  Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 8760 Registered: 11-2004 |
Anyone remember Orbit magazine that ran rival to the Metro Times? It was run by Jerry Peterson/ Vile and it seemed to have a much more fun flair to it than its harder journalistic competitor. They actually had fun informative articles and better listings as to events around town and supposedly parts of it were sold off to what's currently Real Detroit Weekly. Anyone have any recollections of this weekly publication? | ||
Reddog289 Member Username: Reddog289 Post Number: 573 Registered: 08-2007 |
Loved ORBIT, Shoulda got me an Orby T-Shirt. still have a few stashed in moms basement. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 8763 Registered: 11-2004 |
And didn't Qunetin Tarantino sport an Orby t-shirt in some movie too? | ||
Novine Member Username: Novine Post Number: 746 Registered: 07-2007 |
Pulp Fiction. You can see it in this scene (be forewarned that the language may offend): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v =b_vbvRbBtUI | ||
Crash_nyc Member Username: Crash_nyc Post Number: 1095 Registered: 08-2004 |
Forever immortalized in Pulp Fiction! Too bad no one but Detroiters will ever know the 'cool-stamp' that Quentin put on Orby in the kitchen with Keitel, Jackson & Travolta. I have to dig around a bit, but I think I still have a few old issues of Orbit kicking around in a trunk somewhere. I moved away from Detroit in '95, and I actually had a subscription for awhile, having Orbits sent to me in NYC. I made a point of saving one from the early 90's, just because of one of the St. Andrew's Hall concert listings -- In huge bold letters: "FAITH NO MORE", then in a tiny skinny font one line below: "with Kid Rock" | ||
Malcovemagnesia Member Username: Malcovemagnesia Post Number: 108 Registered: 12-2005 |
Orbit magazine started off with the name "Fun"; very appropriate as they made merciless fun of local gasbags like CAY and Bill Bonds. Wonder whatever happened to Jerry Vile? I know the graphic designer behind Fun/Orbit became the main entrepreneur behind the "Made in Detroit" line of clothing (sold & worn around the world). | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 8764 Registered: 11-2004 |
Don't quote me but isn't Vile still exhibiting some of his art around town? Someone told me he's actually got a piece down at CCS this weekend for the $50 Show. And isn't he still doing the Dirty Show every year? | ||
Django Member Username: Django Post Number: 1874 Registered: 10-2003 |
Orbit was the shit. I was so sad to see it go. I believe I may still have their last issue. I remember thinking it was a joke Orbit was playing, stating that they were issuing their last issue of Orbit. But it wasnt a joke. I love a hard news rag, as much as I love a smart hometown humorous rag, what a shock when they really were gone. Im not sure but I believe Vile is still around. Fun and Orbit are truly missed, by me anyway. | ||
Toolbox Member Username: Toolbox Post Number: 1169 Registered: 10-2003 |
The last issue of Orbit had a naked Jimmy Doom laying on the bar at Gusoline Ally. | ||
Long_in_the_tooth Member Username: Long_in_the_tooth Post Number: 117 Registered: 01-2007 |
The "Vile One" is still around. After starting/selling Real Detroit Magazine he is the publisher of the Guide to Detroit www.guidetodetroit.com And he, along with a couple others, are responsible for the Dirty Show; which will be having it's 10 year show in February. Remember Jerry Vile and the Boners? Punk rock meets the Flying Nun. | ||
Lafayette Member Username: Lafayette Post Number: 36 Registered: 03-2007 |
Remember Orbit's Best Of Detroit listing, calling Sterling Heights and Livonia sister cities, and this winner?: Best Intersection to Translate War and Peace into Byelorussian? 15 Mile and Dequindre (don't quote me on the exact intersection, it's the category I remember) Consistently hilarious publication. | ||
Ro_resident Member Username: Ro_resident Post Number: 335 Registered: 11-2003 |
Two articles that stick in my brain-- Their review of the "English Patient" was along the lines of 'Susan Stark said this was the best movie she ever saw without Tom Cruise. Therefore we decline to review this movie.' An issue that reviewed various flea-bag motels around the metro area. The reviews were based on the cleanliness of the rooms, access to fresh sheets, and the friendliness of the other guests. Scary and funny stuff. The lawsuit certainly was a drag on the publication. | ||
Detroiterbychoice Member Username: Detroiterbychoice Post Number: 95 Registered: 04-2008 |
I have 5 copies of the last issue. Mint, Full Color. $10,000 A piece. They are collectors items.  | ||
Johnlodge Member Username: Johnlodge Post Number: 8679 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote: Yes... Good lord. After all the work to bury that memory, you have to make it resurface. | ||
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj Post Number: 666 Registered: 11-2003 |
Orbit was awesome. Someone needs to digitize all the old issues. | ||
Xd_brklyn Member Username: Xd_brklyn Post Number: 433 Registered: 10-2003 |
quote:  Yep, they were always good for a laugh. | ||
Hamtragedy Member Username: Hamtragedy Post Number: 291 Registered: 10-2007 |
Fun Magazine was essentially run out after they published their interpretation of "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown" where the balloon above a cracked-out Charlie Brown said "these rocks from Franklin's block are strange." Funniest shit I ever saw. Way funnier than Jimmy Doom in the centerfold, which was just gross. Charles Schultz sued to crap out of him and Fun ceased to exist. | ||
Rugbyman Member Username: Rugbyman Post Number: 361 Registered: 06-2005 |
Seriously? That was the downfall? I always wondered why the hell it went under. Loved that rag. | ||
Downriviera Member Username: Downriviera Post Number: 962 Registered: 02-2008 |
They would have had a field day with the KK stuff. | ||
Smogboy Member Username: Smogboy Post Number: 8766 Registered: 11-2004 |
Compared to the latest stuff in the Metro Times this week about Kwame, Orbit would've absolutely ran rough shod with it. And I'm sure that Fun Magazine would've absolutely pushed the limits of taste, tact and class on the idiocy that was Kwame. Oh how we long for biting satirical political humor in this town! Heck, we barely have political cartoons anymore | ||
Malcovemagnesia Member Username: Malcovemagnesia Post Number: 109 Registered: 12-2005 |
Fun was the first place I ever heard the term "Metro Slimes", and it's stuck with me ever since. | ||
1kielsondrive Member Username: 1kielsondrive Post Number: 126 Registered: 08-2008 |
Yep, it was lot's of fun from a madman. Or, shall I say a mad staff. I have many back copies including the last ones. Gerry had a running feud with Dan from Showtime. It was hilarious. Here's Peterson at his 'Vile' best, capping on Dan and Showtime for not paying their bills. It was ongoing - a soap opera. Loved it. The humour in Orbie was the best. Sarcastic, facetious, tongue in cheek and straight out hee hawing. I loved his issue of the 'Little Ceasar Land', or something to that effect. That's a guess because I haven't looked at that copy for many years. It was a take on Mike Illitch and Little Ceasar's making an amusement park of downtown Detroit, surrounding it with a roller coaster. | ||
Eastenglishvillage Member Username: Eastenglishvillage Post Number: 4 Registered: 05-2008 |
I remember the Annual Orbit parties - what a blast! One had a MoonWalk in the middle of St. Andrews! | ||
Rjlj Member Username: Rjlj Post Number: 667 Registered: 11-2003 |
Rugbyman, you need to read the last issue to figure out their demise and who didn't pay them for ads, etc. They ripped everyone who deserved it. | ||
Texorama Member Username: Texorama Post Number: 273 Registered: 12-2006 |
Pick up one of his Detroit guides if you get the chance. They're tame, advertiser-driven publications--but if you look closely, the anarchic humor is still there. | ||
Dannyv Member Username: Dannyv Post Number: 387 Registered: 08-2007 |
Didn't Orbit or Fun sponsor a contest to win a date with the "Double Trouble Twins", those black Amazons that beat up on the white suburban woman at the downtown Fireworks during the Coleman era? | ||
Craggy Member Username: Craggy Post Number: 339 Registered: 10-2003 |
I still have my copy of the Orbit farewell issue. Some funny stuff in there. | ||
Raptor56 Member Username: Raptor56 Post Number: 475 Registered: 05-2007 |
Orbit went under in 1999 due to small advertisers lack of payment http://findarticles.com/p/arti cles/mi_hb5251/is_/ai_n2012563 8 | ||
Sailor_rick Member Username: Sailor_rick Post Number: 220 Registered: 02-2004 |
Garsh, being one of the co-founders of Fun and early editors of Orbit, I'm flattered it was remembered so fondly. Yeah, I can't believe we managed to produce Fun as long as we did (initially in an office of a machine shop in Livonia, later above a bump-shop in Royal Oak) on a regular basis considering every issue was teetering on the brink of disaster. I look back at some of the stuff we published and feel lucky we were never picketed, fire bombed, etc, etc, since we essentially printed whatever we deemed amusing to ourselves and wouldn't totally offend our advertisers which were mostly clubs and salons. Fun's genesis was from "White Noise", a true punk rock tabloid out of Detroit in the late 70's. That was the beauty of that pre "net" era of actual paper and ink. You had to "work" a bit harder for your audience (production, ads, distribution, etc) but the end results, of a genuine publication that 20 years later you can still hold in your hands and enjoy was all worth it. How many web "publications" (except this one of course) will be remembered as warmly? | ||
Django Member Username: Django Post Number: 1883 Registered: 10-2003 |
Sailor, both rags were truly enjoyed by me. As I remember the last issue of Orbit seemed like a prank. I remember thinking it was a joke or prank that they said that was their last issue. I want to say it was on April 1st or something. Can you tell me why I remember thinking their farewell issue was just a joke. It wasnt till next week when I realized it was for real. You all did a great Gonzo job. |
