History of Famous Monsters

In 1957, the classic horror films of the 1930s and 1940s was packaged for syndication around the country.

At much the same time, a group of American science fiction fans traveled overseas to attend that year’s World Science Fiction Convention. Among their group was Forrest J. Ackerman, one of the founders of science fiction fandom and one of the few to have spent his entire life amassing a collection of books and movie memorabilia. He spotted a French magazine about a then-current horror film, and when he bought it for his collection, took the first step on a new path.

“On the cover was Henry Hull as the Werewolf of London. That attracted me, and inside I found the entire issue was dedicated to imagi-movies,” Ackerman recalled years later.”

“I stopped in New York on the way back home to California. At the time, I had been involved as a literary agent specializing in science fiction. I’d been selling to a magazine called After Hours, which was a kind of a poor man’s Playboy; it was edited and published by a fellow named James Warren.”

“Warren knew I was in town, so he came to meet me at my hotel, and we went down the street to an eating place. I told him about the convention, and then I showed him this movie magazine from France. Well, in his mind’s eye, he could immediately see it turning into English. As he began reading and translating the text, he found it all rather dry and didactic, which he felt wouldn’t exactly appeal to an American audience.”

“At that point he was ready to give up on the notion, but I spoke up and I said, Well, I have about 35,000 stills at the present time. I’ve been seeing these fantastic movies ever since I was 5½, back in 1922. I’m sure I can put together a magazine like this for you.”

“When he came out to my home and saw that, indeed, I did have 35,000 stills, the next thing I knew I was sitting at a dining room table with an old mechanical typewriter, and he was sitting opposite me with a sign which read, ‘I’m 11½ years old and I am your reader. Forry Ackerman, make me laugh!’”

“At the time there were thirteen distributors and every last one of them had turned down the idea of a magazine with crazy messed-up faces in it. That might have been the end of it, but right about then Life magazine came to his rescue with a feature on the runaway success of teen-age monster movies such as I Was a Teen-age Werewolf and I Was a Teenage Frankenstein. After that issue appeared, one of the magazine distributors remembered that crazy editor who’d been around. That distributor called Warren back, and when Warren again brought up the idea of Wonderama, the distributor told him, ‘No, no, forget about that — put monsters on the cover and you’re in business.’ He didn’t care much what was inside as long as it was appealing to the teenage crowd that was into monsters.”

“Well, that didn’t make me too happy; I had really wanted a serious publication. I had no original intention of funning around with fantasy films. But that was what was required, so for about twenty hours a day I sat in front of a typewriter so hot it was smoking (I was afraid I was going to die of cancer, it was smoking so badly). At about four in the morning, publisher Warren and I would go over to a 24-hour eating place for orange juice, coffee, and hot cakes. After that I would take him to his motel, then four hours later, pick him up at about eight o’clock in the morning and away we would go. It went on for days and days like that, but in the end we had a magazine we were both reasonably happy with — it was the first issue of Famous Monsters of Filmland.”

The February 1958 magazine was merely envisioned as a one-shot but while there had been a movie magazines about celebrities and major motion pictures, never before had there been a nationally-distributed magazine about a single genre. As a result, it sold beyond their expectations and Warren asked Ackerman to produce more issues.

Ackerman’s love for the field was felt on every page, as he approached the subject with a child’s enthusiasm. He featured the classic horror movie monsters such as Frankenstein and Dracula, but approached them with some reverence and lots of irreverence as he regularly used puns to keep himself, and his readers, entertained.

The magazine proved a success and was the foundation for Warren’s publishing company which later added familiar titles including Creepy, Eerie, and Vampirella.

Over time, Ackerman’s coverage went from the monsters and their portrayers to those who actually made the movies. He interviewed the directors, producers and screenwriters, making their names as familiar as those of Chaney, Karloff and Lugosi. Forry went a step further, spotlighting the makeup artists and special effects masters of the day, explaining how the movie magic was made.

An entire generation of reader was heavily influenced by this magazine since nowhere else was this information available. Steve Spielberg, Peter Jackson, Rick Baker, Dennis Muren and John Landis, all of whom have entered the film business, point to FM as their inspiration.

The magazine spawned annuals and one-shots with Ackerman helming every issue until 1983. After a disagreement with Warren, Forry withdrew from his offspring. The magazine limped on without him for another issue, shutting down after 191 issues.

In 1993, Ray Ferry made a deal to acquire rights to revive the publication and hired Forry to once more assume his Dr. Acula guise and crank up the pun machine. Fans greeted the title like a long lost friend but complications forced Forry to step down after ten issues. Ferry continued the publication until early 2008.

Now, Famous Monsters of Filmland is back as a cutting edge website. We aim to be the destination site for fans of horror films, literature, role playing games, comic books and the entire field of the fantastic. We’ll be growing and evolving regularly, largely based on your feedback and participation. Don’t be shy, but step into our new cobwebbed crypt and make your presence felt.

About Us

In 1958, Forrest J. Ackerman and James Warren launched Famous Monsters of Filmland, the first magazine to celebrate the monsters that engaged audiences around the world. For the last fifty years, Famous Monsters has been the premier brand name in the world of horror and related fields.

In 2007, Phil Kim purchased the rights to the logo and title, entering into an agreement with Forry to use his other trademarks to retain the magazine’s original look and feel, but on the web for a new generation of horror fans.

Famous Monsters of Filmland will define horror for today’s fans. Horror can be found on line, on television, in books, in comic books, in movies and in role playing games – and we will cover it all. Famous Monsters of Filmland will feature monsters that were first found in oral histories from Grendel all the way through the cautionary Japanese tale of Gojira. We’ll cover the creators who have reinterpreted those ancient legends for modern day audiences in addition to those who create new thrills and chills.

While the competition may focus mainly on blood, splatter and gore, we’ll cast a broad net over the field, giving equal time to all.

We are the Go To site for people who want not only the latest news, but also a place for intelligent interviews and thoughtful commentary.

Famous Monsters of Filmland is the community for people who love horror and monsters.

PHIL KIM

Like everyone involved, Famous Monsters of Filmland is a passion project for Phil Kim. At an early age, he used to fantasize about making thrillers and science fiction movies. Phil hopes that Famous Monsters of Filmland will have the same effect on the next generation of filmmakers and audiences alike.

Phil grew up to become an entrepreneur and a private equity investor. He’s worked in the video game field with Puppybomb Games and has gone on to films. He has executive produced Radio Free Albemuth, based on Philip K. Dick story. Phil has also written and produced Downstream Chronicles.

Along the way, he obtained the trademark to the legendary Famous Monsters of Filmland. With the blessings of the original editor-in-chief, Forrest J. Ackerman (aka Dr. Acula), FM is poised to recapture the hearts and imagination of the core fans and new fans alike.

ROBERT GREENBERGER

Bob grew up a reader of Famous Monsters of Filmland during its heyday and upon graduating from SUNY-Binghamton; he began his professional career as Managing Editor of Fangoria. He went on to work on other Starlog Press titles before beginning a long career in the comic book field. Bob has worked at DC Comics, Marvel Comics, Gist Communications and was last Managing Editor at Weekly World News. As a writer, he has written on a large variety of topics including Meet the Monsters: Godzilla and the novelization to Hellboy II: The Golden Army.