Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic; realtor.com
There are numerous old homes in Hollywood packed with history and legends, but few compare to the Los Angeles mansion once owned by Forrest J. Ackerman. If the name doesn’t immediately ring an ominous bell, it probably just means you’re not a sci-fi or horror movie fan.
Such fans will inform you Ackerman is known as the father of sci-fi, because he’s credited with coining the phrase for the now-ubiquitous genre.
In the mid-’70s, Ackerman made his three-story “Ackermansion” famous by opening it up as a museum showcasing his collection of more than 300,000 pieces of horror and sci-fi movie and literary memorabilia.
It closed to the public in 2002 and the collection has since been auctioned off, but the house remains. Recently remodeled, the house, which is located in the Los Feliz enclave, is now on the market for $3.79 million.
“This home is a treasure for so many reasons,” says listing agent Lyonel Katz of LUX Realty, who admits to being a bit of a sci-fi geek. Katz created a shadow box currently on display in the home, with photos of the place in its previous glory, along with copies of letters to Ackerman from Walt Disney and Steven Spielberg. It’s worth stopping by just to see the memorabilia.
Ackerman, who died in 2008 at the age of 92, was a literary agent for sci-fi titans Ray Bradbury, Isaac Asimov, and Stephen King among others. He was also an actor who had cameos in 94 horror and sci-fi films, the creator of the Vampirella comic book character, and the editor and principal writer of the Famous Monsters of Filmland magazine.
The famous “Ackermansion”
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Forrest J. Ackerman with a young Stephen King in the Ackermansion
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In fact, Ackerman and his museum were so popular, the city fathers named a square after him at the intersection of Franklin and Vermont.
The sign at the intersection of Franklin and Vermont
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Ackerman was an avid collector of genre books and movie memorabilia, and he plastered every square inch of every wall in his museum with plaques and posters, and left no corner without a curio cabinet.
To learn more about the man behind the mansion and see the place in all its former glory, watch this video of California storyteller Huell Howser‘s visit to the Ackermansion:
Although the home doesn’t look anything like it used to, it’s a thrill to walk the same halls and rooms that were visited by the who’s who of sci-fi and horror, from Vincent Price to Ed Wood to Buzz Aldrin.
Ackerman (right) with Vincent Price
Courtesy Lyonel Katz
The most recent owners of the five-bedroom, six-bath, 5,886-square-foot home added arched windows to allow in more natural light.
Light-filled living room
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Built in 1923, the mansion has other nods to the Hollywood Mediterranean style, including some original wood flooring, colorful Spanish tile on the stair risers, french doors leading to terra-cotta-tiled terraces, wood-beamed ceilings, and nooks and crannies in unexpected places.
Entryway with staircase
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Multilevel terraces
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The yard is wired for electricity, so lengths of fairy lights could illuminate the half-acre grounds on special occasions. There’s also a newer pool and grassy lawns on the premises.
Pool
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The home is currently configured so that it can easily transform into two distinct living spaces, with the two upper levels encompassing three bedrooms (including the master suite), the open kitchen, living room, and dining area.
Master suite
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Great room and kitchen
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Indoor-outdoor room
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The lower level features two bedrooms, a kitchenette, game room, and massage suite.
Game room
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Massage suite
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From it’s hillside perch, the Ackermansion has remarkable views of Hollywood, the city of Los Angeles, and beyond. It’s the stuff dreams (and a few nightmares) are made of.
Nighttime view from the Ackermansion
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The post It’s Alive! Former Ackermansion in Los Feliz Reborn as Luxe Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
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