Brain Snacks: Tasty Tidbits of Knowledge
Ray Bradbury was inspired to become a writer after a childhood encounter with a travelling carnival magician named Mr. Electrico. You can read all about it here.
Horror writer Stephen King credits Bradbury as having largely influenced his writing. (Source: The Dead Zone by Stephen King)
South Park spoofed Bradbury's novel in an episode called "Something Wall-Mart This Way Comes."