Ackerman-Owned Memorabilia on the Auction Block!
February 4th, 2009
Now's your chance to own some truly one-of-a-kind horror memorabilia that was part of Forrest J. Ackerman's extensive collection. I saw the news on Excite.com today that sometime during the last week of April (the date's still tentative), Profiles in Horror will be putting thousands of Ackerman's items up for bid.
They are said to include the Count Dracula ring worn by Bela Lugosi in the 1931 horror classic Dracula, the vampire cape Lugosi wore for decades - even the actor's outfit from the "worst film ever made," Ed Wood's cheesy Plan 9 From Outer Space. Also on the auction block will be such notable pieces as a signed, first-edition copy of Mary Shelley's novel Frankenstein and a first-edition copy of Bram Stoker's Dracula that was signed not only by Stoker but also Lugosi, Boris Karloff, and numerous other horror film notables.
Joe Maddalena, president of Profiles in History, had this to say about the collection: "I'm holding that stuff in my hand and I'm just like, 'Wow, these are his most iconic treasurers.'" He also said Ackerman's will stipulates that his estate's share of the profits be divided among his friends.
I can't even imagine what other riches are to be had here! Keep checking Profiles in History's website over the coming weeks for more details.
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This makes me sad. I know Forry wants the profits to go to his friends, but to see his collection broken up and sent to collectors, almost none of whom I am willing to bet will put the items on public display, distresses me. Especially after reading the stories about how people would take advantage of Forry's good nature and steal memorabilia from him. Maybe it's just the final evidence that Forry's gone that's making me melancholy.
Plus, I was hoping Bela's ring would stay on his hand to the grave.
Submitted by Chainsaw on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 10:50pm.
Man, this guy scored the motherlode. Those are most of the most treasured items in Forry's collection. The only ones super-close to him that aren't mentioned are Lon Chaney Sr.'s makeup kit and the robot from the original Metropolis (Forry's favorite movie). Stephen King's first story would be incredibly valuable as well, one would think, but I'm not sure if it meant as much personally to Forry, so I don't know if it survived the move from the Ackermansion.
I -am- glad to hear that at least these pieces survived, these are treasures for the world and, (dons fedora and grabs whip) they belong in a museum!
Mr. Dark
Part-Time Dread Central Gaming Guy
Full-Time Freelance Smartass
Submitted by Mr. Dark on Wed, 02/04/2009 - 3:24pm.