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FORREST J. ACKERMAN Dying! - RichE - 12-01-2008
In FILMS IN REVIEW (where I review dvds from time to time), it is reported that FORREST J ACKERMAN, creator of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND Magazine, 91, is dying and has been brought home from the hospital at his request.
His death will be a passing for many of us who grew up reading his magazine that was 'a sense of wonder' to lovers of fantastic films and kept the memory of classic horror/scifi alive for future generations (FP Wilson dedicated "NIGHTWORLD" to him). He will be missed....
FORREST J. ACKERMAN Dying! - Bluesman Mike Lindner - 12-01-2008
RichE Wrote:In FILMS IN REVIEW (where I review dvds from time to time), it is reported that FORREST J ACKERMAN, creator of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND Magazine, 91, is dying and has been brought home from the hospital at his request.
His death will be a passing for many of us who grew up reading his magazine that was 'a sense of wonder' to lovers of fantastic films and kept the memory of classic horror/scifi alive for future generations (FP Wilson dedicated "NIGHTWORLD" to him). He will be missed....
He surely will be missed. One of the good guys.
FORREST J. ACKERMAN Dying! - Mick C. - 12-01-2008
I'm sorry to hear that. I can honestly say I would not be the person I am today if not for FJA. "Famous Monsters of Filmland" shaped my views and interests as a kid in some very beneficial ways. I met him a couple of times over the years, and he was always kind and interested in talking to fans. He not only made horror and SF movies a subject of fascination to a generation of genre writers, make-up artists, special effects technicians, producers, and directors, he was one of the guiding forces of early science fiction (or as he preferred, "Scientifiction") fandom.
He lived a long and fascinating life, but he'll be sorely missed.
FORREST J. ACKERMAN Dying! - Keith the Elder - 12-02-2008
One of the major influences of my youth. He will truly be missed.
FORREST J. ACKERMAN Dying! - RichE - 12-02-2008
Keith the Elder Wrote:One of the major influences of my youth. He will truly be missed.
One of the times I recalled is when he talked to my father, who had seen the original KING KONG with the cut spider-pit scene. Forry of course got VERY excited while Dad (who isn't a film buff) couldn't understand what all the fuss was about.
The Ackermonster was indeed the Peter Pan which lives in us all!
FORREST J. ACKERMAN Dying! - Gard - 12-04-2008
He influenced so many people it's almost impossible to estimate his influence. He made my days so much fun, and even published one of my letters when I was about ten years old. A friend of mine who moved to LA got Forrest to sign a special drawing for me, and as I look at the picture, I can't help but think of all the images he helped inspire in my mind as I set it to creating stories that might be horror movies someday. It is mainly because of him that I decided at age seven to write scripts.
A dynamite guy, from everything I heard about him!
Great to see that he's so well loved here, too.
And yeah, when I read FPW's dedication in "Night World" it sure made me smile.
Best to you, Mr. A
FORREST J. ACKERMAN Dying! - Mick C. - 12-05-2008
From Associated Press today. He'll be missed.
Forrest J Ackerman, who discovered Ray Bradbury, credited with coining term sci-fi, dead at 92
LOS ANGELES (Associated Press) -- Forrest J Ackerman, the sometime actor, literary agent, magazine editor and full-time bon vivant who discovered author Ray Bradbury and was widely credited with coining the term "sci-fi," has died. He was 92.
Ackerman died Thursday of heart failure at his Los Angeles home, said Kevin Burns, head of Prometheus Entertainment and a trustee of Ackerman's estate.
Although only marginally known to readers of mainstream literature, Ackerman was legendary in science-fiction circles as the founding editor of the pulp magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland. He was also the owner of a huge private collection of science-fiction movie and literary memorabilia that for years filled every nook and cranny of a hillside mansion overlooking Los Angeles.
"He became the Pied Piper, the spiritual leader, of everything science fiction, fantasy and horror," Burns said Friday.
Every Saturday morning that he was home, Ackerman would open up the house to anyone who wanted to view his treasures. He sold some pieces and gave others away when he moved to a smaller house in 2002, but he continued to let people visit him every Saturday for as long as his health permitted.
"My wife used to say, 'How can you let strangers into our home?' But what's the point of having a collection like this if you can't let people enjoy it?" an exuberant Ackerman told The Associated Press as he conducted a spirited tour of the mansion on his 85th birthday.
His collection once included more than 50,000 books, thousands of science-fiction magazines and such items as Bela Lugosi's cape from the 1931 film "Dracula."
Later, Ackerman gave Bradbury the money to start his own science-fiction magazine, Futuria Fantasia, and paid the author's way to New York for an authors meeting that Bradbury said helped launch his career.
"I hadn't published yet, and I met a lot of these people who encouraged me and helped me get my career started, and that was all because of Forry Ackerman," the author told the AP in 2005.
Later, as a literary agent, Ackerman represented Bradbury, Isaac Asimov and numerous other science-fiction writers.
He said the term "sci-fi" came to him in 1954 when he was listening to a car radio and heard an announcer mention the word "hi-fi."
"My dear wife said, 'Forget it, Forry, it will never catch on,'" he recalled.
Soon he was using it in Famous Monsters of Filmland, the magazine he helped found in 1958 and edited for 25 years.
Ackerman himself appeared in numerous films over the years, usually in bit parts. His credits include "Queen of Blood," "Dracula vs. Frankenstein," "Amazon Women on the Moon," "Vampirella," "Transylvania Twist," "The Howling" and the Michael Jackson "Thriller" video. More recently, he appeared in 2007's "The Dead Undead" and 2006's "The Boneyard Collection."
Ackerman returned briefly to Famous Monsters of Filmland in the 1990s, but he quickly fell out with the publisher over creative differences. He sued and was awarded a judgment of more than $375,000.
Forrest James Ackerman was born in Los Angeles on Nov. 24, 1916. He fell in love with science-fiction, he once said, when he was 9 years old and saw a magazine called Amazing Stories. He would hold onto that publication for the rest of his life.
Ackerman, who had no children, was preceded in death by his wife, Wendayne.
FORREST J. ACKERMAN Dying! - Gard - 12-06-2008
What a guy.
Kevin Burns was my prof at BU. Got me the signed sketch. He adored the work of Forrest J., and it's great to see that the Ackerman had such dedicated back up. Well done, Kevin.
Boy, did Mr. Ackerman make my childhood a lot of fun! Reading about all his interests and breakthroughs brings back a lot of memories. He helped change the world for many, many people.
Amazing.
FORREST J. ACKERMAN Dying! - RichE - 12-07-2008
Forry was indeed a child for all seasons (he used to call me 'Rick Beal" from the film "Alia's Nick Beal") and it was a enjoyable to talk with him. Back in the early 90's, my dad nearly gave him a heart attack during a phone conversation when dad said he saw the famed 'spider-pit scene' from the original King Kong when he saw it in NY. Now pop has no interest in cinema, except to watch it on tv, and couldn't understand why Forry started gibbering and getting all out bug nuts-with my father making like Spock, not understanding what all the fuss was about. Over the years the Ackermonster was kind enough to send me stuff and in return I would send him duplicates of things I owned.
I hope the torch will be passed to others who will be just as generous with love for fantasy and their fans!