By John Hertz: Ray Bradbury was awarded the 2,193rd star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. It was placed outside Larry Edmunds’ bookshop, 6644 Hollywood Bl., where he’d been a customer fifty years. In 1934 he went roller-skating there. At the ceremony Johnny Grant, President of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, said Bradbury’s fables were like Aesop’s. Stan Freberg said Bradbury had been his best friend forty years, so when Freberg sneaked off later I told him I’d always liked the Chung King elevator commercials best. Rod Steiger said what made it last was Bradbury’s understanding of human beings, the magic of his imagination, his insistence that humanity would go forth. City Councilman Gil Garcetti said Bradbury inspired us not to take our liberties for granted. Mayor Hahn announced a campaign for all Los Angeles to read one book so we’d have some of the same things to talk about: the book is Fahrenheit 451 (1953). He’d celebrated his birthday by visiting Bradbury. A day or two before the ceremony I heard of it and asked LASFS President Ed Green if we were sending anyone, so he appointed me. I wouldn’t have missed it for the world.  It was April Fool’s Day.

(Reprinted from Vanamonde 465, April 9, 2002.)