria Handley tells us
that Jo has a small part in a Sylvester Stallone film, Daylight,
now in production at locations all over the world. Also in the
cast is Claire Bloom. This will be the first role Jo has had
since leaving Sisters at the end of last season

Roy Dotrice (Father) has made an episode on Tales from the
Crypt and appeared in two episodes of Strange Luck as a baddie.
He also recently did an episode of the syndicated SF series,
Babylon 5. But there'll be no more appearances on Picket Fences,
where he had a recurring role as the foot-fetishist priest,
Father Barrett, having been killed off last season when the
series' original writer left (and took Father Barrett with him).
Roy's newest movie is The Scarlet Letter with Gary Oldman.

Helper Darlene Sullivan reports that Ron Koslow (originator
of B&B) is writing, with Robert King, an action/adventure movie
called The Red Corner, set in China. It will be distributed by
MGM. Another movie Ron Koslow co scripted, starring Sharon Stone
(sorry, we don't have the title) will probably show up at
theaters either this spring or this fall. [From BeastFan: This
movie is called "Last Dance" and opens on or about May 3]

The Science Fiction Channel began a new run of B&B January
2nd. The series airs M-F at 10 am EST; those who get the SF
channel should check their cable listings to confirm the time in
their area. SFC holds the license to broadcast B&B through next
September. And SFC again had a Valentine's Day B&B marathon this
year (Feb. 14, naturally). Episodes 1-10 were aired. Internet
folk can visit their B&B website http://www.scifi.com and then
look for the Beauty and the Beast listing, where the names of
upcoming episodes and other special B&B things are posted. Their
e-mail address for those wishing to comment specifically on B&B
(as distinguished from all USA's other offerings) is
program@usanetwork.com. Their e-mail address for more general
comments is feedback@usanetwork.com.

Lyn Musacchio's East Coast B&B hotline is now running again:
407-240-3351. For information on this summer's B&B convention, A
Kingdom by the Sea in Norfolk, VA (July 12-14), write to A
Kingdom by the Sea, PO Box 770135, Orlando FL 32877-0135. Or for
information on audio/video tapes, fanzines or other merchandise
available, general questions, etc., call the Helpers' Network
Hotline (513-962-3317) or write to Helpers' Network, 379 Amazon
Ave., Cincinnati OH 45220-1148.

Republic (the distributor of B&B) has struck a deal with
video and recording giant Columbia House, which is offering, in
effect, a B&B tape club you can join. You get the pilot for
$4.95, then additional episodes, at roughly 6 week intervals at
$14.95 plus S&H. No total amount of episodes is mentioned, but at
that rate, they'd take two years to get up through first season.
A definite step in the right direction by Republic. An ad
appeared in Entertainment Weekly; you'll probably see ads in
other publications, as well. If you don't, you can write to
Columbia House and ask for information about the B&B video club.
Send to Consumer Relations, Columbia House Video Library, Dept.
WFW, P O Box 1112, Terra Haute IN 47811.

The B&B TV movie announced by Republic president Robert
Sigman last July has gone no further than a project that's "being
researched," Republic's B&B Product Manager Robin Tsuboi told Nan
in a phone conversation February 27. Robin expects no
developments for at least six months--the project is currently
"on hold." Disappointing, but not a NO. B&B fans are particularly
good at living in hope, and it seems they'll get some more
practice in regard to the long-awaited movie. But the good news
is that 6 new episodes will be released to video on May 7:
episodes 17-22, completing Beauty and the Beast's first season.
And according to Robin, Republic has every intention of
continuing to release further episodes, of the 56 total hours
that comprise the series, in the future. Sales of the videos have
been good and consistent, Robin said. The large video sales
chains like MediaPlay and Suncoast are the best place to find the
videos, or they can be special-ordered through rental chains like
Blockbuster. The wonderful 1989 recording, Of Love and Hope, is
again available, through Republic's auspices, both as a cassette
and a CD; ask at any audio store. For those unfamiliar with it,
it's Ron Perlman reading poetry in Vincent's voice to a
background of music from the series. A must have for any
true-blue B&B fan!

Those on the internet who are interested in joining the
on-line B&B activities have a variety of choices. You can get on
the mailing list of the "Of Love and Hope" internet newsletter at
jeneric@iquest.net. "Of Love and Hope" is e-mailed to subscribers
every two weeks, on Fridays. For information on the America
Online Tunnel Network, e-mail an inquiry to Lisa Howard, whose
e-mail address is beastfan@aol.com. This newsletter is
distributed to subscribers as and whenever news happens. The B&B
web page, "Songs of the Blue Bird" can be reached at the URL
address http://www.iquest.net/~jeneric/songs.html. And Father's
Online Library, an anthology of fan-written fiction, poetry, and
essays related to B&B is another choice. For information, e-mail
beastfan@aol.com.

Contemporary (1988-1990) series that have recently gotten TV
movies while we're still waiting: ALF and Alien Nation (three,
now, and counting!) It, of course, stars Eric Pierpoint (the
gunman in "Masks").
________________________________________

SIGHTINGS

Rutanya Alda (Mary, Sarah; Mrs. Ron Koslow) in Double Jeopardy, a
new TV movie, on CBS.
Joe Campanella (Peter Alcott) in episodes of Baywatch on UPN and
Walker, Texas Ranger, on CBS.
Piper Laurie (the mother in "A Gentle Rain") in a new TV movie,
The Road to Galveston, on USA.
Armin Shimerman (Pascal; Quark in DS9) in an episode of Seinfeld
on NBC playing a golf pro. He also has a role in the movie Dream
Man, new to video, and the newly released Sally Field movie, An
Eye for an Eye.
Jay Acovone (Joe Maxwell) twice appeared as a gangster on NYPD
Blue.
Richard Roundtree (Cleon Manning) in an episode of Touched by an
Angel on CBS.
Ray Wise (Tom Gunther in the pilot) is a regular in the new
Warner series, Savannah.
Christopher Neame (Lisa's bodyguard in "Arabesque") in an episode
of Deadly Games on UPN.
Ernie Lively (Brigit's bodyguard in "Masques") in an episode of
Murder, She Wrote on CBS.
David Graf (Gregory Coyle in "The Reckoning" and "Legacies" and
also with Ron Perlman in Police Academy: Mission to Moscow) is
the surly co-pilot of Amelia Earhart on an episode of Star Trek:
Voyager on UPN.
Tony Jay (Paracelsus) as the voice of Anubis, the Egyptian god of
death, in the animated series, Gargoyles. LOTS of STNG and
Voyager people are now doing voices for this series. Jonathan
Frakes and Marina Sirtis are regulars; other vocal appearances
have been done by Brent Spiner (Data), Michael Dorn (Worf), and
Kate Mulgrew (Captain Janeway).
David Greenlee (Mouse) played a priest on Sisters.
Tony Steedman (Sebastian from "Dead of Winter"), in a major role
in an episode of Babylon 5.
Betsy Brantley (Nancy Tucker in "A Happy Life") finally has a
series of her own. It's called Second Noah and it premiered in
Feb. on ABC.
Richard Heard (the administrator in "A Children's Story") in a
new 96 ABC TV movie, A Case for Life, and was in an episode of
Seinfeld on NBC.
Cliff de Young (the voodoo professor in "Dark Spirit") in an
episode of Nowhere Man on UPN.
Louis Giambalvo (Leo Mundy from "Siege") in an episode of Sisters
on NBC.
John Diehl (the pimp in "The Hollow Men") has a major role in the
premiere episode of the new Robert Urich western series, Lazarus
Man on ABC.
Richard Portnow (the thief, Noj, in "A Children's Story") in an
episode of Dave's World on CBS.
_________________________________

MISCELLANEOUS FACTOIDS

Donna Koich noticed that, in a TV show on the making of How
The Grinch Stole Christmas, 3 of the songs for that holiday
classic were written by Albert Hague (Misha Langer in "Siege").
Kathleen Quinlain, Bruce Abbott's (Devin; formerly Linda
Hamilton's husband) current wife, has been nominated for an
academy award for her supporting role in Apollo 13. And P.K.
Simonds, a B&B writer, is one of the producers of the series
Party of Five. Another B&B writer, Howard Gordon, remains a
supervising producer and sometime writer for X Files.

>From Linda Moore: Jay Acovone (Joe Maxwell) is being
considered for a role in an as yet unnamed Stephen Bochco series.
And Sandie Whithead adds that an unrelased movie Jay made over a
year ago, Looking Italian, is again shopping for distributors
because of the new popularity of its star, Matt LeBlanc, now on
the hit series Friends.

The TV Guide for Dec. 30-Jan 6 had a small article about
David Clennon (Cullen in "Fever"), who's become a regular on the
CBS series Almost Perfect. Naturally it contrasts his present
role with the one he played on Thirtysomething and doesn't
mention his one-shot on B&B, but many of us found Cullen a
memorable character and somebody who's never been really at home
in the tunnels.
______________________

THE FANDOM

The husband of helper Lynn Roewade, longtime fan and
publisher of the Canadian zine series The Spiral Staircase, died
of a heart attack shortly after New Year's. At their winterfest,
soon after, friends gathered around her with sympathy, love and
support. If you'd like to drop a note, send to Lynn Roewade, 223
Cassandra Blvd., #1003, Don Mills, Ontario M3A 1V3 CANADA.

The husband of well-known adult zine writer/publisher Trish
Kehoe came through surgery for a heart condition well, Trish
reports.

Jo Anne Ratcliffe, who has written several zines under the
name of J. A. Cliffe, lost her mother on Jan. 18. Jo Anne's mom
was in a nursing home and died after a prolonged illness. You can
write to her at, 615 E. Thompson Rd., Apt 2, Indianapolis IN
46227. Trish Kehoe visited Jo Anne at Easter and reports her
spirits much improved.

CLASSIFIED

Rhonda Collins is having a zine sale. Besides the fine Legacy of
Love, which wasn't published after all by Cinemaker, Rhonda has
some ten zines of her own fine writing, both Classic and fourth
season. She's offering the zines at con prices: $2 off the first,
$1 on every additional one. Send to her for a list of all her
zines. If you're not familiar with Rhonda's writing, you have a
happy surprise in store. She's one of the most thoughtful,
consistently insightful and skilled writers in this fandom. If
you've been intending to get one of Rhonda's zines but just
haven't gotten around to it, NOW is a whole lot better than
later. For more information about the range of fine zines
available, send SASE to Rhonda Collins, 4511 Allegheny, San
Antonio TX 78229.

Stacy Jagerson, PO Box 408, Carmichael CA 95609, is
interested in contacting B&B fans who also like the series Dr.
Quinn, Medicine Woman.

ONLINE ADS - E-mail beastfan@aol.com to place a free online ad.

'BEAUTY AND THE BEAST UK CHAMBER' - the first UK based fan club
for the TV series. Club magazine (The Chronicle) 40+ pages of
member input - stories, articles, reviews, letters, poetry, art,
quizzes & information - March, June, Sept & Dec. Also produce
'The Journal', 16 pages, April, July, Oct, Jan between Chronicles
to keep members up to date. Voted best club magazine for 2 years
since inception of the British Annual Awards. US Membership $22
(US dollars, cash please). Send to: Sheila Waters, 14 Judith
Road, Kettering, Northants NN16 0NX, UK.

MASK: TALES FROM THE UNDERGROUND is a zine exploring the worlds
of "Beauty and the Beast" and "Phantom of the Opera". We
alternate issues between each universe. There are also zines in
this series featuring all "Beauty and the Beast". Our emphasis is
on well-plotted stories emphasizing Catherine and Vincent's
relationship against the backdrops of the worlds Above and Below.
For detailed flyers send email Kathleener@aol.com or send SASE to
Kathleen Resch, PO Box 1766, Temple City, CA, 91780.

JO ANDERSON FAN CLUB - You are invited to join the Jo Anderson
Fan Club, celebrating the career and accomplishments of Miss Jo
Anderson. Your $15 ($20 overseas) membership includes an 8 X 10
photo of Miss Anderson, a membership card and a one year
subscription to the quarterly newsletter, Jo's Journal. Jo's
Journal includes reviews of Miss Anderson's work, both past and
present, artwork by well known fan artists, news items, poetry,
letters of comment, etc. (submissions accepted). Updates of Miss
Anderson's current projects will be sent via postcard as
warranted. Jo Anderson Fan Club, c/o Gloria Handley, 4195
Rolling Hills, Bettendorf, Iowa 52722. (Checks payable to
Gloria Handley).

FLAME AND SHADOW - Flame and Shadow Press Presents: Flame and
Shadows Volumes I - VIII. A collection of all season and
alternative Beauty and the Beast stories and poems featuring
artists and authors from America as well as Scotland, England and
Austria. Submissions are welcome. Send legal size SASE for
flyers and info to: Flame and Shadow Press, c/o Gloria Handley,
4195 Rolling Hills, Bettendorf, Iowa 52722.

BRUCE ABBOTT INTERNATIONAL FAN ASSOCIATION (BAIFA) was founded in
1994 to honor the actor best known for his roles as Judge
Nicholas Marshall in "Dark Justice", Devin in TV's "Beauty and
the Beast", and the hapless Dr. Dan Cain in the "Re-Animator"
series of movies. The club, fully sanctioned by Bruce Abbott,
keeps members up-to-date on his career through its quarterly
newsletter, "Dark Prince", which features news, interviews,
answers to members' questions, as well as reviews and rare
archival photos. Annual membership--which also includes an
autographed headshot, current biography, filmography, and
more--is only $15 in the US ($18 Canada, $ 22 overseas.) Write:
Bruce Abbott International Fan Association, P.O. Box 1892,
Manhattan Beach, CA 90267-1892. (Checks payable to Robin Ann
Schindler).

BONDSTORIES IX...CLASSIC LOVE will be available in July 1995.
Editors: Joyce Fuller Kleikamp, Leslie Hunten. Stories, poems and
illustrations from the Bondstories team. Rated PG-13/R. E-mail
jfkleikamp@aol.com for more information or to be placed on our
snail-mail list or write Joyce Fuller Kleikamp, 3861 S. Thornton,
Tucson, AZ 85735. "Ask anyone about Bondstories." $20 US First
Class, $22 Can, $24 UK. Still available: BONDSTORIES VII and
VIII.

DENYING THE DARK - There are an infinite number of moments that
make up a lifetime, or a story. Some of them are critical; after
those moments, what follows is inevitable. But what if something,
some relatively small thing, were different before one of those
moments? Then everything after is changed..... Suppose for a
moment that Joe Maxwell had worked with Diana Bennett before the
moment when we saw them meet... Then the moment when Diana
begins her search for Catherine Chandler is changed; Catherine is
missing, and Joe wants Diana to help find her. Of course, Diana
won't be the only one looking for Catherine... Before the
Moment, written by Lynne Wexler, is an alternate universe novella
featuring Diana and some third season elements. Denying the Dark
is the latest in a series of classic zines brought to you by
fan-writer Debbie Ristick. Along with the novella come
vignettes, written to please all romantic hearts and
illustrations by several noted fan artists. Rated PG-13.
$16.00 USA, $18.00 Canada, $21.00 foreign, including postage.
Checks payable to Debbie Ristick. Candlelight Publications,
Debbie Ristick -- Lynne Wexler, 1237 W. North Shore #1-D, Chicago
Il. 60626 USA, Telephone 312-743-3297 or E-mail Dristick@aol.com