It was April of 2004. I was attending one of Ray Bradbury's plays in the Los Angeles area, although with the passage of time I cannot recall which one and the theater. Going in, I had been told by the producer that Ray was attending another event and was not at the theater. However, at one point during the performance, Ray's producer tapped me on the shoulder and whispered, "Can you come out to the lobby?" I followed him, and there sitting in the lobby was Ray. He was waiting for an intermission to enter, so as not to disturb the audience. He told me that earlier that evening he had been at the Russian Nights Festival, a festival of Russian culture, where he and actor Dustin Hoffman had received an award. "An award, but no money", he said. "What, no rubles?", I asked. Ray laughed and in his best Russian accent said, "No, no rubles!"

The award Ray received was called the Tower Award, and was given by that Festival to "prominent figures for their contributions to world culture." The links below will take you to some photographs from the Festival, including some of Ray, Dustin Hoffman, and a number of others stars and celebrities:

https://www.gettyimages.ca/edi...g-night-gala/3454786

https://www.russiannightsfest....tml?pt=48&article=25