On the Road: The Benzedrine Scroll

In April 1951, fueled by benzedrine and coffee, Jack Kerouac fed a continuous 120-foot scroll of paper into his typewriter and wrote 'On the Road' in a three-week marathon session. The scroll eliminated the need to change paper, allowing his thoughts to flow uninterrupted in what he called 'spontaneous prose.' Though published in 1957 after extensive revision, the novel's publication made Kerouac an overnight celebrity and the reluctant spokesman for a generation.

• Written on 120-foot continuous scroll in 1951

• Benzedrine-fueled three-week writing marathon

• Spontaneous prose technique eliminated interruptions

• 1957 publication created instant celebrity