We remembered, with affection, one of the great characters of Los Angeles -- "characters" used with total love and respect -- last fall when Forrest J Ackerman passed away. Eccentric, friendly, and a huge, huge, huge movie buff (huge as Godzilla is tall, even), Uncle Forry helmed Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine, in addition to amassing hundreds of thousands of creepy and weird B-movie artifacts. Flick freaks, including this flick freak, would show at Forry's airy Los Feliz mansion on Saturdays for a free and *highly* entertaining tour, which even ventured into the dapper host's bathroom. Magic.
Now American Cinematheque is honoring Forrest J Ackerman (so one-of-a-kind he never used a period with his middle initial) at a starry tribute at the Egyptian Theatre on Sunday, March 8. Forry's compadre Ray Bradbury is attending, as is "Thriller" director John Landis. Expect a who's who of the horror and fantasy film worlds, and plenty of devoted fans, some likely bedecked in Dracula-like capes.
After the afternoon salute, American Cinematheque screens the post-apocalyptic "The Time Travelers" from 1964. It's no surprise that Uncle Forry had a cameo in the MGM feature, because Uncle Forry has a cameo in about every fifth sci-fi film out there, and watching for his appearance -- Forry loved to ham it up -- is something the audience enjoys. Sounds like a moving, and appropriately genre-ish, goodbye to a wonderful guy who brought much to our city, to pop culture, and to movie fans everywhere over many decades.
Sunday, March 8 (tribute 4PM; movie 7PM)
The Egyptian Theatre, 6712 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood
323-466-3456
