WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.640 align:middle line:90% 00:00:01.640 --> 00:00:04.290 align:middle line:84% NARRATOR: Visiting With Huell Howser 00:00:04.290 --> 00:00:06.310 align:middle line:84% is made possible through a generous grant 00:00:06.310 --> 00:00:11.100 align:middle line:84% from the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. 00:00:11.100 --> 00:00:12.490 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Hello, everybody. 00:00:12.490 --> 00:00:15.000 align:middle line:84% I'm Huell Howser, and here we are 00:00:15.000 --> 00:00:17.550 align:middle line:90% in Los Feliz, up in the hills. 00:00:17.550 --> 00:00:22.440 align:middle line:84% We're standing in front of this amazing, old, historic house 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:25.770 align:middle line:90% which was built back in 1923. 00:00:25.770 --> 00:00:28.170 align:middle line:84% Now the architecture alone tells you 00:00:28.170 --> 00:00:30.150 align:middle line:90% that this is a special place. 00:00:30.150 --> 00:00:33.390 align:middle line:84% But we're going to spend the whole afternoon 00:00:33.390 --> 00:00:39.120 align:middle line:84% inside this house, because inside this house is something 00:00:39.120 --> 00:00:42.270 align:middle line:90% that you have to see to believe. 00:00:42.270 --> 00:00:45.600 align:middle line:84% And even when you see it, you might not believe it. 00:00:45.600 --> 00:00:48.120 align:middle line:90% Let's go inside. 00:00:48.120 --> 00:00:49.530 align:middle line:90% [KNOCKING] 00:00:49.530 --> 00:00:52.820 align:middle line:90% 00:00:52.820 --> 00:00:55.130 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Who dares disturb 00:00:55.130 --> 00:00:58.532 align:middle line:90% the sleep of the Acker Monster? 00:00:58.532 --> 00:01:00.620 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Mr. Ackerman, it's Huell Howser. 00:01:00.620 --> 00:01:01.796 align:middle line:90% Can I come in? 00:01:01.796 --> 00:01:05.209 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: I bid you welcome. 00:01:05.209 --> 00:01:08.195 align:middle line:90% Enter at your own risk. 00:01:08.195 --> 00:01:09.695 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, boy. 00:01:09.695 --> 00:01:13.680 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHS] Come on in, Louis. 00:01:13.680 --> 00:01:14.460 align:middle line:90% OK. 00:01:14.460 --> 00:01:18.660 align:middle line:84% We are inside, and let me formally introduce everyone-- 00:01:18.660 --> 00:01:20.760 align:middle line:90% come on over here Mr. Ackerman-- 00:01:20.760 --> 00:01:24.060 align:middle line:84% this is Mr. Forrest Ackerman who is-- 00:01:24.060 --> 00:01:26.970 align:middle line:84% well, there's no rival to you anywhere in the world. 00:01:26.970 --> 00:01:32.211 align:middle line:84% You are acknowledged to be Mr. Science Fiction. 00:01:32.211 --> 00:01:32.710 align:middle line:90% In fact-- 00:01:32.710 --> 00:01:34.501 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, not only this world 00:01:34.501 --> 00:01:36.310 align:middle line:84% but several others that I have visited. 00:01:36.310 --> 00:01:40.580 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: And you coined the expression "sci-fi." 00:01:40.580 --> 00:01:41.550 align:middle line:90% That's your word. 00:01:41.550 --> 00:01:42.508 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yeah. 00:01:42.508 --> 00:01:44.751 align:middle line:84% You'll look in vain for it before 1954. 00:01:44.751 --> 00:01:46.500 align:middle line:84% But I was riding around in the automobile. 00:01:46.500 --> 00:01:50.084 align:middle line:84% I had the radio on and heard some reference to hi-fi. 00:01:50.084 --> 00:01:52.500 align:middle line:84% And since science fiction had been on the tip of my tongue 00:01:52.500 --> 00:01:57.600 align:middle line:84% ever since 1929, I looked in the rear view mirror, 00:01:57.600 --> 00:02:01.005 align:middle line:84% stuck out my tongue, and there tattooed on the end 00:02:01.005 --> 00:02:03.240 align:middle line:84% of my tongue was [WHISPERING] "sci-fi." 00:02:03.240 --> 00:02:06.770 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: [WHISPERS] Sci-fi. 00:02:06.770 --> 00:02:07.830 align:middle line:90% You invented that word. 00:02:07.830 --> 00:02:09.038 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes, I did. 00:02:09.038 --> 00:02:11.009 align:middle line:84% Oh, by the way, you might like to take a look 00:02:11.009 --> 00:02:14.220 align:middle line:90% at Bela Lugosi's Dracula ring. 00:02:14.220 --> 00:02:16.740 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Now is that really the actual 00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:19.542 align:middle line:84% ring that Bela Lugosi wore in the Dracula movie. 00:02:19.542 --> 00:02:20.750 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Absolutely. 00:02:20.750 --> 00:02:23.476 align:middle line:84% There are carnelian with a silver overlay. 00:02:23.476 --> 00:02:25.440 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Now how did you get this ring? 00:02:25.440 --> 00:02:26.981 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: [DRACULA VOICE] Oh, 00:02:26.981 --> 00:02:28.800 align:middle line:90% don't be afraid. 00:02:28.800 --> 00:02:32.715 align:middle line:84% I never drink at Hollywood and Wine. 00:02:32.715 --> 00:02:34.380 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, boy. 00:02:34.380 --> 00:02:36.010 align:middle line:84% We're in for a lot of this afternoon. 00:02:36.010 --> 00:02:36.510 align:middle line:90% Aren't we? 00:02:36.510 --> 00:02:37.843 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: I'm afraid so. 00:02:37.843 --> 00:02:39.420 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Your home-- 00:02:39.420 --> 00:02:43.200 align:middle line:84% in case you haven't caught on yet-- your home from ceiling 00:02:43.200 --> 00:02:45.245 align:middle line:90% to floor is sci-fi. 00:02:45.245 --> 00:02:46.620 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: That's correct. 00:02:46.620 --> 00:02:48.390 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Including right over here in the corner. 00:02:48.390 --> 00:02:49.080 align:middle line:90% Now what's this? 00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:52.680 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: That's from the TV series Battlestar 00:02:52.680 --> 00:02:54.330 align:middle line:90% Galactica. 00:02:54.330 --> 00:02:57.180 align:middle line:84% And it turned up in another film which 00:02:57.180 --> 00:02:59.160 align:middle line:90% I had one of my many cameos. 00:02:59.160 --> 00:03:01.916 align:middle line:90% I've done 94 cameos to date. 00:03:01.916 --> 00:03:02.790 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Really? 00:03:02.790 --> 00:03:05.500 align:middle line:84% So you've been in sci-fi movies as well. 00:03:05.500 --> 00:03:07.500 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, I was a future President 00:03:07.500 --> 00:03:11.430 align:middle line:84% of the United States in Amazon Women on the Moon. 00:03:11.430 --> 00:03:14.315 align:middle line:84% Next film I graduated, became president of the world. 00:03:14.315 --> 00:03:15.190 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Uh huh. 00:03:15.190 --> 00:03:18.240 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Then after two terms, I was out of a job. 00:03:18.240 --> 00:03:20.370 align:middle line:84% And all I could get was to be a judge 00:03:20.370 --> 00:03:22.059 align:middle line:90% in Nudist Colony of the Dead. 00:03:22.059 --> 00:03:23.850 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Well, now, I missed that one. 00:03:23.850 --> 00:03:24.820 align:middle line:90% Nudist Colony of the Dead. 00:03:24.820 --> 00:03:25.380 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Oh, you lucky devil. 00:03:25.380 --> 00:03:26.490 align:middle line:90% You lucky devil. 00:03:26.490 --> 00:03:27.865 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Let's walk in here. 00:03:27.865 --> 00:03:28.781 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:03:28.781 --> 00:03:30.780 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Louis, we are in for a treat. 00:03:30.780 --> 00:03:32.460 align:middle line:84% We're going to keep Louis busy today 00:03:32.460 --> 00:03:36.825 align:middle line:84% because there is so much to see including, in this case. 00:03:36.825 --> 00:03:37.860 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:03:37.860 --> 00:03:41.160 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: I've already been in and scoped some of this out. 00:03:41.160 --> 00:03:42.735 align:middle line:90% This is-- 00:03:42.735 --> 00:03:44.880 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: That's the artificial blood 00:03:44.880 --> 00:03:46.930 align:middle line:84% that they use in the Dracula films. 00:03:46.930 --> 00:03:47.850 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, boy. 00:03:47.850 --> 00:03:50.137 align:middle line:90% And here is Dracula right here. 00:03:50.137 --> 00:03:51.720 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Bela Lugosi himself. 00:03:51.720 --> 00:03:54.660 align:middle line:84% Yes, I befriended him the last three years of his life. 00:03:54.660 --> 00:03:57.270 align:middle line:84% Was with him just two weeks before he 00:03:57.270 --> 00:04:00.210 align:middle line:84% was lying on his death bed and was the 101st person 00:04:00.210 --> 00:04:03.000 align:middle line:84% to pass by his casket in the funeral. 00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:04.200 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, boy. 00:04:04.200 --> 00:04:05.055 align:middle line:90% Now what are these? 00:04:05.055 --> 00:04:08.610 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Oh, those are Quarry's ghoulish teeth 00:04:08.610 --> 00:04:11.665 align:middle line:90% from one of his Dracula films. 00:04:11.665 --> 00:04:12.540 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Quarry. 00:04:12.540 --> 00:04:13.200 align:middle line:90% Now I'm not familiar with him. 00:04:13.200 --> 00:04:14.090 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Robert Quarry. 00:04:14.090 --> 00:04:16.339 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: He played Dracula in some of the early-- 00:04:16.339 --> 00:04:19.350 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, he played a vampire. 00:04:19.350 --> 00:04:20.970 align:middle line:90% Yes. 00:04:20.970 --> 00:04:27.510 align:middle line:84% And here I have 255 different editions of Frankenstein. 00:04:27.510 --> 00:04:31.380 align:middle line:84% But in this one, I have the signature of the teenager Mary 00:04:31.380 --> 00:04:33.240 align:middle line:90% Shelley who wrote it. 00:04:33.240 --> 00:04:35.820 align:middle line:84% And this leaf I brought back from Switzerland 00:04:35.820 --> 00:04:38.730 align:middle line:84% from her garden where she dreamed up Frankenstein. 00:04:38.730 --> 00:04:42.110 align:middle line:84% And finally, that is a leaf from atop her tomb in England. 00:04:42.110 --> 00:04:44.354 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: And we have a picture of you visiting-- 00:04:44.354 --> 00:04:45.270 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:04:45.270 --> 00:04:46.510 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: --her tomb. 00:04:46.510 --> 00:04:47.934 align:middle line:90% Now, her name again is-- 00:04:47.934 --> 00:04:49.225 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Mary Shelley. 00:04:49.225 --> 00:04:50.557 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: And she wrote-- 00:04:50.557 --> 00:04:51.765 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: She wrote-- 00:04:51.765 --> 00:04:52.230 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: --Frankenstein. 00:04:52.230 --> 00:04:53.880 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: I don't know whether Frankenstein ever 00:04:53.880 --> 00:04:54.570 align:middle line:90% wrote back. 00:04:54.570 --> 00:04:56.020 align:middle line:90% That hasn't been determined. 00:04:56.020 --> 00:04:57.750 align:middle line:84% But, yes, she wrote Frankenstein. 00:04:57.750 --> 00:05:02.910 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Now these are amazing pieces of memorabilia 00:05:02.910 --> 00:05:04.184 align:middle line:90% you have collected. 00:05:04.184 --> 00:05:06.100 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Bela Lugosi, when I met him, 00:05:06.100 --> 00:05:08.550 align:middle line:84% he'd had 25 statuettes of himself 00:05:08.550 --> 00:05:10.569 align:middle line:90% as Dracula made in Hungary. 00:05:10.569 --> 00:05:11.610 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Right here. 00:05:11.610 --> 00:05:12.180 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Right there. 00:05:12.180 --> 00:05:14.760 align:middle line:84% And he gave me one, and an earthquake promptly 00:05:14.760 --> 00:05:16.240 align:middle line:90% destroyed it. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:17.840 align:middle line:90% So he gave me another. 00:05:17.840 --> 00:05:20.900 align:middle line:84% And at that point he was down to just one left. 00:05:20.900 --> 00:05:26.940 align:middle line:84% And finally, his widow, over in the Hawaiian Islands, 00:05:26.940 --> 00:05:28.350 align:middle line:90% she had the last one. 00:05:28.350 --> 00:05:28.840 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: What is this? 00:05:28.840 --> 00:05:31.006 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, that is from Czechoslovakia. 00:05:31.006 --> 00:05:34.580 align:middle line:84% There's a creature they call "The Man of Clay." 00:05:34.580 --> 00:05:37.110 align:middle line:90% This is called a golem. 00:05:37.110 --> 00:05:39.450 align:middle line:84% And that's been made as the film three or four times. 00:05:39.450 --> 00:05:41.520 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: So you really are-- 00:05:41.520 --> 00:05:43.380 align:middle line:90% I mean, you know-- 00:05:43.380 --> 00:05:44.130 align:middle line:90% Oh, my gosh. 00:05:44.130 --> 00:05:45.060 align:middle line:90% Look over here. 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:45.450 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Oh. 00:05:45.450 --> 00:05:45.810 align:middle line:90% [CHUCKLES] 00:05:45.810 --> 00:05:46.768 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: This is-- 00:05:46.768 --> 00:05:50.280 align:middle line:90% You've got it all here-- 00:05:50.280 --> 00:05:55.290 align:middle line:84% all the films here, all the Boris Karloff films, 00:05:55.290 --> 00:06:00.700 align:middle line:84% made-for-TV movies, correspondence-- 00:06:00.700 --> 00:06:02.330 align:middle line:84% you've got it all cataloged here. 00:06:02.330 --> 00:06:03.640 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:06:03.640 --> 00:06:04.880 align:middle line:90% Well, I was very fortunate. 00:06:04.880 --> 00:06:06.985 align:middle line:84% I picked the right pair of maternal grandparents. 00:06:06.985 --> 00:06:09.810 align:middle line:84% I wasted the first five and a half years of my life. 00:06:09.810 --> 00:06:14.350 align:middle line:84% But in 1922 they took me to a film who had a little spook 00:06:14.350 --> 00:06:17.980 align:middle line:84% in it, and they realized that was the kind of movie 00:06:17.980 --> 00:06:18.880 align:middle line:90% I wanted to see. 00:06:18.880 --> 00:06:22.990 align:middle line:84% So a man named Lon Chaney came along and began making movies 00:06:22.990 --> 00:06:25.080 align:middle line:84% for me, like The Phantom of the Opera 00:06:25.080 --> 00:06:26.657 align:middle line:90% and The Hunchback of Notre Dame. 00:06:26.657 --> 00:06:28.240 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: You got hooked as a kid. 00:06:28.240 --> 00:06:30.040 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yeah, and I got hooked. 00:06:30.040 --> 00:06:32.650 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: And evidently, you've been hooked ever since. 00:06:32.650 --> 00:06:34.637 align:middle line:84% I'm wondering about this over here. 00:06:34.637 --> 00:06:36.220 align:middle line:84% I was just looking over your shoulder. 00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:38.320 align:middle line:84% Now this doesn't necessarily look 00:06:38.320 --> 00:06:40.750 align:middle line:90% like it was from a horror film. 00:06:40.750 --> 00:06:44.530 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, they made a movie out 00:06:44.530 --> 00:06:46.840 align:middle line:90% of my character Vampirella. 00:06:46.840 --> 00:06:49.319 align:middle line:84% And Talisa Soto wore that as the-- 00:06:49.319 --> 00:06:50.360 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: [INAUDIBLE] 00:06:50.360 --> 00:06:52.526 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: --as the woman from another world. 00:06:52.526 --> 00:06:54.220 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Now this looks like a-- 00:06:54.220 --> 00:06:55.480 align:middle line:90% this is a comic book. 00:06:55.480 --> 00:06:55.870 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:06:55.870 --> 00:06:56.470 align:middle line:90% That's right. 00:06:56.470 --> 00:06:57.520 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Vampirella. 00:06:57.520 --> 00:06:59.436 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Still being published today. 00:06:59.436 --> 00:07:01.270 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Did you come up with this? 00:07:01.270 --> 00:07:01.570 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:07:01.570 --> 00:07:02.635 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: This is your character. 00:07:02.635 --> 00:07:04.160 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: It's my character. 00:07:04.160 --> 00:07:04.659 align:middle line:90% Yes. 00:07:04.659 --> 00:07:06.190 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Wow. 00:07:06.190 --> 00:07:07.720 align:middle line:90% So you write. 00:07:07.720 --> 00:07:09.370 align:middle line:90% You collect. 00:07:09.370 --> 00:07:11.559 align:middle line:90% You act. 00:07:11.559 --> 00:07:12.600 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: I edit. 00:07:12.600 --> 00:07:14.766 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Obviously, you live here in this house 00:07:14.766 --> 00:07:17.390 align:middle line:84% because here's your ironing board out here in the middle. 00:07:17.390 --> 00:07:17.880 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:07:17.880 --> 00:07:18.380 align:middle line:90% [CHUCKLES] 00:07:18.380 --> 00:07:21.550 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: We forget this is actually your house, as well 00:07:21.550 --> 00:07:22.240 align:middle line:90% as a museum. 00:07:22.240 --> 00:07:26.290 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, it's 18 rooms with 300,000 things in it 00:07:26.290 --> 00:07:28.780 align:middle line:84% of that nature that you're looking at. 00:07:28.780 --> 00:07:29.305 align:middle line:90% Every room. 00:07:29.305 --> 00:07:30.680 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Now, wait a minute. 00:07:30.680 --> 00:07:31.560 align:middle line:90% What is this? 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:32.545 align:middle line:90% This looks important. 00:07:32.545 --> 00:07:35.920 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, there's the Lon Chaney lost film, 00:07:35.920 --> 00:07:39.550 align:middle line:84% London After Midnight, which I saw in 1929. 00:07:39.550 --> 00:07:41.140 align:middle line:90% And it hasn't been seen since. 00:07:41.140 --> 00:07:45.040 align:middle line:84% But that is the beaver hat that he wore and the ghoulish teeth. 00:07:45.040 --> 00:07:46.640 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Look at those teeth. 00:07:46.640 --> 00:07:47.700 align:middle line:90% Now how did you get-- 00:07:47.700 --> 00:07:53.620 align:middle line:84% Oh, wait a minute, here is the movie poster from that. 00:07:53.620 --> 00:07:56.740 align:middle line:90% London After Midnight back in-- 00:07:56.740 --> 00:07:57.910 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: 1929. 00:07:57.910 --> 00:08:00.640 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Wow. 00:08:00.640 --> 00:08:03.820 align:middle line:84% How many of these pieces of memorabilia 00:08:03.820 --> 00:08:05.320 align:middle line:90% do you have in here. 00:08:05.320 --> 00:08:08.610 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, 300,000 things altogether. 00:08:08.610 --> 00:08:10.690 align:middle line:90% There are 50,000 books. 00:08:10.690 --> 00:08:11.580 align:middle line:90% Yes. 00:08:11.580 --> 00:08:13.370 align:middle line:90% Oh, I can read your mind. 00:08:13.370 --> 00:08:14.950 align:middle line:90% You're about to say, surely-- 00:08:14.950 --> 00:08:15.920 align:middle line:90% Don't call me, Shirley. 00:08:15.920 --> 00:08:20.020 align:middle line:84% [CHUCKLES] --you haven't read all those books. 00:08:20.020 --> 00:08:22.505 align:middle line:84% I've read every last word in my collection. 00:08:22.505 --> 00:08:23.380 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Really? 00:08:23.380 --> 00:08:25.046 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: When I get a new book, 00:08:25.046 --> 00:08:28.251 align:middle line:84% I turn to the last page and read the last word. 00:08:28.251 --> 00:08:30.250 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Now where do you keep these books? 00:08:30.250 --> 00:08:31.310 align:middle line:90% I haven't seen any books. 00:08:31.310 --> 00:08:31.809 align:middle line:90% 00:08:31.809 --> 00:08:33.640 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Oh, well, down below 00:08:33.640 --> 00:08:35.604 align:middle line:90% you'll see 50,000 of them. 00:08:35.604 --> 00:08:37.270 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Yeah, that was my lead in. 00:08:37.270 --> 00:08:41.190 align:middle line:84% That was a little acting on my part, because you do have-- 00:08:41.190 --> 00:08:43.357 align:middle line:84% I mean, this is just the tip of the iceberg up here. 00:08:43.357 --> 00:08:44.648 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: That's right. 00:08:44.648 --> 00:08:46.150 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: We are actually going 00:08:46.150 --> 00:08:49.695 align:middle line:84% to head downstairs to see the real collection. 00:08:49.695 --> 00:08:51.070 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, first you 00:08:51.070 --> 00:08:52.840 align:middle line:90% may want to see the kitchen. 00:08:52.840 --> 00:08:56.420 align:middle line:84% In desperation, I'm turning it into an art gallery. 00:08:56.420 --> 00:09:01.515 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: [LAUGHS] We're going into the kitchen. 00:09:01.515 --> 00:09:04.380 align:middle line:90% 00:09:04.380 --> 00:09:06.174 align:middle line:90% Oh, my gosh. 00:09:06.174 --> 00:09:07.590 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: There I was with 00:09:07.590 --> 00:09:09.810 align:middle line:90% my first abominable snowman. 00:09:09.810 --> 00:09:12.320 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Look at this, Louis. 00:09:12.320 --> 00:09:13.860 align:middle line:84% Now that's what you started with? 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:15.015 align:middle line:90% The abominable snowman. 00:09:15.015 --> 00:09:16.195 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes 00:09:16.195 --> 00:09:18.060 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Wow. 00:09:18.060 --> 00:09:21.104 align:middle line:84% And you've got every wall in the kitchen cupboard-- 00:09:21.104 --> 00:09:22.020 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:09:22.020 --> 00:09:23.250 align:middle line:90% Well, my wife came home. 00:09:23.250 --> 00:09:24.750 align:middle line:84% When she opened the refrigerator she 00:09:24.750 --> 00:09:27.750 align:middle line:84% found reels of film instead of food. 00:09:27.750 --> 00:09:30.120 align:middle line:84% And she realized the end had come. 00:09:30.120 --> 00:09:32.710 align:middle line:84% I had this wonderful wife for 41 years, 00:09:32.710 --> 00:09:34.240 align:middle line:90% but we got mugged in Italy. 00:09:34.240 --> 00:09:39.120 align:middle line:84% And 11 years ago she lost her life as an aftermath of that. 00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:40.650 align:middle line:90% She was a Polish girl. 00:09:40.650 --> 00:09:45.690 align:middle line:84% And she translated a 150 science fiction books from French 00:09:45.690 --> 00:09:47.280 align:middle line:90% and German into English. 00:09:47.280 --> 00:09:49.994 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: So her love was science fiction as well? 00:09:49.994 --> 00:09:50.910 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:09:50.910 --> 00:09:52.960 align:middle line:84% Let me tell you a amusing little story. 00:09:52.960 --> 00:09:55.230 align:middle line:84% When I met her, her accent was a combination 00:09:55.230 --> 00:09:56.875 align:middle line:90% of German, French, and British. 00:09:56.875 --> 00:09:58.750 align:middle line:84% And I had never heard anything quite like it. 00:09:58.750 --> 00:10:01.500 align:middle line:84% I said, oh, where'd that interesting accent come from? 00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:05.280 align:middle line:84% Well, she was very proud of her origin, 00:10:05.280 --> 00:10:08.640 align:middle line:84% and she haughtily replied, oh, my ancestors 00:10:08.640 --> 00:10:12.690 align:middle line:84% were highly civilized while yours were hanging 00:10:12.690 --> 00:10:14.100 align:middle line:90% by their tails from trees. 00:10:14.100 --> 00:10:15.210 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHTER] 00:10:15.210 --> 00:10:17.040 align:middle line:84% Naturally, I never spoke to her again. 00:10:17.040 --> 00:10:17.915 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, no. 00:10:17.915 --> 00:10:18.818 align:middle line:90% You just married her. 00:10:18.818 --> 00:10:20.490 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHTER] 00:10:20.490 --> 00:10:23.635 align:middle line:84% All right, we're taking the house tour upstairs. 00:10:23.635 --> 00:10:24.510 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: OK. 00:10:24.510 --> 00:10:26.820 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: But we've got to now-- 00:10:26.820 --> 00:10:27.903 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Descend. 00:10:27.903 --> 00:10:30.000 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: --move quickly and descend. 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:31.530 align:middle line:90% Oh, my gosh. 00:10:31.530 --> 00:10:32.130 align:middle line:90% Look at this. 00:10:32.130 --> 00:10:34.120 align:middle line:84% His whole little collection right here. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.390 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes, all Frankensteins and Draculas. 00:10:36.390 --> 00:10:39.210 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Now, do you have a favorite Frankenstein 00:10:39.210 --> 00:10:40.080 align:middle line:90% or Dracula? 00:10:40.080 --> 00:10:42.220 align:middle line:90% Or do the two kind of-- 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:44.880 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, I-- 00:10:44.880 --> 00:10:50.070 align:middle line:84% Christmas day, 1931, I hadn't read the book Frankenstein, 00:10:50.070 --> 00:10:53.850 align:middle line:84% and I went down to the theater to see the premiere of it. 00:10:53.850 --> 00:10:57.780 align:middle line:84% It might just as well have been called McDonald's or any kind 00:10:57.780 --> 00:11:00.840 align:middle line:84% of a name, because it was meaningless at the time. 00:11:00.840 --> 00:11:03.420 align:middle line:84% Of course, today it conjures up the vision 00:11:03.420 --> 00:11:08.190 align:middle line:84% of the Boris Karloff Frankenstein 00:11:08.190 --> 00:11:11.770 align:middle line:84% with the wonderful makeup by Jack Pierce. 00:11:11.770 --> 00:11:13.916 align:middle line:84% But in front of the theater there was an ambulance. 00:11:13.916 --> 00:11:14.790 align:middle line:90% And I thought, uh oh. 00:11:14.790 --> 00:11:17.370 align:middle line:84% What kind of a movie am I getting into? 00:11:17.370 --> 00:11:22.880 align:middle line:84% Inside there were nurses standing. 00:11:22.880 --> 00:11:23.380 align:middle line:90% Gee. 00:11:23.380 --> 00:11:26.270 align:middle line:84% And about the middle of the film, a lady on the aisle 00:11:26.270 --> 00:11:29.772 align:middle line:84% screamed, jumped up, ran out of the theater. 00:11:29.772 --> 00:11:31.230 align:middle line:84% Well, in those days, you could stay 00:11:31.230 --> 00:11:33.870 align:middle line:84% to see a movie as many times as you wanted to. 00:11:33.870 --> 00:11:37.830 align:middle line:84% So I stayed to see it a second time and the third time. 00:11:37.830 --> 00:11:41.610 align:middle line:84% And every time, at the [LAUGHS] same time a lady on the aisle 00:11:41.610 --> 00:11:43.770 align:middle line:84% screamed, jumped up, and ran out the theater. 00:11:43.770 --> 00:11:46.500 align:middle line:84% So I was introduced to Hollywood hype that way. 00:11:46.500 --> 00:11:49.380 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, so you mean that was all done as a gimmick? 00:11:49.380 --> 00:11:50.880 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes, as a gimmick. 00:11:50.880 --> 00:11:52.830 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: So the people standing outside 00:11:52.830 --> 00:11:54.165 align:middle line:90% would see somebody screaming-- 00:11:54.165 --> 00:11:55.030 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Someone running out. 00:11:55.030 --> 00:11:55.200 align:middle line:90% Yes. 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:56.866 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: --going into an ambulance. 00:11:56.866 --> 00:11:57.400 align:middle line:90% Oh, my gosh. 00:11:57.400 --> 00:11:58.930 align:middle line:84% Well, but now here's the Wolfman. 00:11:58.930 --> 00:12:00.370 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:12:00.370 --> 00:12:02.680 align:middle line:90% Lon Chaney, Jr. The Wolfman. 00:12:02.680 --> 00:12:03.452 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Wow. 00:12:03.452 --> 00:12:05.465 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Poor Larry Talbot. 00:12:05.465 --> 00:12:06.840 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: That's who played-- 00:12:06.840 --> 00:12:08.250 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: The Wolfman. 00:12:08.250 --> 00:12:13.420 align:middle line:84% Lon Chaney, Jr. Character created by my late friend Curt 00:12:13.420 --> 00:12:14.070 align:middle line:90% Siodmak. 00:12:14.070 --> 00:12:16.720 align:middle line:84% He just passed away at the age of 98. 00:12:16.720 --> 00:12:19.650 align:middle line:84% I had known him for about 50 years. 00:12:19.650 --> 00:12:22.320 align:middle line:84% He gave us that famous saying, "Even a man who 00:12:22.320 --> 00:12:26.040 align:middle line:84% is pure in heart and says his prayers by night 00:12:26.040 --> 00:12:29.990 align:middle line:84% may become a wolf when the wolfbane blooms and the moon 00:12:29.990 --> 00:12:32.340 align:middle line:90% if full and bright." 00:12:32.340 --> 00:12:33.840 align:middle line:90% [WHISPER] Woo. 00:12:33.840 --> 00:12:37.555 align:middle line:90% I'm scaring myself. 00:12:37.555 --> 00:12:44.610 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: The tour continues going down into the-- 00:12:44.610 --> 00:12:47.240 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Are you brave enough for the dungeon? 00:12:47.240 --> 00:12:49.460 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, you don't scare me. 00:12:49.460 --> 00:12:50.994 align:middle line:90% I don't think I'm scared yet. 00:12:50.994 --> 00:12:51.910 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yet. 00:12:51.910 --> 00:12:52.410 align:middle line:90% Well-- 00:12:52.410 --> 00:12:53.330 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Yes. 00:12:53.330 --> 00:12:54.620 align:middle line:90% But who knows? 00:12:54.620 --> 00:12:59.371 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHS] Where are we going now? 00:12:59.371 --> 00:13:01.980 align:middle line:84% Louis, maybe you should go in first. 00:13:01.980 --> 00:13:02.580 align:middle line:90% Follow him in. 00:13:02.580 --> 00:13:05.060 align:middle line:90% I want to see what happens. 00:13:05.060 --> 00:13:06.320 align:middle line:90% Where are you taking us? 00:13:06.320 --> 00:13:07.820 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: There's a gremlin. 00:13:07.820 --> 00:13:10.310 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, look. 00:13:10.310 --> 00:13:12.995 align:middle line:90% Now that's from the movie. 00:13:12.995 --> 00:13:16.345 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: This is from The Tingler. 00:13:16.345 --> 00:13:18.290 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, that was a great one. 00:13:18.290 --> 00:13:18.560 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Rah! 00:13:18.560 --> 00:13:20.420 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, that was a great one. 00:13:20.420 --> 00:13:22.470 align:middle line:90% The Tingler. 00:13:22.470 --> 00:13:24.830 align:middle line:84% Oh, that was one of the classics. 00:13:24.830 --> 00:13:26.104 align:middle line:90% And this is from the Gremlin. 00:13:26.104 --> 00:13:27.020 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:13:27.020 --> 00:13:31.757 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: And more, you like these movie posters. 00:13:31.757 --> 00:13:32.840 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Posters. 00:13:32.840 --> 00:13:33.339 align:middle line:90% Yes. 00:13:33.339 --> 00:13:34.640 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: King Kong. 00:13:34.640 --> 00:13:36.700 align:middle line:90% The Mummy. 00:13:36.700 --> 00:13:38.100 align:middle line:90% Frankenstein and the Wolfman. 00:13:38.100 --> 00:13:38.800 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: And there's The Bride of Frankenstein. 00:13:38.800 --> 00:13:40.830 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: The Curse of the Cat People. 00:13:40.830 --> 00:13:43.030 align:middle line:84% Here are all your books down here. 00:13:43.030 --> 00:13:46.180 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: No, those are just Pocket Books. 00:13:46.180 --> 00:13:50.710 align:middle line:84% I'll take you through the hardcover books. 00:13:50.710 --> 00:13:52.760 align:middle line:84% Little bit of an overflow in there. 00:13:52.760 --> 00:13:54.250 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, my gosh. 00:13:54.250 --> 00:13:56.270 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Bela Lugosi wore this 00:13:56.270 --> 00:14:00.370 align:middle line:90% in the film The Invisible Ray. 00:14:00.370 --> 00:14:01.690 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, my gosh. 00:14:01.690 --> 00:14:04.480 align:middle line:90% 00:14:04.480 --> 00:14:05.525 align:middle line:90% Here's another little-- 00:14:05.525 --> 00:14:05.950 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Another alcove. 00:14:05.950 --> 00:14:07.930 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, here's more books in here 00:14:07.930 --> 00:14:10.147 align:middle line:84% as far as you can see back over here. 00:14:10.147 --> 00:14:12.730 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: I wonder, do you to think any of the viewers 00:14:12.730 --> 00:14:14.917 align:middle line:84% would be interested in adopting this little child? 00:14:14.917 --> 00:14:16.000 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Who is this? 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:18.458 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Oh, don't tell me I've changed that much. 00:14:18.458 --> 00:14:23.390 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: [LAUGHS] That's wonderful. 00:14:23.390 --> 00:14:24.176 align:middle line:90% Oh, my gosh. 00:14:24.176 --> 00:14:25.050 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: OK. 00:14:25.050 --> 00:14:25.780 align:middle line:90% Now here are-- 00:14:25.780 --> 00:14:27.321 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Watch your step, Louis. 00:14:27.321 --> 00:14:31.340 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: --125,000 stills from the last 100 years 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:33.764 align:middle line:84% all around the world of all the fantastic movies. 00:14:33.764 --> 00:14:35.555 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Can I pull out the King Kong? 00:14:35.555 --> 00:14:37.670 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Frankenstein. 00:14:37.670 --> 00:14:38.375 align:middle line:90% King Kong. 00:14:38.375 --> 00:14:41.335 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: King Kong. 00:14:41.335 --> 00:14:41.835 align:middle line:90% Wow. 00:14:41.835 --> 00:14:43.310 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Close Encounters. 00:14:43.310 --> 00:14:44.745 align:middle line:90% Exorcist. 00:14:44.745 --> 00:14:45.870 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Look at this. 00:14:45.870 --> 00:14:46.100 align:middle line:90% [FILE DRAWERS RATTLING] 00:14:46.100 --> 00:14:47.830 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Everything of that fantastic era. 00:14:47.830 --> 00:14:49.330 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Now, these collections 00:14:49.330 --> 00:14:50.720 align:middle line:90% have been going on for-- 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:54.720 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Since 1930, I got my first set of stills. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:59.899 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Now this has to be a world famous collection here. 00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:01.440 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: As I said, not only 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:03.450 align:middle line:90% this world but several others. 00:15:03.450 --> 00:15:04.710 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, boy. 00:15:04.710 --> 00:15:05.460 align:middle line:90% Oh, wait a minute. 00:15:05.460 --> 00:15:06.520 align:middle line:90% This is interesting. 00:15:06.520 --> 00:15:07.170 align:middle line:90% Look at this. 00:15:07.170 --> 00:15:08.230 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:15:08.230 --> 00:15:12.530 align:middle line:84% There's Jack Pierce making up Frankenstein. 00:15:12.530 --> 00:15:15.020 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Jack Pierce was one of the early Hollywood 00:15:15.020 --> 00:15:15.520 align:middle line:90% makeup-- 00:15:15.520 --> 00:15:17.010 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: He sure was. 00:15:17.010 --> 00:15:18.930 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: And he specialized, probably, 00:15:18.930 --> 00:15:19.495 align:middle line:90% in horror. 00:15:19.495 --> 00:15:21.071 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: That's right. 00:15:21.071 --> 00:15:21.570 align:middle line:90% Yes. 00:15:21.570 --> 00:15:23.160 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: See, for those of us 00:15:23.160 --> 00:15:26.190 align:middle line:84% who don't really know a lot about this, 00:15:26.190 --> 00:15:28.260 align:middle line:84% this is a real education for people 00:15:28.260 --> 00:15:30.490 align:middle line:90% coming into a place like this. 00:15:30.490 --> 00:15:32.940 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Here at the corner of Santa Monica 00:15:32.940 --> 00:15:38.550 align:middle line:84% and Western in October 1926, little nine-year-old 00:15:38.550 --> 00:15:40.620 align:middle line:84% me was standing in front of a newsstand. 00:15:40.620 --> 00:15:44.400 align:middle line:84% And this magazine jumped off the newsstand, grabbed hold of me. 00:15:44.400 --> 00:15:47.190 align:middle line:84% And you're too young to know, but in those days, 00:15:47.190 --> 00:15:49.110 align:middle line:90% magazines spoke. 00:15:49.110 --> 00:15:51.360 align:middle line:84% This one said, "Take me home, little boy. 00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.860 align:middle line:90% You will love me." 00:15:52.860 --> 00:15:54.500 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Amazing Stories. 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:57.190 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: And the artist redrew 00:15:57.190 --> 00:16:02.930 align:middle line:84% it, moved me into the picture, made Amazing Forries. 00:16:02.930 --> 00:16:06.190 align:middle line:84% Moved it 100 years into the future. 00:16:06.190 --> 00:16:10.466 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Look at all these magazines and books. 00:16:10.466 --> 00:16:11.220 align:middle line:90% Oh, wow. 00:16:11.220 --> 00:16:12.761 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: All these magazines 00:16:12.761 --> 00:16:16.020 align:middle line:84% that begin in 1923 with complete sets of Weird Tales 00:16:16.020 --> 00:16:17.645 align:middle line:84% and Amazing Stories and Wonder Stories. 00:16:17.645 --> 00:16:20.170 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: And look at this. 00:16:20.170 --> 00:16:23.050 align:middle line:84% I feel like I'm in the wax museum here. 00:16:23.050 --> 00:16:24.235 align:middle line:90% What are all of these? 00:16:24.235 --> 00:16:25.165 align:middle line:90% Are these historic? 00:16:25.165 --> 00:16:28.505 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, these are from Close Encounters. 00:16:28.505 --> 00:16:32.590 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Look over here, Louis, from Close Encounters. 00:16:32.590 --> 00:16:34.075 align:middle line:84% This is obviously from the Wolfman. 00:16:34.075 --> 00:16:35.520 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Enemy Mine. 00:16:35.520 --> 00:16:36.020 align:middle line:90% Yes. 00:16:36.020 --> 00:16:36.810 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Wow. 00:16:36.810 --> 00:16:37.351 align:middle line:90% Look at this. 00:16:37.351 --> 00:16:41.740 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: This is Conrad Veidt as The Man Who Laughs. 00:16:41.740 --> 00:16:43.540 align:middle line:84% And friends have often heard me say, 00:16:43.540 --> 00:16:44.780 align:middle line:90% if I can't take it with me. 00:16:44.780 --> 00:16:46.140 align:middle line:90% I'm not going to go. 00:16:46.140 --> 00:16:48.759 align:middle line:84% So a friend has arranged that I can take it with me. 00:16:48.759 --> 00:16:50.050 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: What do you mean? 00:16:50.050 --> 00:16:52.870 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, he's miniaturized the whole thing 00:16:52.870 --> 00:16:56.052 align:middle line:90% so I can take it with me. 00:16:56.052 --> 00:16:57.420 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Where? 00:16:57.420 --> 00:17:01.960 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, three years ago I was in China 00:17:01.960 --> 00:17:04.720 align:middle line:90% amongst 1,200,000 people. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:08.140 align:middle line:84% Here are various places in the world that I've visited. 00:17:08.140 --> 00:17:13.300 align:middle line:84% And in China, I think, amongst the 1,200,000 people, 00:17:13.300 --> 00:17:15.724 align:middle line:84% perhaps eight or 10 didn't get my autograph. 00:17:15.724 --> 00:17:16.640 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: [LAUGHS] 00:17:16.640 --> 00:17:19.635 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: I may have to go back. 00:17:19.635 --> 00:17:20.750 align:middle line:90% Oh! 00:17:20.750 --> 00:17:23.470 align:middle line:90% Huell, what's that? 00:17:23.470 --> 00:17:25.167 align:middle line:90% That wasn't there last night. 00:17:25.167 --> 00:17:26.250 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Who is that? 00:17:26.250 --> 00:17:27.541 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: I don't know. 00:17:27.541 --> 00:17:30.010 align:middle line:90% 00:17:30.010 --> 00:17:32.130 align:middle line:90% Looks like a UFO alien to me. 00:17:32.130 --> 00:17:34.390 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: I think you've given this tour before. 00:17:34.390 --> 00:17:35.280 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Oh, no. 00:17:35.280 --> 00:17:35.390 align:middle line:90% No. 00:17:35.390 --> 00:17:35.500 align:middle line:90% No. 00:17:35.500 --> 00:17:36.916 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: I think you're using 00:17:36.916 --> 00:17:39.370 align:middle line:84% some of your tried and true material on us this time. 00:17:39.370 --> 00:17:40.570 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Really? 00:17:40.570 --> 00:17:41.585 align:middle line:90% Well-- 00:17:41.585 --> 00:17:42.710 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: It's working. 00:17:42.710 --> 00:17:46.070 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Here I came back from a 75-day vacation, 00:17:46.070 --> 00:17:48.980 align:middle line:84% there was the mail that was waiting for me. 00:17:48.980 --> 00:17:51.700 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: So now are these letters and books 00:17:51.700 --> 00:17:55.270 align:middle line:84% that come to you from sci-fi aficionados and fans 00:17:55.270 --> 00:17:56.270 align:middle line:90% from all over the world? 00:17:56.270 --> 00:17:57.811 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: That is "key-rect." 00:17:57.811 --> 00:17:59.215 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, my gosh. 00:17:59.215 --> 00:18:02.050 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Did you see the film Ed Wood. 00:18:02.050 --> 00:18:03.140 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Yes. 00:18:03.140 --> 00:18:05.650 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: There's the genuine flying saucer. 00:18:05.650 --> 00:18:06.980 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: From Ed Wood? 00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:07.900 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:18:07.900 --> 00:18:10.075 align:middle line:90% I was his "illiterary" agent. 00:18:10.075 --> 00:18:13.420 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: [LAUGHS] And what's all this? 00:18:13.420 --> 00:18:14.285 align:middle line:90% Now this-- 00:18:14.285 --> 00:18:16.400 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, this is from Son of Kong, 00:18:16.400 --> 00:18:18.872 align:middle line:90% AND this is from King Kong. 00:18:18.872 --> 00:18:20.650 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: These were all models 00:18:20.650 --> 00:18:22.150 align:middle line:90% that were used in the movie? 00:18:22.150 --> 00:18:23.860 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: That is correct. 00:18:23.860 --> 00:18:30.045 align:middle line:84% Marcel Delgado built them and Willis O'Brien animated them. 00:18:30.045 --> 00:18:31.510 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Look at all these. 00:18:31.510 --> 00:18:32.310 align:middle line:90% Now are these-- 00:18:32.310 --> 00:18:33.545 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: And here's the last-- 00:18:33.545 --> 00:18:34.670 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, this is War of the Worlds. 00:18:34.670 --> 00:18:37.540 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: --last Martian machine from War of the Worlds. 00:18:37.540 --> 00:18:37.650 align:middle line:90% Yes. 00:18:37.650 --> 00:18:39.130 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Look at this, Louis. 00:18:39.130 --> 00:18:41.005 align:middle line:90% That was one of my favorites. 00:18:41.005 --> 00:18:43.240 align:middle line:84% Now how was that used in the movie? 00:18:43.240 --> 00:18:48.280 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, it came over in the City of Los Angeles 00:18:48.280 --> 00:18:49.275 align:middle line:90% and was shooting. 00:18:49.275 --> 00:18:52.150 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: But I mean this was actually shot in the movie 00:18:52.150 --> 00:18:52.802 align:middle line:90% to look like-- 00:18:52.802 --> 00:18:54.010 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Absolutely. 00:18:54.010 --> 00:18:57.895 align:middle line:84% It was on wires which were made invisible, eventually. 00:18:57.895 --> 00:19:00.100 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: How do you secure-- 00:19:00.100 --> 00:19:01.905 align:middle line:90% How do you get this stuff? 00:19:01.905 --> 00:19:03.990 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, with 300,000 things 00:19:03.990 --> 00:19:06.820 align:middle line:84% there's about 300,000 different answers. 00:19:06.820 --> 00:19:09.630 align:middle line:84% To the Ray Harryhausen, today's great animator 00:19:09.630 --> 00:19:13.911 align:middle line:84% He, at 13 years old, made that model brontosaurus. 00:19:13.911 --> 00:19:15.410 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Look over here, Louis. 00:19:15.410 --> 00:19:18.420 align:middle line:84% That's what he was pointing out, the big dinosaur over here. 00:19:18.420 --> 00:19:19.960 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Brontosaurus. 00:19:19.960 --> 00:19:21.400 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: And these masks? 00:19:21.400 --> 00:19:22.440 align:middle line:90% All of these masks? 00:19:22.440 --> 00:19:26.875 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: This is from a serial called, uh, let's see, 00:19:26.875 --> 00:19:28.000 align:middle line:90% it's run right out my mind. 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:29.170 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: The Tin Man up here, Louis. 00:19:29.170 --> 00:19:29.920 align:middle line:90% Right here. 00:19:29.920 --> 00:19:30.940 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:19:30.940 --> 00:19:35.976 align:middle line:84% That was about a nation 30,000 feet under the earth. 00:19:35.976 --> 00:19:37.100 align:middle line:90% It was a Gene Autry serial. 00:19:37.100 --> 00:19:38.600 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: This big head up here. 00:19:38.600 --> 00:19:41.300 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Oh, this is the Phantom Embar. 00:19:41.300 --> 00:19:44.170 align:middle line:84% And this is from This Island Earth. 00:19:44.170 --> 00:19:46.540 align:middle line:90% It's called a metaluna mutant. 00:19:46.540 --> 00:19:47.710 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Wow. 00:19:47.710 --> 00:19:48.600 align:middle line:90% Now this looks like-- 00:19:48.600 --> 00:19:51.530 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: I never met a luna mutant I didn't like. 00:19:51.530 --> 00:19:52.446 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: [LAUGHS] 00:19:52.446 --> 00:19:54.700 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: And these are life masks. 00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:57.085 align:middle line:84% Up at the top left is Boris Karloff. 00:19:57.085 --> 00:20:00.020 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, let's walk over there if you can, Louis. 00:20:00.020 --> 00:20:02.350 align:middle line:90% This is worth taking a look at. 00:20:02.350 --> 00:20:03.160 align:middle line:90% Oh, my gosh. 00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:03.865 align:middle line:90% What is this? 00:20:03.865 --> 00:20:04.910 align:middle line:90% Can I pick it up? 00:20:04.910 --> 00:20:06.030 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:20:06.030 --> 00:20:07.239 align:middle line:90% At your own risk. 00:20:07.239 --> 00:20:08.405 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: What was this? 00:20:08.405 --> 00:20:12.790 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Oh, it's from some long forgotten horror 00:20:12.790 --> 00:20:14.650 align:middle line:90% fantasy film. 00:20:14.650 --> 00:20:19.770 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Now is this, for science fiction fans, 00:20:19.770 --> 00:20:22.230 align:middle line:84% something like this would get them excited. 00:20:22.230 --> 00:20:22.730 align:middle line:90% Wouldn't it? 00:20:22.730 --> 00:20:23.938 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Absolutely. 00:20:23.938 --> 00:20:24.990 align:middle line:90% Yes. 00:20:24.990 --> 00:20:28.310 align:middle line:84% I've been having an open house here ever since 1951. 00:20:28.310 --> 00:20:30.600 align:middle line:90% 50,000 people have visited me. 00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:34.500 align:middle line:84% There were two sisters came all the way from Transylvania. 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:38.160 align:middle line:84% And the most obscure fan visited me a couple 00:20:38.160 --> 00:20:39.720 align:middle line:90% of months ago from Tibet. 00:20:39.720 --> 00:20:41.310 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Really? 00:20:41.310 --> 00:20:43.230 align:middle line:84% So they have heard about you in Tibet. 00:20:43.230 --> 00:20:45.390 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: In Tibet. 00:20:45.390 --> 00:20:47.670 align:middle line:84% Well, that was because of that famous program 00:20:47.670 --> 00:20:49.110 align:middle line:90% you know "Tibet Your Life." 00:20:49.110 --> 00:20:53.650 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: [LAUGHS] Louis, look over here. 00:20:53.650 --> 00:20:54.277 align:middle line:90% These are the-- 00:20:54.277 --> 00:20:55.485 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Life masks. 00:20:55.485 --> 00:20:56.850 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: --life masks. 00:20:56.850 --> 00:20:57.390 align:middle line:90% This is-- 00:20:57.390 --> 00:20:58.781 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: That's Karloff. 00:20:58.781 --> 00:21:00.155 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: In the middle here? 00:21:00.155 --> 00:21:02.060 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Is Don Post who 00:21:02.060 --> 00:21:05.240 align:middle line:84% had all of these made in his studio. 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:06.245 align:middle line:90% And Bela Lugosi. 00:21:06.245 --> 00:21:07.912 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: This is Lugosi right here. 00:21:07.912 --> 00:21:08.911 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Right. 00:21:08.911 --> 00:21:10.835 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Boy, This collection itself-- 00:21:10.835 --> 00:21:13.250 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes, and Vincent Price and John-- 00:21:13.250 --> 00:21:14.750 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Where's Vincent Price? 00:21:14.750 --> 00:21:15.980 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Second row. 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:17.280 align:middle line:90% All the way over at the left. 00:21:17.280 --> 00:21:17.770 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, over here. 00:21:17.770 --> 00:21:19.103 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Vincent Price. 00:21:19.103 --> 00:21:22.340 align:middle line:84% And then Tor Johnson, the fat monster 00:21:22.340 --> 00:21:25.330 align:middle line:90% from Plan 9 From Outer Space. 00:21:25.330 --> 00:21:29.600 align:middle line:84% And next to him is Glenn Strange. 00:21:29.600 --> 00:21:32.145 align:middle line:84% He played Frankenstein's monster at one point. 00:21:32.145 --> 00:21:34.520 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: And this looks, this fellow looks familiar. 00:21:34.520 --> 00:21:35.060 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:21:35.060 --> 00:21:36.590 align:middle line:90% Well, that's Christopher Lee. 00:21:36.590 --> 00:21:38.025 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Wow. 00:21:38.025 --> 00:21:40.150 align:middle line:84% I'm warm, and I'm fixing to carry this out of here. 00:21:40.150 --> 00:21:41.690 align:middle line:90% You don't want me to do that. 00:21:41.690 --> 00:21:42.520 align:middle line:90% Do you? 00:21:42.520 --> 00:21:44.520 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: There's the pteranodon 00:21:44.520 --> 00:21:47.600 align:middle line:84% that was trying to fly away with Fay Wray. 00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:50.555 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: So this goes all the way back to the original-- 00:21:50.555 --> 00:21:52.550 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: 1933 King Kong. 00:21:52.550 --> 00:21:55.910 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, this has to be one of the most famous pieces 00:21:55.910 --> 00:21:57.190 align:middle line:90% in your whole collection. 00:21:57.190 --> 00:21:58.440 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: That's true. 00:21:58.440 --> 00:22:01.480 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: And this is Kong. 00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:03.445 align:middle line:90% How would this have been used? 00:22:03.445 --> 00:22:05.530 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, I think that was just 00:22:05.530 --> 00:22:09.692 align:middle line:84% made after the film as an object for collectors like myself. 00:22:09.692 --> 00:22:10.900 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: So you really-- 00:22:10.900 --> 00:22:11.890 align:middle line:90% Oh, my gosh. 00:22:11.890 --> 00:22:12.770 align:middle line:90% Look at this. 00:22:12.770 --> 00:22:14.742 align:middle line:90% There's the saucers. 00:22:14.742 --> 00:22:17.260 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Earth Versus the Flying Saucers. 00:22:17.260 --> 00:22:18.010 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Yes. 00:22:18.010 --> 00:22:20.680 align:middle line:84% It's hitting the Capitol building. 00:22:20.680 --> 00:22:22.690 align:middle line:84% Kong breaking loose of his chains. 00:22:22.690 --> 00:22:25.304 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: You recognize this little puppet? 00:22:25.304 --> 00:22:26.095 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Sure. 00:22:26.095 --> 00:22:27.053 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Sure. 00:22:27.053 --> 00:22:29.720 align:middle line:84% Well, I don't know whether they really do or not. 00:22:29.720 --> 00:22:34.570 align:middle line:84% He comes from Japan from some automobile manufacturers. 00:22:34.570 --> 00:22:37.201 align:middle line:90% He's a "Toy Yoda." 00:22:37.201 --> 00:22:38.570 align:middle line:90% A Toy Yoda. 00:22:38.570 --> 00:22:41.360 align:middle line:90% 00:22:41.360 --> 00:22:43.830 align:middle line:84% OK, Huell, I've got something else to show you. 00:22:43.830 --> 00:22:45.875 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Why am I not surprised? 00:22:45.875 --> 00:22:49.230 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: There are 600 books about Atlantis, 00:22:49.230 --> 00:22:50.430 align:middle line:90% the sunken world. 00:22:50.430 --> 00:22:54.650 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Now do you believe in Atlantis? 00:22:54.650 --> 00:22:55.605 align:middle line:90% Was there an Atlantis. 00:22:55.605 --> 00:22:56.813 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: I think so. 00:22:56.813 --> 00:23:02.160 align:middle line:84% There was an Atlantis and a Lemuria and a Gondwana land. 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:03.944 align:middle line:84% By the way, here are lot of titles 00:23:03.944 --> 00:23:05.610 align:middle line:84% you'll probably recognize have been made 00:23:05.610 --> 00:23:09.530 align:middle line:90% as films or television shows. 00:23:09.530 --> 00:23:12.570 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: And these, you've read every single one of them? 00:23:12.570 --> 00:23:15.510 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Every last word in my collection. 00:23:15.510 --> 00:23:18.030 align:middle line:84% When I get a new book I turn to the last page 00:23:18.030 --> 00:23:21.660 align:middle line:90% and read the last word. 00:23:21.660 --> 00:23:23.650 align:middle line:90% More books. 00:23:23.650 --> 00:23:26.550 align:middle line:84% Now this home originally belonged 00:23:26.550 --> 00:23:32.120 align:middle line:84% to the poor man's Tarzan, Ramar of the Jungle, John Hall. 00:23:32.120 --> 00:23:34.642 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, so even this house 00:23:34.642 --> 00:23:35.850 align:middle line:90% is connected with the movies. 00:23:35.850 --> 00:23:37.422 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: That's right. 00:23:37.422 --> 00:23:39.120 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Well, we are ending 00:23:39.120 --> 00:23:41.010 align:middle line:90% this two were it and the-- 00:23:41.010 --> 00:23:44.370 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Karloff Lugosi memorial room. 00:23:44.370 --> 00:23:48.660 align:middle line:84% I saw Bela wearing that Dracula cape in 1932 on the stage. 00:23:48.660 --> 00:23:53.610 align:middle line:84% And it wound up in his infamous film, Plan 9 From Outer Space. 00:23:53.610 --> 00:23:55.365 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Which was his? 00:23:55.365 --> 00:23:58.890 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: It was his next to final film. 00:23:58.890 --> 00:23:59.550 align:middle line:90% Yes. 00:23:59.550 --> 00:24:04.500 align:middle line:84% And in my guest book there he wrote one word, "Amazed." 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:06.130 align:middle line:90% I have a coffin table here. 00:24:06.130 --> 00:24:08.290 align:middle line:90% There's room for one more. 00:24:08.290 --> 00:24:11.040 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, wait a minute. 00:24:11.040 --> 00:24:13.209 align:middle line:90% This is a real coffin. 00:24:13.209 --> 00:24:14.500 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: It really is. 00:24:14.500 --> 00:24:16.162 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHTER] 00:24:16.162 --> 00:24:17.120 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Oh, gosh. 00:24:17.120 --> 00:24:22.670 align:middle line:90% 00:24:22.670 --> 00:24:25.831 align:middle line:84% Did any of this ever scare you once you realized-- 00:24:25.831 --> 00:24:27.330 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: No, the only thing 00:24:27.330 --> 00:24:29.700 align:middle line:90% that scares me is the IRS. 00:24:29.700 --> 00:24:30.975 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHTER] 00:24:30.975 --> 00:24:33.697 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: And what's going to happen to all this stuff? 00:24:33.697 --> 00:24:35.280 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, I wish I knew. 00:24:35.280 --> 00:24:38.250 align:middle line:84% You know, 25 years ago I was seen on television shaking 00:24:38.250 --> 00:24:39.730 align:middle line:90% hands with Mayor Tom Bradley. 00:24:39.730 --> 00:24:41.730 align:middle line:84% And I offered, I said, I'll open the front door. 00:24:41.730 --> 00:24:43.890 align:middle line:84% You can come and empty out the whole house. 00:24:43.890 --> 00:24:45.690 align:middle line:90% You can have it free. 00:24:45.690 --> 00:24:48.780 align:middle line:84% But five years went by and he got a Dear John letters 00:24:48.780 --> 00:24:51.612 align:middle line:84% from Steven Spielberg and George Lucas. 00:24:51.612 --> 00:24:53.570 align:middle line:84% They said, yes, we are acquainted Mr. Ackerman. 00:24:53.570 --> 00:24:54.330 align:middle line:90% He's a fine man. 00:24:54.330 --> 00:24:57.060 align:middle line:84% We'll vote for him for mayor, but they weren't 00:24:57.060 --> 00:24:59.060 align:middle line:90% about to create a museum. 00:24:59.060 --> 00:25:00.750 align:middle line:90% So I gave up. 00:25:00.750 --> 00:25:03.150 align:middle line:84% And frankly, if I were a vegetarian, 00:25:03.150 --> 00:25:05.550 align:middle line:84% I could have survived on the giant carrots that 00:25:05.550 --> 00:25:07.830 align:middle line:84% have been dangled in front of my nose 00:25:07.830 --> 00:25:09.390 align:middle line:84% for the next quarter of a century. 00:25:09.390 --> 00:25:13.110 align:middle line:84% Over in Berlin they were going to buy a $42 million hotel 00:25:13.110 --> 00:25:15.415 align:middle line:84% and empty it out and fill it up with my movie material. 00:25:15.415 --> 00:25:19.380 align:middle line:84% But when the Berlin Wall went down, the economy went down. 00:25:19.380 --> 00:25:21.280 align:middle line:90% So I don't know. 00:25:21.280 --> 00:25:23.780 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: So it's just staying here in your house. 00:25:23.780 --> 00:25:25.350 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, eventually-- 00:25:25.350 --> 00:25:29.676 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Because this is a world class collection. 00:25:29.676 --> 00:25:32.240 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, when I go to that great sci-fi 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:35.360 align:middle line:84% convention in the sky someday, I guess it'll all 00:25:35.360 --> 00:25:38.090 align:middle line:90% be left behind for posterity. 00:25:38.090 --> 00:25:39.920 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Well, I was fixing to say, 00:25:39.920 --> 00:25:42.560 align:middle line:84% if anybody could take it with him, it'd probably be you. 00:25:42.560 --> 00:25:44.420 align:middle line:90% [LAUGHTER] 00:25:44.420 --> 00:25:46.700 align:middle line:84% But you'd have to have a box bigger than that one 00:25:46.700 --> 00:25:47.750 align:middle line:90% to take it all with you. 00:25:47.750 --> 00:25:48.410 align:middle line:90% Wouldn't you? 00:25:48.410 --> 00:25:49.326 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:25:49.326 --> 00:25:50.926 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Well, let's say goodbye. 00:25:50.926 --> 00:25:51.800 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: OK. 00:25:51.800 --> 00:25:53.450 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: This has been wonderful. 00:25:53.450 --> 00:25:57.020 align:middle line:84% I had no idea, really, what I was getting into. 00:25:57.020 --> 00:25:59.030 align:middle line:84% I have heard about you for years. 00:25:59.030 --> 00:26:01.580 align:middle line:90% You are a living legend. 00:26:01.580 --> 00:26:04.310 align:middle line:84% And this has certainly been no disappointment. 00:26:04.310 --> 00:26:07.220 align:middle line:84% You take private tours of people through here. 00:26:07.220 --> 00:26:08.720 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Oh, every Saturday 00:26:08.720 --> 00:26:10.790 align:middle line:90% that I'm here since 1951. 00:26:10.790 --> 00:26:13.380 align:middle line:84% I've had 50,000 fans that have visited to me. 00:26:13.380 --> 00:26:16.982 align:middle line:84% They've come from Transylvania and as far away as Tibet. 00:26:16.982 --> 00:26:18.440 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: You told us that one. 00:26:18.440 --> 00:26:22.400 align:middle line:84% But I'll tell you, when we put the address and the telephone 00:26:22.400 --> 00:26:23.630 align:middle line:90% number and all that on the-- 00:26:23.630 --> 00:26:24.270 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: You're quite welcome to do so. 00:26:24.270 --> 00:26:25.770 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: You'd better be ready. 00:26:25.770 --> 00:26:28.526 align:middle line:84% Because our viewers are going to come over here 00:26:28.526 --> 00:26:29.400 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: OK. 00:26:29.400 --> 00:26:29.710 align:middle line:90% Fine. 00:26:29.710 --> 00:26:32.209 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: And they're not going to stay just 30 minutes. 00:26:32.209 --> 00:26:33.405 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Oh. 00:26:33.405 --> 00:26:33.905 align:middle line:90% OK. 00:26:33.905 --> 00:26:34.910 align:middle line:90% They'll be welcome. 00:26:34.910 --> 00:26:35.909 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: All right. 00:26:35.909 --> 00:26:37.040 align:middle line:90% We're saying goodbye. 00:26:37.040 --> 00:26:40.384 align:middle line:84% And I think it's appropriate that we have this portrait-- 00:26:40.384 --> 00:26:42.050 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes, of Boris Karloff. 00:26:42.050 --> 00:26:45.980 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: --who had to be, I guess, the greatest, 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:47.620 align:middle line:84% or one of the greatest of all time. 00:26:47.620 --> 00:26:50.450 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: Well, with Lon Chaney, Sr. In the silent days, 00:26:50.450 --> 00:26:54.230 align:middle line:84% and I think Boris Karloff was starting off with Frankenstein. 00:26:54.230 --> 00:26:57.380 align:middle line:84% He really carved a career as a monster. 00:26:57.380 --> 00:27:00.750 align:middle line:84% When you took off the face of the monster, 00:27:00.750 --> 00:27:02.090 align:middle line:90% there was Santa Claus. 00:27:02.090 --> 00:27:04.900 align:middle line:84% He was just as wonderful human being 00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:08.990 align:middle line:84% you could hope to meet, along with the Vincent Price 00:27:08.990 --> 00:27:10.370 align:middle line:90% and Peter Cushing. 00:27:10.370 --> 00:27:13.130 align:middle line:84% There was a film called The Unholy Three, 00:27:13.130 --> 00:27:15.060 align:middle line:84% and that trio was The Holy Three. 00:27:15.060 --> 00:27:16.490 align:middle line:90% HUELL HOWSER: Wow. 00:27:16.490 --> 00:27:18.500 align:middle line:84% What a wonderful life you have had. 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:21.140 align:middle line:84% And isn't it wonderful that you've 00:27:21.140 --> 00:27:23.150 align:middle line:84% spent your whole life doing something 00:27:23.150 --> 00:27:24.604 align:middle line:90% that you have a passion for? 00:27:24.604 --> 00:27:25.520 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: Yes. 00:27:25.520 --> 00:27:26.720 align:middle line:90% Well, the end is not yet. 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:29.720 align:middle line:84% I hope to be the George Burns of science fiction 00:27:29.720 --> 00:27:33.484 align:middle line:84% and 16 years from now celebrate my 100th birthday. 00:27:33.484 --> 00:27:35.150 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: And we'll be here with you 00:27:35.150 --> 00:27:36.380 align:middle line:90% to help you celebrate it. 00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:37.254 align:middle line:90% FORREST ACKERMAN: OK. 00:27:37.254 --> 00:27:41.510 align:middle line:84% HUELL HOWSER: Mr. Forrest Ackerman, the undisputed King 00:27:41.510 --> 00:27:42.680 align:middle line:90% of Science Fiction. 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:46.220 align:middle line:84% He invented the word, came up with the word sci-fi 00:27:46.220 --> 00:27:48.020 align:middle line:90% back in 1954. 00:27:48.020 --> 00:27:52.070 align:middle line:84% And you have a collection here in Los Feliz 00:27:52.070 --> 00:27:55.380 align:middle line:84% that is unequaled anywhere in the world. 00:27:55.380 --> 00:27:59.990 align:middle line:84% Thank you so much for sharing your home and your collection-- 00:27:59.990 --> 00:28:04.880 align:middle line:84% your pictures, your books, your masks, your models-- with all 00:28:04.880 --> 00:28:05.660 align:middle line:90% of us today. 00:28:05.660 --> 00:28:08.102 align:middle line:90% It has been a real pleasure. 00:28:08.102 --> 00:28:09.560 align:middle line:84% FORREST ACKERMAN: My pleasure, too. 00:28:09.560 --> 00:28:12.440 align:middle line:90% And as I say, room for one more. 00:28:12.440 --> 00:28:16.577 align:middle line:90% 00:28:16.577 --> 00:28:17.243 align:middle line:90% [VIDEO PLAYBACK] 00:28:17.243 --> 00:28:20.722 align:middle line:90% [DRAMATIC MUSIC] 00:28:20.722 --> 00:28:23.704 align:middle line:90% 00:28:23.704 --> 00:28:27.183 align:middle line:90% [FRIGHTENED SHOUTING] 00:28:27.183 --> 00:28:29.680 align:middle line:90% - There he goes. 00:28:29.680 --> 00:28:31.640 align:middle line:90% - Over the hill! 00:28:31.640 --> 00:28:33.112 align:middle line:90% Over the hill! 00:28:33.112 --> 00:28:34.585 align:middle line:90% Over the hill! 00:28:34.585 --> 00:28:38.022 align:middle line:90% [DRAMATIC MUSIC] 00:28:38.022 --> 00:28:40.486 align:middle line:90% 00:28:40.486 --> 00:28:40.986 align:middle line:90% [GRUNTING] 00:28:40.986 --> 00:28:43.458 align:middle line:90% [CHAINS CLANKING] 00:28:43.458 --> 00:28:46.944 align:middle line:90% [DRAMATIC MUSIC] 00:28:46.944 --> 00:28:49.932 align:middle line:90% 00:28:49.932 --> 00:28:53.418 align:middle line:90% [SCREAMING] 00:28:53.418 --> 00:28:55.908 align:middle line:90% 00:28:55.908 --> 00:28:59.394 align:middle line:90% [HEAVY BREATHING] 00:28:59.394 --> 00:29:07.860 align:middle line:90% 00:29:07.860 --> 00:29:10.620 align:middle line:84% NARRATOR: Visiting With Huell Howser 00:29:10.620 --> 00:29:12.600 align:middle line:84% is made possible through a generous grant 00:29:12.600 --> 00:29:16.460 align:middle line:84% from the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation. 00:29:16.460 --> 00:29:18.134 align:middle line:90%