Forrest J Ackerman
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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Forrest J Ackerman (November 24, 1916 - December 4, 2008) was an American collector of science fiction books and movie memorabilia and a science fiction fan. Ackerman, known as "Forry" or "4e" or "4SJ", was influential not only in the formation, organization, and spread of science fiction fandom, but had long also been a key figure in the wider cultural acceptance of science fiction as a literary, art and film genre. Ackerman is also remembered as the editor-writer of the magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland, as well as for being an occasional author, actor, producer (Vampirella), and literary agent.
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Career
Ackerman or, "Mr. Science Fiction", saw his first "imagi-movie" in 1922 (One Glorious Day), purchased his first science fiction magazine, Amazing Stories, in 1926, created The Boys' Scientifiction Club in 1930 ("girl-fans were as rare as unicorn's horns in those days"), contributed to both of the first science fiction fanzines, The Time Traveller, and the Science Fiction Magazine, put out and edited by Shuster & Siegel of Superman fame, in 1932, and by 1933 had 127 correspondents around the world. He attended the 1st World Science Fiction Convention in 1939, where he wore the first "futuristicostume" (designed and created by Myrtle R. Douglas) and sparked fan costuming, the latest incarnation of which is cosplay. He attended every Worldcon but two thereafter during his lifetime. Ackerman invited Ray Bradbury to attend the now legendary Clifton’s Cafeteria Science Fiction Club, where Ray met the writers Robert A. Heinlein, Emil Petaja, Fredric Brown, Henry Kuttner, Leigh Brackett, and Jack Williamson. With $90 from Forrest, Bradbury launched a fanzine, Futuria Fantasia, in 1939.
Ackerman helped found the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society, a prominent regional organization in science fiction fandom, as well as the National Fantasy Fan Federation (N3F). He also provided publishing assistance in the early days of the Daughters of Bilitis, and (as the author of several lesbian novels under the name "Laurajean Ermayne") was dubbed an "honorary lesbian" at a DOB party. He was personally acquainted with many twentieth-century writers of science fiction. He was noted for having amassed an extremely large and complete collection of science fiction, fantasy and horror film memorabilia, which was, until 2002, maintained in a remarkable home/museum known as the 18-room "Ackermansion" in the Los Feliz district of Los Angeles, filled with 300,000 books and pieces of movie memorabilia. He entertained approximately 50,000 fans at open houses beginning in 1951, including 186 fans and professionals in one memorable night, including astronaut Buzz Aldrin. Ackerman was a board member of the Seattle Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame, where many items of his own collection are displayed. Ackerman received a unique 1953 Hugo Award for "#1 Fan Personality" which some might say is the equivalent of the present-day Hugo Award for Best Fan Writer.
Ackerman was credited with nurturing and even inspiring the careers of several early contemporaries and represented over 200 authors of science fiction and fantasy.
Ackerman had 50 stories published, including collaborations with A. E. van Vogt, Francis Flagg, Robert A. W. Lowndes, Marion Zimmer Bradley, Donald Wollheim and Catherine Moore and the world's shortest — one letter of the alphabet. His stories have been translated into six languages. Ackerman named the sexy comic-book character Vampirella and wrote the origin story for the comic.
Ackerman was fluent in the international language Esperanto, and claims to have walked down Hollywood Boulevard arm-in-arm with Leo G. Carroll singing La Espero, the hymn of Esperanto.
Through his magazine, Famous Monsters of Filmland (1958–1983), Forrest J Ackerman introduced the history of the science fiction, fantasy and horror film genres to a generation of young readers. At a time when most movie-related publications glorified the stars in front of the camera, "Uncle Forry", as he was referred to by many of his fans, promoted the behind-the-scenes artists involved in the magic of movies. In this way Ackerman provided inspiration to many who would later become successful artists, including Peter Jackson, Steven Spielberg, Tim Burton, Stephen King, Penn & Teller, Billy Bob Thornton, Gene Simmons (of the band Kiss), Rick Baker, George Lucas, Danny Elfman, Frank Darabont, John Landis and countless other writers, directors, artists and craftsmen.
In the 1960s, Ackerman organized the publication of an English translation in the U.S. of the German science fiction series Perry Rhodan, the longest science fiction series in history. These were published by Ace Books from 1969 through 1977. Ackerman's German-speaking wife Wendayne ("Wendy") did most of the translation. The American books were issued with varying frequency from one to as many as four per month. Ackerman also used the paperback series to promote science fiction short stories, including his own on occasion. These "magabooks" or "bookazines" also included a film review section, known as "Scientifilm World", and letters from readers. The American series came to an end when the management of Ace changed and the new management decided that the series was too juvenile for their taste. The last Ace issue was #118, which corresponded to German issue #126 as some of the Ace editions contained two of the German issues, and three of the German issues had been skipped. Forry later published translations of German issues #127 through #145 on his own under the Master Publications imprint. The original German series continues today and passed issue #2400 in 2007.
He also contributed to film magazines from all around the world, including Spanish speaking La Cosa: Cine Fantástico magazine, from Argentina, where he had a monthly column for over four years.
Ackerman said, "I aim at hitting 100 and becoming the George Burns of science fiction". His health, however, had been failing, and there were several premature reports of his death as of November 6, 2008. These reports originated from a news article on the British Fantasy Society website; a correction has since been made. He last logged in to his Myspace page on March 19, 2008.
Until his death on December 4, 2008, Ackerman lived in his "Acker-mini-mansion" in Hollywood where he entertained and inspired fans weekly with his amazing collection of memorabilia and priceless stories of the golden age of art, filmmaking, literature and all things fantastical.
Appearances in film, TV and music
In 1961, Ackerman narrated the record "Music for Robots" created by Frank Allison Coe. The cover featured Forrest Ackerman's face superimposed on the movie robot Tobor the Great. The record was reissued on CD in 2005.
Ackerman himself appeared as a character in the movie Dead Alive, The Vampire Affair by David McDaniel (a novel in the Man from U.N.C.L.E. series), and Philip José Farmer's novel Blown. A character based on Ackerman, and his "Ackermansion", appears in the Niven/Pournelle collaboration Fallen Angels. He has a cameo role, apparently as himself, in The Wizard of Speed and Time, perusing and buying film memorabilia and comic books at a garage sale.
A life-long fan of science fiction "B-movies", Ackerman had cameos in over 210 films, including bit parts in many monster movies (The Howling, Innocent Blood, Return of the Living Dead Part II), more traditional "imagi-movies" (The Power, The Time Travelers, Future War), spoofs (Amazon Women on the Moon, Attack of the 60 Foot Centerfold), and at least one major music video (Michael Jackson's Thriller). Thus, his Bacon number is 2.
Ackerman appeared extensively on-screen discussing his life and the history of science fiction fandom in the 2006 documentary film Finding the Future.
In 2007, Roadhouse Films of Canada released a documentary titled 'Famous Monster: Forrest J Ackerman' which took a fast-paced, colorful look at the life of science fiction's greatest fan. The documentary is currently only available on DVD in the UK, but airs regularly on the BRAVO channel.
Writing
Known pseudonyms
(This is not a complete list)
Weaver Wright, Spencer Strong, Walter Chinwell, Allis Villette, Alus Kerlay, Laurajean Ermayne, Alden Lorraine, J. Forrester Eckman, Fisher Trentworth, SF Balboa, Hubert G. Wells, Jacues De Forest Erman, Jone Lee Heard, Sgt. Ack-Ack, and Dr. Acula. In collaboration with others: Jacques de Forrest Erman (with Wilfred Owen Morley), Geoffrey Giles (with Walter Gillings);
Non-fiction
- A Reference Guide to American Science Fiction Films
- The Frankenscience Monster, 1969, paperback, Ace Books #25130
- Forrest J Ackerman's Worlds of Science Fiction
- Famous Forrie Fotos: Over 70 Years of Ackermemories, 117pp, trade paperback, 2001, Sense of Wonder Press, James A. Rock & Co., Publishers
- Mr. Monster's Movie Gold, A Treasure-Trove Of Imagi-Movies
- Worlds of Tomorrow: the Amazing Universe of Science Fiction Art w/Brad Linaweaver. ISBN 188805493X. 178pp. 2004 Collectors Press
- Lon of 1000 Faces
- Famous Monster of Filmland #1: An encyclopedia of the first 50 issues
- Famous Monster of Filmland #2: An encyclopedia of issue 50-100
- Metropolis by Thea von Harbou - intro and "stillustration" by FJ Ackerman
Anthologies
- Rainbow Fantasia: 35 Spectrumatic Tales of Wonder, 559pp., 2001, hardbound and trade paperback, Sense of Wonder Press, James A. Rock & Co., Publishers
- Science Fiction Worlds of Forrest J. Ackerman
- Best Science Fiction for 1973
- The Gernsback Awards Vol. 1, 1926
- Gosh! Wow! (Sense of Wonder) Science Fiction'"
- Reel futures
- I, Vampire: Interviews with the Undead
- Ackermanthology: Millennium Edition: 65 Astonishing Rediscovered Sci-Fi Shorts, Sense of Wonder Press, James A. Rock & Co., Publishers)
- Womanthology, (w/Pam Keesey) 352pp, hardbound and trade paperback, 2003, Sense of Wonder Press, James A. Rock & Co., Publishers
- Martianthology (ed.by Anne Hardin), 266pp, hardbound and trade paperback, 2003, Sense of Wonder Press, James A. Rock & Co., Publishers
- Film Futures
- Expanded Science Fiction Worlds of Forrest J Ackerman and Friends, PLUS, 205pp, hardbound and trade paperback, 2002, Sense of Wonder Press, James A. Rock & Co., Publishers
- Dr. Acula's Thrilling Tales of the Uncanny, xiv+267pp. Trade Paper, Sense of Woder Press, James A. Rock & Co., Publishers.
Short stories
- “Nyusa, Nymph of Darkness “
- “The Shortest Story Ever Told “
- “A Martian Oddity”
- “Earth's Lucky Day “
- “The Record “
- “Micro Man “
- “Tarzan and the Golden Loin “
- “Dhactwhu!-Remember? “
- “Kiki”
- “The Mute Question”
- “Atoms and Stars”
- “The Lady Takes a Powder”
- “Sabina of the White Cylinder”
- “What an Idea!”
- “Death Rides the Spaceways”
- “Dwellers in the Dust”
- “Burn Witch, Burn”
- “Yvala”
- “The Girl Who Wasn't There”
- “Count Down to Doom “
- “Time to Change “
- “And Then the Cover Was Bare”
- “The Atomic Monument”
- “Letter to an Angel”
- “The Man Who Was Thirsty “
- “The Radclyffe Effect”
- “Cosmic Report Card: Earth”
- “Great Gog's Grave”
- “The Naughty Venuzian”
Awards
- Hugo Award: Number 1 Fan Personality, 1953
- Inducted to the Monster Kid Hall Of Fame at The Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards
- Bram Stoker Award for Lifetime Achievement, 1997
