Back in 2000, the opportunity of a lifetime fell in my lap when I was invited to cover a series of celebrity interviews being conducted in Beverly Hills by a friend who had his own talk show. I was thrilled beyond measure to say the least.
Being a film buff, I knew California was the center of the universe for movie making, and I planned to use the trip for my own purposes, and tour as many studios as I could reasonably squeeze in. I had one goal above all others though, and that was to tour the “Acker-Mansion,” home of Forrest J Ackerman, sci-fi fandom’s #1 guru, and creator of Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine.
“Uncle Forry,” as his acolytes knew him, possessed the largest collection of science fiction, horror and fantasy-related memorabilia in the known universe, and for decades he opened his home to eager young fans every Saturday for a tour. I extended my trip by one day just so I could visit the Promised Land. I’d be damned if I was going to miss out on such an opportunity.
Before I left for California, I called Forry to confirm he’d be conducting a tour the following Saturday, and I blathered something stupid when he picked up the receiver. He was cordial and friendly, asked me my name and told me I’d be arriving on his deceased brother’s birthday. He told me I was more than welcome to join the tour.
Now I had met Forry about five years prior at a horror convention in New Jersey, but it was a brief photo-op and nothing more. Being a consumer of all things fantastic, I knew who he was and what he meant to the sci-fi community. I had watched videos of the Acker-Mansion and gaped in awe at some of the priceless items in Forry’s possession.
Before the Internet, before the conventions, Forry’s magazine was the only way those who loved these films could learn more about them. He published rare stills, conducted interviews and made groan-inducing puns a beloved trademark. Perhaps most importantly, his magazine was a conduit for the next generation of filmmakers to absorb everything they possibly could about this genre they loved so well: names like John Landis, Joe Dante, Rick Baker, Steven Spielberg, Peter Jackson, Phil Tippett – the list is endless.
For us fans, Forry was a living conduit to such beloved horror icons as Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr., Vincent Price. Forry knew them all and represented several of them at various stages in their careers. He also was well acquainted with literary giants like Robert Bloch and Ray Bradbury.
Born in 1916, Forry was eight years old when he picked up a copy of “Amazing Stories” magazine, and he was hooked from that moment on. This was a guy who saw “Metropolis” in the theater in 1927, and had a replica of the robot from the film in his living room.
By 2000, Forry was a spry 84 years of age. His wife had passed on ten years earlier, and they had no children, but he never wanted for company, and it was obvious conducting these tours and meeting fans at conventions was keeping him young.
I arrived at his home in the Los Feliz section of Los Angeles about 15 minutes before start time. It was a beautiful section of town, located in the hills north of L.A., providing a beautiful view of the city.
I knew not to ring any bells, that Forry would summon us via intercom at the appointed time. As I waited several people appeared, and one man told me this was the second time he and his son were visiting. For me, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, I told him.
At 11:00, Forry announced we were welcome to enter the mansion. He made some bad pun and a smile ran across my face. This was it! It’s hard to convey to those who have no affinity for these films just how exciting this was for me, and how meaningful. Forry was welcoming, friendly and “on,” when he greeted us.
How many thousands of times he gave this tour, I couldn’t begin to imagine. He mustered up as much enthusiasm as if it were the first time. Knowing the story of Forry’s life and how he became acquainted with the wonder of science fiction, I peppered him with a question that I knew would set him off on a great story. I knew the story. I wanted to hear it from his lips.
As he conducted us through the labyrinth of rooms I snapped countless photos – Bela Lugosi’s cape, an autographed photo from Boris Karloff, actual puppets from the original King Kong. Each room held more treasures than the last, and the only emotion I can use to describe myself at that moment was giddy.
When the tour was over Forry sat us down in what I assume what his living room. We sat on the floor and he regaled us with more stories and opened the floor up to questions. He was especially engaging with children. During this informal chat he noted his desire to become the “George Burns” of science fiction, when he turned 100.
Unfortunately, Forry passed away in 2008, at the age of 92, eight years shy of his dream. Two years after my tour, Forry sold the Acker-Mansion and downsized to a smaller condominium. But he still entertained fans for as long as his health allowed, and donated some of his memorabilia to the Science Fiction Museum in Seattle.
Forry may not have had any heirs in the conventional sense but thousands upon thousands of us “Monsterkids” consider him our patriarch. His legacy cannot be diminished or easily encapsulated, and he was an inspiration to many of the creative geniuses whose films enthrall us today. Beyond all that, he was a kind, generous man who shared his love of the fantastic with anyone who felt as he
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