Manhattan Transfer’s original version of “Route 66”

Here is the Manhattan Transfer's original 1981 studio recording of Bobby Troup's "Route 66." The maker of the video superimposed footage of the group performing the song, along with vintage film of Route 66 scenes. https://youtu.be/8xro0lpukfs The video is nicely done. The cars going into a ditch, however, may be more kicks than a Route … Continue reading Manhattan Transfer’s original version of “Route 66”

Joplin tornado, continued

The death toll from Sunday's tornado in Joplin, Mo., has risen to 139 as of Saturday morning, according to the Joplin Globe. (Incidentally, the Globe's coverage of the disaster has been stellar, even though a substantial number of staffers have been directly affected, including a copy editor who was killed in the storm.) A memorial … Continue reading Joplin tornado, continued

Behind the scenes at “Route 66: A Road Trip Through the Bible”

KING-TV in Seattle has put together a good video about His Place Community Church in Burlington, Wash., and its "Route 66: A Road Trip through the Bible" video segments, which in a somewhat irreverent way is covering all 66 books of the Bible. As the video explains, a portion of the footage was shot on … Continue reading Behind the scenes at “Route 66: A Road Trip Through the Bible”

Groundbreaking for Admiral Twin rebuilding is next month

The owner of the Admiral Twin Drive-In theater in Tulsa has set a date in June for an official groundbreaking to rebuild the double screen that was destroyed in a fire in September, reported the Tulsa World. The ceremony will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, June 11, and the public is invited to attend, owner … Continue reading Groundbreaking for Admiral Twin rebuilding is next month

Scottish comedian injured during Route 66 trip

Billy Connolly, the Scottish comedian and actor, was injured during a motorcycle mishap while filming a television documentary about Route 66, reported the Scottish Sun on Thursday. The accident happened as the comedy legend tried to turn the powerful three-wheel motorbike while travelling in the Deep South this week. The trike skidded on gravel and Billy … Continue reading Scottish comedian injured during Route 66 trip

Talks over Round Barn billboard break down

Negotiations to move a controversial billboard near the historic Round Barn of Arcadia, Okla., have reached an impasse, reports the Edmond Sun. In September, Zoom Media bought a small parcel just east of the Round Barn and began to install a billboard. Claiming it was an eyesore, officials with the Arcadia Historical Society protested, even … Continue reading Talks over Round Barn billboard break down

Route 66 festival in Joplin postponed

The Joplin Route 66 Fest, created shortly after Jim Conkle was removed as primary organizer of the International Route 66 Festival, has been postponed indefinitely after this week's destructive tornado in Joplin, Mo. This message was posted today on the Joplin festival's website: The Festival Committee has decided to re-schedule the Joplin Route 66 Festival … Continue reading Route 66 festival in Joplin postponed

King of the Juke Joints

In the previous post, we mentioned blues legends in an upcoming movie. Here's a documentary about a real-live blues legend, Blues Boy Willie, who's still performing, including a regular gig at Smokey Joe's Texas Cafe on Sixth Street (aka Route 66) and Joe Taco, both in Amarillo, Texas. https://vimeo.com/24067509 In fact, the "King of the … Continue reading King of the Juke Joints

Rock movie on Route 66 set for August release

"The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll," which starts "Easy Rider's" Peter Fonda and prominently features Route 66 in its plot, is slated for an Aug. 5 limited release in theaters, according to IconVsIcon.com. Here's the synopsis, according to the film's website: Spyder (Kevin Zegers—Transamerica, Dawn of the Dead), a world famous musician whose debut album … Continue reading Rock movie on Route 66 set for August release

Book review: “Ghost Towns of Route 66”

Ghost town -- a once-flourishing town wholly or nearly deserted usually as a result of the exhaustion of some natural resource. -- Merriam-Webster dictionary The term "ghost town" conjures images of abandoned, dusty, and tumbleweed-strewn buildings in a once-bustling Wild West town founded in the 1800s. However, in the case of historic U.S. 66, ghost towns are … Continue reading Book review: “Ghost Towns of Route 66”