In
The Beginning…
A History of Amber Tamblyn Online.com
Times
have changed and so has Amber Tamblyn Online. In May 2006 this website will
celebrate its 5th anniversary. Five
years is a long time in website years and I cannot even believe its been
that
long. Recently things have
calmed
down a bit for me and I’ve had some time to reflect on why I started Amber
Tamblyn Online all those years ago. Not only have we lasted because Amber’s
career continues to flourish, but because I am constantly disappointed when
I go
to my favorite websites only to find they are no longer there.
Its very expensive and time consuming to run a website and you must
be
very dedicated. It also helps
to
have an interesting subject…
You
can read about why I chose Amber Tamblyn under the ‘Why Amber’ section of
this site. Even now I am still amazed at what she has accomplished in such a
short time. In five years Amber has gone from daytime to primetime to
film.
If that was her goal she more than met everyone’s expectations. So
many
people leave daytime and don’t find the success Amber has. A combination of
luck, talent, drive, dedication and hard work has paid off for her. She went
from guest starring roles to her own prime time series Joan of Arcadia to
feature films such as ‘Sisterhood’. Amber celebrated her 21st
birthday and published two more poetry books! She has worked nonstop and her
career keeps getting hotter with no end in site.
Amber has much to be proud of and it’s hard to believe it’s been more
than ten years since she was introduced to audiences.
Back
in May of 2001 I was posting Amber information on various web sites.
It never even occurred to me to start my own site.
There were plenty of Amber Tamblyn and General Hospital web sites
with
pictures, news and upcoming event details.
Then something happened…Amber announced she was leaving the show
after
seven years. Although it was sad it was also the perfect time for her
to
move on. Almost immediately the
Amber sites disappeared. You could always find news on Amber’s official
website, (I would have never known Amber appeared in the special addition of
the
Twin Peaks DVD if someone hadn’t posted it in 2002.
I tried to go to the Twin Peaks event but it turned out Amber
couldn’t
make it anyway.) but I was still curious to find out more. I was really
looking
for screen captures, video and in-depth information.
It
was only when I went back through my extensive soap magazine and tape
collection
did I realize how much information about her I really had. I learned through
the
GH fan club weekend that Amber was funny and had a talent to host
events.
She was very entertaining!
There
was so much soap press about Amber even I was surprised.
Back then it was so hard to find information about Amber. There were
only
a few photos circling the net.
Wireimage
was just starting and only had a few pictures. You had to tape her guest
starring roles off TV. (I had to find someone who had Showtime in order to
tape
Ten Minutes Older.) Then I had
to
hook up the VCR to the computer to make screen captures. It took forever.
Today
most of Amber’s ‘rare’ appearances are on DVD!
Amber
Tamblyn Online is going into its fifth year.
I now have the help, support and encouragement of more people than I
did
before. I have seen both the
good
and bad side of fan sites and strive to be part of the good.
I was very upset to learn a webmaster for an Oscar nominated actress
has
to sift through nasty e-mails because some ‘fans’ think you cannot criticize
your subject. And another shut down their site because their heart was no
longer
in it after getting harassed by ‘fans’ that think their site should be the
only site. I have had some rude (to say the least) reactions when I tell
people
I run a fan site for Amber Tamblyn.
I
have had people ask why do I bother, spend all that money, do all that work?
I
once ran a fan site for a daytime actress who did come to my site and liked
it.
It was nice, but that’s not why I do it. I have a great sense of pride and accomplishment at the
hard
work I have done. It brings me
closer to people when they help me with the site.
I have had good reactions too. Three took place far from home in
other
states. Once in a restaurant, I heard Amber’s name mentioned by the person
sitting in the booth behind me. She didn’t know much about Amber except that
she was Russ Tamblyn’s daughter.
She
had seen her in something and was telling her friend she was impressed by
Amber’s performance. I turned around and told her about my site and she was
very surprised that someone would take time to run a fan site for an actor
they
have no contact with. Another
time
I was getting my nails done when GH came on in the salon and someone
mentioned
they liked the first Emily (Amber) better.
So I had another opportunity to tell people about my site.
I have had many surprising and good conversations with co-workers,
students and teachers. Amber is a very good subject for a media or
communications
class!
Sometimes
you have to take a step back to see clearly. I am in a better place than I
was
five years ago. I have a
healthier
approach to this site and life in general.
I love what I do and I’m excited and proud of Amber Tamblyn
Online.
Here’s
to another five years.
Webmaster
Amber
Tamblyn Online
January
2006
