ANNOUNCING A NEW TRIBUTE TO RAY BRADBURY -- THE RAY BRADBURY READ

Ray Bradbury was a great and important Twentieth Century American writer. 

His novels, such as The Martian Chronicles, Fahrenheit 451, and Dandelion Wine, as well as hundreds of short stories, poems, and essays, now have a permanent place in American culture. He also established a fine international reputation and is as beloved overseas as he is here. Truly if any writer became a literary citizen of planet Earth, it was Ray Bradbury.

And yet, Ray Bradbury was deeply an Angeleno, with Los Angeles shaping not only the writer but the man. Born in 1920, Ray moved to L.A. in 1934, falling instantly in love with this city. 

It was a love that never diminished.  From its beaches to Hollywood 

to its diverse ethnic population to its great libraries (especially the downtown Central Library), Ray fed off the energy of Los Angeles and converted that energy into fine writing.

In order to pay tribute to Ray on his ninetieth birthday, I instigated and organized Ray Bradbury Week in Los Angeles in 2010. 

With great encouragement and assistance by the then president of the L.A. City Council, and now Los Angeles mayor, Eric Garcetti, and the Bradbury family, I was able to put together a week-long series of events in coordination with, and the participation of, the Writers Guild of America, west, Hugh Hefner and the Playboy Foundation, the Central Library of the LAPL, and the Paley Center for Media.

In 2012, I spearheaded an effort, working closely with Councilmembers Paul Koretz and Jose Huizar, the Central Library, Maguire Gardens at the Central Library, downtown L.A. business leaders, and the Bradbury family, to have the intersection of Fifth & Flower dedicated as Ray Bradbury Square.

Last year I conceived of, and since then have been working on, an event that could become an annual tribute to Ray Bradbury here in Los Angeles. It is an event that will not only be a tribute to Ray, demonstrating Los Angeles' love for him, but will also call attention to downtown L.A., our Central Library, the beauty of Maguire Gardens, and the existence of Ray Bradbury Square. I would love to see Ray Bradbury Square become a destination for all literary Angelenos and for visitors from around the world.

On August 22, 2016—Ray Bradbury’s birthday— we will hold The Ray Bradbury Read in Maguire Gardens, 

situated between the Central Library 

and Ray Bradbury Square. 

It will be a fairly simple three-hour event held from noon to three during which people will read from the work of Ray Bradbury. The public is, of course, invited, and we hope to draw many downtown workers to drop by during their lunch break and have their meal in the gardens listening to wonderful words of Ray Bradbury.

Most of the readers will come from the public to be chosen by a method yet to be decided. But we hope to have celebrity readers as well reading from Ray’s work. The celebrities could come from entertainment (film, TV, theater, sports), literature (authors influenced by Ray, or just ones who love him), science (such as individuals involved in space exploration, or the study of dinosaurs), and even politics, or better said, civic service (councilmembers, the mayor, members of congress, etc.). 

Already actor Joe Mantegna 

has agreed to be a reader subject to availability.

I have the full support of Ray Bradbury’s four daughters, and they have joined an exciting board of advisers I will call upon to help in shaping the program for the read.

The full board of advisers for the Ray Bradbury Read are:

Ray Bradbury’s Daughters:

Susan Bradbury Nixon

Ramona Ostergren

Bettina Bradbury

Alexandra Bradbury

Jon Eller, director of the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies, Indiana University

Joe Mantegna, star of "The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit" (play & film) and long-time friend of Ray's.

Michael Congdon, Don Congdon Associates, Ray’s long-time agent.

Phil Nichols, blogger at www.bradburymedia.co.uk and Senior Advisor to the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies.

Jennifer Brehl, SVP, Executive Editor & Director of Editorial Development, Morrow and Voyager, imprints of HarperCollins Publishers., Ray’s editor for many years.

Howard Green, VP, Communications for Walt Disney Animation Studios, publicist on the film version of Something Wicked this Way Comes, long time friend.

Marsha LuMetta, Trustee of the Ray Bradbury Family Trust

I am being joined by some wonderful people and institutions in putting together the Ray Bradbury Read:

The Los Angeles Public Library and City Librarian John Szabo & library staff.

The Maguire Gardens and their property management company, Heins

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti & staff.

Los Angeles City Councilmember for the 14th District Jose Huizar & staff.

In the coming weeks I’ll be seeking support from downtown L.A. businesses and possibly sponsorship from media outlets.

And I’ll be asking for volunteers for the event and for services.

The event, at the moment, has no budget. I hope to keep it a simple celebration of Ray Bradbury and his words on the anniversary of his birth.  

I have created a Facebook event page for the Ray Bradbury Read, and you can find it here:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1718109565071614/

And you can find information my personal blog at: http://stevenpaulleivasthisnthat.blogspot.com/

Keep checking both for updates.

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS FROM FROM RAY BRADBURY WEEK IN LOS ANGELES - 2010

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.

The audience applauds as Eric Garcitti shows Ray the City Council's proclamation naming August 22-28, 2010 RAY BRADBURY WEEK in Los Angeles

I address the City Council supporting RAY BRADBURY WEEK, and, of course, thanking them, especially Eric Garcetti and Heather Repening

The Planetary Society's Louis Friedman, presents Ray with a huge poster filled with birthday wishes from around our planet.

Councilmembers Bill Rosendahl and Paul Koretz, who both made lovely speeches in support of RAY BRADBURY WEEK, congratulate Ray.

Ray waving to the crowd in the city council chambers.

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

The Resolution

Louis Friedman, Ray, and I share a laugh at the reception.

Disney animation director, John Musker, in conversation with Ray at the reception.

I read to Ray that morning's Los Angeles Times article on him and RAY BRADBURY WEEK

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:

CITY COUNCIL PART 1 

CITY COUNCIL PART 2

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. 

L-R Jeff Cannata, James Cromwell, Seamus Dever
Photo by Michael Jones

Cromwell and Dever as Grandfather and Grandson.
Photo by Michael Jones

A wonderful moment from James Cromwell.
Photo by Michael Jones

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.  

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. 

James Cromwell and Seamus Dever perform for the audience at the Writers Guild.
Photo by Michael Jones

Ray receiving applause from the audience after the reading.
Photo by Michael Jones

I address the audience and Ray telling them about RAY BRADBURY WEEK
Photo by Michael Jones

Ray giving his thanks to the actors and the audience.
Photo by Michael Jones

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.

Cromwell and Bradbury.
Photo by Michael Jones

Ray expressing his love to James Cromwell.
Photo by Michael Jones

The cast, director, and playwright.
Photo by Michael Jones

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 BETTER PART OF WISDOM READING

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.

Hugh Hefner with Ray.
Photo by Peter Lonsdale

Ray with Buzz Aldrin in the green room.

Ray and Hugh talk in the green room.

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:

HEF AND RAY TOGETHER FOR 451 PART 1

HEF AND RAY TOGETHER FOR 451 PART 2

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.  

Ray being handed his very special ice cream sandwich from the Cool Haus ice cream truck by his good friend John King Tarpinian.

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. 

I introduce the panel - Joe Mantegna, Ray Bradbury, and Stuart Gordon.
Photo by Trang Duong 

Ray Bradbury listening to Stuart Gordon speak about the making of "The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit."
Photo by Trang Duong 

I ask Joe a question.
Photo by Trang Duong 

We share a laugh over a story Stuart told.
Photo by Trang Duong 

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.

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.

----------------------------------------

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.