Chesley Bonestell visits the Astronomical Society of The Pacific
Chesley Bonestell was born on January 1, 1888 in San Francisco. Exactly one year later, on January 1, 1889, a total eclipse of the sun was going to be visible from Sonoma County, in northern California. A gathering of amateur photographers and astronomers descended on the small town of Cloverdale to photograph this eclipse, and they succeeded.
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This event soon led to the formation of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP). Now, headquartered in San Francisco, the ASP celebrated its 130th Anniversary at its annual gathering, held this year in Rohnert Park, CA, September 10-13. The location was not too far from the original site of that epic photographic expedition.
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This conference also included a showing of Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future to a very enthusiastic audience. Hosted by ASP's Chief Executive Officer Dr. Linda Shore, the screening also featured a unique guest panel that included two participants from the film: author and space artist David Aguilar and Robert E. David, longtime photographer for the Golden Gate Bridge Authority.
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Robert E. David and David Aguilar
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ASP CEO Dr. Linda Shore and Douglass M. Stewart Jr.
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Doug Introduces the film to ASP conference attendees.
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Dr. Shore moderates a Q&A after the screening.
Photographs by Robert E. David and David Prosper
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Both Robert E. David and David Aguilar came to know Chesley while he was alive, and each shared how influential he was to them personally. The film's producer/writer/director Douglass M. Stewart, Jr. also took part in the Q&A held afterwards.
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Special thanks to ASP's Joycelin Craig, who coordinated the efforts to have the film included in this prestigious event!
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Interview at the
Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society
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The film's producer/writer/director Douglass M. Stewart, Jr. was invited to participate in a live webcast interview by Kristen Gorlitz, Marketing Director of the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society. Founded on October 27, 1934, the LASFS is the world’s oldest continuously-operating science-fiction club. It's now based in Burbank, California. Distinguished LASFS members in the past have included science-fiction legends like Forrest J “Forry” Ackerman, Ray Harryhausen, and Ray Bradbury.
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“It was great to discuss the making of Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future with such an enthusiastic audience. Ray Bradbury appears in my film and it was nice to be among the members of an organization he was a part of," Doug noted. "I received many thanks that evening for making the film, even though this was not a screening but rather an opportunity to spread the word about the movie. Everyone in the room really wanted to go see it.”
Ray Bradbury image courtesy of Arnold Leibovit
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Upcoming Screenings of
Chesley Bonestell: A Brush With The Future
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Oct. 29, 2018
The Waco Hippodrome
Waco, TX
Admission is free.
Q&A with the film's Co-Producer and Bonestell historian Melvin Schuetz after the screening.
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Nov. 3, 2018
University of California Riverside
Riverside, CA
Admission is free.
A Q&A will be held afterwards with Douglass Stewart and rocket engineer Rocco Lardiere, who appears in the film.
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