CLEVELAND CALLING

Has the fabled private sci-fi memorabilia collection of Forrest J. Ackerman--housed in his Los Feliz estate--found a home away from home in Cleveland?

Cleveland’s nonprofit Neverending Battle (NEB) is negotiating for Ackerman’s 300,000-piece collection--first editions, posters, a replica of the “robotrix” from “Metropolis,” the mask for “The Creature From the Black Lagoon,” etc.--once sought by the City of Los Angeles and the Queen Mary. NEB wants to incorporate the material in a Superman/Sci-Fi Museum, one of several promotions they’re cooking up for Superman’s 50th anniversary (the Man of Steel was created by Clevelanders Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster in 1938).

In a letter to NEB, Ackerman has asked for $100,000 up front, a $75,000 salary to supervise the transition, $1 for every admission sold up to $2.5 million, a fee as museum spokesman and a say on how the collection is displayed. (The figures seem to be in line with estimates of the collection’s worth.)

NEB pres Tim Gorman said that in light of tax law changes, it “may be in our best interests to make Mr. Ackerman a counter-offer this year and begin the transfer.”

But an aide to Mayor Bradley told us: “The mayor really wants that museum.”