Forry’s famous phone number, 666-6326, was not, as some suspect, chosen for its devilish connotations. Rather, FJA looked at the letters that correspond to each of the numbers on a telephone dial and determined to formulate something suitably sci-fi. As he put it…
“I was living in San Francisco at the time, in my parents’ home at 530 Staples Ave., telephone Randolph-7296. I just record that to amaze my memory 70 years later that I can still recall it. While I am at it, I might as well see if I can remember my telephone number in Los Angeles, about as many years ago when I was living in my grandparents’ apartment. It was Federal-2231. For some reason, a little radio commercial just jumps into my head. So I might as well record it. If it’s a trip for pleasure or fun, call the Flying Irishman it’s such a simple thing to do! Call Hudson-27272!”
"Call me sometime!" Forry clowns with a mask of Linda Blair in the Glendower Ackermansion.
You might be interested to know how I came to have my current number of MOON-FAN. When I had my first telephone installed I needed to select a number for it. I said to the party on the other end of the line, ‘How about MOON-MAN?’ They said, ‘Oh, sorry! That’s already taken.’ So I thought a moment and said, ‘How about MOON-RAY?’ Again, they told me, “Unfortunately, that was already owned by someone else.” So I said, ‘Well, how about MOON-FAN?’ The voice said, ‘Congratulations, Mr. Ackerman, we have been saving that number just for you!’”
Forry’s answering machine messages changed many times over the years but it was his final one, the one I heard over and over again while living at Russell Ave., that will forever ring in my ears. “By recording this is Forry Ackerman. What can I do for you? Leave a message.” The very telephone that relayed this immortal message now rests comfortably with Joe Moe, and perhaps a little slice of Forry with it.
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