JFK cruised Route 66 in Albuquerque

KOB-TV in Albuquerque found a gentleman in town who used a home movie camera to document President John F. Kennedy and his motorcade going down Central Avenue (aka Route 66) in 1962. The footage had never been seen in public until now.

KOB’s reporter, Chris Ramirez, wrote:

The two minute silent film starts off showing Kennedy’s motorcade on Route 66 (present day Tramway and Central). I saw an Albuquerque I had never seen before, a desolate city where the desert was still winning the war against the emerging housing boom. The presidential motorcade took old Route-66 to Kirtland Air Force Base because I-40 was still under construction.

The silent film shows President Kennedy coming out of a church on base. With the charisma and charm I’ve seen in so many other film clips, Kennedy is caught shaking hands and greeting with adoring fans before entering into his presidential limousine. He sits in the backseat and since the roof is made of glass, you can still see him as the secret service drives him away.

The short clips cuts to the old Albuquerque airport, where President Kennedy boards Air Force One. The cars, motorcycles, clothing styles, and hairdos of the early 1960s are things I’ve never seen in my lifetime.

The man who shot the footage, Paul Martinez, explained that he worked at Sandia Labs at the time. Cameras weren’t allowed there, but he received word of where Kennedy was going the next day and what his route would be. So he staked out the area with his camera.

Martinez needs to make arrangements so the film goes to a museum, and pronto.

4 thoughts on “JFK cruised Route 66 in Albuquerque

  1. I’m so happy for this (young) man’s quick thinking to get these historical moments on film. I was only 12 years old when we lost President Kennedy but it was one of the saddest days of my life. I never talked about it to anyone, but it affected me deeply and still does. I hope the film can be saved and enhanced so that future generations can enjoy seeing our President during a simpler time and place. Thank you Mr. Martinez, for sharing with us who loved President Kennedy.

  2. I was there that day and JFK shook my hand. We lived on the base and dad had taken me to see JFK. I have a vague memory of being on top of my dad’s shoulders and lots of people around us. I asked him what we were doing and where we were. He said we had gone to see JFK and that JFK shook my hand. I do not recall that part-wished I did. I scanned the film shown here to look for my dad and I-but didn’t see us. I was hoping to find a pic that showed us having been there-didn’t find one however.
    Cool history-we moved to HA right after that and I was unaware of his death having occured almost a year following his visit to Kirtland AFB.

  3. My family was there at Mass with JFK. I was 15. A huge event. The film was not attached. I would love to see it! This was the warmest day of the winter there in Albuquerque!

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