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Kesey burst into the literary scene with the "Cuckoo's Nest" in 1962 which he wrote from his experiences working at a veterans hospital. During this period, he volunteered for the testing on the drug LSD. After writing his second novel, "Sometimes A Great Notion," he bought an old school bus dubbed "Further." With Neal Cassidy at the wheel and pitchers of LSD-laced-Kool-Laid in the cooler, Kesey and a band of friends who called themselves The Merry Pranksters took a trip across America to New York's World Fair. It would be 28 years until Kesey published his third major novel, "Sailor Song," in 1992, and he later said he lost interest in the novel as an art form after he discovered the magic of the bus. The bus ride was immortalized in Tom Wolfe's 1968 account, "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test." The movie version of the "Cuckoo's Nest" swept the 1974 Academy Awards for best actor, best actress, best director, and best picture. But Kesey, who has never seen the film, sued the producers because it took the viewpoint away from the character of the schizophrenic American Indian, Cheif Bromden. Kesey was diagnosed with diabetes in 1992 and set down root in Pleasant Hill, in the mid 1960s, after serving four months in jail for a marijuana bust in California. His rambling red barn-house has become a landmark of the psychedelic era, attracting visits from myriad strangers in tie-dyed clothing seeking enlightenment.

Lane Frost was born on 12 October 1963 in La Junta, Colorado, USA. He was married to Kellie Kyle. He died on 30 July 1989 in Cheyenne, Wyoming, USA.

Mark Montano was born on 10 June 1966 in La Junta, Colorado, USA. He is a producer, known for While You Were Out (2002), My Celebrity Home (2006) and Make Your Mark (2014).

Rhett Cutrell is an award winning wildlife and outdoor adventure cinematographer, bringing Hollywood quality productions to the most remote regions on the planet. He has worked on projects for syndicated television, independent documentaries, and destination tourism promotion in thirteen countries on six different continents for over fifteen years. Organizing an outstanding production team and telling some of the more challenging stories the globe has to offer is what he does best and is why he is constantly traveling the world working as a Director of Photography.

William C. Anderson was born on 7 May 1920 in La Junta, Colorado, USA. He was a writer, known for Bat*21 (1988), 12 O'Clock High (1964) and Hurricane (1974). He was married to Dortha Power. He died on 16 May 2003 in Fairfield, California, USA.

Wendell Fertig was born on 16 December 1900 in La Junta, Colorado, USA. He was married to Mary Ann Easmond. He died on 24 March 1975 in Colorado, USA.

John O'Hare was born on 17 July 1922 in La Junta, Colorado, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Shadow of the Cloak (1951), Lights Out (1946) and Thirty-Minute Theatre (1972). He died on 20 April 2005 in Pacific Palisades, California, USA.

Donald Cook was born on 8 October 1954 in La Junta, Colorado, USA. He is an actor, known for The Last Tomorrow (2007), Diana & Me (1997) and M.U.G.E.N (1999).

Jerry Crandall was born on 1 April 1935 in La Junta, Colorado, USA. Jerry is known for Tombstone (1993) and The Mountain Men (1980). Jerry was married to Judy. Jerry died on 12 June 2022 in Hamilton, Montana, USA.

Tippy Martinez was born on 31 May 1950 in La Junta, Colorado, USA.