The Original Dr. Feelgood -- "Everybody Went to Max"

A biographical video documentary giving a balanced look at New York's charismatic, German-born Dr. Max Jacobson (1900-1979), one of my childhood physicians.

Flourishing in the '50s and '60s, he later ran into professional trouble over amphetamines -- "speed" -- he allegedly administered to celebrities including,

President John F. Kennedy, and Jackie Kennedy, Cecil B. De Mille, Alan Jay Lerner, Truman Capote, Tennessee Williams, Anthony Quinn and a host of others.

He played a role at the historic JFK-Khrushchev summit in Vienna in 1961, and has been the controversial subject of 16 books.

Available on DVD through CreateSpace.com, Amazon.com and mkasindorf@gmail.com.

Griff C

Clearly the whole thing got out of control, but I have to say Jacobson was on to something. IF USED CORRECTLY, amphetamines cause an overall performance enhancing effect in the majority of people, and are rather benign. Methamphetamine is neurotoxic in high doses but dextroamphetamine is not. Proper usage of dextroamphetamine (ie, dose, frequency, roa) very often is an excellent, truly helpful and effective medication...not only those with "ADD." PROPER usage. 5-120mg a day depending on several factors. More than 120, even in the most extreme cases, imo is unwarranted. 20-60mg seems to be the average sweet spot for the majority. "Drugs" and human beings have always been connected. Its about using them the correct way...the negative press is due to PEOPLE and their inability to moderate, not the drugs. The more we as a society can take off the blinders about substances, the closer we get to living symbiotically with these performance enhancing, pain relieving, mind expanding, etc substances. The prohibitionist attitude of the last hundred years has proven that the human/drug relationship WILL NEVER GO AWAY, NOR SHOULD IT. We can learn and grow with the use of drugs. Or we can destroy ourselves with them. This anachronistic, infantile, unscientific approach to substances is one of the sadder realities of modern human life. Hopefully its not long for this world. Truth can't be held down forever, it'll always find a way out.

(I AM TALKING OF THE PROPER, CORRECT USE OF SUBSTANCES)!!!!!!!

Particularization

THANK YOU! A voice of reason. Amphetamines can be used safely for many ailments in low doses. It's not a crime to feel good & function at your highest capacity. If you're bipolar, schizophrenic or have heart problems, you should probably steer clear. But many of the "greats" used amphetamines for decades, including Paul Erdos, Ayn Rand (whom I hate but she's still considered great by some) and Kerouac. Half the drugs prescribed for depression & other psych ailments today simply don't work. The old stuff--MAOI's, amphetamines & barbiturates--actually worked. Those drugs were innovations; now all we have is "me too" drugs.

Scott sidelong

This was a very well done Mr. Kasindorf. This was a much more balanced, well documented view of Jacobson than the book "Dr. Feelgood," which lapsed into wacko conspiracy theories. Nice work sir.

Martin Kasindorf 5 months ago

Thank you very much, Mr. belong.

Roses and Songs

Who wants to play the doctor, I'll be the movie star OK? What... WAHHABI anyway, just say you are a doctor, any doctor, of course you want to respect the law and never, would you put your patients' health at risk but... Knock knock knock, there's someone at the door: IT'S JFK, and he is begging you to help him because he has to go very very far to negotiate peace on earth, forever... and only you can help so what do you do, WHAT DO YOU DO?

Roses and Songs 1 year ago (edited)

... and 30 years later, they try to put you in jail, really? Thank you for posting, this was captivating and happy holidays to all, big and small.

Particularization 8 months ago (edited)

Amphetamines are neither miracle elixirs nor a deadly plague. As with most things, the truth is somewhere in the middle. While effective for ADHD, narcolepsy & lethargic depression, amphetamines can be devastating for people with bipolar disorder, schizophrenia or a history of drug abuse. And injecting any drug isn't wise. But the way things are learned in medicine is by trial & error. Even today. Amphetamines may have been overused, but they're relatively safe even long-term when used responsibly (i.e. taken in prescribed doses by mouth in people who need them) in healthy people without major heart problems.

Daniel Robinson 4 months ago

This is the most interesting and intriguing documentary. Dr. Max certainly did effect so many well known lives with his medicine. Interesting, prior to me ever hearing of this doctor or seeing this documentary, I always wondered how the famous always appear so upbeat and energetic. They always look so refreshed. Now I can only imagine how they do it. Amazing Dr. Max isn't more widely known.

Latina Renee 2 months ago

This is wild! And it all really happened! Thanks for the great work putting this together.

rgoddess1 1 year ago

Sad news, Jill Jacobson died last week.

Martin Kasindorf 1 year ago

Oh, my, I'm so sorry to hear this. Please give me any more information you may have.

rgoddess1 1 year ago

Do you have BF account? Her 2 sons have pages & they have redirected her page to them.

Martin Kasindorf 1 year ago

Yes, I have a Facebook account, and I will go to her page to be redirected and find out more. Thank you.