A charming return

Forry gives back (what you sent)!

Imagine Forry returning something you'd sent him with a slip like this one. Aren't you dying to know what could possibly have been "too good" for him to keep?

When Harry met Forry

Harry Knowles will put the "Famous" back in Monsters!

There will never be another Forry. There is only one Harry.

When Harry Knowles was a little boy dreaming of his future, it was through those visionary goggles that many of us genre fans shared back in those innocent but impressionable times. But Harry was uniquely fortunate to be born to a dad who was already immersed in fandom. See, pop Jay was a memorabilia dealer and sophisticated "insider" to the genre already. Consequently, Harry's journey of discovery began for him a little bit ahead of yours and mine.

Just as some show-biz bios start with our hero being born to "hoofing" parents and spending their first moments in a crib, onstage under a piano - Harry was delivered, mint-in-box, onto a heap of mags, props, posters and collectibles. And like a true advocate, he's never stopped adding to that heap. This familiar love of movies and the-mavens-who-make-them has driven Harry to become ultimately successful with his industry-shaking Ain't It Cool News! website which receives infinite hits per day.

Now Harry has taken on the title of "Editor in chief of Famous Monsters of Filmland.com". Another big-bang in the legacy of our classic horror genre. Bigger and bangier than many of us old-timers can imagine at the moment. The implications for our classic horror stories gaining relevance and a real context for a younger generation of fans cannot be underestimated. You see, Harry Knowles is not just "a" presence in the most modern of mediums like the Internet. He is "the" principle presence.

I could talk all day about why I love Harry or the fact that I believe Forrest J Ackerman would have been thrilled at Harry's involvement in FM (Harry was one of a few individuals Forry asked to speak to at the end of his life). When it comes to Forry, I continue to honor his wishes. As a card carrying atheist from the age of 14, Forry said many times, "Pal, when I die I won't even be aware that I ever lived to collect a single thing or to edit Famous Monsters." So, I don't intend to keep Forry "the man" alive after his well-earned rest. But I will never let the flame of his spirit of inspiration blink out.

The sad reality is, there can never be another Forrest J Ackerman. The happy reality is that Harry Knowles is a completely unique individual who doesn't have to try to be Forry. By simply being Harry he's been able to inspire creativity in our community. By being Harry he has helped ensure that the genre we love still rules the entertainment media. He has fixed it so that we genre fans have an inordinate amount of power over the content of the mainstream, pop-cultural bandwagon. Today, one of my proudest accomplishments, other than standing by Forry's side to the end, has been introducing FM publisher Phil Kim and Harry.

So, get ready fellow fans. There's a new monster-champion in town. One who comes from us old-time classic horror fans but is made up of the fresh new vanguard as well. Thanks to Harry, we may never have to experience a lack of Sci-Fi, Fantasy or Horror material in our lifetimes!

Please support Harry Knowles, Phil Kim, magazine editor Michael Heisler, Jessie, Dominie, Mark, the whole hard working staff - and ME - a contributer and self-appointed ambassador and cheerleader for the new Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine! Help make this the best monster mag ever - then watch what happens!

Why we are BIG on Spam!

SPAM: Breakfast of champions. Gigantic, high-blood pressured, heart diseased champions!

Mac nuts meet Spam! Why? (but don't you wanna taste em')?

Growing up in Hawaii, Spam was as common as bacon. I believe Hawaii is the largest consumer of Spam in the US. The Spam Festival is held in Waikiki annually. Spam is eaten at breakfast with eggs. Lunch, on rice in Musubi. Dinner, more rice and even gravy! It is an acquired taste, but as is the case with many childhood foods, it is a comforting reminder of where we come from (and Monty Python). But it should also be a warning of where may be headed if we eat too much of it!

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: (100 grams)
Amount Per Serving
Calories: 310
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g	41%
Saturated Fat 10g	49%
Cholesterol 70mg	23%
Sodium 1369mg	57%
Total Carboydrates 3g	1%
Dietary Fiber 0g	~
Sugars 0g	~
Protein 13g	26%
Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 1% Iron 5% Calcium 1%
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs

Random Images from an unmarked box...

I stuck in my thumb and pulled out some plums and said what the..?

These pics of Lionel Barrymore and Marlon Brando were in an envelope back to back. I put the two names into Google and got the following results: You can buy Lionel Barrymore's last will and testament for $10 and Marlon Brando's for $20 at Celebrity Collectibles.

Somebody gave me this invitation to Divine's memorial service. I wish I could find the list of items she (Glen Milstead) consumed the night of his death. I think it was published in the LAweekly at the time. I know there were multiple chickens involved.

Francis Ford Coppola's Dracula's Gary Oldman's Werewolf's foam rubber genitals. Left in a Macy's bag on the front stoop of the Glendower Ackermuseum. Is there anymore to be said? We laughed until the latex deteriorated.

Neither Snow nor Rain nor Pumpkin Head!

My favorite postage stamp.

Mystery From the Ack's Museum!

You have puzzled to the likes of Marcel Duchamp!

"With Hidden Noise" (A bruit secret), 1916. A ball of twine between two brass plates, joined by four screws. An unknown object has been placed in the ball of twine by one of Duchamp's friends.

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Thrilled to the mysterious stone faces of Easter Island!

The large stone statues, or moai, for which Easter Island is world-famous, were carved from 1100-1680 CE (rectified radio-carbon dates). A total of 887 monolithic stone statues have been inventoried on the island and in museum collections so far.

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Now prepare yourself for the latest in modern mysteries!

Two sealed letters written by Forrest J Ackerman in 1956, to be delivered in the event of his untimely demise! What on Earth could be inside?

• A last will and testament?
• A message to a favorite waitress?
• The words "Sci-Fi"?
• A lock of hair for Mother?
• A final fantastic short story?

We may never know! Why, not even Joe Moe Know! But it's fun to speculate, ain't it? Please do speculate below...

Mr. Sci-Fi & The Pimp

What an interesting neighborhood! Iceberg Slim is interred a mere 9 cubicles away from Uncle Forry Ackerman! Wonder what they talk about?

Iceberg Slim (Aug. 4th, 1918 – April 28th, 1992) also known as Robert Maupin Beck, was an African-American author of books variously categorized as urban fiction, street literature, and black pulp fiction. He wrote Pimp and Trick Baby among his eight novels.

Forrest J Ackerman (Nov. 24th, 1916 – Dec. 4th, 2008) was one of the world's greatest Sci-Fi fans. He shared his collection of books, art and props for decades in his Ackemuseum of Sci-Fi, Fantsy and Horror. He also inspired countless young horror fans (50's thru 80's) through the pages of his iconic Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine.