We Got The Beat

By Jon Bergquist

As it turns out, Orlando was the birthplace of a very significant piece of literary Americana. Jack Kerouac, one of the founding fathers of the Beat Generation (beatniks) and major source of inspiration to Hunter S. Thompson, wrote the novel The Dharma Bums in small house in College Park, while living with his mother in 1957. This was also the time period when the critical acclaim of On the Road thrust him into the spotlight. It was here in Orlando, where Kerouac began to experience fame. However, due to Kerouac’s transient nature, his residency in Orlando remained largely unknown or unmentioned even by his own biographers, until 1996. Bob Kealing, a local reporter and NBC affiliate made the discovery and located the exact address from Kerouac’s brother-in-law and estate executor John Sampas. Shortly thereafter, The Kerouac Project was established to purchase the building and preserve its historical significance.

The Kerouac Project also setup a residency for writers program in, which inspiring authors can apply to live in the Kerouac House free of rent for 3 months, while they work on their own manuscripts. The house has also been restored and refurnished to resemble a contemporary 1950s home, creating a fully immersive environment similar to the one Kerouac was in while he wrote The Dharma Bums. Application information can be found on the official website of The Kerouac Project. Or if you’d prefer to just visit, you can swing by this Saturday, November 14th. Current house resident, Bill Miles will be doing a farewell reading of his novel Alaska Unsalted at 8:30pm. Please note, The Kerouac Project requests that no one arrive prior to 8pm.

Kerouac House
1418 1/2 Clouser Ave.
Orlando, FL 32804

http://kerouacproject.org/
http://twitter.com/Kerouac_Project