Another fallen hero :(
A few days late, but this bears commenting on.
Forrest J. Ackerman, the de facto father of sci-fi/horror fandom, passed away this week at 92. Can't say the man didn't live a long life, but I can't say much else either that this excerpt from the Miami Examiner doesn't say better:
"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."
His greatest achievement, however, was likely discovering Bradbury, author of the literary classics "Fahrenheit 451" and "The Martian Chronicles." Ackerman had placed a flyer in a Los Angeles bookstore for a science-fiction club he was founding and a teenage Bradbury showed up."
For those not in the know, Ackerman is probably best known for the magazine he published, FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND, as well as his personal collection in the "Ackermansion".
Rest in peace, good sir. You earned it.
Forrest J. Ackerman, the de facto father of sci-fi/horror fandom, passed away this week at 92. Can't say the man didn't live a long life, but I can't say much else either that this excerpt from the Miami Examiner doesn't say better:
"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."
His greatest achievement, however, was likely discovering Bradbury, author of the literary classics "Fahrenheit 451" and "The Martian Chronicles." Ackerman had placed a flyer in a Los Angeles bookstore for a science-fiction club he was founding and a teenage Bradbury showed up."
For those not in the know, Ackerman is probably best known for the magazine he published, FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND, as well as his personal collection in the "Ackermansion".
Rest in peace, good sir. You earned it.