Meanwhile after 18 years and 41 issues - Psychotronic is finished for now as a magazine. This very difficult decision shouldn't have taken me so long to make but I was still trying to restructure and keep going. I had been planning to publish the very overdue issue #42 (pictured) but too many things have changed.

The cost of everything (including paper and postage) continues to rise so much that self publishing (except as a hobby) has become harder than ever. I've been writing Psychotronic movie reviews now for indy publications (mostly my own) since 1977 in Cleveland, then in New York City. It was a struggle to self publish in the 80s and 90s but now it’s nearly impossible. When PV started (in late 89) issues were sold in many independent record, book and comic shops. Since then most of them have gone out of business. Our first national outlet (Tower) has gone out of business. In an attempt to adapt and grow I started using more distributors to send more copies to big national chain book stores. This can work fine for high circulation glossy publications but it can be deadly for smaller lower budgeted ones. Even with a high % of sales, after returns you're lucky to break even.

Meanwhile distributors (including several that went bankrupt owing us large sums of money) figured out how to alter their policies, rig their complex contracts, add in hidden costs and fees, and squeeze every penny from the publishers - just like banks, insurance companies, and credit card companies. It gets worse every year. In 2004 our main distributor (which I had been forced to use a lawyer to collect from several times) went bankrupt.

I love researching, editing and writing, and plan to continue, but can simply no longer afford to publish a magazine.

I'd like to offer a brief THANK YOU for all the years of support from all of our readers, subscribers, contributors, interviewers, advertisers, people and companies who sent us review items, the publications and radio and TV shows that promoted PV, retail outlets (except the ones that owe us money) and distributors (except the ones that owe us money). I especially want to thank Akira Fitton and Fred Brockman (who both once lived in Ohio, as I did). They have both been with Psychotronic since the original early 80s Manhattan Xerox version.

FUTURE WRITING:
I plan to eventually post the long and growing George W Bush In Hollywood Part 2 and I’ll also be writing about how a guy I knew from NE Ohio (Bob Pfieffer (once the singer/leader of a band called The Human Switchboard) is part of a MAJOR unfolding scandal that has been mostly absent from the news. In the 80s Pfieffer was briefly a roommate of Psychotronic cover artist Fred Brockman in Hoboken and dated the same college student (from Taiwan) as I did. He later became president of Hollywood Records (an offshoot of Disney’s Hollywood Films - owned by President Bush’s best friend and advisor Roland Betts (from Yale and Skull And Bones – see PV #41) - and helped start the Queen revival. Last year Pfieffer was arrested along with Celebrity Sleuth Anthony Pellicano. Pellicano, an ex con Chicago gangster, was a paid Watergate Nixon audio tape expert and spent millions to discredit JFK assassination conspiracies. Pellicano was involved with the OJ case and the Tom Cruise divorce, and worked for MANY other major movie stars. He spied on, tapped the phones off, bought off, discredited, and/or threatened many people (often sex crime victims) who accused the following rich and powerful people: producer Jerry Bruckenheimer (TOP GUN, PEARL HARBOR, BLACK HAWK DOWN, PIRATES OF THE CARRIBEAN movies, all CSI shows…), Michael Jackson, Gov. Arnold, - and yes, it’s true - President Bill Clinton.

PSYCHOTRONIC BOOKS
Eventually there will be a third Psychotronic movie review book. Hopefully it will include rewritten, updated and corrected reviews from the first two books plus many more from the years since the Psychotronic Video Guide (96). I am also working on other more specific movie, music, and history related books.

PSYCHOTRONIC STORE
For two years we rented out our storefront but we're back better than ever with a "mom and pop" shop at 4102 Main St. Chincoteague Island, Virginia, 23336. In this seasonal tourist area we are even staying open pretty much all year - at least on weekends. If you live nearby or visit for a vacation, stop in. We sell affordable (used) movies (VHS and DVD), movies collectibles (posters, lobby cards, stills, books), and music (LPs, CDs, books), comic books, hand crafted beads, jewelry and findings, and imported clothes and bags.

PSYCHOTRONIC RADIO
I’m working as a disc jockey at the local WCTG, 96.5 F.M. which can be heard up and down the Eastern shore, reaching up to Ocean City and Salisbury, Maryland. See www.myctg965.com. I'm currently on Sat. nights at 7-10 playing what I consider the best music of all kinds - mostly from the best era of popular music - from when Elvis first made the national charts (56) until he died. I play choice top 100 hits, B sides, and LP tracks. My show has been getting good response and may expand to several nights a week soon. Live DJs are a rarity these days. Most shows are 100% computerized and if they have a voice at all it's pre taped. I also am a frequent guest on Alan Handelman's syndicated (from Charlotte, North Carolina) radio talk show. We take calls and talk for hours about cult movies and music. See ifitrocks.com

POLITICS - Yes, politics effect everything. Not since WWII and maybe the height of the Communist scare era has our popular entertainment been so heavily backed and influenced by the CIA, FBI and DOD (Dept. Of Defense) and product placements have become so common that we may as well just pay to watch corporate commercials mixed with recruitment films. Most people seem to not notice or care. Our current government is at war with pretty much everything and everybody (newspapers, columnists, TV shows, commentators, and anchors, unions, democrats, liberals, gays, scientists, the U.N., elected governments...) that do not agree with and support their policies. Major newspapers are laying off staff members and losing circulation. Fox News (and F/X) gets more bold and influential while fewer people read - or vote, and more Americans are in jail every year. Conservative commentators will continue to claim we are in WWIII and try to shift the blame for everything to Democrats and the “left wing” media.

As the Beatle who was ordered to be deported and was later assassinated once sang: "Keep you doped with religion and sex, and TV" ... Or as the Door who was arrested in Florida and died while awaiting trial used to yell: "Wake Up!"

SNOWBALL IN HELL DEPT... I know that most of you are struggling with 21st Century financial realities in one way or another too - but if any of you (except for porn producers) who happen to be wealthy want to restart Psychotronic magazine by investing (or even being charitable) please get in touch.
Thank you all for your patience and support.

Michael J. Weldon

You can contact me directly at
pvzine@verizon.net

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lastly updated: 02/27/07

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