A World Ray Bradbury Tried To Prevent...

A couple of weeks ago, there was a terrific discussion of Ray Bradbury's work, organised by Zócalo Public Square.  

Author Lilliam Rivera, Arizona State University Center for Science and the Imagination professor Michael Bennett, and Jonathan R. Eller, Director of the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies at Indiana University, discussed what Bradbury would make of 2020, and what his work can teach us in the current moment - inspired by the famous Bradbury quote, "I don't predict the future so much as try to prevent it." The event was preceded by an introduction from actor/director Joe Mantegna, once the star of Ray's The Wonderful Ice Cream Suit.

The discussion was recorded, and is available to view on Facebook:

 https://www.facebook.com/zocalopublicsquare/videos/590854361596920 

Bradbury 100 - episode 7

It's hard to believe that my podcast Bradbury 100 has been going for seven weeks. Scroll down for Episode 7!

In this episode I have a fun interview with Brian Sibley, the award-winning dramatist and broadcaster who has probably adapted more Bradbury than anyone else. But Brian is also an authority on Walt Disney, and it was a mutual love of all things Disney that first brought Brian and Ray Bradbury together as friends.

Brian and I have so much to talk about, that I'm splitting the interview over two episodes. Today is (mostly) about the Disney side of things, and next week is (mostly) about Brian's experiences in adapting Bradbury for radio.

Brian Sibley and Ray Bradbury, back in the day.

Bradbury 100 · Bradbury 100 - Episode 07

Show Notes

The letter from Ray Bradbury to Brian Sibley which starts today's interview.

Walt Disney explains audio-animatronics, and demonstrates his robotic Abraham Lincoln, created for the World's Fair.

The opening of EPCOT in Florida, with speeches outside Spaceship Earth.

Brian Sibley's recollections of the opening of EPCOT, from his own blog.

An attempted reconstruction of the original Spaceship Earth ride as it would have been experienced by the original riders in 1982. (Some poor quality audio and video, but this appears to be all that remains of the original ride as scripted by Ray Bradbury.)

Brian Sibley's blog(s). The "personal blog" contains lots of Bradbury-related material.

Brian's Soundcloud channel carries a number of his Disney-related and Bradbury-related radio documentaries.

 Tomorrow - Saturday 5th September - Bradbury 100 goes live!

I'll be holding an open Zoom meeting, which anyone can join, and which I will stream via Facebook. I'll be talking about some of the guests onthe podcasts, and showing a few items from my Bradbury collection.

The aim is to get people to call into the Zoom meeting and share their experiences of Bradbury. Earliest story, favourite book, that sort of thing.

To join in (or just watch and listen), use this link to get to the Facebook event:

https://www.facebook.com/events/356673885346346/