"Come a little closer, kid ... [*ZAP*] ... Live forever!"

The story is well worth reading.

Wow, WOW! Man, what a great story! Thanks so much Ross.

VERY cool.

Here's the story in his own words......

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2vR5rs4GHQ

Thanks, guys... Very moving recollection.

The essential part of this story (and much more, in a very original take on the carnival's dark side) is in Bradbury's novel SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.

Don't bother with the movie of the novel.

The novel is brilliant. Just a wonderful novel of small town America caught in the grips of an evil carnival. These of innocence lost, lost youth, aging and fathers and sons are pervasive throughout. One of my son's middle names is Nightshade, after one of the two boy heroes in the book. Get the edition with the forward from Bradbury. He doesn't talk about the story from above but rather how his relationship with Fred Astaire spurred on the writing of it. It's a must read for any carnival/sideshow lover.

--Tony

The book and the movie, although very different, are in my opinion both very good. Bradbury wrote the screenplay adaptation for the movie, so the changes are his own.