Science Fiction Collection Awaits Funds for Museum

Submitted for your approval: A science fiction collection of 300,000 items worth millions of dollars that Forest Ackerman wants to donate to the City of Los Angeles for a museum.

But in six years of trying, the museum remains in “The Twilight Zone.”

Ackerman, 69, said his ultimate fantasy is for the city to provide the $5 million to build a 30,000-square-foot exhibit hall somewhere in Los Angeles.

Mayor’s Interest Noted

City officials said Mayor Tom Bradley is still interested in the city’s housing the collection, and Ackerman said he cannot understand why those who have made their fortunes in fantasy will not contribute to his museum.

“It does sadden me that none of the independently wealthy science fiction and fantasy people . . . seem to have the same feeling about its history that I do,” Ackerman said. “They could so easily make it all come true and sponsor a museum in Los Angeles where it belongs.”

Since purchasing a copy of the magazine Amazing Stories in 1926 from a Hollywood newsstand, Ackerman has amassed books, magazines, recordings, posters, paintings, movie stills and props covering of imaginative creators from Mary Shelley to Steven Spielberg.

Sci-Fi Memorabilia

At least one-fourth of Ackerman’s 17-room house is filled from floor to ceiling with everything from one of Bela Lugosi’s Count Dracula capes to the original “Creature From the Black Lagoon” mask. Shelves crammed with books, magazines and props share space with file cabinets, robots and lifelike models of aliens.

In 1979, Ackerman gave Bradley a personal tour of his collection and received a city promise to accept and house it. A written agreement was signed, but it expired last spring.

Ackerman continues to edit magazines and write books in the genre sometimes called sci-fi, a term he said he coined in 1954. He is the agent for 150 science-fiction authors.