Ray Bradbury

Celebrating 100 Years!

The Prolific Ray Bradbury

Ray Bradbury (1920-2012), famed writer and poet, had a special relationship with the city of South Pasadena. Bradbury's interest in South Pasadena is perhaps derived from South Pasadena's small-town charm; a reminder of his youth in Waukegan, Illinois. In celebration of Bradbury's 100th birthday, the South Pasadena Public Library invites you to explore the cultural impact Ray Bradbury has had on our city.

Ray Bradbury
Ray Bradbury

Security Pacific National Bank Collection / Los Angeles Public Library

In his lifetime, Ray Douglas Bradbury published approximately 27 novels and story collections, 600 short stories, 20 plays, and 34 screenplays. A highly accomplished writer, Bradbury is cited as taking influence from the works of William Shakespeare, George Bernard Shaw, Jules Verne, and Edgar Rice Burroughs (George, 2012). In fact, Bradbury's lyrical prose are often credited with elevating the reputation of the sci-fi genre (George, 2012).

Bradbury, in his later years, was a frequent visitor to South Pasadena. In fact, Bradbury chose the South Pasadena Public Library as the location of his 90th Birthday Celebration. In 2010 South Pasadena City Council declared August 22nd Ray Bradbury Day.

Dr. Richard Schneider presenting Ray Bradbury with "Ray Bradbury Day" Proclamation, 2010.

The Ray Bradbury Centennial

The year 2020 marked the 100th birthday of Ray Bradbury. In celebration of Bradbury's Centennial, the Library participated in the First Annual Ray Bradbury Read-A-Thon.

Readers selected by participating libraries and institutions across the country brought Bradbury’s classic novel Fahrenheit 451 to life for audiences across the country.

Fahrenheit 451 is a cautionary dystopian tale about the cost of apathy and the power of curiosity. One of the most checked-out books at libraries throughout the United States, viewers of the Read-A-Thon will discover—or rediscover—this redemptive tale that is as powerful today as it was when it was first published in 1953. The reading was available for viewing between August 22 and September 5, 2020, and watched by thousands

Emmy-winning South Pasadena-based actor James Reynolds prepares for the Read-A-Thon, 2020.

The Ray Bradbury Collection

In 2013 the South Pasadena Public Library named the conference room in honor of the late Ray Bradbury, for his work as lifelong advocate for public libraries. The Ray Bradbury Conference Room currently hosts a collection of Bradbury books and artifacts, including ephemera, photographs, artwork, and first edition prints. On the walls of the Conference Room hang a brick from Ray Bradbury's home in Los Angeles (now demolished) and a portion of drywall from Bradbury's home office, where much of his writing was conducted.

Take a look below at just a small portion of our Ray Bradbury Collection.

Fused Glass Public Artwork

In October 2020 the  Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library  generously donated funds to enable the Library to commission a unique work of art designed by local artist  Tim Carey . Carey designed a stunning triptych for the Library's Ray Bradbury Conference Room that pays tribute to the author's life and work. The fused glass artwork was created at the world-renowned Judson Studios in South Pasadena. To learn more about Judson Studios, check out a copy of  Judson: Innovation in Stained Glass  from the Library. To read Tim Carey's concept statement about the work, click  here .

An unveiling ceremony was held on October 29, 2020. The artwork is permenantly on display above the Ray Bradbury Conference Room on the West side of the Library building.

"Live Forever" concept sketch design copyright Tim Carey, Tim Carey Studio.

Unveiling Ceremony, October 29, 2020

Thank you for viewing our exhibit!

For more photos like the ones in this exhibit check out the  Local History Flickr Collection  and like us on  Facebook  for weekly #FlashbackFriday posts!

References

George, Lynell. 2012. Ray Bradbury dies at 91; author lifted fantasy to literary heights. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-xpm-2012-jun-06-la-me-ray-bradbury-20120607-story.html

Madison, Nathan Vernon. n.d. The Argosy. The Pulp Magazine Project. https://www.pulpmags.org/content/info/argosy.html

South Pasadena Public Library

2020

Security Pacific National Bank Collection / Los Angeles Public Library

Dr. Richard Schneider presenting Ray Bradbury with "Ray Bradbury Day" Proclamation, 2010.

Emmy-winning South Pasadena-based actor James Reynolds prepares for the Read-A-Thon, 2020.

"Live Forever" concept sketch design copyright Tim Carey, Tim Carey Studio.

Unveiling Ceremony, October 29, 2020