Dear Mr. Bradbury, I am a major fan and admirer of yours.
I was just wondering how you discipline yourself to write everyday or furthermore have the discipline to finish something?
I heard a story about Victor Hugo once, how he stripped down and gave his clothes to his butler and instructed him not to return them until he had completed a full day's writing. I trust you don't have the same methods. haha
Mr. Bradbury, you were about 25 years old when the first Atom bomb was dropped on a good sized city full of people. How much do you remember of that specific event and how it affected you at the time? And is your short story, Embroidery, the only story you ever wrote dealing with the dropping of the Atom bomb?
Posts: 439 | Location: Oak Park, IL | Registered: 19 July 2006
I have another question that just came to me, don't know if you can add it to the list.
Ray, if you had the means to find out the true name and history of Mr. Electrico, would you jump willingly at the chance or would you pass for fear of ruining the mystique of him to you?
She stood silently looking out into the great sallow distances of sea bottom, as if recalling something, her yellow eyes soft and moist...
rocketsummer@insightbb.com
Posts: 1397 | Location: Louisville, KY | Registered: 08 February 2006
rocket: I can answer that one. Ray looked thru the years but could never find the answer. Many others have looked. I looked as recent as last year. In fact, if you do a search on THIS Bradbury website, there are several posts from others who did an investigation for the real Mr. Electrico's identity! We do know there were at least two carnivals in Waukegan at the time Bradbury met Mr. Electrico. The lesser of the two is the one Mr. Electrico traveled with on this occasion. He was a defrocked, Presbyterian minister according to Bradbury himself, who said that was the info Mr. Electrico gave youngster Ray. Some today describe vague descendency of sorts to a Mr. Electrico. And recently, there have been magicians named Mr. Electrico. In fact, a magician at the entertainment and shopping jewel that reaches out into Lake Michigan, Navy Pier, has a magic store in it where one of the magicians claims knowledge of Mr. Electrico, but, sad to say, refuses to devulge what he knows. Ah, it keeps the mystery going.
But, yes, if there was a chance to know more about Mr. Electrico, Ray would jump at the opportunity...
Posts: 3954 | Location: South Orange County, CA USA | Registered: 28 June 2002
Thanks, I remember Patrick Mullins had quite an obsession with Mr. Electrico and really had uncovered some interesting stuff. I haven't heard from him in a while. In a way I do want to know but in a way, its more mysterious and better too.
She stood silently looking out into the great sallow distances of sea bottom, as if recalling something, her yellow eyes soft and moist...
rocketsummer@insightbb.com
Posts: 1397 | Location: Louisville, KY | Registered: 08 February 2006
Phil, I think we've got another group of schoolkids with Bradbury-related English assignments temporarily turning the board into an adolescent chat room. Be of good cheer, though. This happens once or twice a year, but it usually doesn't last too long. Besides, there is the outside chance that they may actually learn something! The dogs bark, but the wagons roll on...
Posts: 3167 | Location: Box in Braling I's cellar | Registered: 02 July 2004
It was Ray Bradbury's recollection that he went to the Dill Brothers Combined Shows in Waukegan on Labor Day weekend in 1932, specifically, on a Saturday. However, the Downie Brothers Circus was in Waukegan on September 3, 1932: a Saturday! Bradbury recalled that, the day after he saw the Saturday performance, he spoke with the sideshow performers on their day off. This recollection fits with information that the circus had that Sunday off and probably remained in town.
This is about as close as we have come to this mystery as yet. Information can be found here:
