“Tucumcari Tonite” videos go live

Tucumcari Tonite, the website of the tourism department for the city of Tucumcari, New Mexico, uploaded three new videos Thursday. KC Keefer, who's known in Mother Road circles for his Genuine Route 66 Life video series, directed and produced the videos. If you've visited Tucumcari at all, you probably will recognize a few people in these clips. Here's … Continue reading “Tucumcari Tonite” videos go live

DVD review: “The Missouri Maze”

Unoccupied Route 66 continues its mix of history and atmospheric images of forlorn Route 66 sites in its latest documentary, "The Missouri Maze." The 26-minute film ($14.95 list, shipping included), directed by KC Keefer and hosted by Nick Gerlich, tells about a mid-Missouri area where Route 66 ended up realigned, realigned again, then abandoned by Interstate 44. Here's … Continue reading DVD review: “The Missouri Maze”

Trailer for “The Missouri Maze” film released

Filmmaker KC Keefer and host Nick Gerlich of Unoccupied Route 66 recently released this trailer for "The Missouri Maze," an area of the Show Me State where Route 66 was rerouted several times. The ruins of John's Modern Cabins near Newburg, Missouri, play a prominent role, although other landmarks of the region also appear. https://youtu.be/E_91r4gqDe0 "The Missouri … Continue reading Trailer for “The Missouri Maze” film released

A chat with the owner of Lulu’s Beef

KC Keefer interviewed Don Greico Jr., the proprietor of Lulu's Beef, which has occupied the corner of Leavitt Street, Taylor Street and Odgen Avenue (aka Route 66) in Chicago for nearly 50 years. Keefer describes the restaurant as exuding "Chicago charm," and Greico reflects that as well. And if you're craving a Chicago-style hot dog, Lulu's … Continue reading A chat with the owner of Lulu’s Beef

A chat with Dries Bessels

KC Keefer's Genuine Route 66 Life video series released its latest clip, an interview with Dries Bessels. Bessels co-founded the Dutch Route 66 Association in the Netherlands and guides motorcycle tours down Route 66 annually. https://youtu.be/gAB19-HYuSY It probably is safe to say Bessels has the most interesting footwear on Route 66, as well.

DVD review: “Exit Zero”

The new 26-minute film "Exit Zero" doesn't so much explore the history of the Route 66 ghost town that straddles the Texas-New Mexico border as give an atmospheric look of what's there now and glimpses of what was there before. Here's the trailer for the film: https://youtu.be/0ClyUztE_FM Like Unoccupied Route 66's previous film about the deserted Painted Desert … Continue reading DVD review: “Exit Zero”

More Genuine Route 66 Lives

KC Keefer recently uploaded a few more videos as part of his Genunine Route 66 Life series. Here is Bob Russell, mayor of Pontiac, Illinois, who personally greets many Route 66 travelers as they arrive in downtown Pontiac. The clip prominently features the bus of late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire. https://youtu.be/X6MmLMJ3RWQ Next is historian … Continue reading More Genuine Route 66 Lives

“Painted Desert Trading Post” documentary is online

KC Keefer's 18-minute documentary, "Painted Desert Trading Post," about the long-closed Route 66 landmark of the same name in eastern Arizona, went live on YouTube at midday Sunday. The film, hosted by Route 66 researcher Nick Gerlich, is part history lesson and part contemplative atmosphere. And be sure to see the final few minutes of … Continue reading “Painted Desert Trading Post” documentary is online

“Painted Desert Trading Post” trailer

A few days ago, Nick Gerlich and KC Keefer revealed a trailer for "Painted Desert Trading Post," a short documentary about the long-abandoned property in eastern Arizona near the Petrified Forest National Park. The trailer is long on atmosphere, which I like a lot. https://youtu.be/swTWrpX9qNw Gerlich, a professor of marketing at West Texas A&M University, … Continue reading “Painted Desert Trading Post” trailer

A chat with Jerry McClanahan

KC Keefer adds to his "Genuine Route 66 Life" video series with a talk with Route 66 artist, author and researcher Jerry McClanahan at his studio in Chandler, Oklahoma. https://youtu.be/ISZLdWzTx2o McClanahan has been traveling regularly on Route 66 for more than 30 years, and his memories of the Mother Road date back even further. Novice … Continue reading A chat with Jerry McClanahan