Classic Collections: Henk I. Gosses' Home Movie

Even before he passed away, Henk I. Gosses was a legend in his own time. He was a man whose love of robots drove him to amass one of the best collections ever; he was also an artist, one who could -- and did -- build pretty much anything that popped into his head, from toys to advanced, animatronic sculptures. He was known for his wily and mischievous sense of humor, but also his kindness towards newbies just getting into the hobby. Henk's passing left a hole in the community that can't easily be filled.

A few years before he died, Henk had given a home movie to Joe Knedlhans, curator of the Toy Robot Museum in Adamstown, PA. It features a virtual walk through Henk's toy collection, which included both the ultra rare -- such as the Diamond Planet and Jupiter Robots -- and some of the more common playthings. The tape also included footage, narrated by Henk, showing off his various artistic and commercial projects. It ends with a bizarre bit of one-man theater. (Remember Henk's sense of humor...?)

When Henk died, Joe felt that the film would make a fitting tribute to his friend, and he decided to give away copies at that year's Botstock (a convention for toy robot collectors). He asked me to transfer the footage from VHS to DVD, and maybe do what I could to clean it up a bit. I did my best (darn VHS quality footage!) and added a little music and some subtitles to help cover various audio issues. I also cut together an opening title sequence, something to give the film a more solid beginning.

Now, with Joe's permission, I've uploaded the footage -- in three parts -- to YouTube for other collectors to enjoy. Parts 1 and 2 contain the tour, while Part 3 features Henk's art. I apologize for the quality of the footage -- like I said, it was shot years ago on VHS. Nonetheless, I think it's a great peek into a small part of Henk's life, one that hopefully conveys even a little bit of what made him so important to so many people.

Enjoy!

Forrest J Ackerman Video

Apropos of nothing, here's a video of the late, great Forrest J Ackerman giving a tour of his collection of science fiction memorabilia. It's from the 1980s, back when he was still healthy and living in his famed Ackermansion. No, I didn't make it...

Forrest J Ackerman -- a.k.a. Forry Ackerman, 4E, Dr. Acula, etc. -- was one of science fiction's earliest and most active fans, beginning his involvement in 1926. Up until his death in 2008, he amassed a gigantic collection of science fiction, film, TV, and literary memorabilia, including toys, magazines, original props, and books. He housed it all in his 18-room home in Hollywood, California. And yes, he regularly gave tours.

Forry worked as a literary agent, anthologist, editor, recording artist, writer, and who knows what else. He started the seminal horror magazine Famous Monsters of Filmland, attended all but one (or two?) World Science Fiction Conventions, and even coined the term "sci fi." He was a legend in his own time, and a friend to most of the science fiction community.

Attic contributor and fellow collector Karl Tate actually turned me on to a different video about Forry, but after poking through You Tube for a bit, I decided that the above better represented the man and his collection. But really, if you've got the time, watch some of the other videos. Collectively, they offer a wonderful glimpse into the life of a man who practically defined science fiction fandom for more than 80 years.

I never had a chance to visit the Ackermansion, but I did get to speak with Forry once over the phone. I was gathering information on the early days of science fiction and conducted a short interview with him. He was gracious and friendly and happy to take the time to chat. I only wish I'd recorded the conversation.

Anyway, as I said, I've no real reason for posting this video right now. Except... Ackerman was a king among collectors, and if I had my way -- and the space, money, and time -- the Attic would look a lot like the Ackermansion. 4E was, and remains, an inspiration. So I'm just showing a little love.

Space Toys Online: Video Profile of Justin Pinchot

My friend Justin was profiled by a show called So-Cal's Best, which runs on Time Warner Cable in, well, Southern California. It's a neat little piece that does a great job of introducing people to space guns and robots. Of course, my favorite part was seeing Justin with short hair -- the last time I saw him in California, he was sporting a pony tail. Lookin' good, J!

Space Patrol Cosmic Smoke Gun Advertisement on You Tube

In the early 1950s, Space Patrol was science-fiction television. At its peak, it aired every single day and drew millions of viewers -- both kids and adults. It also launched a zillion tie in products, more than enough to satisfy any space cadet.

One of the best was the Space Patrol Cosmic Smoke Gun, which I wrote about here. It's a bona fide classic; Leslie Singer, author of Zap!, the first book about ray guns, has publicly declared it his favorite gun. I know it's definitely high on my personal list, too.

Well guess what? While watching some old Space Patrol episodes on You Tube recently, I stumbled on an ad for this very gun! Yep, there it was, in stunning black and white, available for nothing more than a box top from some Rice Chex and "twenty-five cents in coin." Hot damn, that's the kind of deal you just can't pass up.

To see the ad, fast forward to the 2:37 mark.

By the way, this is the second part of a three part serial. Since Space Patrol is awesome, I suggest going back and watching the first episode.

The Toy Robot Museum

I just made plans to visit the Toy Robot Museum in Adamstown, PA, later in July. It's run by a long-time collector named Joe Knedlhans, and has more than 3000 toy robots on display. It's a pretty amazing place, and Joe's a great guy. I've had the opportunity to visit the museum numerous times over the years, and it's always an adventure. If you're ever in that neck of the woods, I suggest stopping by. Tell Joe that Doc sent you. Actually, on second thought... he's got a long memory, so it's probably best if you leave me out of it. Boy, he sure loved that squid.

For the curious, here's a profile on Joe and the museum I produced for the New York Post not too long ago.



For more information on the Toy Robot Museum, check out www.stoudtburgvillage.com/store.php?s=54. If you do head down thataways, be sure to give yourself time to explore all the antique toy stores in Adamstown. I've found numerous additions to my own collection, including some extremely rare ray guns (which will be discussed in another post).