Welcome Back to another episode of Behind the Print, in this episode, we’re joined by Pam Crawford, Editor of the Deanzine, alongside Assistant Editor Dorothy Schultz, columnist Kip Brown, and Marcus Winslow, cousin of THE James Dean. The team shares how a small-town publication with a global following continues to honor one of Hollywood’s most enduring icons. From firsthand family memories to international fan connections, they reveal how The Deanzine serves as both a historical archive and a living community for James Dean enthusiasts around the world.

For marketing professionals, small business owners, graphic designers, and print enthusiasts, this conversation highlights the power of niche publishing and the lasting impact of high quality print. What began as a modest black and white newsletter has grown into a polished, professionally printed magazine that connects readers from Indiana to Japan. The Deanzine is more than a fan publication. It is a testament to how thoughtful storytelling, community engagement, and strategic use of print can preserve a legacy and unite generations.

Below, you’ll find the transcript of our conversation, edited for clarity to ensure easy reading. If you want the full, authentic experience, make sure to check out the video attached below.

12 min read

Note: This edit is based only on the transcript you provided in this session. No prior transcripts were used.

Connor: Welcome back to the Behind the Print Podcast, where we feature industry leaders and uncover the creative minds and businesses within the world of professional printing. Our mission is to provide inspiring, actionable resources that elevate your business projects and accelerate your journey to excellence and profit in print.

Joining me today is Pam Crawford, Editor of The Deanzine; Dorothy Schultz, Assistant Editor; Kip Brown, columnist; and Marcus Winslow, cousin of James Dean. Welcome to the podcast.

Kip: Thank you. Very much.

Connor: Marcus, you are James Dean’s first cousin, and I understand he lived in your home from the time he was nine until he graduated high school. Can you tell us how that came about?

Marcus: Jim and his parents were living in California when his mother became ill with cancer and passed away. His dad wasn’t able to care for him on his own, so he sent him back to Fairmount to live with his sister, my mother. At the time, no one really knew how long he would stay.

Then World War II broke out, and his dad was drafted into the service. By the time he got out in 1945, Jim had been with us for years. My mom and dad treated him like one of their own. He graduated from Fairmount High School in 1949. After that, he went back to California with the intention of spending time with his father, but that did not last long.

It wasn’t long before he headed to New York, where television work was really taking off. From there, the rest is history.

Connor: Is this the same home where you live now?

Marcus: Yes. He grew up right here in this house. He was here from 1940 to 1949 and came back for several visits afterward.

Connor: What was James Dean like off the screen?

“He grew up right here in this house. He was here from 1940 to 1949 and came back for several visits afterward.”

Marcus: At the time, he was just like any other kid. He liked cars and motorcycles. Motorcycles were probably his favorite. He helped my dad on the farm with whatever needed to be done. He was just an all American boy.

He considered my mom and dad his second parents. Since he lost his mother at such a young age, he was especially close to my mom. They were very close.

Connor: Pam, tell us a little about yourself and your role with The Deanzine.

Pam: I’m Pam Crawford from Hot Springs, Arkansas. In 2003, I was recruited by another woman to help with The Deanzine. She quit two weeks later, and I became editor.

It has been quite a journey. Through this magazine, I have met people all over the world. We have built friendships across countries and cultures. It truly feels like a big Dean family, and Marcus is like the CEO of that family.

“At the time, he was just like any other kid. He liked cars and motorcycles. Motorcycles were probably his favorite. He helped my dad on the farm with whatever needed to be done. He was just an all American boy.”

Connor: What can you tell us about your audience?

Pam: Most of our readers are fans who join the James Dean fan club. We have members from nearly every country you can think of, including Japan, Australia, and Germany. Just yesterday, we had four people from Germany here for the James Dean Memorial Service.

They treasure James Dean for his acting, his philosophy, and his way of life. But we also have readers who are passionate about the 1950s, classic cars, and motorcycles. Our audience includes dentists, doctors, writers, and everyday people. It is a very wide and diverse community.

Connor: That is a far reaching audience.

Pam: It really is. Jimmy is especially important to the Japanese people. We have many Japanese readers who subscribe and travel here to Fairmount. They come from all over the world.

Connor: What niche does The Deanzine serve?

Pam: We provide a place where Jimmy can be remembered and where his legacy continues. But just as important, we create a space for fans to connect with each other.

People send articles from around the world. They write their own pieces or share articles they find in foreign magazines and newspapers. We also keep readers updated on events that honor James Dean. Something happens in the James Dean world every single day. I would imagine his name is mentioned somewhere in the world every hour.

Connor: How do you gather material for the magazine?

Pam: Some of it we write ourselves. Kip and Dorothy each write columns, and I contribute regularly. But we rely heavily on our readers. They are always on the lookout. Almost every day, someone messages me to say they heard something on the radio or found an article.

When people visit Fairmount, they often want to share their experiences. It is a unique and magical town. It still looks much like it did in the 1950s. Visitors want to tell that story, and they usually contact us at The Deanzine.

“We provide a place where Jimmy can be remembered and where his legacy continues. But just as important, we create a space for fans to connect with each other.”

Connor: Dorothy, what do you do as assistant editor?

Dorothy: Pam asked me to serve as assistant editor, so I review the publication and help with editing. I also co write a column with the president of the museum. We highlight new additions to the museum and upcoming events.

We just had our James Dean Festival, so the next issue will cover that extensively. It is wonderful to share what is happening here in Fairmount with fans around the world, especially those who cannot travel here. We want them to feel like they are still part of it.

Connor: Kip, you have been writing your column, West Coasting with Kip Brown, since 2000. What inspired it?

Kip: Someone suggested at a dinner at the James Dean Gallery that I should write a column. I thought about it and started in the winter 2000 issue.

I cover happenings on the West Coast and also write about people in the Dean world who have passed away, both famous and not so famous. It is styled like an old Hollywood column. Depending on space, it might be one page or three.

I also write for the James Dean Gallery Newsletter, so I have the West Coast covered.

Connor: I hear you are writing a book about James Dean.

Kip: I have been working on it for about 30 years. It is never ending. It is like six degrees of Kevin Bacon, but six degrees of James Dean. Everything connected to him, from Shakespeare’s time to today, goes into the book. It may never truly be complete, but I keep adding to it.

Connor: When it is finished, we would love to help you print it.

Kip: I will be self publishing, so that is good to hear.

Connor: Speaking of print, how has print elevated The Deanzine?

Pam: Tremendously. Before I started, it was a black and white publication, essentially copied on a machine. Then Marcus purchased a commercial color printer for us. When I took over, I was printing it myself at home in color, which was very time consuming.

After about ten years, the printer wore out. We looked into commercial printing, and that changed everything. It made the magazine look more polished and professional. It now feels like a true magazine you would see on a store shelf.

We wanted it to be a real magazine, and print helped us achieve that.

Connor: I have a couple issues here, and they look fantastic.

“We looked into commercial printing, and that changed everything. It made the magazine look more polished and professional. It now feels like a true magazine you would see on a store shelf.”

Pam: Thank you. It truly elevated the publication.

Connor: Do you have a favorite James Dean performance?

Pam: East of Eden. Many of his classmates have said that if you want to know who James Dean really was, watch East of Eden.

Marcus: East of Eden is my favorite too. We saw it in the theater before it opened to the public. It did not seem like he was acting. It just seemed like Jim.

Dorothy: I agree. The raw emotion in East of Eden is unmatched.

Kip: I love them all, but Rebel Without a Cause is special to me. I am from Los Angeles, and they filmed it all around town. Before the internet, I made it a hobby to track down the locations. It was the first film of his that I saw, and I still love it.

Connor: If you had a free day to spend however you liked, how would you spend it?

Pam: Right here on this farm. It is beautiful.

Dorothy: Probably just like today. This is my day off, and I am spending it here.

Kip: Fairmount is my home away from home. I love it here.

Connor: It sounds like the town still retains its 1950s charm.

Dorothy: It does. It is refreshing.

Pam: If you are a James Dean fan, there is always something to see. There are two James Dean institutions in town, the cemetery and grave site in nearby Marion, and a beautiful birth site memorial on the land where he was born. There are murals and billboards throughout town. Fairmount treasures him, and it makes it a wonderful place for fans to visit.

Connor: How can listeners get in touch with you?

Pam: The best way is by email at pjcrawford@suddenlink.net. You can also write to the fan club at P.O. Box 82, Fairmount, Indiana 46928. We are on Facebook under James Dean Remembered Fan Club. You can also contact the James Dean Museum and the James Dean Gallery.

Connor: That wraps up another episode of Behind the Print. Thank you all for joining us.

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