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AICN Wishes A Big Happy Birthday To Forry J
Hey, everyone. "Moriarty" here. Well, in one of my most evil plans yet, I have decided to sneak away with the lovely Lynn Bracken whenever Harry isn't in town. I haven't really toyed with naked jealousy yet, but I'm sure I'll be able to summon some fair share of his wrath with this news. I'll be rubbing in my lovely evening with her at HOLY SMOKE tonight a little later this week. Until then, Harry, let's set aside our newly-brewing differences to discuss something positive, coming pleasantly on the heels of what seemed like bad news.
Today, Wednesday, is Forrest J. Ackerman's 83rd birthday. He was scheduled to spend it in court. Instead, he'll be celebrating it at home... or out on
the town... or wherever the hell he wants to... and that's because there's been a major continuance in his case against Ray Ferry. So far, there have been motions made and dismissed and vague rumblings about jury selection. It didn't happen, though. Instead, there's a period of discovery that's been opened up.
For those of you who read my initial article about the case, you can skip this paragraph. For those who didn't, this is a case about the creator of an iconic film magazine (FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND) trying to regain his place in the magazine's history and trying to guarantee that he's fairly paid for his efforts in the past and in the future. This is a ridiculous case, the only possible outcome being clearly evident. Forry Ackerman is the voice of FAMOUS MONSTERS, and claiming otherwise is lunacy.
Ray Ferry, the gentleman who publishes FAMOUS MONSTERS currently, took great offense at my account of the trial in that initial article, even going so far as to bring it into court and asking for a gag order to be placed on this website and this reporter. Thankfully, and not surprisingly, that gag order was not allowed. In an effort to guarantee that the coverage we do (as well
as the coverage that we're hoping Court TV will be doing) is as fair, complete, and accurate as possible, we are in the midst of obtaining from the court a
complete set of the motions filed, the official suit, and Ferry's response. We're also going to be taking a closer look at Ferry's counter-complaints. We're going to be really looking at this case under a microscope.
I've also been in touch with or am trading calls with even more members of the creative community who were shocked to hear of Forry's troubles and who offered their support, guys like Gary Gerani, Joe Dante, Mick Garris, Tom Di Santo and Bryan Singer. I hope to be bringing you more of those comments, some great stories and some really heartfelt memories, in my next piece, which should be at the end of this week.
Right now, let's just wish Forry a happy birthday. Let's just be glad that his attorney is now going to be granted full access to Ray Ferry's records. Let's be happy that the discovery period between now and April offers Forry an opportunity to really fight this thing full force.
As our way of offering our respect to Forry on this very special day, at this very trying time, we'd like to officially offer all of our readers the option of being part of a legal defense fund for Forry. There were dozens of Talk Backs regarding this the last time, and I got hundreds of e-mails. Get in touch with me at MoriartyAICN@yahoo.com for the address, or just wait for Friday, when I'll post an address for you here.
I know from speaking with Forry J. this week that your love and support means volumes to him. There's never been a better reason to sign up and Talk Back. Let him know below that your prayers are with him.
Remember, Harry, fire up the Interociter just after the holiday. Until then...
"Moriarty"out.
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To be honest, I've only read a couple of issues of FMoF, but what I've read I thorohghly enjoyed. I remember hearing all about it in my youth and having to bum other people's copies and I could never find the magazine myself, I had to stick with Fangoria and Starlog. But I wish him all the best - any art you create is yours first, the public's second. That's the way it is, has always been, and will always be. Good luck!
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happy birthday Forry, thanks for the guiding light...
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Unlike JJ Gittes, I take Ackerman's case seriously. This type of case comes up from time to time, and while the world won't collapse whichever way the court rules, I think that it is important. The fundamental question is who owns what we create? The publisher or the writer? In the case of a novel it is clearly the author who can take his work (intact) to another publisher without the former publisher claiming that certain parts of the book are its property. But in the case of a magazine and editorial content it may be that the publisher owns the rights unless the editor has separately copyrighted published articles, words and phrases. David Letterman went through the same thing when he left NBC for CBS. Who owned the Top Ten List? Dave created it, but NBC claimed ownership. The question of "intellectual property" was raised. I believe that Ackerman's creations should be his, not Ray Ferry's, unless Ferry can come up with a contract signed by Ackerman relinquishing any rights to his intellectual property. I can understand Ferry wanting to keep the tone and style of the magazine consistant with what was published in the past. That's part of the popular appeal of Famous Monsters of Filmland. But that's too bad for Ferry, who evidently hasn't enough imagination to make the magazine his and come up with his own style.
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Happy B-Day Mr. Ackerman. I've never read an issue of Famous Monsters, but I'm highly interested in this situation. I've been a fan of the Universal monsters for as long as I can remember (thanks Universal for those great DVD's). I appreciate you calling this to our attention, Moriarty, and keeping us informed of the legal wranglings.
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I've been following this case with great fervance folks, and wannabe icon Ferry will never hold a place in fandoms' heart like The Great One does. In fact, when I met this jerk at the Famous Monster Bash in '93 (I think that's right) his phoniness bled through like a bad snot rag. Ole Forry is so trusting (and he's been ripped-off before by assholes who've lifted items from the Ackermansion) that he let Ferry get to close to the thing Forry loved most, FM. I suggest that even when Forry wins this suit, and he will, that we collectively engage a shaman to conjure up the ghost of Wendayne to not only seek revenge on her murderers, but force Ferry to read "Cracked Monsters" over and over again.
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Nov 24, 1999 10:08:13 AM CST
Stay on your throne, but move it to the other side of the room
by soylentphil
I agree with the sentiment that Moriarty is a draw. No offense to anyone, but his is the only hint of professional writing on the site. Harry's all about enthusiasm, but Moriarty's the wordsmith. Speaking of AICN, how about those Sleppy Hollow TV ads? "Ain't It Cool News" calls it 'nothing short of a masterpiece'". Not exactly a rare moment in the history of Harry's reviews, but definitely a corner turned there. Congrats, Harry!
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HAPPY BIRTHSLAY FORRY! as you once wished king kong to light 100 candles on ray harryhausen's cake, may kong light a thousand candles for you! keep up the good fight, moriarty! btw, i love seeing harry's movie quotes on ads, but 'slepy hollow' is far far short of a masterpiece. did anybody care which one of the five or six bland pasty-faced hollowites was responsible for the horsemen? yawn. and i kept waiting for baby-face ricci to ask for her mommy...
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And many more to come I hope! This is to thank Moriarty for bringing to light Uncle 4-E's struggles, and to hope that the Groovy Ghoul can COUNT on many more Horrible Years in the coming century! So thanks to Mr Sci-Fi for those times back when I was a wee lad going to that wonderfull museum (sometimes when my grandfather and I were the only ones visiting) and showing me the wonders of the imagination, and its limitless horizons.
Thank you Forrest J Ackerman, may fortune smile upon you for many more years to come! -
Well ,that's nice to hear. I know it ain't over yet, but this is indeed a start. It's comforting to know we fanboys aren't all about trashing stuff and foaming at the mouth about (fill in name of project here). Happy, Happy 83rd Forry! God Bless and blow out those 84 candles (with one to ghoul on)!
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You're an inspiration for Sci-Fi fans everywhere. Heck, you're an inspiration for humans everywhere! I miss your articles in scifi.com.
Best of luck. -
You're an extraordinary person who has, through Famous Monsters of Filmland, given the artisians and audiences of Hollywood your very heart. You open your home and your brilliant memories to all of us... Indeed, your equanimity is so beautiful, that we all find it shocking that you're being treated so unjustly by that duplicitious wormtongue Ray Ferry. Moriarty, you are being too diplomatic in using the term "gentleman" to describe this ruffian. Anyway, let's accentuate the positive, hoping the best for you, Forry Ackerman!!! Hope your wonderful birthday brings new light at the end of the legal tunnel. Warmest regards, Bregalad.
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It's been some time since I last posted anything in TalkBack. I thought this would be a good time to wish a happy birthday to a man who has influenced many of us in one way or another. I hope you have a great day, Forry. I also hope that everything goes well in your court case against a man who is, quite clearly, not in touch with the fans and is only concerned with the almighty dollar. Down with Ferry! Up with Forry!
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Here's to many, MANY more memories and birthdays! Beast wishes! THE TALL MAN
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When I was a kid in the late 70's a friend and I showed up at Forry's house unannounced. We were little horror movie geeks and he graciously gave us a tour of his collection, told us stories relevant to particular items, and cracked corny jokes. As far as collectibles go: you name it, he had it. I can still remember the place 20 years later. Thank you, Forry, for being so kind and happy birthday to you.
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My first recollections of Forry were not from FMF, but of the Perry Rhodan novels which he presented and his wife Wendayne was translating. The books were really more like paperback magazines with his forewards, letter columns and other stories in there. And, oh, what stories he would pick. He mined the Golden Age of Science Fiction (Scientifiction as Forry would say) to pull out gems of stories from people who were not normally getting exposure during the '70's. He also ran serials; I recall a serial in the Lensman universe not written by Doc Smith (and this was long before the literary sharecropping that takes place now). His love for the entire SF and horror genre shone through the works which he put out.
Thanks for all the good memories, Forry! -
I was not aware that Wendayne had died, although if she had I would have thought it due to old age. But that comment up abover about murderers has me worried. Did something bad happen to her? BTW, I am an old reader of FMOF, going back to FM #69, with Basil Gogos's Lon Chaney as the detective/vampire in London After Midnight. God Bless Forry; he helped make me the fanman I am today. Any help I can render will be on the way.
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I don't have exact dates at hand, but Wendayne died about a decade ago now, I believe. About a decade before that, during a trip to Europe with Forry, she was badly mugged and left with permanent kidney damage. It was to the effects of this which she eventually succumbed; thus she was, in reality, murdered by scum who make Ray Ferry look like a saint.
One piece I never have heard, tho, is whether her assailants were ever caught or prosecuted. -
Man, I can remember being a kid growing up in the mid-to-late '70's in the Bronx. Famous Monsters of Filmland was sometimes my only way to find out about not only the current horror and sci-fi movies(I couldn't get enough stuff about Star Wars, today and now!) but also the old classics I would watch on "Chiller Theatre" on Channel 11. Dracula, Frankenstein, and The Wolf Man, even though I was too scared to actually watch it! The magazine had such a goofy sense of humor that spoke to me as a kid. Every month I'd run down to the corner store to buy my copies of Marvel's Godzilla, The Hulk, Star Wars and FMOF. It's so f*ckin' cool to know that I'm far from the only one with memroies like these, and that we've all come together to help Forry fight this bullshit that's he going through. How can someone just take an institution like Famous Monsters and just shit on it? Hell, if you can't have a healthy dose of respect for something, then don't bother owning it! Being in control of something like this magazine carries a lot of responsibility, a little fact that seems to have escaped the small mind of Ray Ferry. By all accounts, the guy's a pure jerk. I can't belive that Forry actually let's people explore his house. How cool is that! And if I caught someone stealing from his house, I'd open up a can of whoop-ass on him and take it back to Forry. Does anyone know exactly where Forry's house is at? I'd love to visit it sometime(I live in Miami). Stay cool, people, and a happy birthday to you, Mr. Ackerman. We got your back!
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http://members.tripod.com/Joey_Stylez/index.html -
And thanks for everything you've done for the fans over the years.
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Like so many others, it was Forry who got me started on the path that has become my life...a love of movies and helping other people love them.
The second issue of FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND appear on a local newstand. I couldn't believe my preteen eyes. I learned about all the classic sci-fi and horror films, silent and sound and saw wonderful stills. I was referred to great authors of wonder. And through a reference to Sam Rubin's CLASSIC IMAGES, I got really interested in silent films and saw an ad for Cooper's Films in Chicago. They rented 8mm copies of silent classics. Based on what I read in FM, I started renting films and showing them to whomever would watch. First outdoors under the stars during summer and then in the hayloft of my parents barn in what became a theater I ran from the early 1960s until 1969.METROPOLIS, DR. JEKYLL AND MR. HYDE, CABINET OF DR. CALIGARI, NOSFERATU, SEIGFRIED/KREMHELD'S REVENGE, DR. MABUSE, FREAKS, HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME, THE BELLS, CAT AND THE CANARY, DRACULA, THE MUMMY, THINGS TO COME, JUST IMAGINE, INVADERS FROM MARS, THE WOLFMAN, RED PLANET MARS, THE THING...just a few of the many amazing visions Forry led me to show in the spooky old barn that had house bats who seemed to know just the right time to fly in the beam of light eminating from the projector. We held seances, played Arch Obler "Lights Out" radio shows in total darkness and did horror plays there. My first films were shot on a "Mad Lab" set my friends helped me build.
I went on to run cinemas where cinema of the fantastic was often featured and even had Forry as a guest a few times.
I remember as a teen visiting his home in Los Angeles. He and Wendy were the most gracious of hosts. Forry started a personal tour and then excused himself to continue working on the next issue of FM (or SPACEMAN or SCREEN THRILLS). "Enjoy and just wander around. Look at whatever you want." I was in heaven. And yes, I later met people who bragged about stealing from Forry and then, a few weeks later offering to sell him back his own stuff, claiming sympathy with his loss and a willingness (for a high price) to part with " their" copies of rare posters. It made me sick and I'd argue with these people. Forry, so trusting of his fellow earthlings, wouldn't let on that he knew their game...and he bought them back to keep the collection complete so we fans could continue to be entranced in the foundations of a genre we so love.
That the city of Los Angeles was so stupid to not take advantage of his generous offer to donate the collection for a museum is absurd. That no other organization sees what a valuable asset there is only confirms how little the rest of the world understands the impact science fiction and horror have had on the entire world.
Dear Forrest J. Ackerman: You are a hero to me and millions of others. Your love, dedication, vision, humor, friendship and general brilliance set an example for all. May you live forever. Happy Birthday.
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