In 1962, Samuel K. Rubin founded 8mm Collector, the predecessor to Classic Images, a widely respected publication in the vintage film hobby that celebrates the golden age of Hollywood. He was instrumental in beginning the "vintage film fan movement," founding The Society for Cinephiles, as well as organizing the Cinecon vintage film conventions.

This is simultaneously a history of the vintage film hobby, a history of Classic Images, and a memoir of Rubin's forty years in the center of the hobby's world. Rubin has drawn from his personal experiences with industry professionals from the silent and early sound era, and from his service during the more than 320 issues of Classic Images published since that magazine's inception. The book covers the birth of 8mm Collector and includes reviews of the classic films, reviews of books and videos of the early screen and profiles of classic film industry personalities. Classic Images still provides a medium for film enthusiasts to share their experiences with different vendors, buy and sell movie memorabilia, and generally covers the entire movie industry from the viewpoint of the collector.