Tag Archives: Mystery & Imagination Bookshop
Live 451 Reading at Mystery & Imagination
Arlene Martel.
By John King Tarpinian: There was a gathering of past members of the Ray Bradbury Pandemonium Theater company this Sunday (October 27) at Mystery and Imagination Bookshop. The reason for the gathering was to reminisce about the good times acting Ray’s stage plays. Also, to do a cover-to-cover reading of Fahrenheit 451 in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of its publication. The true first was a paperback that first came out on October 19, 1953 while the hardback edition came out one week later, October 26, 1953.
Each reader took a turn telling how he or she first discovered Ray from books, felt honored to meet him in person and to perform for him on stage.
A couple of the actors are full-time professionals. Steven Wallenberg was the annoying neighbor in the George Lopez sitcom. Mageina Tovah has been in a couple of the Spiderman movies, and has a notable TV resume.
Mageina Tovah.
Steve Wallenberg.
Others invited to read included Arlene Martel (If you do not know the name then take out your wallet and tear up your membership in the Geek Club.) Arlene was Spock’s betrothed in the original Star Trek. She also played Consuela in the Harlan Ellison story, “Demon With A Glass Hand” on The Outer Limits with Robert Culp. Arlene took the honor of reading the opening chapter, her favorite.
The five-plus hours necessary to read the book went pretty quickly, mainly because I did not read, but mostly because everybody in the room was in one way or another affected by the book and the man that wrote it.
Robert Kerr, our host and one of Ray’s actors. He has appeared in everything from Iron Man to dozens of TV programs.
Jack, our spirit guide.
Mystery & Imagination Bookstore Appeal
Hear George Clayton Johnson on Writing
Report on del Toro Signing
at Mystery & Imagination
Guillermo del Toro, Peter Atkins and Dennis Etchison in back of Mystery & Imagination Bookshop. Photo by John Sasser.
By John King Tarpinian: Guillermo is a kind, unassuming, down to earth man. When he heard a local bookshop, Mystery and Imagination, was just getting by in this age of internet sales and big box book stores he volunteered to do what turns out to be his only official signing of his new book, Pacific Rim, as a fund raiser. Even with his busy schedule of promoting the film he made time to lend a helping hand. The extent of his kindness is best reflected in that the following morning he was off to Japan for the Pacific Rim premiere.
Considering the event was at 6:00 p.m. on a Thursday in L.A. there was a great turn-out. Not sure the body count but Guillermo signed for over three hours.
Wanting to meet him was two writers in their own right who had never done so, Dennis Etchison and Peter Atkins. It was a warm reception; Guillermo knew of and collected their works. We went upstairs to the signing area to do some preliminary stuff while the new friends got acquainted.
Once the event got started Guillermo was more than affable with all in attendance. He spoke with everybody, shook everybody’s hand. Guillermo was great with kids, a few of which had drawn their versions of the Kaiju. He’d stop and look at the drawing showing real appreciation at their attempts.
More than a few people in attendance worked for some of the companies that worked on Pacific Rim. One for the company that did the 3D conversion and another that worked on the musical score. Two students were given permission to miss their film school class to meet Guillermo. One bought the Pacific Rim book, the other the Puss N Boots book, both coffee table books. They made sure to get a trade paperback of The Strain for their instructor. Guillermo wrote an absentee excuse in the book for the instructor. What I’d not seen before were people who brought blank 8×10 canvases, which Guillermo obliged them with sketches.
I’d guess that a quarter of the people who came had been to San Diego last weekend, bringing in their only-available from Comic-Con items. There were posters galore and dozens of Pacific Rim action figures. I have to admit I did something mean; when they’d hand over their sealed items (knowing that Guillermo would sign the package) I’d pretend to take the figurine out of the box. The looks on their faces was worth it. (Bad John)
The three hours went by very fast. Everybody involved was pleased, the fans and Guillermo. Two bankers-boxes were needed to haul away the gifts people brought. Not to mention that Guillermo was generous enough to give of himself to help out a bookshop he has frequented many times over the years.
Signing Jim’s copy of Pacific Rim. Photo by John King Tarpinian.
Guillermo Del Toro Signs
at Mystery & Imagination
Guillermo Del Toro draws a doodle.
Guillermo del Toro did a signing July 25 at Mystery & Imagination Bookstore in Glendale, CA. All photos by John King Tarpinian.
Del Toro signing Pacific Rim.
Signing a little hardback while visiting with Pete Atkins.
Bonus out-of-focus photo of Del Toro.
Tarpinian: George Clayton Johnson’s
84th Birthday Party
George pontificating instead of blowing out the candles. Photo by John King Tarpinian.
George blowing out the candles. Photo by John King Tarpinian.
By John King Tarpinian: This afternoon the bookshop, Mystery and Imagination in Glendale, CA held what is now an annual event, George Clayton Johnson’s public birthday party. George turned 84 on July 10. George is best known for having written Twilight Zone episodes, the first ever aired Star Trek, the original Ocean’s Eleven and, with William F. Nolan, the cult classic Logan’s Run. Many do not know that he co-wrote the Oscan nominated short subject Icarus Montgolfier Wright with Ray Bradbury.
There were about 50 people in attendance, old friends and new, among them Marc Scott Zicree and Dennis Etchison. George spent about an hour talking about his life and loves. Local artist L.J. Dopp presented Ray a lovely painting taken from one of George’s best known TZ episodes, A Game of Pool which starred Jonathan Winters and Jack Klugman. L.J. also read a lovely poem he had written about George’s life. Many other gifts were presented along with many words of praise.
We started around 2:00 p.m. and ended after 6:00 p.m. when everybody was talked out and all the cake was gone.
The cake. Photo by John King Tarpinian.
L. J. Dopp’s gift to George. Photo by John King Tarpinian.
Del Toro in Glendale July 25
Guillermo del Toro will be signing July 25 at Mystery & Imagination Bookstore in Glendale, CA. The event begins at 6 p.m.
Update 07/12/2013: New time — 6 p.m. Same date.
[Thanks to John King Tarpinian for the story.]
Bradbury’s Favorite Bookshop
Steven Paul Leiva, who organized the incredible Ray Bradbury Week in Los Angeles in 2010, and helped persuade the Los Angeles City Council to name a downtown intersection by the Central Library “Ray Bradbury Square,” has written Searching for Ray Bradbury, a short collection of his essays about his friend and colleague.
One of these pieces, Leiva’s “Ray Bradbury’s Favorite Bookshop”, was recently published on The Huffington Post:
When a great American author recommends a bookstore to you, you would be well-advised to listen. When he does it with enthusiasm and passion, which was the only way Ray Bradbury ever did anything, you would be well-advised not just to listen, but to take note — in indelible ink on acid free paper, on any recording device you have handy, and by any method of mnemonics you practice.
“Steve, you and Amanda must come to my book signing next Wednesday. But not just for me, it’s at one of the best bookstores ever, Mystery & Imagination in Glendale, great name, huh? It’s from Poe!”
Bradbury regularly appeared at Mystery & Imagination Bookstore for signings, and fans thronged to his annual birthday celebrations there.
Naturally, Mystery & Imagination hosted the launch party for Leiva’s own collection this past May 26.
[Thanks to John King Tarpinian for the story.]
Crowd at Mystery & Imagination Bookstore for Ray Bradbury’s 88th Birthday in 2008.
Bo Derek wishes Ray Bradbury a happy 90th birthday in 2009.
Pete Atkins and Dennis Etchison outside Mystery & Imagination Bookstore
George Clayton Johnson Lecture Series
He wrote six Twilight Zone episodes, the first aired Star Trek episode, the Sinatra Ocean’s 11, and collaborated on Logan’s Run. Next, George Clayton Johnson will share his experience and wisdom in a series of lectures at Mystery & Imagination in Glendale, CA.
Johnson will lecture on four consecutive Wednesdays in May – May 4th, 11th, 18th & 25th. All talks begin at 2:00 p.m. in Mystery and Imagination bookshop at 238 N. Brand Blvd., Glendale, CA91204. Phone: (818) 545-0206.
[Thanks to John King Tarpinian for the story.]