I gave a couple of presentations during the workshops Thursday at the Route 66 Festival in Clinton. For those who missed them -- or those who just want a closer look -- they are online here: Media relations (writing press releases, being interviewed, interacting with reporters) Powerpoint version of the media relations presentation (downloadable) Route … Continue reading Presentations from the festival
Month: June 2007
Remaining drive-ins are thriving
Although there are just 400 drive-in movie theaters left in the country after a peak of about 4,000 five decades ago, the remaining ones are mostly thriving, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Among the survivors cited in the article are the Route 66 Drive-In in Springfield, Ill.; the Skyview Drive-In in Litchfield, Ill.; and the … Continue reading Remaining drive-ins are thriving
Sunrise Motel torn down
We've known about this for a couple of weeks, but today we nailed down the details why: The Sunrise Motel at 805 N. Service Road in Sullivan, Mo., has been razed to make way for an improved overpass over Interstate 44. I'm not aware whether the Sunrise was ever on old Route 66 itself, but … Continue reading Sunrise Motel torn down
Show some pride
Daily Oklahoman writer Steve Lackmeyer traveled Route 66 in Oklahoma, and he thinks, if anything, that the Mother Road isn't getting enough attention in the state. Go read it. Lackmeyer also has a blog about his Route 66 trip. Here also is a slide show of Route 66 in Miami, Okla., and Afton, Okla. The … Continue reading Show some pride
Clinton-bound
I'll be at the National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla., which runs from Thursday through Sunday. Photos and news from the event will be forthcoming, as long as the wireless connection and the computer equipment holds out. According to the latest news release from the festival, many motels in western Oklahoma are sold out … Continue reading Clinton-bound
Memorial commemorates ordnance disaster
The Pontiac (Ill.) Daily Leader reports that a statue was dedicated earlier this month commemorating the 52 people who died in an explosion in 1942 at an ordnance plant just off Route 66 in Elwood. The statue, of a man in work clothes, wearing a hard hat and carrying a lunchbox, is next to the … Continue reading Memorial commemorates ordnance disaster
Pontiac set to add to Route 66 attractions
A report by the Pontiac (Ill.) Daily Leader about Monday's city council meeting had items of interest for Route 66ers: A mural is planned on the east side of the Diaz Sign Art building at 628 W. Lincoln Ave. that says "Enjoy Pontiac, Illinois on Route 66" with a 1950s-era car and a Route 66 … Continue reading Pontiac set to add to Route 66 attractions
Book review: “Hip to the Trip”
Just when you think there are no more new avenues to books about Route 66's history, Peter Dedek finds unexplored backroads and obscure alignments in his "Hip to the Trip: A Cultural History of Route 66" (169 pages, University of New Mexico Press, $19.95). Dedek, a professor at Texas State University, diligently researches the history … Continue reading Book review: “Hip to the Trip”
Yum
Rory Schepisi, who's busy trying to get her Boot Hill Saloon & Grill open in Vega, Texas, won a contest in "The Next Food Network Star" TV series in that the dish she created appears on the July issue of Bon Appetit magazine. The dish is called Rory's Ribs with Grilled Corn, Cantaloupe and Fresh … Continue reading Yum
Wave ’em in
A few days ago, we reported about the Mule Trading Post near Rolla, Mo., restoring a an animated hillbilly sign that waves its arms. Ace Jackalope took a brief video of the sign to show you what it looks like in action: Also, Ace took a short video of the main animated neon sign at … Continue reading Wave ’em in