In 1985 I was living down in Eugene and was lucky enough to have been cast as R.P. McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. It was being done at the Hult Center and Ken Kesey was living not so far away. He came to see the show the night before opening and came by the dressing room after. He sat down and said “Ya know Bruno, I’ve been thinking about this character for 20 years and I just don’t know if I want him to be martyerd, in the play when you leave with Candy don’t come back” I looked at him and realized he was serious and I said “Ken, I understand how you feel about McMurpy but there are other actors on stage I just can’t leave them there. He said, No no it’ll be great, it will be in all the papers”Bruno leaves as McMurphy”. Well I looked at him and laughed because I was thinking here I am sitting with the author if this American classic and he has thought about this for 20 yrs. and now he is feeling different about it. Well I went on the next night and I did not leave,but I thought about it, who wouldn’t.

I’m sure many of you already know this, but the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission is planning one of their “Discovering Oregon Originals” series this Friday, March 21, on Ken Kesey.

I don’t see the program listed on their web site yet, but I’m sure they will send out an email soon, and when they do I can post here.

These programs are usually very good, with excellent speakers.

I believe OCHC has already “tied in” to PCS on this one, but just in case.

http://www.ochcom.org

I met Ken Kesey in the maternity ward of Stanford Hospital in 1962 when I was a sophomore at UC Berkeley. I had just finished One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest and decided I would just phone him up and tell him what an impact his book had made on me. He said that was great and since I was only about an hour away, why don’t I come on over? He gave me directions to the maternity ward where his wife had just delivered, and when I arrived at the hospital room he was there with his wife and new baby–I thought that Kesey looked just like his character, McMurphy. I hung out with them for a while, and then Ken said why don’t you follow me home? He was living just off the Stanford campus in a bungalow which was painted inside with wild colors–blacks and yellows and reds. He took me behind the house to a little shed in the back yard where he said he had written Cuckoos’ Nest. Ken said the first chapter had been written en bloc, just springing from his head. He was very charismatic, and years later, reading about him, I understood why so many people were affected by him. My experience with him and his book was one of the factors that lead me to a career in social psychology.

From a hand written letter sent to Portland Center Stage from the Washington County Jail on March 28th with the request “Please forward to “stories about Ken Kesey”:

Some years ago I was working at the Texaco gas station in Sherwood OR on 99W (now a Shell station). A small camper stopped to get propane and snacks. When I was done filling the propane I had a moment to talk with a man wearing a smile and a letterman’s jacket. I told him that I really liked his patches. He told me that his friends had made them for him. I never thought much of this until I saw his picture in a High Times Magazine my friends were reading. He was wearing the same jacket. One patch that stands out in my memory is a Twisted Sister patch that I think had been re-stitched to read “Twister Twister.” The year that Ken died my friend Celeste introduced me to Caroline Garcia aka “Mountain Girl.” I shook her hand and we talked for a moment. This took place at the OCF [Oregon Country Fair] and my memory of that year’s fair is a little foggy so I am not sure if I told her my story about Ken. I will always remember Ken Kesey as a guy with a smile and cool patches. - Michael Richards

P.S. Sparks travel up.

Mary stated above: “It was a drug hub and commune where children of all ages were being raised without boundaries and exposed to drugs of all types. Kesey was essentially a drug addict who encouraged addiction in others. To be on the farm with him, all you had to do was take drugs and act like you worshipped him”

…You weren’t there and don’t know what you are talking about! Maybe someone claiming to be there said this to you? I have seen many falsely claiming to have “partied wildly” with him.

I was one of these children you mention, and I had many boundaries, Ken set firm rules. Infrequently there was drug use, mostly marijuana. After the first year or so everyone except immediate family was sent away, so he could raise his family. He was a gentle man!

In 1999, I worked at Eugene’s finest video rental store, Flicks ‘n’ Pics. Ken Kesey’s wife called to see if we had a copy of “Paint Your Wagon,” the musical western with Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin. Ken came in from Pleasant Hill, set up an account, and rented “Paint Your Wagon,” returning it two days late and never renting there again. His 2 dollar late fee was on the computer for a couple years. I pointed it out to this kid who got a job there but who also worked at Pleasant Hill’s only video store. He told me Kesey came in there all the time to rent videos and once told this kid that “Johnny Mnemonic” was “ahead of it’s time.” I drove out there once because they were the only video store that still had a copy of “Thrashin.’” Later on, I showed the owner of Flicks ‘n’ Pics that Ken Kesey had a 2 dollar late fee on his sole rental and suggested that we call him on it. The owner thought it amusing but just deleted the late fee. Johnny Mnemonic “ahead of it’s time.” The only reason I’m going to rent that video someday is because of that comment.

I saw “Sometimes” last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Wonderful acting, wonderful set and well written (considering how the book was written)….all good. Saw Kesey over the years here and there… very engaging guy! However, why is it so many gifted folks reach their pinnacle at such an early age? Orson Welles comes to mind too. As more time passes we either over embellish his or her abilities or perhaps forget all about their great contribution in their time. I am not sure where Kesey falls at this point but regardless his brief time frame of work was outstanding. Maybe the rest of the country does not put Kesey into a higher realm of writing and thought, as they might. Maybe the Northwest puts him a bit to high in the stratosphere, as well. I have known and know many very intelligent and creative people who just don’t seem to put it all together for that one perfect moment as some do, yet they have lead a very productive and giving life for MANY years. Do those people deserve less than someone who maybe does not use their fortunate abilities and timeing to make an impact on a lifetime of work?
No answer from me just a thought…..

I grew up in Pleasant Hill, Oregon during the mid and late 1960s.. I can remember going past the Kesey place. Lots of loud music and the bus of course.. Ken was real involved in the school-offered to help coach the wrestling team, but was turned down (Pleasant Hill at the time real conservative. and Ken was on drugs with the Pranksters..) He and the Pranksters would come to school plays and sporting events dress in the Hippie clothing style of the day and people would just stare..But I sure do miss him.. Later on he kick out the Pranksters and starting help at the high school.. His son Zane is still at the farm in P. Hill