FAMOUS MONSTERS OF FILMLAND

The Magazine for Monsters & Kids

Author: Edward Brock

In 1958, a little magazine was launched that would start a trend that continues 45 years later. “Famous Monsters of Filmland” is the brainchild of publisher James Warren & editor Forry Ackerman. It has been imitated by many other publishers, but this black & white, photo-filled magazine is still the favorite of collectors everywhere.

Riding on the heels of the popular “Monster” movies of the fifties, “Famous Monsters” catered to the young and the young at heart. F.M. (as it is known to fans) was filled from cover to cover with photos from such classic films as; “Frankenstein”, “The Wolfman”, “Dracula”, “The Mummy” & other sci-fi hits. Fans everywhere could finally have access to these great movie monsters and see pictures many thought lost to the ravages of time.

Editor, Forry Ackerman (who is credited with coining the term “Sci-Fi”) had been collecting movie memorabilia for many years and over his over 100,000 pieces became a showcase for his love of the genre. When he helped launch “Famous Monsters”, Forry decided to aim for a younger and under-represented audience. Infusing the magazine with quality photos (most from his own collection) & his own macabre brand of humor (his readers even began calling him Dr. Acula), Forry had hit upon a monster-hungry audience that shared his love and passion for “monster” movies.

The articles in “Famous Monsters” were obviously written more for entertainment than pure journalism, as Forry rarely strayed from his kid-friendly style, so few have ever accused the magazine of being particularly literary or historically vital. It was the endless availability of photos that truly made the magazine so popular. Kids were more interested in seeing pictures of their favorite monsters than they were about the quality and accuracy of the films themselves. And “Famous Monsters” rarely disappointed them. Nowhere else could you find such a collection of photos.

“Famous Monsters” has become a collector’s dream. A single search on eBay will provide you with hundreds of offerings for this great magazine. Most of those buying them are older collectors seeking that lost piece of childhood; a piece from those carefree days of youth when “monster” movies were a vital part of their lives. (The first issue even brought in a winning bid of $5200 back in 2001).

While their parents were becoming the nuclear family, kids could lose themselves in the pages of F.M. Here they could find those movie monsters that, at one time, were only approachable at Saturday matinees or late-night television. Soon, such names as Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney Jr. and Ray Harryhausen replaced the heroes of yesteryear. Many readers would even seek film careers of their own after being inspired by the people they met in the pages of F.M. Author Stephen King even acknowledges the contribution that “Famous Monsters” made in his life (he sent his first story to them, though it was not published because they didn’t accept fiction).

“Famous Monsters” has gone through many changes over the years and legal issues have made it a shadow of its former self, but fans of all ages continue to immerse themselves into the world created by Forry Ackerman & James Warren. Collectors constantly seek out the early issues and older fans grab onto them as a means of retrieving lost childhood memories. It was the first to take a chance on an often ridiculed audience and regardless of its perceived quality; “Famous Monsters” will always hold a special place in the annals of “monster” history.

The original “Famous Monsters” ran for 191 issues from 1958-1983. It was revived in the late 90’s and continues under new ownership.

Edward Brock grew up on  2 things; Comic Books & Monster Movies. It was inevitable that “Famous Monsters” would become a part of his life & collection. He has published articles in such titles as FILMFAX, SCARY MONSTERS, HORROR-WOOD, G-FAN, SCARLET STREET & GUIDEPOSTS 4 KIDS and is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators (SCBWI).