 | I just came across a documentary about editor of Famous Monsters Of Filmland, Forrest J Ackerman, called The AckerMonster Chronicles (2012). Famous Monsters Of Filmland was the famous horror, fantasy and sci-fi magazine that first came out as a special one-off edition in February 1958. It proved to be so popular however that it carried on being published by Warren Publishing right up until 1983. Warren also published the sister magazines Creepy, Eerie and comic book heroine Vampirella, that was originally created by Ackerman. The pair decided to publish the first edition of Famous Monsters Of Filmland, on the back of the success of the Shock Theater package released for TV syndication by Universal Studios. The package of 52 classic horror films, also spawned TV horror hosts across the country. |
| As super-fan of horror and sci-fi, Ackerman brought his own deep knowledge of cinema and an irreverent humour to the magazine, giving it a unique style no other magazine could compete with. There have been many imitators, but there was only one F.J. Ackerman. Not only was he the editor of the magazine, he was a science fiction writer, a literary agent and the man credited with creating the whole idea of sci-fi fandom. To which we are all grateful. As a literary agent Ackerman knew nearly every sci-fi writer of the 20th century, and managed some 200 of them. He is credited with encouraging and nurturing the early careers of such sc-fi luminaries as Ray Bradbury, L. Ron Hubbard, Ray Harryhausen and the literary career of the "worst director of all time" Ed Wood. As a writer he collaborated with some of the greats of sci-fi, and through his promotion sci-fi/horror film-makers' work, he inspired hundreds of people to follow their dreams and become film-makers themselves. |  |
