Tulsa artist makes striking new poster featuring Will Rogers, Route 66

Longtime Tulsa residents know of William Franklin and his artistic talents. But his latest creation that’s offered for sale at his Decopolis gift store is particularly notable, especially to Route 66 fans.

Franklin stated in a recent Facebook post:

Every once in a while ya get lucky and come up with an idea that is “obvious” once you see it, but that nobody has done before. With this it was the idea of turning Will Rogers lasso into the Route 66 highway!

Also wanted to add some of the “constellation” of attractions along Oklahoma’s Route 66 so came up with the idea of having them up in the sky!

And here’s the creation:

These posters will be for sale at the Route 66 Road Fest in Oklahoma and Tulsa this month.

Franklin also is selling his matted posters through the Decopolis website, including several Route 66-themed images. He said he hoped to have the Will Rogers artwork online for sale by this weekend.

Even almost 90 years after his death in a plane crash, the movie star, radio star and newspaper columnist that was Will Rogers arguably remains Oklahoma’s most famous citizen. He was so popular, if he had run for president, he probably would have won in a landslide. Dozens of sites in Oklahoma bear his name.

Rogers also was a big champion of U.S. 66, including at the Bunion Derby footrace in 1928, while he was alive. U.S. 66 began to be called the Will Rogers Highway during the 1940s. A monument dedicating the Will Rogers Highway was installed in Santa Monica, California, near the Santa Monica Pier, in 1952.

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