“Widow of Neal Cassady” was superimposed over the screen twice at the beginning. Come on, guys. She was a gifted artist and writer. Just call her Carolyn Cassady. Yes, mostly people came to know her because of Neal. But now that we are here watching this, her talent and intellect should allow her to stand on her own. She was an amazing lady.
@@oughtssought1198 Whatever the f*** that means. It's an actual fact. no one on the planet sought her out to interview her for any other f****** reason. MORON!
I was friends with Carolyn in the 90s - we met at the October Gallery in Holborn at a Bill Burroughs (or perhaps Brion Gysin??) event and Carolyn appeared at my spoken Word event “With Intent" in 1994 at the Marquee Cafe and also with Fran Landesman at Kettners for a Soho Jazz Festival event. Carolyn was a beautiful, smart and ascerbic character - I liked her a lot. The 12 With Intent nights with over 120 performance artists including Carolyn are now archived and available to the public as digitised Hi 8 videos in the British Library. Paul Roundhill
Hola! I knew Neal when he was in San Miguel in 1967. He came by to smoke marijuana and then would come late at night and throw stones at my window and asked me to come out to play. I never went...had school in the morning.
@janeewalker 1 minute ago Gerald Nicosia, the author of the best Kerouac biography, MEMORY BABE, published in 1983 and updated in 2022, also wrote a very interesting book about LuAnne Henderson, Neal Cassady's first wife, his 16 year old bride. The book is THE ONE AND ONLY. It is worth the read.
a more useful, interesting view of Neal Cassady than the hero worship super hype that came after I do think it would have been even more interesting if mom and son had been interviewed separately both would have gotten more out without the other there to interrupt
Yes, Michael Cohen. That is why I'm currently writing a graphic memoir based on my father's childhood to show how the trauma he experienced when young affected his behavior as an adult. My brilliant collaborator, artist Rick Bleier, is sketching the scenes based on my father's memoir of his childhood titled The First Third. Watch for our book, Young Neal Cassady. I'm hoping it sheds light on what influenced my father and led to his toxic behavior. Tho blessed with a brilliant mind, he had a gentle soul which I see in all the Cassady men.
True, she is hiding a facade of weakness, cowardice and activity that was repulsive to her moral values. They all needed psychological help. Weak, pathetic people......Nothing of honor or value, their darkest side came out. In reality they had a tremendous negative influence on millions of people.
The way she gleefully talks about hanging up on Kerouac months before he died is awful. Very cold-hearted. I was also stuck by her dismay at not having signed first editions. Very negative energy.
@@sinnerfriend7793 read my comment - above. Carolyn was not negative ... she kept and maintained a loving family, and her work, her friendships through what anyone would appreciate as incredibly difficult circumstances - Neil an absolute philanderer - you should read her book Off The Road - she was an incredible character - a straight A student who balanced the 1950s traditional feminine role with the rigours of incredible circumstances. Even in her 70s and 80s a charming and beautiful woman - she handled the female “supportive” pre women’ lib situation with grace and steely integrity.
I read 'Off the Road" some 20+ years ago and enjoyed her perspective from what I can recall. It has taken me this long to check her out in interviews and I don't mean to besmirch her reputation or character. The thoughts I posted were a general impression gathered from videos, which is admittedly unfair.
BUT - Mom also had a cruel side. She could be gracious and charming when around men - she was almost as promiscuous as Dad - but the way she manipulated, controlled and treated her three children is another story. She was extremely depressed most of the time and it was expressed in various ways. She was an alcoholic, was addicted to cigarettes and had to be in control at all times. For example, she stopped talking to my sister after my sister went to AA and stopped drinking. When my sister tried to get Mom to admit to her (Mom's) alcoholism, my mother cut my sister off. It broke my sister's heart since they'd been so close. It wasn't until my sister started drinking again that Mom was her old affectionate self with her. And my mother told me I made her life "a living hell" and we could "pretend to love each other." If you didn't play by her rules, you were out. BUT - Mom had no affection when she was a child and had not been able to gain her father's approval. So there you go. Seeds sowed from childhood.
Weird that she stayed with Cassady after finding him in bed with Jack and Luann. She had this prim and proper side, but tolerated really vulgar behavior that conflicted with her values. Later she talks about having two husbands. The lady had no moral boundaries either. I am not sure she has anything superior to flaunt over their gluttony. They all seem very troubled and unhappy. Hardly heroes or role models.
To The Sharp Pitchfork: I am Neal and Carolyn's oldest. I have spent my life trying to understand what made my parents tick. I edited a book titled Poetic Portrait: Carolyn Cassady Revealed in Poetry and Prose which includes thirty of Mom's poems found after she died (we had no idea she wrote poetry). Since she kept a DETAILED diary of her days, I took the dated poems and wrote essays in an attempt to reveal what her life was like and her mindset at the time she wrote each poem. They are very intimate, poignant and revealing poems. As with the graphic memoir I'm currently writing based on my dad's traumatic childhood during the Depression in the slums of Denver, Mom's background explains a lot about her morals, values and behavior. They were each extremely complex characters. (Poetic Portrait is available on Amazon in case you are interested.)
@@cathycassady3478 Hello Cathy, I'm typing this from Italy, thousands of miles away from your reality in every possible way, yet Jack's books have definitely changed my life and mindset FOR EVER. I also read "The First Third", one old edition I have jealously kept to this day which I have never ever seen again around here. I am going to look for Poetic Portrait now that I know about it. Anyway, just wanted to say hi. P. S. The fact that I have seen quite a few pictures of you as a child holding Jack's or Neal's hand or sitting on their lap, well that's just mind blowing to me. Often wonder what the guys would have thought of all this internet thing, if they were to witness it. Me, I wish I was born soo much earlier, ahh.. Love from Sicily, stay safe 🙏❤️
@@maryhalverson5713 "Immorality is the morals of those having a better time". That being said, it is important to keep in mind that at some point, probably when kids enter the picture, a different set of morals is needed so that the children have a stable, loving, and wholesome upbringing so that they can make good value judgements for their lives. Authoritarianism at one end, and completely free and open at the other end is not the way to go for providing the necessary environment for children to be good adults.
Reading Carolyn’s memoir “Off the Road” it’s very good,.
“Widow of Neal Cassady” was superimposed over the screen twice at the beginning. Come on, guys. She was a gifted artist and writer. Just call her Carolyn Cassady. Yes, mostly people came to know her because of Neal. But now that we are here watching this, her talent and intellect should allow her to stand on her own. She was an amazing lady.
Yeah, but no one on the planet would be interested in her is she wasnt .
@@Jmcsj02 only a fool imagines they speak for everybody in the world
@@oughtssought1198 Whatever the f*** that means. It's an actual fact. no one on the planet sought her out to interview her for any other f****** reason. MORON!
@@oughtssought1198 I don't think you got the gist of the comment.
@@waynej2608 you don't say
I was friends with Carolyn in the 90s - we met at the October Gallery in Holborn at a Bill Burroughs (or perhaps Brion Gysin??) event and Carolyn appeared at my spoken Word event “With Intent" in 1994 at the Marquee Cafe and also with Fran Landesman at Kettners for a Soho Jazz Festival event. Carolyn was a beautiful, smart and ascerbic character - I liked her a lot. The 12 With Intent nights with over 120 performance artists including Carolyn are now archived and available to the public as digitised Hi 8 videos in the British Library. Paul Roundhill
Great interview! Always a pleasure to hear stories of Cassady and Kerouac.
Carolyn's book Off The Road is utterly fascinating.
OFF THE ROAD is definitely a must read. i just re-read it after 20 years.
Thank for this entreview
Wonderful stuff!!!
NEAL is misspelled on the screen as Neil. Allen Ginsberg is misspelled as Alan.
She’s an impressive woman in pretty much every way.
Hola! I knew Neal when he was in San Miguel in 1967.
He came by to smoke marijuana and then would come late at night and throw stones at my window and asked me to come out to play. I never went...had school in the morning.
@janeewalker
1 minute ago
Gerald Nicosia, the author of the best Kerouac biography, MEMORY BABE, published in 1983 and updated in 2022, also wrote a very interesting book about LuAnne Henderson, Neal Cassady's first wife, his 16 year old bride. The book is THE ONE AND ONLY. It is worth the read.
*WERE there any residuals?
The debunking of cultural hero’s is a very enlightened approach to lititure and philosophy.
Never meet your favorite author.
a more useful, interesting view of Neal Cassady than the hero worship super hype that came after
I do think it would have been even more interesting if mom and son had been interviewed separately
both would have gotten more out without the other there to interrupt
Cassady ticks off all the boxes on the Hare Psychopathy check list
Yes, Michael Cohen. That is why I'm currently writing a graphic memoir based on my father's childhood to show how the trauma he experienced when young affected his behavior as an adult. My brilliant collaborator, artist Rick Bleier, is sketching the scenes based on my father's memoir of his childhood titled The First Third. Watch for our book, Young Neal Cassady. I'm hoping it sheds light on what influenced my father and led to his toxic behavior. Tho blessed with a brilliant mind, he had a gentle soul which I see in all the Cassady men.
😂@@cathycassady3478
Never judge a book by its cover kiddos.
True, she is hiding a facade of weakness, cowardice and activity that was repulsive to her moral values. They all needed psychological help. Weak, pathetic people......Nothing of honor or value, their darkest side came out. In reality they had a tremendous negative influence on millions of people.
I just finished her book. It was great. She was great. She put up with way too much crap from all of them!!!!
23 likes
JESUS loved u!!!
She strikes me as kind of bitter. And why should they have received residuals? Did he write any of it?
The way she gleefully talks about hanging up on Kerouac months before he died is awful. Very cold-hearted.
I was also stuck by her dismay at not having signed first editions. Very negative energy.
@@sinnerfriend7793 read my comment - above. Carolyn was not negative ... she kept and maintained a loving family, and her work, her friendships through what anyone would appreciate as incredibly difficult circumstances - Neil an absolute philanderer - you should read her book Off The Road - she was an incredible character - a straight A student who balanced the 1950s traditional feminine role with the rigours of incredible circumstances. Even in her 70s and 80s a charming and beautiful woman - she handled the female “supportive” pre women’ lib situation with grace and steely integrity.
I read 'Off the Road" some 20+ years ago and enjoyed her perspective from what I can recall.
It has taken me this long to check her out in interviews and I don't mean to besmirch her reputation or character.
The thoughts I posted were a general impression gathered from videos, which is admittedly unfair.
BUT - Mom also had a cruel side. She could be gracious and charming when around men - she was almost as promiscuous as Dad - but the way she manipulated, controlled and treated her three children is another story. She was extremely depressed most of the time and it was expressed in various ways. She was an alcoholic, was addicted to cigarettes and had to be in control at all times. For example, she stopped talking to my sister after my sister went to AA and stopped drinking. When my sister tried to get Mom to admit to her (Mom's) alcoholism, my mother cut my sister off. It broke my sister's heart since they'd been so close. It wasn't until my sister started drinking again that Mom was her old affectionate self with her. And my mother told me I made her life "a living hell" and we could "pretend to love each other." If you didn't play by her rules, you were out. BUT - Mom had no affection when she was a child and had not been able to gain her father's approval. So there you go. Seeds sowed from childhood.
@@cathycassady3478 Trauma is passed on in most families...listen to Gabor Mate'
Weird that she stayed with Cassady after finding him in bed with Jack and Luann. She had this prim and proper side, but tolerated really vulgar behavior that conflicted with her values. Later she talks about having two husbands. The lady had no moral boundaries either. I am not sure she has anything superior to flaunt over their gluttony. They all seem very troubled and unhappy. Hardly heroes or role models.
Morality is subjective.
@@maryhalverson5713
Well said sis.
I wish we could be as mentally free as they used to be back in those days
To The Sharp Pitchfork: I am Neal and Carolyn's oldest. I have spent my life trying to understand what made my parents tick. I edited a book titled Poetic Portrait: Carolyn Cassady Revealed in Poetry and Prose which includes thirty of Mom's poems found after she died (we had no idea she wrote poetry). Since she kept a DETAILED diary of her days, I took the dated poems and wrote essays in an attempt to reveal what her life was like and her mindset at the time she wrote each poem. They are very intimate, poignant and revealing poems. As with the graphic memoir I'm currently writing based on my dad's traumatic childhood during the Depression in the slums of Denver, Mom's background explains a lot about her morals, values and behavior. They were each extremely complex characters. (Poetic Portrait is available on Amazon in case you are interested.)
@@cathycassady3478
Hello Cathy, I'm typing this from Italy, thousands of miles away from your reality in every possible way, yet Jack's books have definitely changed my life and mindset FOR EVER.
I also read "The First Third", one old edition I have jealously kept to this day which I have never ever seen again around here. I am going to look for Poetic Portrait now that I know about it.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi.
P. S. The fact that I have seen quite a few pictures of you as a child holding Jack's or Neal's hand or sitting on their lap, well that's just mind blowing to me.
Often wonder what the guys would have thought of all this internet thing, if they were to witness it.
Me, I wish I was born soo much earlier, ahh..
Love from Sicily, stay safe 🙏❤️
@@maryhalverson5713 "Immorality is the morals of those having a better time". That being said, it is important to keep in mind that at some point, probably when kids enter the picture, a different set of morals is needed so that the children have a stable, loving, and wholesome upbringing so that they can make good value judgements for their lives. Authoritarianism at one end, and completely free and open at the other end is not the way to go for providing the necessary environment for children to be good adults.
This is so boring . These people, including Cassady, have done nothing for the arts etc. YAWN !