Forrest J Ackerman is a god of sci-fi geeks (and this is a good thing), but some of you might be asking who is that? Although you may not know it, you probably already know who Forrest Ackerman is.

Forrest J Ackerman has helped shape the world of science fiction that we enjoy to this day. He was around from the beginning of scientifiction, which later became science fiction, and he is the one who coined the often controversial term sci-fi. As an author, editor, publisher, literary agent, actor and above all fan Mr. Ackerman has been a part of nearly every aspect of science fiction. He founded the publication Famous Monsters of Filmland, knew great actors like Vincent Price and Bela Lugosi (two of my personal favorites) and was boyhood friends with Ray Bradbury and Ray Harryhausen. As an actor himself he has acted in some sixty films. So even though you may not recall the name Forrest J Ackerman, but as a science fiction fan yourself you most likely have been influenced, inspired or affected by him in one way or another. As a sci-fi fan he has amassed a collection of film memorabilia so great it fills his 18 room mansion in Hollywood, California or as Forry would say "Horrorwood, Karloffornia".

A few years ago while visiting California for the first ever Farscape convention I had the opportunity to visit Mr. Ackerman's home and see his collection first hand. As a huge science fiction fan myself, (I had even found myself a job working for one of the country's leading sci-fi collectibles companies at the time just to be doing something I was passionate about) this visit was an opportunity of a life time for me.

I traveled across country with a coworker and fellow fan to go to the Farscape convention where I got to meet a fellow collector from an online group. Then I was able meet up with a very dear friend from high school who surprised me at the convention with a gift of Star Trek posters which came directly from the person who had designed them. My high school friend is now living in Los Angeles and working as a story board artist. That evening she took us to a little cafe which had a decidedly sci-fi theme (wish I could remember the name). One of the walls was covered with a view screen similar to that on Star Trek: The Next Generation which was larger than life and most of the other tables and booths each had a different theme. There was even a display case full of sci-fi toys and collectibles -- my kind of place indeed! Then the next day we went to Forry's house in Griffith Park. It certainly was one science fiction filled weekend!

At that time Mr. Ackerman was giving free guided tours of his mansion every Saturday that he was home. (Mr. Ackerman no longer owns his wonderful collection. Both it and his Ackermansion have been put up for sale to help pay for his legal battle against former business associate, Ray Ferry for trademark infringement of the term Dr. Acula. While Forry may have won the first battle the legal war continues. This truly is a sad day for sci-fi fans.) When we first arrived at the house we had to wait outside until great by the very friendly and personable Forry Ackerman. Our group consisted of around twenty people, young, old and everything in between. And just in case you thought you were at the wrong house there was a Lincoln Continental parked in the driveway with a SCI FI license plate.

As the tour began we were lead around to the back of the house where we entered below street level, although it was no really a basement. This entire level of the house , every room, every inch, was filled with science fiction books, magazines and vintage movie posters that FJA had collected through the years. Standing in that great library you just knew that every single one of the volumes had been read (unlike my shelves which are filled with 'need-to-be-read' books). Walking through the stacks we paused a moment as Forry pulled out a copy of Amazing Stories form 1926. This is the one that started it all. When a very young Forry read his first scientifiction story in those pages he fell in love with a then budding genre.

To the left there was a shelf full of masks from many different movies like Frankenstein, Star Wars, Enemy Mine and others. There was even a Franken-Forry in the center of them all. Just around the corner we entered a most spectacular roomed filled with actual props, models and miniatures from such films as This Island Earth, War of the Worlds, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, Earth Vs The Flying Saucers, King Kong and many, many more. (I was in sci-fi heaven.) There was a wall of Don Post Studios life masks of Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Lon Chaney Jr., Tor Johnson, Peter Lorre, Vincent Price, Glenn Strange, Don Post and Forry himself. (I was very disappointed that several of my pictures did not turn out. Missing photos are of the Metaluna mask form This Island Earth, the model of the ship from War of the Worlds and the model of the Discovery form 2001: A Space Odyssey.) There were actual pieces of original ape makeup from Planet of the Apes and real "live" tribbles from Star Trek.

Continuing the tour as we reached the top of the stairs we were greeted by a life-sized Cylon form Battlestar Galactica (which was made by Don Post Studios). As you can see in the picture every inch of the wall space in the halls and stairways was covered with artwork from fans and famous artists. Frank Frazetta and Josh Kirby were two of the names I recognized, but I know there were many others.

Mr. Ackerman has the cape and ring worn by Bela Lugosi when he played the famous Dracula. An entire curio cabinet is dedicated to Dracula. Including a first edition of Bram Stoker's Dracula which was gift from Bela Lugosi and is signed not only by the author but by many of the famous men who have played the famous vampire. Sitting on top of the cabinet is one of the alien hands form War of the Worlds.

Forrest Ackerman created the character of Vampirella, a sexy female vampire from Drakulon. The original costume hangs on the wall as well as some original comic book artwork.

The film London After Midnight may not have survived through the years but the top hat and teeth worn by Lon Chaney are safe and sound inside a display case in the parlor at FJA's house.

Forry's favorite film, Metropolis, is also one of mine. This becomes apparent when you enter the upstairs room devoted to the Fritz Lang film. The Robot Maria (also known as Futura or Ultima) stands the center of attention in Forry's living room where he sat to tell us, his eager visitors, stories from his fantastic journey through this universe.

As we left the house we were led out the back and down a flight of stairs to a dark and scary place. Our last stop on this tour of sci-fi's history if Forry's subbasement which is a crowded little room with a dirt floor and sloping ceiling filled to the gills with horror and sci-fi props from some well known and not-so-known films.

Thank you Forry for a wonderful tour and for sharing your house and your memories with all of us!

Before telling us his fascinating tales Mr. Ackerman handed out candy to the kids in the group. Afterwards we older kids had a chance to get our hands on some fabulous Forry merchandise. I picked up a copy of the book Forrest J Ackerman's World of Science Fiction (which is long out of print and an excellent resource). I was also able to have him sign the book for.

There were several people videotaping the tour and Forry's tales at the end. If you have such a tape, please contact me.

Also if you should know the films some of the unidentified items are from please email me with what they are. Thanks! Hope you all enjoyed my little tour as much as I did.

Sincerely,
SciFiSlacker!