the passing of a giant.....
just found out that Forrest J. Ackerman has died at the age of 92.
he was the creator of 'Famous Monsters of Filmland' magazine. it was the premier scifi/horror magazine of the pre-digital age and paved the way for such giants as Fangoria and Rue Morgue.
he is actually credited with coining the phrase "science-fiction".
probably the original uber-geek, he collected genre related memorabilia his entire life.
when asked what 10 items he would save from a fire, he answered:
10. his October 1926 copy of "Amazing Stories", the one that got him started.
9. his 1st edition of "Dracula", signed by Bram Stoker, then by Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, John Carradine and Frank Langella upon the request of Ackerman.
8. his 1 of 250 early edition of "Frankenstein", containing an autograph of Mary Shelly, as well as a leaf from her garden in Switzerland and one from her tomb in England.
7. a photo of Bela Lugosi, signed 'Count Dracula. the only time the actor agreed to do so, specifically for Ackerman.
6. the last autograph, signed as such, of Vincent Price.
5. the female robot from the film "Metropolis", which Ackerman rescued from being thrown out.
4. his complete set of his 'Famous Monsters' magazine. which, due to poor contract reading, he lost the rights to and is now owned by his former publisher.
3. Lon Chaney Sr.'s original makeup kit. currently on loan to the Museum of Natural History.
2. Lon Chaney Sr.'s tophat and fangs, from "London After Midnight". a vampire film of which all copies have been lost.
....and NUMBER ONE....the signet ring worn by Bela Lugosi as Dracula. presented to Ackerman by Lugosi himself, which Ackerman never took off.
to his last day he never stopped inviting fans into his house in California, called the Ackermansion, to talk and show off his collection of memories. you just had to call first.
he died almost penniless, but was loved by millions.
he was the creator of 'Famous Monsters of Filmland' magazine. it was the premier scifi/horror magazine of the pre-digital age and paved the way for such giants as Fangoria and Rue Morgue.
he is actually credited with coining the phrase "science-fiction".
probably the original uber-geek, he collected genre related memorabilia his entire life.
when asked what 10 items he would save from a fire, he answered:
10. his October 1926 copy of "Amazing Stories", the one that got him started.
9. his 1st edition of "Dracula", signed by Bram Stoker, then by Bela Lugosi, Christopher Lee, John Carradine and Frank Langella upon the request of Ackerman.
8. his 1 of 250 early edition of "Frankenstein", containing an autograph of Mary Shelly, as well as a leaf from her garden in Switzerland and one from her tomb in England.
7. a photo of Bela Lugosi, signed 'Count Dracula. the only time the actor agreed to do so, specifically for Ackerman.
6. the last autograph, signed as such, of Vincent Price.
5. the female robot from the film "Metropolis", which Ackerman rescued from being thrown out.
4. his complete set of his 'Famous Monsters' magazine. which, due to poor contract reading, he lost the rights to and is now owned by his former publisher.
3. Lon Chaney Sr.'s original makeup kit. currently on loan to the Museum of Natural History.
2. Lon Chaney Sr.'s tophat and fangs, from "London After Midnight". a vampire film of which all copies have been lost.
....and NUMBER ONE....the signet ring worn by Bela Lugosi as Dracula. presented to Ackerman by Lugosi himself, which Ackerman never took off.
to his last day he never stopped inviting fans into his house in California, called the Ackermansion, to talk and show off his collection of memories. you just had to call first.
he died almost penniless, but was loved by millions.