Fahrenheit 451 Author Ray Bradbury Play Censored by "Undercover" California Official

SciFiDimensions.com ^ | October 22, 2007 | J. Neil Schulman

[J. Neil Schulman]

South Pasadena, California 10/20/2007 - A California “undercover investigator” identifying himself to this reporter as "Agent Egan" entered the Fremont Center Theatre at 8:00 PM curtain time tonight and halted the performance of Pulitzer Prize and National Medal of Arts author Ray Bradbury’s play Dandelion Wine. Bradbury was in attendance awaiting the start of the performance with a theatre full of celebrity guests including The Empire Strikes Back director Irvin Kershner.

[Redcloak]

This “agent” didn’t flash a badge or identify his agency?

[massgopguy]

But did he stay at a Holiday Inn last night?

[jonascord]

Just remember. Build a man a fire, he will be warm for an hour or so. Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life. I think this is an opportunity to test this cliche. Somehow, my willingness to tolerate bureaucratic arrogance is wearing thin.

[Billthedrill]

The play’s director, Alan Neal Hubbs, later suggested to this reporter that the play’s cancellation might have more to do with Mr. Egan’s finding an excuse to shut down the performance due to his previously having been denied free tickets to the play... When this reporter approached the official for a photo-interview to explain why he had shut down the performance, he threatened to confiscate this reporter’s camera on the claim that he worked as an undercover police officer; however, when asked by this reporter to produce a badge or other official identification, “Egan” refused.

This one stinks like a three-day-dead mackerel in the August sun. Agent Egan has an awful lot of 'splainin' to do.

[L98Fiero]

“Agent Egan has an awful lot of ‘splainin’ to do.”

I suspect “Agent” Egan is just a pissed off SciFi geek.

[TChris]

I can't believe these pinheads bought this guy's scam. "Undercover Officer" my hiney.

If he can't provide a badge or official credentials, tell the guy to get lost. Or, better yet, call the police and have him arrested.

In any event, they should not have stopped the play.

[chrisser]

Reading the story, I wouldn't be surprised to find that "Agent Egan" was just some miscreant seeing how much he could get away with. No badge? No agency identified? Why didn't they just tell him to pound salt and get out of the theater?

"reference was made to an obscure California law requiring a State of California licensed teacher to be present at all performances with young actors"

They couldn't find anyone in the crowd who was a licensed teacher? I find that even more ridiculous than the "Agent Egan" story.

Something about this story sure sounds squirrelly, but, as usual, it could just be lousy reporting.

[Lloyd227]

I suspect “Agent” Egan is just a pissed off SciFi geek.

And I suspect "Agent" Egan should be unemployed just about now :-)

What an egotistical moron. I sure hope he's not authorized to carry a gun

[E. Pluribus Unum]

This sounds like something from a science fiction novel...

Wait a minute...

[Joe 6-pack]

Agent Egan’s cover was blown the last time he called a McDonald’s and ordered a manager to strip search an employee.

[BlazingArizona]

What would there be about “Dandelion Wine” that would invite a shutdown? It’s been in print for as long as I can remember, and is full of Bradbury’s boyhood reminiscences.

[dighton]

This one stinks like a three-day-dead mackerel in the August sun.

If I had to bet, “Agent Egan” was in the script for that night’s performance.

[BlazingArizona]

Build a man a fire, he will be warm for an hour or so. Set a man on fire, and he will be warm for the rest of his life.

Set a bureaucrat on fire, and we can all live free for the rest of our lives.

Ray can use that for free if he wants.

[Billthedrill]

This sounds like something from a science fiction novel...

Great idea! The plot would involve government agents burning books with flamethrowers or something. Hot puppydogs, hand me the keyboard! I smell a best seller here...

[Redleg Duke]

If he is an Agent, he is safe. The Politbureau of the Peoples’ Republic of Kalifornicatia would never fire one of their own and admit to a mistake.

[Ol' Dan Tucker]

When this reporter approached the official for a photo-interview to explain why he had shut down the performance, he threatened to confiscate this reporter’s camera on the claim that he worked as an undercover police officer; however, when asked by this reporter to produce a badge or other official identification, “Egan” refused.

Eschoir, is that you? If not, this guy has your M.O. down pat.

[Dead Corpse]

Set a bureaucrat on fire, and we can all live free for the rest of our lives.

Sounds good. We need to apply this in a "think globally, act locally" type policy. I'll pony up for the gas if someone has a match and a handy bureaucrat...

[Erasmus]

Agent Egan’s cover was blown the last time he called a McDonald’s and ordered a manager to strip search an employee.

Not sure about the agent's, but the employee's sure was.

[cizinec]

Yep. PR stunt.

[lmailbvmbipfwedu]

I don’t understand why people put up with this, there had to be a teacher in the house, or, at least someone who would say they were one. In this town all we have to put up with is a worthless baseball field in the middle of downtown for a single A team costing some $40+ million paid for by the taxpayer. It should be known as Graham’s Folly. New facts surface almost daily, the latest is that it is to be built some 12 feet below grade, don’t ask why, it just seemed to be the thing to do. That is the opinion of an architect who charged $1.2 million. Bend over and crack a smile, Fort Wayne, here it comes.

[444Flyer]

“Yep. PR stunt.”

I’ve heard this Egan and Egan....BA DUMP BUMP! Maybe ticket sales were slow and Mel Brooks was in the audience.

[Red Badger]

[Anti-Bubba182]

This was performance art, not any real government action.

[jack_napier]

I read the book; hoping it would be like Martian Chronicles or F451. It’s a very innocuous book.

[3niner]

I always considered Fahrenheit 451 to be a rather weak piece of science fiction, but I wouldn’t have shut down this performance on this jerk’s say so.

At the very least, a call to the local police department might have revealed what was really going on.

[Cincinnatus]

For the love of God, Montresor!

[stephenjohnbanker]

” I’ll pony up for the gas if someone has a match and a handy bureaucrat...”

So many.........so few matches.

[Redbob]

What I want to see made into a movie or even just a TV show is Bradbury’s “A Laurel and Hardy Love Affair,” possibly my favorite short story of all time.

[Dead Corpse]

Buy one of these...

[stephenjohnbanker]

Gotcha!

[ApplegateRanch]

“A teacher! Is there a teacher in the house? We need a teacher backstage immediately!”

[ApplegateRanch]

So many.........so few matches.

You only need one match. The trick is to keep feeding the flames, so the fire burns steadily, and doesn't go out.

Most of them have enough grease on their carcasses to burn a long time; for the skinny little vegans, just baste them with some tar, and add feathers to get the tar started.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“Most of them have enough grease on their carcasses to burn a long time; for the skinny little vegans, just baste them with some tar, and add feathers to get the tar started”

LMAO!!

[J. Neil Schulman]

When the announcement was made, a California licensed teacher in the audience did stand up and volunteer — but this teacher was told he would have had to have been signed on earlier.

[Cincinnatus]

Laurel and Hardy was done on the Ray Bradbury Ttheater, but he merged it with Gotcha for a really spectacularly weird ending!