scientifilm n.

a science fiction movie

Now chiefly historical.

  • 1932 F. J. Ackerman in Astounding Stories Nov. 280/2 page image Forrest J. Ackerman

    There are stf. puzzles with prizes; biographies and autobiographies of famous writers; the latest news on scientifilms; [etc.].

  • 1935 F. J. Ackerman Scientifilm News in Wonder Stories Oct. 637/2 (letter) page image Forrest J. Ackerman bibliography

    You will forgive me if the scientifilm-ending to ‘Mystery of the -/-’ seemed obvious to me before completing the story, being a Scientificinemologist by profession.

  • 1936 M. Weisinger Thrilling Wonder Stories Aug. 112/2 (heading) page image Mort Weisinger bibliography

    Scientifilm Review

  • 1939 The World's Fair Science Fiction Convention in Thrilling Wonder Stories Aug. 117 (advt.) page image

    There will be a showing of Metropolis, the greatest scientifilm ever made.

  • 1954 S. Moskowitz Immortal Storm 13 Sam Moskowitz

    The first two numbers of The Time Traveller, like its announcing circular, were mimeographed. The main feature of the initial issue was a complete list of extant fantastic moving pictures (or, as they have come to be known, "scientifilms") contributed by Forrest J. Ackerman of California.

  • 1954 R. A. Madle Inside Science Fiction in Future Science Fiction June 108/1

    A prominent producer is seriously contemplating the works of A. E. van Vogt as possible material for his forthcoming scientifilm. Also under consideration by this same individual is that ancient classic from the Spring, 1928 Amazing Quarterly, ‘The Nth Man’, by Homer Eon Flint.

  • 1957 F. J. Ackerman Scientifilm Marquee in Imaginative Tales July 122/1 Forrest J. Ackerman

    A sci-fi fan, teenage variety, will be portrayed on the screen in American-International’s filmization of ‘The Cosmic Frame’ by Paul W. Fairman. This is the second scientifilm sale for Fairman, whose ‘Deadly City’ was filmed as Target—Earth!

  • 1959 R. Eney Fancyclopedia II 143 Dick Eney bibliography

    A prefix which should indicate only ‘scientific’ (as in ‘scientifiction’) but in use may mean ‘science-fictional’ (as ‘scientifilm’) or even designate something pertaining to fandom.


Research requirements

antedating 1932

Earliest cite

F. J. Ackerman in Astounding Stories

Research History
Jeff Prucher submitted a 1939 cite from an advertisement in Thrilling Wonder Stories.
Fred Galvin submitted cites from a 1957 column "Scientifilm Marquee" by Forrest J. Ackermann.
Fred Galvin submitted a 1954 cite from a column "Inside Science Fiction" by Robert A. Madle.
Fred Galvin submitted a 1936 cite from the title of a column in Thrilling Wonder Stories.
Fred Galvin submitted a 1959 cite from Richard Eney's "Fancyclopedia II".
Fred Galvin submitted a 1935 cite from a letter by Forrest J. Ackermann in Wonder Stories, October 1935.
Fred Galvin submitted a 1954 cite from Sam Moskowitz's, "The Immortal Storm"
Fred Galvin submitted a 1932 cite from a letter by Ackermann in Astounding Stories, November 1932

This term appears to have fallen out of use. Besides antedatings, we would be interested to see any cites (particularly from sources other than Ackerman) dating from after 1959

Last modified 2020-12-16 04:08:47
In the compilation of some entries, HDSF has drawn extensively on corresponding entries in OED.