Forrest J. Ackerman RIP

[Daimajin]

On Sunday I watched my Heroes of Horror DVDs and was delighted to see FJA on one of the bios.  Still makes me sad to know he's not going to be around to share any more of his stories and enthusiasm.  As I've been reading all of Tom Weaver's interview books, it makes me realize how few of these folks are left. 

I can't remember from whom, but I heard that there was a documentary about him that was shown on the Documentary Channel a few years ago.  Has anyone seen it?  Know the title?  If I find out, I'm going to contact them and ask that they put it back in rotation.

[avenger]

I watched Famous Monster ,a great hour long special on Forry ,this past summer.Great piece !

[Illoman]

I watched Famous Monster ,a great hour long special on Forry ,this past summer.Great piece !

Here's some info on Famous Monster:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1092060/

I haven't seen this but would like to.

Mike

[mike c]

I've been trying to locate a US copy of this film, so far to no avail. I'd sure like to see it!


Mike C.

[hhwolfman]

I've been trying to locate a US copy of this film, so far to no avail. I'd sure like to see it!


Mike C.

Yeah I need a copy of that to. HHW

[Scatter]

Yeah I need a copy of that to. HHW

Make that three...........

[Cinemacabre]

Excuse me if I'm not the first soldier to suggest this, but why not rename it Forrest Lawn?

[Scatter]

Excuse me if I'm not the first soldier to suggest this, but why not rename it Forrest Lawn?

Oh...............I like it!! Forrest J AckerLawn Memorial Park.

I go there several times whenever I'm in LA (which isn't often enough lately). Definitely going to pay my respects to Forry next time.

[mike c]

Hahah, love it!

By the way, if anyone has the current issue of Rue Morgue in hand, you'll see Dave Alexander's fine write-up of Forry's tribute back on March 8th. It's a great play-by-play of speakers, guests, and the touching finale had me teary eyed. I wish I'd been there.
Forry Lawn, indeed.

Mike C.

[Paul L]

   Forry's been gone for nearly 6m, but as a newcomer to this site, please allow me to share my sentiments w/you. Outside of my inner circle of friends & family, there are few genuine "heroes" in my life. One of these true heroes was Forrest J Ackerman.
   We know Forry was a generous friend & inspiriaton to many people all over the planet. More specifically Uncle Forry was a friend & mentor to kids like myself who were often misunderstood for enjoying horror, fantasy & sci-fi. Forry gave us a place to feel safe, told us it was okay, told us WE were okay & free to enjoy this magical obsession. I've always been grateful for this.
   I'm blessed to have met & shared a casual, yet delightful aquaintance with Uncle Forry. I speak for many when I say he will be sorely missed & honorably remembered.

[Remco Monster]

Along with John Zacherle, Forrest was the nicest man I ever met. Words can not express the sadness of his passing.

RIP Uncle Forry

[Monster Kid]

My hero, mentor and one of my best friends ever. 

[typhooforme]

Debbie, I'm so glad to see your post here bringing Forry's name up again.  You are, indeed, one of the stalwarts among Forry fans!  I enjoyed meeting you at Bash and it was fun to have a little musical trip down memory lane talking about some of Forry's favorite songs!  I won the lot from the Forry auction which contained a heap of his Jolson sheet music, and I've added my own to his now, and am still adding to it.  When I play "Rock-a-Bye Your Baby With a Dixie Melody", I kind of imagine the old gent is listening, from whatever other-dimensional place he's dwelling now, and singing along!

[Ramboona]

email to an angel

Dear Forry:

It's now been a year since you cast off your mortal coil and ventured into the nothingness you expected to find on its other side.  A lot of folks hereabouts think that you were wrong in that, you know.  They featured you entering sci-fi heaven with Marlene Dietrich on one side and the Metropolis robotrix on the other (both equally naked), where you would be greeted by Wendy and Lon and Boris and Al down on one knee, welcoming Sonny Boy back home.  

Whatever you found (or didn't) will remain a point of conjecture of course, but as for me... well, I stand by my assertion that  one year ago you jumped, rather like Eck in ONE GLORIOUS DAY,  from your tired, ill frame and into ours, collectively, where you now occupy a permanent place in our hearts and minds.  The gentle humor, the soaring imagination, the Gosh-Wow! sense of wonder that were your hallmarks are now your legacy, your gifts to us.  We are their standard-bearers, and we are legion.

There have been tributes, as you would have expected.  Public and private, from all corners, heartfelt and sometimes teary-eyed but never maudlin.  In particular there was the SRO memorial last March, where so many of your fans and friends met in one great group hug to express their gratitude, devotion and love.  You would be particularly pleased to know that your final, greatest cameo near it's conclusion all but stole the show.

Walking back to the hotel later that day, the shadows on Hollywood Boulevard seemed longer than usual.  Yet there was a hint of spring in the air that even LA's smog couldn't beat back; a promise of renewal and continuance.  Joe hosted a magnificent dinner that night which featured frequently raised bottles of ice-cold Thai beer accompanied by toasts and laughter and cries of "to Forry!"  You'd have been proud, just as we were proud to be there.

At the memorial your dearest pal Ray Bradbury said, "Forry gave us permission to laugh, and now I'm giving us permission to cry."  That has stuck with me ever since.  

Permission to laugh... my God, Forry, how we laughed with you over the years.  Not just for your magnificent puns and mischievous manner, but your ageless enthusiasm for everything from classic sci-fi films and art to a fine bowl of black bean soup at your beloved House of Pies.  This was laughter in it's purest form, warm and appreciative, not the snarky stuff that is most prevalent now.

Permission to cry... there was plenty of that, of course.  We loved you after all and wanted you to go on forever and ever.  Surely you would see 100 or more; weren't there still films to see and books to read and articles to edit for you?  Just one more convention, one more autograph, one more chorus of April Showers, one more trip to life's smorgasbord for you?

But now a year has come and gone since the day you left us just shy of midnight.  We've all moved on as we must, but we've taken with us that greatest part of you which even Prince Sirki couldn't snatch away.  Jim Warren said that your enemies hated you because you were a better man than they.  And we loved you for much the same reason; because you were the better man.


Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to step outside and say goodnight to the crisp December moon, perhaps wish upon that star sparkling over by Mars.  And I'll be listening for echos...

Until next year,

J.

[typhooforme]

Jeff, Thank you from the bottom of our collective hearts.  I don't see how a more loving tribute could have been written anywhere, by anyone--you said it wonderfully, my friend.  I've been thinking of Forry every day since his birthday, dreading this first anniversary day--but reading your tribute here seems to have made it clear to me that we are not here to grieve our loss, but rather to celebrate the 90+ years we had of The One and Only.  It's true, as Joe said--Forry Ackerman shall never die!

And so say I!

Robert "Bobbo" Taylor, wearing with pride the nickname Forry gave me!