It sounds counter-intuitive, but the city of Springfield, Missouri, is considering declaring Kearney Street blighted so it can improve it in the future. Kearney remains a prominent Route 66 alignment once known as a car-cruising corridor during the 1970s and '80s, until city fathers cracked down on it. Since then, Kearney has declined into a … Continue reading ‘Blight’ designation may boost Springfield’s Kearney Street
Month: June 2017
Vendor testing interest in Texas Route 66 license plate
A vendor for specialty license plates in Texas is testing the waters for a possible Route 66 plate issued in the Lone Star State. MyPlates.com and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles are considering the plate, according to a news release Monday from the company: "This is such an iconic route in the U.S, so it's … Continue reading Vendor testing interest in Texas Route 66 license plate
Seeing Oatman Road from all angles
Over the years, I've posted videos of people cruising Route 66 on the twisting, turning Oatman Road to Oatman, Arizona. Skip La Fetra recently drove east on Oatman Road with a 360-degree video camera mounted to the top of his car. It provides views of old Route 66 and the spectacular Black Mountains from all … Continue reading Seeing Oatman Road from all angles
De Anza Motor Lodge project takes another step forward
The lengthy quest to rehabilitate and reopen the long-shuttered De Anza Motor Lodge in Albuquerque took another significant step forward last week. The city’s Landmarks and Urban Conservation Commission on Wednesday approved a redevelopment plan for the Route 66 motel that would keep most of its vital historical elements, reported, the Albuquerque Journal. As proposed, … Continue reading De Anza Motor Lodge project takes another step forward
Movie review: ‘Cars 3’
"Cars 3" not only becomes Pixar's animated tribute to stock-car racing, but it represents a return to the emotional core of the original 2006 film. Before describing the plot about humanized cars, Route 66 aficionados should know the fictional town of Radiator Springs makes several appearances in "Cars 3," along with the town's original characters … Continue reading Movie review: ‘Cars 3’
Route 66 fan producing documentary on music scene of Springfield, Missouri
Dave Hoekstra, a big Route 66 fan for much of his 30-year career at the Chicago Sun-Times, is producing a film series about unheralded rich music scenes in the United States, including Springfield, Missouri. Titled "Song of an Unsung America," the film series delves into Springfield's importance as the site of television's "Ozark Jubilee" and … Continue reading Route 66 fan producing documentary on music scene of Springfield, Missouri
Book review: “The 1928 Bunion Derby”
Before going in-depth with this review of James R. Powell's "The 1928 Bunion Derby," prospective customers should know right away it is not a turn-by-turn guidebook to the infamous 3,423-mile Trans-American Footrace from Los Angeles to New York City -- much of it on Route 66. In short, it's about one-third of that. It's easy … Continue reading Book review: “The 1928 Bunion Derby”
Scenes from the Holbrook Route 66 Festival
Frank Kocevar, the former co-owner of Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Arizona, went to the just-completed Holbook Route 66 Festival and Route 66 Gearhead car show in Holbrook, Arizona, and shot some video. Here's the finished product: https://vimeo.com/221205304 Kocevar wrote in an email: The center of town was blocked off for the festival. It was … Continue reading Scenes from the Holbrook Route 66 Festival
Hello from Australia
Here's a good performance of Bobby Troup's "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" by singer Linda Taylor and standup bassist Elsen Price. Both are based in Australia. This is recorded live in the studio, with no lip-syncing. With such a spare arrangement, you'd better be good. https://vimeo.com/220573124 Michal Imielski created the video. (Screen-capture image of … Continue reading Hello from Australia
Old Gillett Farm on Elkhart Hill to be auctioned in August
The historic and enormous Old Gillett Farm on top of Elkhart Hill just east of Elkhart, Illinois, will be sold at auction in August. The house isn't on Route 66. But driving down the Mother Road, it's hard to miss Elkhart Hill. It rises 200 feet above the surrounding prairie and reportedly is the tallest hill between … Continue reading Old Gillett Farm on Elkhart Hill to be auctioned in August