Forrey Ackerman and E-Bay

[Rath/Brendan]

This seriously wants to make me cry. I've never even met the guy or read any of his magazines, but the interviews I've seen paint him as one of the rare individuals who truly love movies (In the movie biz, that is).

In my not so humble opinion, all of his friends, family, and fans should get together and buy his stuff and then give it back to him. And he can use the money from e-bay to establish a true "Ackermansion" museum. Like Graceland, only not as facist and much cooler.

But that's me...

[Disciple]

what prompted him to sell his stuff, financial probs?

[Cruikshank]

Have the auctions actually begun yet?

[Dan Whitehead]

"This belongs in a museum" - Dr Henry "Indiana" Jones Jr.

Yes, apparently, the auctions have started. I haven't bothered to find a link, because I don't know if I'd want to see them. For one, it'd be depressing. For two, I'd probably be too tempted to bid on something horribly expensive. Even if it's just a trinket, it would be cool to own something from the Ackermansion.

But you just know most of this stuff is going to end up in the hands of wealthy private collectors who'll hide it away for their own amusement. A lot of this stuff is serious Hollywood history, and it'd be a real shame if there wasn't some concerted community effort to buy the stuff from Forry and put it in a proper Ackermuseum. Models from King Kong? Lugosi's cape? I'd love to be able to afford things like that, but more importantly - I'd like to be able to see things like that. Each time I've been to LA, I've not taken that magical mystery tour. Now it's too late.

But at the end of the day, they are only things. I've met Forry and he's such a sweet, wide-eyed ultra-geek that I'm more worried about what happens to him, than to some old memorabilia. Losing the collection is sad, losing Forry himself would be tragic.

[BillJohnson]

Well said, Dan.

[walter-konkrete]

could the public tour the ackermansion...I was under the impression tah t it was a private collection and forry didn't do tours or displays...etc.

[Smilin' Jack Ruby]

Yeah, the public could tour his house. Usually you had to have an appointment or something or know somebody, but he gave tours every Saturday for YEARS.

[walter-konkrete]

Its a shame they couldn't have arranged a traveling mueseum touar A La lucasfilm's "magic of myth" to raise money, you could arrange a killer exhibit with what he's got.

let's all hope forry is doing OK though, that's the important thing

[Disciple]

I think I get the gist- he's ill and has to pay his hospital bills. Fair enough IMO, the collection is nice but you don't take any of it with you when you die. He'll get plenty for it on Ebay.

[BillJohnson]

I went to E Bay and found his auctions. They are all posters, lobby cards, and things like that for now. From the description that I read, he is not selling off everything. That's great news. Here is what is on the listing:
A MAJOR FIGURE in the world of Sci-Fi/Fantasy for over half a century, Forrest J Ackerman is also widely considered one of the nicest and most generous individuals on this planet. He has worked as an agent, actor, editor, lecturer, archivist, researcher, and anthologist. In 1957 Forry began editing the magazine “Famous Monsters of Filmland”, a publication that changed the lives of a generation. His friends have included Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Ray Bradbury, Ray Harryhausen, Fritz Lang, Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Ed Wood... and thousands of fans around the world.

Forry’s home, the “Ackermansion” (located in Horrorwood, Karloffornia), is a museum devoted to the world of Science Fiction and Fantasy. Filled with thousands of books, original paintings, and motion picture props, the Ackermansion has been open to the public since 1950. Visitors were given the opportunity to view Bela Lugosi’s Dracula cape, animation models used in “King Kong”, Boris Karloff’s “Mummy” ring, Lon Chaney Sr.’s make-up kit, plus thousands of rare Sci-Fi books, posters, props, lobby cards, and photographs.

For personal reasons Forry has decided to close the Ackermansion and part with a significant portion of his collection. Many of these items will be auctioned on ebay over the next several months. Please join us in aiding and honoring one of the great figures in the world of Sci-Fi and Fantasy.

Once re-located, Forry looks forward to welcoming friends, both old and new, to the new Ackermuseum.

[Dan Whitehead]

BillJohnson:
Once re-located, Forry looks forward to welcoming friends, both old and new, to the new Ackermuseum.That's what I wanted to hear.