LATEST NEWS ON FORRY

[gracebuster]

I was blessed to have been able to spend some time with him yesterday. All written here is true.
Everyone should know that our old pal is in great hands. Joe Moe is right there , as is Dolly and Earl and the Hospice folks.

Aside form Ray Bradbury, he was visited by a parade of FMers Jim Warren came by as did Verne Langdon, over the weekend. Everyone has come to express what he meant to them. We were joking that it was like Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn listening in on thier own funeral.

While I was there, Forry lit up with a call from a female friend of Joe's. The twinkle was certainly there. When I had a private moment I asked him to say hello to HG Wells for me and got an acknowledged smile (ever so slight). I had a few more words gave him pat on the arm and moved away.

What an amazing guy who lived an amazing life.

Rest assured that he is not  alone. He has his wonderful support there. Joe Moe is making sure that Forry's wishes are being followed to the tee.

I suggest that we should take  a moment to pray for those who have dedicated so much of their time to taking care of Forry's daily needs. This will certainly be most so difficult for them.

[hhwolfman]

Teared up a bit just then., buddy.  Glad you got to See him in person again. 

[laffo]

Damn. Damn. Damn.
There is no finer Man.
He is at his home with those closest to him, I can only hope we all are as lucky when it's out time.
Hopefully all the sleep I lost as a child as a result of flashlights under covers pouring over Forry can be applied to his account.
Rest Easy and Sleep Well.
You made a Monster Fan outta me.
Laffo.

[Jim Bertges]

Thanks, Dan for the update. I'm glad you were able to visit in person and be our representative. I've sent Forry a brief note and like you I think we should show our appreciation to Forry's care givers and especially to Joe Moe who has cared for him all this time.

[Daimajin]

Man, this is sad news.  Forry's one of those few people (like Stan Lee and Ray Bradbury) who you figure will live forever. 

When I was a kid reading FM, it always seemed like he was talking just to me.  Not long ago I was able to get a copy of the FM book he put out in the '80s and I feel the same thing whenever I read it:  he's talking to me. 

When I read last night that he wasn't doing well, I pulled out my copies of Reel Future and The Frankenscience Monster, just to relive the joy of his work.  I'm not one to be starstruck, but last summer  I wrote to him for an autograph.  The day that autograph arrived in my mailbox -- it was exactly how I felt as a kid when I got that one most-wanted-above-all Christmas present. 

To know Chaney, Lugosi, Price --to write words spoken by Karloff!! -- what a wonderful life he's lived.  The setbacks and the usurpers can never erase even a moment, even an iota, of the cherished memories he's given us all.  He brought us together,  generously shared his anecdotes with the same enthusiasm we would've felt if we could've met Bela or Boris, and, most of all, he was and is one of us (even before some of us even were!). 

I hope, when the end does come, that it will be peaceful, gentle and that there's a smile on his face as he slips into a wonderful place of memories come alive.

[Cinemacabre]

Daimajin wrote: "Forry's one of those few people (like Stan Lee and Ray Bradbury) who you figure will live forever."

I know you meant that in a literal sense. But the truly wonderful part about Forry's life is that he will live Forry-ever (sorry, I had to) in our memories and hearts. He's is simply one of those people who makes such a huge impression on monsterkids of all ages that on our death beds we'll still be thinking and talking about 4SJ. He is immortal.

D'Entre les Morts,
Cinemacabre

[claudin]

Any new info about Forry? Is he doing ok?

[Cinemacabre]

Hopefully, no news is good news

[typhooforme]

Latest news is he appears to have stabilized somewhat--no worse, and possibly slightly better.  They are closing the house to visitors to allow him more peace and quiet, but he has been VERY happy with seeing so many of his friends, getting so many cards and flowers, and so on.  KEEP WRITING to Forry if you can--a card, a note--it all actually MEANS a lot to him, and perhaps he will even understand how highly appreciated he is by his many fans.  Honestly, he has no idea how much impact he's had on monster kids over the years!
FORRY ACKERMAN
4511 RUSSELL AVE
LOS ANGELES CA 90027

[claudin]

That's terrific news, Robert!
I'll go over to Facebook and send him a message on his page.
Thanks for the update!

[typhooforme]

Rest assured, you can pick up the most accurate Forry news from the Classic Horror Film Board forums, the Scarlet Street forums, and here.  I check both of the former every day several times so that I can report to you here with the correct news.  On both those boards are posts from friends who live near Forry and who visit as often as possible,so I consider the news in both places to be golden.  Our own David Colton, who runs the CHFB, inspires nothing but confidence in the reportage there.  All this is preamble to warn you that a report went out in the British Fantasy Society news saying Forry had passed--something which is NOT true.  Just a misunderstanding, a jumping of the gun, and not deserving censure--and it's likely that Forry might even get some wry amusement out of reading his own obit (especially in light of the fact that it was Forry who once spoke of "the late John Agar", which was a similar mistake--and which ultimately amused both Agar AND Forry!).  In a like circumstance, Mark Twain is reported to have said: "Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated."  Forry lives!

[Daimajin]

I check both of the former every day several times so that I can report to you here with the correct news. 

I appreciate your updates.  I know Forry's birthday is coming up later this month so I'll send a birthday card this weekend.  Hope it finds him in better health and improving condition. 

Last night I was reading my latest eBay acquisition, Let's Scare 'Em.  There's a long interview in it with FJA as well as a really touching piece he wrote regarding the passing of Jack Pierce.  It brought home to me that one day (hopefully still far, far off) the time'll come when all we have are monster kid memories of this great guy. 

Wish I could meet him, but in a way it feels like I have.

[gracebuster]

Robert, Thank you for being on top of that.

[Wich2]

Guys-

I recently lost a very beloved, very elderly, Aunt.

When someone has lead a long, full life, and it is becoming a chore for them to linger here, it is a good thing, not a bad one, to let them move on.

My wish for 4SJ is peace, wherever he may be.

Best,
-Craig

[Dr. Jitters]

I hope Forry keeps improving.  One of my favorite days was when I got to bring three generations of monster fans to the Ackermansion.  My dad was blown away by the experience and at how entertaining and generous Forry was.

Craig, very sorry to hear/read about your aunt, but your words are wise, too.