What happened to Forry's book collection?

[hauntedhal]

Another member  said some items were in really bad shape and had to be thrown out. I assume he was referring to Forry's pulp collection with it's inferior paper. But what happened to his enormous book collection? Was it ever put up for sale as a whole or in pieces? Was it donated to a university? I remember there was an ebay seller who was selling a few books at a time a few years ago but then...nothing.

[typhooforme]

I think the bulk of Forry's book collecton sold in--when was that, 2001, 2002?--when he had the big sale to empty out the big old Ackermansion.  I never heard how or to whom they went, and never saw the vast majority of them come up for sale anywhere after that.  There was one guy who was based in NYC, I think--who sold many lesser books from Forry's.  I bought a number of those at the time--but there was nothing "important" in that lot--many random old sci-fi books/mags.  Occasional interesting things would appear in his lots, though--I got a little Esperanto book, a 1920s German horror softcover book, and a 1915 era Tarzan novel among the more modern things.

[Jscareshock]

I own some books from that collection including pulps.  When Forry had to move he went into business with several people who received commisiion for selling his items--mostly on Ebay.  Danny Roebuck pointed them out to me so I knew their Ebay ads were legit.  SOme of the purchases even came with a note from Forry thanking me for buying part of the collection.
Forry's books continue to pop up on Ebay either in lots or as singles depending on how rare they are.

The books that Forry took with him will most likely be sold at the Ackerman auction being held sometime in April.

[Therin of Andor]

The books that Forry took with him will most likely be sold...

Postage will be... considerable. Airmail, I assume? 

[Jscareshock]

Postage will be... considerable. Airmail, I assume? 
[/quote
No, you have t dig them up. ]

[typhooforme]

Speaking of Forry's books--I've been collecting odds and ends of them for the past few years.  Nothing rare, but fun to have a shelf of books from the Ackermansion.  Just got a couple dozen more in today's mail--some are old: MAGIC AND MYTH OF THE MOVIES (1947), THREE MEN MAKE A WORLD (1939), ARCADE (1984), and have plain covers, no dust jackets--but there are others which are more photogenic.  All have Forry's signature, Ackerman Agency label, notes, or inscriptions to Forry from the authors--something to i.d. each as coming from Dr. Acula himself!


I like having a few that show Forry's wide collecting range--in French, German, Italian.

[ProfGriffin]

I like the Adventures of Dracula Spanish books...especially the Monstre de Preston.  Apparently, Dracula meets The Toxic Avenger!

Speaking of Forry's books--I've been collecting odds and ends of them for the past few years.  Nothing rare, but fun to have a shelf of books from the Ackermansion.  Just got a couple dozen more in today's mail--some are old: MAGIC AND MYTH OF THE MOVIES (1947), THREE MEN MAKE A WORLD (1939), ARCADE (1984), and have plain covers, no dust jackets--but there are others which are more photogenic.  All have Forry's signature, Ackerman Agency label, notes, or inscriptions to Forry from the authors--something to i.d. each as coming from Dr. Acula himself!


I like having a few that show Forry's wide collecting range--in French, German, Italian.

[typhooforme]

Another dozen or so books from Forry's shelves in today's mail--about half what I call 'ordinary/modern' and half more interesting vintage ones.  THE GHOST BREAKER (1915) is the story filmed in 1922 with Wallace Reid and Lila Lee as the leads, and then in 1940 with Bob Hope and Paulette Goddard (and Noble Johnson as one of the creepiest pre-1960s zombies ever!).  The paperback KILLDOZER is signed to Forry by author Theodore Sturgeon.  The plain reddish brown book is a 1914 copy of FIVE PLAYS by Lord Dunsany, and the dark blue is BEST SUPERNATURAL STORIES OF H.P. LOVECRAFT from 1946.  Fans of the '80s movies will recognize Owen West's THE FUNHOUSE.  Other stuff is fine, but to me these named are the most interesting in this lot.  Another small part of Forry's collection preserved!

[Mike Scott]

THE GHOST BREAKER (1915) is the story filmed in 1922 with Wallace Reid and Lila Lee as the leads

Is that like a Photoplay, or something?

[typhooforme]

Yeah, Mike--it's actually a "photoplay" with photos from the stage play.  I should check and see if there was a 1922 photoplay version for the film.

My friend Rog reminded me this afternoon that the Bob Hope GHOST BREAKERS was not the end of that story--for Martin & Lewis did a barely recognizable version of the story as SCARED STIFF!  Hollywood has been re-using old material for a long time now.

[Mike Scott]

Yeah, Mike--it's actually a "photoplay" with photos from the stage play.

It's not a Photoplay for the 1914 film version (dir. by C. B. DeMille)?

--for Martin & Lewis did a barely recognizable version of the story as SCARED STIFF!

I wouldn't call it "barely recognizable". It's practically a scene for scene remake of the 1940 film.

Here's a poster for the 1922 version.

[typhooforme]

Well--the title page says "a novel based upon the play", and the photos really look like stage play sets--but you are likely right.  As you see, Forry's copy didn't have a dustjacket, and I usually depend on those to give me a little more info if it's a film.  Inside, there is no list of players,  and the photos have no identifications of the players, either.  So I can't tell you for sure.  It is a 1915 copy, so logic would say that it is likely the '14 film.  Yes, I'm recanting completely here!  It has to be it's a photoplay of the '14 flick!

Sorry-I meant barely recognizable from the original story.  Character names are completely different, the "Jarvis of Kentucky" stuff isn't there (as I recall).  Unrecognizable  may be too strong a term--you have some of the bare bones of the old story--but the Jerry Lewis/Dean Martin version--with musical numbers and Carmen Miranda (who does great comedy with Jerry)--well, I guess I'm just thinking it's very "Martin & Lewis".  A lot of their schtick, a lot of music--gets me derailed from the old story.

[Mike Scott]

Sorry-I meant barely recognizable from the original story.

Oh! Yeh, it sounds like the Hope version was changed quite a bit from the original.

--but the Jerry Lewis/Dean Martin version--with musical numbers and Carmen Miranda (who does great comedy with Jerry)--well, I guess I'm just thinking it's very "Martin & Lewis".

They did split Hope's character between Martin and Lewis with Lewis also doing Willie Best's part.

[Mike Scott]

Yes, I'm recanting completely here!  It has to be it's a photoplay of the '14 flick!

A couple of booksellers agree with your original thought that it's the stage play (though they're not absolutely sure, either). Check the photos. If you don't see H. B. Warner, it's probably the stage play.

[typhooforme]

I can't recognize H.B. Warner--but I'm still thinking you're right!  An answer is out there somewhere and is bound to come some day.  Anyhow, it tickles me to have this copy of the novel from the Ackermonster's shelves!