From the archives: Ken Kesey and his Merry Pranksters

In 1964, writer Ken Kesey, with his “Band of Merry Pranksters,” embarked on a legendary cross-country, counter-culture road trip aboard a psychedelic school bus. Nearly three decades later, Kesey (then a farmer in Oregon) rode a replica of his iconic bus along with other Merry Pranksters young and old – with “Sunday Morning” correspondent Bill Geist tagging along – in this story originally broadcast Nov. 18, 1990.

The original journey took place in 1964 and involved Kesey and his Band of Merry Pranksters traveling across the country in a school bus described as psychedelic. The trip is characterized as counter-culture, and Kesey is identified as a writer. The later account places him in Oregon, where he was farming at the time. The earlier bus had become iconic, while the journey was regarded as legendary.

For the return outing, Kesey traveled on a replica of the bus associated with the earlier trip. The group included Merry Pranksters from different generations, while “Sunday Morning” correspondent Bill Geist accompanied them. The segment was first broadcast on Nov. 18, 1990, nearly three decades after the 1964 road trip.