A VERSION OF THIS ESSAY IS INCLUDED IN MY NEW BOOK, SEARCHING FOR RAY BRADBURY, NOW AVAILABLE FROM AMAZON.COM
In August of 2010 I created and organized Ray Bradbury Week in Los Angeles in celebration of Ray’s 90th birthday. His appearances at several of the free events that took place that week have, sadly, become his last public appearances. But they were grand -- he made them grand -- and served as a wonderful way for his many fans in Los Angeles to express their love for this giant not only of literature—but of life. I didn’t know it was to be his public “good-bye,” and wish deeply that it had not been. But I am grateful that I had a part in allowing him to receive this public love, especially since I was never sure if he would be up to coming to the events.
After a long life, Ray’s body was failing him (but not his mind—never his mind), and I promised his family that in organizing and promoting the events I would not guarantee his appearance. I scrupulously did so as I approached such institutions as the Central Library, The Writers Guild of America, Hugh Hefner and the Playboy Foundation, and the Paley Centre for Media to host events. I told all of them that we were going to honor the man and his work, but they could not count on the man being there.
As it turned out, Ray came to most of the events—and had a great time.
The whole thing started after I had written an essay on Ray for the Los Angeles Times Hero Complex bog, “Searching for Ray Bradbury” in July of 2009. It led to a discussion with Heather Repenning, special assistant to Eric Garcetti, then president of the L.A. City Council, now running for Mayor of Los Angeles. I told Heather that 2010 would see Ray’s 90th birthday, and asked, “Don’t you think the city should do something official to honor him?” She and Mr. Garcetti immediately, and enthusiastically, said yes. I told them the simple thing they could do, of course, is what cities do all the time, name a day in his honor, but that Ray was too big for a day. I wanted a month, but I told them I would take a week. Again quite enthusiastically, they gave me a week, and on Friday, August 20 declared August 22 through 28th, Ray Bradbury Week in Los Angeles in a wonderful ceremony and reception at City Hall. Ray was there, and was greatly moved.
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| The audience applauds as Eric Garcitti shows Ray the City Council's proclamation naming August 22-28, 2010 RAY BRADBURY WEEK in Los Angeles |
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| I address the City Council supporting RAY BRADBURY WEEK, and, of course, thanking them, especially Eric Garcetti and Heather Repening |
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| The Planetary Society's Louis Friedman, presents Ray with a huge poster filled with birthday wishes from around our planet. |
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| Councilmembers Bill Rosendahl and Paul Koretz, who both made lovely speeches in support of RAY BRADBURY WEEK, congratulate Ray. |
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| Ray waving to the crowd in the city council chambers. |
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| Taking the official photo before heading off to the reception for Ray in the Tom Bradley Room at the top of City Hall L-R Cynthia Shor, Executive Director of the Walt Whitman House, Steven Paul Leiva, Louis Friedman, Eric Garcetti, Heather Repenning |
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| The Resolution |
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| Louis Friedman, Ray, and I share a laugh at the reception. |
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| Disney animation director, John Musker, in conversation with Ray at the reception. |
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| I read to Ray that morning's Los Angeles Times article on him and RAY BRADBURY WEEK |
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| Ray talking to students from the Green School in Hollywood who later that week staged their own version of "Fahrenheit 451. |
TO SEE FULL VIDEO OF THE CITY COUNCIL PROCLAMATION GO TO THESE LINKS:
The next Monday I was honored to direct at the Writers Guild of America a staged reading of Ray’s moving one-act play, “The Better Part of Wisdom,” staring James Cromwell, Seamus Dever, and Jeff Cannata.
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| L-R Jeff Cannata, James Cromwell, Seamus Dever Photo by Michael Jones |
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| Cromwell and Dever as Grandfather and Grandson. Photo by Michael Jones |
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| A wonderful moment from James Cromwell. Photo by Michael Jones |
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| The end of the play -- Jeff Canatta lays a loving hand on his sleeping lover played by Semus Dever. Photo by Michael Jones |
Ray came and met with the actors before the reading, telling us that it was actually the first time the play had been staged. I’m not sure that’s true, I believe it had been performed before, but it gave us all an incredible sense of connection with Ray and made the experience a deeper one for all of us. I think in telling us this, Ray was giving us a gift only he could give.
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| In the green room before the reading. L-R James Cromwell, Seamus Dever, Jeff Canatta, Steven Paul Leiva Photo by Michael Jones |
We had a full house, of course, and Ray was seated in the first row, just several feet from the actors, loving their performances.
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| James Cromwell and Seamus Dever perform for the audience at the Writers Guild. Photo by Michael Jones |
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| Ray receiving applause from the audience after the reading. Photo by Michael Jones |
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| I address the audience and Ray telling them about RAY BRADBURY WEEK Photo by Michael Jones |
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| Ray giving his thanks to the actors and the audience. Photo by Michael Jones |
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| And as I, Jeff Canatta and James Cromwell look on. Photo by Michael Jones |
After the reading, Ray spent some time talking to Cromwell about his father, the great film director John Cromwell, whose work Ray loved.
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| Cromwell and Bradbury. Photo by Michael Jones |
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| Ray expressing his love to James Cromwell. Photo by Michael Jones |
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| The cast, director, and playwright. Photo by Michael Jones |
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| The reading was sponsored by the Career Longevity Committee of the Writers Guild, which is part of the Diversity Department of the Guild. Here Ray, elegant in black and red, sits for a photo op with Tery Lopez and Kim Myers of the Diversity Dapartment, and Steve Chivers, chairman of the CLC, and me. |
YOU CAN SEE SOME SELECTED SCENES FROM THE READING HERE:
The next night Hugh Hefner and the Playboy Foundation sponsored a screening of Fahrenheit 451. The screening was preceded by a joint appearance on stage by Hefner and Ray, two old and great friends, talking about their collaborations over the years, especially when Hefner serialized Fahrenheit 451 in Playboy issues number two, three, and four. The second man to walk on the moon, Buzz Aldrin, was there in the audience, as was Bill Nye the Science Guy, and Roger Allers, the co-director of The Lion King. And fans, many fervent fans.
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| Hugh Hefner with Ray. Photo by Peter Lonsdale |
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| Ray with Buzz Aldrin in the green room. |
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| Ray and Hugh talk in the green room. |
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| Hugh Hefner and Ray Bradbury are interviewed by Geoff Boucher of the Los Angeles Times as I assist Ray with the mic. |
YOU CAN SEE A FULL VIDEO OF THE 451 EVENT HERE:
And that Thursday the downtown Central Library hosted a screening of the film version of Ray’s classic short story, The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit, an underrated delight. Ray came to this as well and joined the audience before the screening for an ice cream social in the courtyard in front of the Mark Taper Auditorium. Ice cream was Ray’s favorite food.
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| Ray being handed his very special ice cream sandwich from the Cool Haus ice cream truck by his good friend John King Tarpinian. |
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| Ray sharing love at the ice cream social with animation producer Melissa Kurtz |
After the screening Ray joined the star of the film, Joe Mantegna, and Stuart Gordon, the film’s director, on stage to reminisce not only about the making of the film, but the stage version that Mantegna had starred in and Gordon had directed many years previously. The love between the three was palpable—the laughs they shared were a delight to the audience.
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| I introduce the panel - Joe Mantegna, Ray Bradbury, and Stuart Gordon. Photo by Trang Duong |
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| Ray Bradbury listening to Stuart Gordon speak about the making of "The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit." Photo by Trang Duong |
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| I ask Joe a question. Photo by Trang Duong |
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| We share a laugh over a story Stuart told. Photo by Trang Duong |
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| Ray and I listen to Joe talk of his experiences performing in both the stage and film versions of "The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit." Photo by Trang Duong |
Ray was exhausted after these appearances. Exhausted but, he told, me flying high. Ray often said, “You’ve got to jump off cliffs and build your wings on the way down.” He jumped off a cliff for Ray Bradbury Week. The wings were built by the love of the public.
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| Ray Bradbury by Lou Romano. Lou is an animation production artist and voice-over actor. This piece was commissioned by WRITTEN BY, the magazine of the Writers Guild of American, west for the cover of of the Summer 2010 issue with a lead article on Ray. This was their contribution to RAY BRADBURY WEEK and Lou's contribution to RAY BRADBURY - ILLUSTRATED MAN, a virtual art show I put together with contributions of original art by 20 artists from film animation doing either a portrait of Ray or a piece inspired by him or a particular work of his. |
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Visit the Ray Bradbury Facebook page that has photos and videos from that week’s various events, including the virtual art show, RAY BRADBURY - ILLUSTRATED MAN.
