Forry Ackerman is ill, alas
May. 12th, 2002 01:16 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
khaosworksI finally met Forrest J. Ackerman at Chicon 2000, nearly colliding into him while turning away from the Old Earth Books stall in the dealer's room. I stared at him, recognition only sinking in after a couple of seconds. He stared at me genially, probably used to my gobsmacked expression at meeting this living legend, and then extended a hand to offer me a copy of his newsletter. I recovered my composure enough to shake his hand, say what an honor and pleasure it was to meet him, and ask for his autograph.
This was but one of several such encounters with famous people over that weekend, but it was significant enough that, if not for that meeting (and maybe Harry Harrison), Fanboy Soul would never have been written. Forry (or 4E) is the original Fan. Uppercase. No others need apply, nor will they ever need to.
----- Original Message -----
From: Kirsten M. Berry <kshandra@mindspring.com>
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Sent: May 11, 2002 11:00
Subject: CEPT: Forrest J. Ackerman
> From a local fannish mailing list:
> Forrest J. Ackerman, 86, is critically ill and not expected to
> recover. He is in a hospital, very lonely, and, if anyone in
> the L.A. area has some time, please please please visit him.
> Especially (please don't take this wrong) if you're female. I
> met Forry about a year ago and the one woman in our group got
> ALL his attention. Then, when we went to lunch, it happened
> again. I think at his advanced age, and being a lonely old
> widower and all that, I think he just wants to see a cute
> female face one more time before he says goodbye. And if you
> can't visit him, send him a card (but not flowers). Address is
> at the end of this message.
>
> BTW, for those who don't know who Forrest J. Ackerman is,
> shame on you. But, in any case: Forry was the first person to
> have a fan letter published in a sci-fi magazine; he was the
> first person to wear a costume at a sci-fi convention and thus
> single-handedly created the costume ball; Ray Bradbury's first
> published short story was in Forry's fanzine; Forry was the
> guy who founded the magazine "Famous Monsters" and he created
> Vampirella; Forry has/had a huge collection of masks,
> spaceships, props, etc. from early sci-fi films, including the
> sole surviving Martian war machine from The War of the Worlds,
> and Bela Lugosi's ring, which he still wears every day; he has
> appeared in dozens of sci-fi films, and the glasses he wears
> every day are the ones he wore when he played the president of
> the U.S. in "Amazon Women on the Moon." He also coined the
> term "sci-fi." etc. etc. etc. He is truly a marvel to behold.
>
> Somewhere in this house I have a picture of Forry and me, taken the
> year the Sniper and I got engaged. So help me ghod, I would WALK to LA
> to hug this man if I could. (Bet, sounds like a job for you and your
> corsetry....)
>
> And that address:
>
> Forrest J. Ackerman
> c/o Kaiser Permanente Hospital
> Building H, Room 474A
> 4747 Sunset Blvd.
> Hollywood CA 90027
Go to him if you can and give him my love and respect.
This was but one of several such encounters with famous people over that weekend, but it was significant enough that, if not for that meeting (and maybe Harry Harrison), Fanboy Soul would never have been written. Forry (or 4E) is the original Fan. Uppercase. No others need apply, nor will they ever need to.
----- Original Message -----
From: Kirsten M. Berry <kshandra@mindspring.com>
Newsgroups: alt.callahans
Sent: May 11, 2002 11:00
Subject: CEPT: Forrest J. Ackerman
> From a local fannish mailing list:
> Forrest J. Ackerman, 86, is critically ill and not expected to
> recover. He is in a hospital, very lonely, and, if anyone in
> the L.A. area has some time, please please please visit him.
> Especially (please don't take this wrong) if you're female. I
> met Forry about a year ago and the one woman in our group got
> ALL his attention. Then, when we went to lunch, it happened
> again. I think at his advanced age, and being a lonely old
> widower and all that, I think he just wants to see a cute
> female face one more time before he says goodbye. And if you
> can't visit him, send him a card (but not flowers). Address is
> at the end of this message.
>
> BTW, for those who don't know who Forrest J. Ackerman is,
> shame on you. But, in any case: Forry was the first person to
> have a fan letter published in a sci-fi magazine; he was the
> first person to wear a costume at a sci-fi convention and thus
> single-handedly created the costume ball; Ray Bradbury's first
> published short story was in Forry's fanzine; Forry was the
> guy who founded the magazine "Famous Monsters" and he created
> Vampirella; Forry has/had a huge collection of masks,
> spaceships, props, etc. from early sci-fi films, including the
> sole surviving Martian war machine from The War of the Worlds,
> and Bela Lugosi's ring, which he still wears every day; he has
> appeared in dozens of sci-fi films, and the glasses he wears
> every day are the ones he wore when he played the president of
> the U.S. in "Amazon Women on the Moon." He also coined the
> term "sci-fi." etc. etc. etc. He is truly a marvel to behold.
>
> Somewhere in this house I have a picture of Forry and me, taken the
> year the Sniper and I got engaged. So help me ghod, I would WALK to LA
> to hug this man if I could. (Bet, sounds like a job for you and your
> corsetry....)
>
> And that address:
>
> Forrest J. Ackerman
> c/o Kaiser Permanente Hospital
> Building H, Room 474A
> 4747 Sunset Blvd.
> Hollywood CA 90027
Go to him if you can and give him my love and respect.
