He reminds me of Jim Morrison--a sweet, thoughtful, polite sort when sober, and a monster when drunk. But two of the most inspiring artists of the 20th century.

Jack Kerouac was and still kinda is a really remarkable cat. He was so smart, so kind, so... KEROUAC!... that even his writing radiated this kind of frank human essence. It seems everything he did had a small piece of his own soul in it. Especially in "Visions of Gerard". I just finished it and it's a sad piece of beautifully written art. Jack died way too young and he died because of the acid spit being thrown his way by critics who wanted to tear him down publicly. RIP Jack. We miss you.

The "Drama Bums?" That's a new one.

The brilliant people in this world must tolerate these "interviewers" for doing their job, collecting their pay, lets give them their due, lets walk in their shoes. BUT Kerouac was BRILLIANT, seeing the truth in the world, real truth is hard and few can take it. I ask if you've read such brilliance, poetry and clarity! What other writing can charge you back to life, back from this doldrumic, suburban, uninspiring life many of us live. Howl in your night and keep your soul alive!!!!!!

the interviewer is busy listening to himself.

He had a lot of patience with this guy. People are all different. Just because you're friends with people doesn't mean you're all the same. No wonder he got sick of the whole "beat" thing.

A-WHOOOOO!!!!!! =) Long live Kerouac! Long live the Beats!

This is a great interview. I can tell through out the whole interview Jack and Ben had their own views they were set on and they danced around each other openly letting it known. Ben asked and focused on some very particular out of text quotes from Dharma Bums, with a very closed non-open minded approach. Jack came off brilliant with his replies repelling unprovoked attacks. It's a wonder why Jack even excepted this interview, as he probably walked away thinking what a waist of my time.

I thought it was a very sweet interview. Kerouac was such a gentle soul and it's a travesty that he was trashed in the press as some kind of primitive beast when he was anything but. For his part, I thought Hecht did a fine job. He seemed to at least have some humor and affection for Jack. This must have been a late night show, because it's amazing that he brought up drugs and homosexuality. This had to have taken place in 1958 or 1959.

Jack is sober, that's the difference.

Thanks for publishing this interview. I don't think it's a waste of anyone's time.

That house at 0:34 is 3 blocks from where I live in Orlando!

thanks for this.hard to find a nice kerouac interview

I wish Hecht would have shut up and given Kerouac more room to talk.

Excellent job of bringing the sharp minded Kerouac to life.

This interviewer needs to let Jack finish his answers. He repeatedly interupts. Jack shows amazing patience.

hecht: I'm going to send in my dues, as soon as I can get enough money.

Lmaoo, this interviewer was a bit out of touch, "What kind of drugs do you take? How much do they cost? How much do you take?" And 'Drama Bums', oh my lord. Kudos to the natural pleasantness of Jack and his dreamy voice.

Yepp, it`s a interview with Kerouac from circa 1959 I think.

You might look into Ben Hecht the interviewer here- he was a great writer-not just a journalist

Heard of the Dill Pickle Club? No, never been to Chicago. Jack Jones? I thought you were going to say Jack Reed.

This is weird now that I've listened to the whole thing. Its like Hecht is trying to play his psychiatrist, or like hes trying to relate to Jack without letting on that he's interested, using offense as a screen. Funny that he mentioned Jack Reed, as I was just reading about him. How often do you hear about Jack Reed in one day?

hecht was expressing an attitude very similar to an attitude that the 'silent generation' expressed against the 'hippies'. one interesting twist, however, with hecht - he seemed to be an iconoclast himself; maybe even the realdeal . I was struck how he confidently said that jack wd get hungry again. I never heard such a cynical interview like this before.

This Ben Hecht guy; so full of himself, did he think people were more interested in hearing him ask questions? "Peter was a fisherman" "Yeah.. [change subject to random racist commentary]" That just about made me sick.

Yeah not sure what to think of the interviewer; Kerouac seems not to be undone by him so maybe it's not so bad. He's kinda trying to be a prick but underneath it all he seems to be at a loss himself as to what to do about the world.

.....ok?

Hecht is a motor mouth, whoever he was. I think Kerouac was completely bored with him.