Well, he's been gone since December, but it didn't really seem real until I saw the photos today of the empty house. Uncle Forry's collection was sold off last week. It brought in $295,000.

But our beloved uncle is gone. Not a good trade off, I would say.

Try to read this with a dry eye.

It's OK - my eyes needed a good washing-out anyway. It's the photo of that bare dying-room that pushed me over the edge.

Even after all these months, it didn't really seem real until I saw that.

I don't stop by here often, but I do know who you are.

My sympathies on the death of your uncle. Sounds like he had an interesting life, indeed.

Thank you for your kind words. He was a wonderful person, and everybody's uncle.

Dark Discoveries magazine available now. A tribute to 4E featuring Ray, Ray, and John Landis with Joe Dante.

Forry indeed took on the role of everybody's uncle. Wonder if he had any designated heirs or causes to which the proceeds went? Let me say I was in his home once, six years ago, and found it extremely neat and well-organized, well-kept in and out, doing much in little space. There was also at least one trusted helper as a young man came through while we were there.

That being said...there is a person in my town, YOUNGER THAN I, I mean, mid-forties, in the same situation. Lives like a pauper, though he has a home that was at one time worth a lot (now falling down with neglected yard) and (at one time, unless he's sold off some) valuable items in the home which could have been auctioned off. He has refused every possible offer of help to clean, organize, sell--anything. It's said that if something isn't done with the home SOON it will fall down long before he's ready to go, which would be a terrible loss to the community as it is a fine historic structure.

I received a delightful package from the ever adorable Ray Bradbury the other night. The two postage stamps adorning the face of the mailing envelope pictured Edgar Allan Poe. Ray drew a red painted arrow pointing in the direction of Poe with the words "MY PA" written ahead of it. Within the small package were his most recent Christmas poem, a handsome color photo of Ray standing next to a portrait of Edgar Allan, and a hand written note in red ink thanking me for some articles I'd written on composer Miklos Rozsa, as well as my personal tribute to our beloved Forry Ackerman in which I mentioned both Rays...Bradbury and Harryhausen. The note reads as follows...


Steve:


Thanks for "Mickey," 4E, Ray, & Me!


Love,


Ray

A semi-rare photo of a teenage Ray (on the left) and 4E in masks created by their friend, a designer of fantastical things by the name of Ray Harryhausen.

Ray is looking well!

Speaking of 4E's legacy living on...

http://www.famousmonstersoffilmland.com/

...And it hasn't forgotten its roots, either*:

http://www.famousmonstersoffil...agic-of-the-lantern/

http://www.famousmonstersoffil...top-motion-festival/


Steve, what an excellent gift, from an excellent man! Your "Twilight Zone" pieces are very good, btw.

Doug, what a fine photo...makes you want to jump in the Wayback Machine to a hot October evening long ago...

*Full Disclosure: I recently became the "classical-effects" editor of FM, and helped organize the Halloween stop-motion fest.

Uncle 4E would be ninety-three today. We miss you!

Uncle 4E left us one year ago today. We miss you 4E!

To be published this Fall by McFarland Press, a hardcover biography of Forrest J. Ackerman:

http://www.mcfarlandpub.com/bo...id=978-0-7864-4884-5

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Richard,

Thank you, Richard! I did not know about this book and will order one asap.
-Patricia

I just heard from Christine at Mystery & Imagination that there will be a Birthday celebration in honor of Forry's birthday on November 20th, 2010 at M & I ( http://www.mysteryandimagination.com/)

I thought some folks in or around the LA area might be interested in this!

- James
http://darkdiscoveries.com