Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Jack Kerouac on The Steve Allen Show

4 comments:

Ian Mackenzie said...

What an amazing piece of history. I'd never seen Kerouac speak before.

This line:

"I wrote the book because we're all going to die."

is among the best explanations of artistic motivation I've ever heard.

Oh, Jack. We miss you.

Ian

Malachy Walsh said...

I love this, too.

Though, I have to say, while I think Steve Allen is also brilliant, I could've used less of his annoying piano playing under the interview part.

Ian Mackenzie said...

agreed. that was awkward.

ian

E. Hunter Spreen said...

I have a hard time wrapping my head around the idea that something so alive was actually broadcast across network airwaves. Everything is so produced now. Everyone is so slick. Kerouac looks like he'd like to be anyplace else or maybe he's just irritated by Steve Allen playing the piano.

Incidentally, this clip had my 7-year old son rolling on the floor laughing. He thought is was the goofiest thing he'd ever seen and then Kerouac got to the part about we're all going to die. From then on, he was completely engrossed.