The 1991 documentary video Hooray for Horrorwood presents collector and publisher Forrest J. Ackerman and his spectacular movie memorabilia collection.

Ackerman describes his life including when, at the age of nine in 1926, the October issue of Amazing Stories practically spoke to him imploring him to buy it. The rest of his life was devoted to horror, science fiction, and fantasy, with an emphasis on monsters. Ackerman is known for many things, including printing Ray Bradbury’s first story in 1938 and coining the term sci-fi in 1954. He was particularly proud of his long-running magazine, Famous Monsters of Filmland, which was published from 1958 to 1983.

This film is remarkable, being made when Ackerman still owned and operated the original “Ackermansion” with the world’s largest collection of original and reproduction artifacts from movies going back to the silent era. The collection also included thousands of related books and magazines. He talks of actors, many of whom he knew personally. Many film clips from classic horror movies are shown and various actors spotlighted including my personal favorite Vincent Price.

Various well known friends and fans speak, including author Ray Bradbury, who states that the ability to fantasize is the ability to survive. Bradbury and Ackerman were good friends from a young age, and Bradbury tells of frightening theater patrons on Halloween 1938 in a mask made by Ray Harryhausen, who went on to become a special effects genius. Ackerman also describes the famous War of the Worlds panic of the same Halloween.

Ackerman possessed great personal charm, which I experienced when visiting “Ackermansion II” or “Acker Mini-Mansion” in June 2003. Ackerman sold the original “Ackermansion” the previous year and moved, with a considerably reduced collection, into a smaller home. Sadly, his massive collection was broken up. The largest surviving portion can be seen at the Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame in Seattle, Washington, now part of the Museum of Pop Culture.

This 1991 documentary is an excellent opportunity to see some of the best artifacts Ackerman amassed and hear his own account of their significance. A highlight of the video is when Ackerman visits Robbie the Robot. Recommended for anyone with any interest whatsoever in science fiction, fantasy, or horror.