CommanderBond.net

Sadly the James Bond 007 International Fan Club, the JBIFC, have announced its closure. The website and other merchandising outlets of The James Bond OO7 International Fan Club, including ‘OO7’ MAGAZINE, have ceased to trade as of today.

The JBIFC was founded in 1979 as the British fan club and since the beginning had always published the publishing ‘Double-O-Seven’ Magazine. In 1983 The James Bond British Fan Club was taken over by Graham Rye, who remained the clubs Creative Director until its closure.

Aside from the ‘Double-O-Seven’ Magazine the JBIFC was also responsible for the holding of events at venues such as Pinewood Studios, Planet Hollywood, the Odeon Leicester Square, and The National Film Theatre and also for the creation of unique James Bond merchandise.

The JBIFC also owned a huge collection of 007 film props and other rare memorabilia. There is no word yet as to what will happen to the merchandise with the clubs closure.

It's role in James Bond fandom will be sorely missed.

The clubs website is still in operation at http://www.thejamesbondfanclub.com and is definetley worth a look, however, the site may not remain open for much longer.

Aw, that's too bad, I heard abit about them, they seemed pretty cool, and the site is nice too.

And reason given for the closure ?

Definately sad news. 23 years...and it's over.

I somehow have the feeling that MGM is behind this...

I was thinking along those lines myself.

Well damn if they didn't give it a good run.

Shame they couldn't have stuck it out until DAD.

Back before the net, they we're my main source for Bond outside of movie magazines and the JB club out of NY.

*Bryce picks up phone and orders a pint for all the JBIFC staff*

Wow. This is sad news. "007" was the king of all the Bond fanzines. 40 issues total! There was always an issue of "007" in the good times and the bad. This is truly an end to an era. I'll miss the JBIFC.

Umm...yeah, sad I guess.

Get rather the impression that the internet did for them. Yes, the quality magazines they put out couldn't be replicated on the internet but it struck me that the reason most folk joined was to get "Bond news" (certainly the reason I joined in 1989) and as time went on, it couldn't deliver.

Nice magazines though. But mea culpa; when my last subscription ran out, I didn't renew it. I doubt I was the only one.

Perhaps they priced themselves out of the market. Some of their "original" memorabilia was a touch...expensive.

Shame to see it go though, especially in the anniversary year

I remember there were various arguments between them and MGM/Eon about the use of their 007 logo. But ultimately, I too agree that the internet sounded their death nell. The magazines, while beautifully produced, were becoming more and more expensive and one could see that articles were being resurrected to save on production time. I believe the last issue was a complete rehash of past articles which was the only one I didn't buy. Indeed, one article, The Illustrated James Bond", surfaced a total of three times through its history. Having said that, their articles post film release with the production staff were of top quality, I particularly remember those with Daniel Kleinman on the title sequences - superb.

Otherwise I have all from number one and it was very interesting to see how they progressed from the first day.

All the best to Graham Rye.

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Originally posted by Simon Otherwise I have all from number one and it was very interesting to see how they progressed from the first day.

You have all the issues from #1 Simon? Nice. I'm close. Still looking for some of the those early issues. I do have a complete set of 007 Extra, their newsletter, which I find to be a better fanzine than their fanzine. I would complain often that "007" become too much of a photo mag in the end. Yes, it looked good, but the content was lacking. I like Bond news and letters to the editor and fan reviews and rumors and all that kind of stuff in my fanzines. I was getting pretty tired of the "special issues."

Why did they go under? Well, for me, their membership dues was just way too expensive. This, and the fact they discontinued their newsletter after TWINE, caused even me to drop out of the club in 2000.

For you JBIFCer's who want to belong to a club, I’d recommend Dave Worrall’s James Bond Collectors Club. They put out a GREAT fanzine.
http://www.secretintel.com/sponsors/01worrall.html

Sad news, although I have to admit that I didn't renew my membership either. The different reasons for my decision have been mentioned above. I'll miss the magazine. Some issues weren't that great, especially the anniversary issue with no new content at all; but the special issues dealing with classic Bond movies (OHMSS, YOLT, NSNA/CR) were great.

I am sorry to hear about the demise of JBIFC...I never got a chance to join, or to look at their website, but I knew of its presence and it will be missed.

I wonder what finally did them in. Was it perhaps the same virus that had us laying low for a while.

Requistat in pace JBIFC.

-- Xenobia

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Originally posted by Xenobia I wonder what finally did them in.  Was it perhaps the same virus that had us laying low for a while.

Sounds more like they did themselves in. But in the light of recent events, who knows.

Smeirt Fandom?

QUOTE

Originally posted by zencat Smeirt Fandom?

Or at least those of us who do it better than they do it.

-- Xenobia

QUOTE

Originally posted by Xenobia Or at least those of us who do it better than they do it. -- Xenobia

Well, that's the first step to suicide, isn't it?