Oral Histories

Interview of Ray Bradbury

Science fiction author and screenwriter.
Subtitle:
The Dogs That Eat Sweet Grass
Series:
Z: Orphan Interviews pre 1999
Topic:
Literature
Biographical Note:
Science fiction author and screenwriter.
Interviewer:
Cunningham, Craig
Interviewee:
Bradbury, Ray
Supporting Documents:
Records relating to the interview are located in the office of the UCLA Library's Center for Oral History Research.
Language:
English
Copyright:
Interviewee Retained Copyright
Abstract:
Family background; childhood in Waukegan, Illinois; reading Argosy magazine; Edgar Rice Burroughs, C. S. Forester, Loring Brent, and Max Brand; first appearance of Amazing Stories and Wonder Stories magazines; early movies and comic strips; imaginative play as leader of Tarzan club; visit to Hall of Science at Chicago World's Fair, 1933; living in Tucson, Arizona, 1932-33; broadcasting comics on radio; impressions of King Kong, 1933; move to Los Angeles, 1934; attending movie previews at Uptown Theater; getting into movie studios and radio broadcasts; decision at twelve to become a writer; publishing Futuria Fantasia magazine; Henry Kuttner, Robert Heinlein, and Henry Hasse; first story sold to Script magazine at age nineteen; value of discipline in writing fifty-two short stories each year; nature of literary inspiration; acceptance of work by Super Science Stories, 1941; writing for Weird Tales, Astonishing Stories, Astounding Science Fiction Stories, American Mercury, Mademoiselle, and other magazines; inclusion in Best American Short Stories of 1946; meeting John Steinbeck; starting to write novels; discussion of Fahrenheit 451, Martian Chronicles, and Dandelion Wine; writing for theater and movies; science fiction writer as social critic; writing screenplay for Moby Dick; reaction to McCarthyism; political activities in 1950s; friendship with Bernard Berenson; more writing for screen and theater.