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Morbius19 is a group administrator Morbius19 says:
Mr Monster
a tribute to Forrest J Ackerman
by
Alan White
Alan writes:
Who can argue over the last 90 years, Forry Ackerman has stirred the gray matter of millions of fans the world over? Some to wonder, some to create, share, get involved, and more importantly, to think. The fact you are reading this is testament to Forry’s tenacity and love of life. And certainly, the legacy of the man will live beyond the pages, the movies, the collections, the conventions to all the people who will never know they’ve been touched by “Mr. Monster”, Forrest J (no period) Ackerman.
...
Whether you met Forry through the pages of some dusty tome, over a box of popcorn at a double horror matinee, a legendary Open House at the Ackermansion, the “Famous Monsters of Filmland” letter- column or shaking his hand at a convention, you are now charged with taking what you have and doing what you will to pass along the joy, the interest and enthusiasm that we all share to those less fortunate. If we don’t, then what does that say about ourselves?
IS THIS MAN SMILING?
105 boxes, a ton of treasures from my 62 years of collecting, went on the auction block in New York and for me it was a complete financial catastrophe and a personal tragedy.
“I hope you make a million,” said Don Wollheim in advance.
Anticipated Kenneth Galante, dealer: “You’ll make a billion!”
After the fact: “An unmitigated disaster” — Robert A. Madle, pioneer fan, collector, dealer.
“A horror chapter for New York Babylon”—Kenneth Anger, author of HOLLYWOOD BABYLON.
For the first issue, April 1926, of Amazing Stories I realized $36.
An inscribed foto of LON CHANEY SR, for which I anticipated wild bidding up to $5000, went for $50 ($40 to me).
With 3 issues of Schuster & Siegel’s “Science Fiction” currently in a catalog for $23,000, I expected the entire set by the creators of Superman would command $35-$50,000. (1 understand the world-class collection of Supermania is being leased to Cleveland for 5 years for $2 million.) My set: knocked down at $2750 ... less 20%
Two years ago I let go of my least favorite of three Brundage pastels for $25,000 (and no 20% commission to auctioneers). My second best (and, historically, her first published cover on Weird Tales) went for less than half that ... less commission!
Collectors' items were selling at 10%, even 5%, of estimated bids.
One dealer was heard to glee that what he bought for $80 he could sell for $500 ... Heinlein’s “Discovery of the Future” went for $600 (previously $1300 to a dealer) ... The 1912 “All-Story” featuring first publication of “TARZAN OF THE APES”, which the American Booksellers Association reported a couple years ago sold for something in excess of $8000 (and mine was inscribed by Edgar Rice Burroughs!) slipped away for $2500 ($2000 net to me) to a young Texas fan who decimated me afterward by informing me he’d been prepared to go $20,000!
It was a field day for buyers, “Freebie Time in the Candy Shop”; for me, Heartbreak Hotel. A major downfall for me was the lack of reserves on important pieces. I told the auctioneers in advance that I didn't want to part with a valuable piece worth, say, $25,000, for a tenth of its worth; that it should sell for at least no less than half its value; but they insisted that it was against their policy to have reserves: “You lose some but you win some and the bidders have to feel that it’s possible to get an occasional bargain” In reality, it was almost impossible not to get a bargain, and too late I learned that Vallejo and Frazetta et al did have reserves on their works: for instance, the highly-sought-after “Conan” was withdrawn when it raised (as I recall) “only” something like $42,500. My Brundage, “Tarzan”, “Fear” (Hubbard/Cartier), “Science Fiction” (Schuster & Siegel), inscribed Chaney and “Ghost of Slumber Mountain” posters definitely should have had reserves on them. The “Slumber Mountains” (no sleepers!) went for about one-third of what I paid for them and about one-fifth of what I (and others) anticipated they would fetch. Did it make sense for the Auction to profit 10 bucks on the sale of the Chaney portrait at the expense of a loss to me of a potential several thousand dollars??
Among those present at the debacle were Robert A. Madle, Erle Korshak, Julius Schwartz, Tom Savini, Boris Vallejo, Ron Borst, Mark Frank, Zacherly, Phil Riley, Sam Moskowitz, Stuart Schiff, Peter Michaels, EF Bleiler, Frederick C. Durant III, Barry Malzberg, John McLaughlin, Bruce Francis, Andrew Porter, Richard Bojarski, Harvey Clarke and David Hartwell, from Los Angeles, Texas, Canada, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, England and elsewhere. I have heard from Atlanta, France and Israel (!) that I was seen on TV. I think 499 of the approximately 500 present, told me I made their childhood or was their hero or idol or expressed some similarly warm and humbly appreciated sentiment. I was flattered that Isaac Asimov came with his wife and made opening remarks about me at the reception sponsored by OMNI. I have no complaint that I didn't receive all the (unexpected) egoboo one could ask for. But my goal of financial independence was radically unrealized. I won’t know for a month but my educated guess is that, after commission & taxes, I won’t wind up with more than $75,000 whereas my expectation had been for a sale in excess of half a million. Farewell, fond dreams, of another car (after 12 years), a vidicam recorder, money to restore & preserve important imagi-movie posters, spare cash to repay all major financial supporters of the Ackermuseum thru the years such as Mike LeVine, Bob Peterson, Charles Lorance, John Andrews, Peter Many Jr. et al, to invite quarter-century fan-correspondent Giovanni Scognamillo of Turkey to the Ackermansion at my expense, and in general play Scienti-Claus.
efanzines.com/MrMonster/index.htm To read the entire article please follow the link to the PDF.
Forry's party
view profile
Morbius19 is a group administrator Morbius19 says:
Mr Monster
a tribute to Forrest J Ackerman
by
Alan White
Alan writes:
Who can argue over the last 90 years, Forry Ackerman has stirred the gray matter of millions of fans the world over? Some to wonder, some to create, share, get involved, and more importantly, to think. The fact you are reading this is testament to Forry’s tenacity and love of life. And certainly, the legacy of the man will live beyond the pages, the movies, the collections, the conventions to all the people who will never know they’ve been touched by “Mr. Monster”, Forrest J (no period) Ackerman.
...
Whether you met Forry through the pages of some dusty tome, over a box of popcorn at a double horror matinee, a legendary Open House at the Ackermansion, the “Famous Monsters of Filmland” letter- column or shaking his hand at a convention, you are now charged with taking what you have and doing what you will to pass along the joy, the interest and enthusiasm that we all share to those less fortunate. If we don’t, then what does that say about ourselves?
IS THIS MAN SMILING?
105 boxes, a ton of treasures from my 62 years of collecting, went on the auction block in New York and for me it was a complete financial catastrophe and a personal tragedy.
“I hope you make a million,” said Don Wollheim in advance.
Anticipated Kenneth Galante, dealer: “You’ll make a billion!”
After the fact: “An unmitigated disaster” — Robert A. Madle, pioneer fan, collector, dealer.
“A horror chapter for New York Babylon”—Kenneth Anger, author of HOLLYWOOD BABYLON.
For the first issue, April 1926, of Amazing Stories I realized $36.
An inscribed foto of LON CHANEY SR, for which I anticipated wild bidding up to $5000, went for $50 ($40 to me).
With 3 issues of Schuster & Siegel’s “Science Fiction” currently in a catalog for $23,000, I expected the entire set by the creators of Superman would command $35-$50,000. (1 understand the world-class collection of Supermania is being leased to Cleveland for 5 years for $2 million.) My set: knocked down at $2750 ... less 20%
Two years ago I let go of my least favorite of three Brundage pastels for $25,000 (and no 20% commission to auctioneers). My second best (and, historically, her first published cover on Weird Tales) went for less than half that ... less commission!
Collectors' items were selling at 10%, even 5%, of estimated bids.
One dealer was heard to glee that what he bought for $80 he could sell for $500 ... Heinlein’s “Discovery of the Future” went for $600 (previously $1300 to a dealer) ... The 1912 “All-Story” featuring first publication of “TARZAN OF THE APES”, which the American Booksellers Association reported a couple years ago sold for something in excess of $8000 (and mine was inscribed by Edgar Rice Burroughs!) slipped away for $2500 ($2000 net to me) to a young Texas fan who decimated me afterward by informing me he’d been prepared to go $20,000!
It was a field day for buyers, “Freebie Time in the Candy Shop”; for me, Heartbreak Hotel. A major downfall for me was the lack of reserves on important pieces. I told the auctioneers in advance that I didn't want to part with a valuable piece worth, say, $25,000, for a tenth of its worth; that it should sell for at least no less than half its value; but they insisted that it was against their policy to have reserves: “You lose some but you win some and the bidders have to feel that it’s possible to get an occasional bargain” In reality, it was almost impossible not to get a bargain, and too late I learned that Vallejo and Frazetta et al did have reserves on their works: for instance, the highly-sought-after “Conan” was withdrawn when it raised (as I recall) “only” something like $42,500. My Brundage, “Tarzan”, “Fear” (Hubbard/Cartier), “Science Fiction” (Schuster & Siegel), inscribed Chaney and “Ghost of Slumber Mountain” posters definitely should have had reserves on them. The “Slumber Mountains” (no sleepers!) went for about one-third of what I paid for them and about one-fifth of what I (and others) anticipated they would fetch. Did it make sense for the Auction to profit 10 bucks on the sale of the Chaney portrait at the expense of a loss to me of a potential several thousand dollars??
Among those present at the debacle were Robert A. Madle, Erle Korshak, Julius Schwartz, Tom Savini, Boris Vallejo, Ron Borst, Mark Frank, Zacherly, Phil Riley, Sam Moskowitz, Stuart Schiff, Peter Michaels, EF Bleiler, Frederick C. Durant III, Barry Malzberg, John McLaughlin, Bruce Francis, Andrew Porter, Richard Bojarski, Harvey Clarke and David Hartwell, from Los Angeles, Texas, Canada, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, England and elsewhere. I have heard from Atlanta, France and Israel (!) that I was seen on TV. I think 499 of the approximately 500 present, told me I made their childhood or was their hero or idol or expressed some similarly warm and humbly appreciated sentiment. I was flattered that Isaac Asimov came with his wife and made opening remarks about me at the reception sponsored by OMNI. I have no complaint that I didn't receive all the (unexpected) egoboo one could ask for. But my goal of financial independence was radically unrealized. I won’t know for a month but my educated guess is that, after commission & taxes, I won’t wind up with more than $75,000 whereas my expectation had been for a sale in excess of half a million. Farewell, fond dreams, of another car (after 12 years), a vidicam recorder, money to restore & preserve important imagi-movie posters, spare cash to repay all major financial supporters of the Ackermuseum thru the years such as Mike LeVine, Bob Peterson, Charles Lorance, John Andrews, Peter Many Jr. et al, to invite quarter-century fan-correspondent Giovanni Scognamillo of Turkey to the Ackermansion at my expense, and in general play Scienti-Claus.
efanzines.com/MrMonster/index.htm To read the entire article please follow the link to the PDF.