MATINEE IDLE 2026 SUBSCRIPTION INFO: 

The 5th and final year of The Matinee Idle print edition is here. That’s right, it’s gold watch time. I’m going into retirement. If you’ve watched from the sidelines in years past, this is your last shot to get in on the fun. The business part is as follows…

Your 2026 subscription to The Matinee Idle can be purchased for a $30 payment via PayPal, Venmo, or American currency paid in person. Said subscription includes 4 issues mailed weekly chock full of air times, reviews, and artwork by yours truly (as well as a few guest stars). Paypal payments can be directed to jheimerillustration@gmail.com. Venmo payments go to @James-Heimer. Be sure to include your name and mailing address in the notes field. Feel free to email me with any questions.

The first issue ships 9/25 and covers the first week of the month. Subscriptions are on a rolling basis (if you subscribe late in the run, all previous issues will be included in your first shipment). Listings and air times are based on channels available in the Philadelphia area via digital "over the air" antenna. Channels and air times may vary by region but I still encourage folks outside Philly to subscribe. Issues will be shipped by USPS. I'm stuffing these in a stamped envelope and sticking them in the mailbox. No tracking.

LET’S WATCH MOVIES ON TEEVEE!

The Matinee Idle is a print newsletter published in weekly installments every October. Spurred on by my love of mid 20th century horror films and distaste for streaming, I collate broadcast television listings into a handy guide that features capsule reviews and artwork informed by the aesthetics of drive-in newspaper ads, punk fanzines, and the kind of newsletter an elderly relative might receive if they indulged in model railroads or stamp collecting. The publication is then reproduced on a photocopier and delivered to a devoted list of subscribers via postal mail. The month culminates with an in person event in which I distribute the final issue of the year and talk movies while sitting in a cardboard newspaper stand. Subscriptions open every September. Some samples of past issues and movie ads can be seen in the gallery below.

Horror expert Scabigail Van Bruisen identifies readers’ half remembered childhood terrors while occasionally providing horoscopes and cocktail recipes. To submit your own “Dear Scabby” letter, send a brief description of the film you are trying to identify to dearscabbymi@gmail.com. Should the expert fail to fulfill your query, you may be the recipient of an “I Stumped Scabby” pinback button.

OFF-SEASON VIEWING: The channels below are available via “over-the-air” antenna broadcast in the Philadelphia metro area. Check with your television provider for details and availability.

MeTV (2): Svengoolie hosts a classic creature feature every Saturday at 8pm. His increasingly frustrating sidekicks have been taking over from time to time but it is what it is.

Retro TV (2.5): An hourlong block of anthology & serial sci-fi and mystery shows airs Monday - Saturday at 2pm including Flash Gordon, Suspense, Tales of Tomorrow and the like. Off Beat Cinema airs Fridays at 4am and 3pm. Retro also offers a livestream through their website.

Comet (17.4): 80’s staples, Tales from the Dark Side & Friday the 13th: The Series run in marathon format at 11am on Saturdays and Sundays respectively.

Movies! (29.2): The “Friday Night Frights” movie package runs infrequently but if you’re in luck, you can catch a themed double or triple feature at 8pm on Fridays.

TUTV (cable): Temple University’s cable access channel shows a horror hosted feature every Friday and Saturday at 1:30pm and again at 9:30pm. You can also livestream it on their website here.