This weekend, filmmakers Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Becky Wible Searles will interview relatives of the former publisher of the Negro Travelers Green Book for a documentary, according to the New York Times. Victor Hugo Green, a letter carrier who lived in New York City, in 1936 began publishing the guidebook to help travelers find black-friendly … Continue reading Documentary film, book coming about Negro Travelers Green Book
Author: Ron Warnick
I'm the editor and publisher of Route 66 News, a clearinghouse of events, information, and entertainment pertaining to historic U.S. 66, the Mother Road.
Rail Haven hotel installs replica of classic sign
The Best Western Route 66 Rail Haven hotel in Springfield, Missouri, on Friday installed a replica of a classic neon sign that came down in 1994 when the hotel was rebranded, according to the Springfield News-Leader. Part of the reason the original sign was taken down was because it was "in bad shape," said Jennifer … Continue reading Rail Haven hotel installs replica of classic sign
Santa Rosa restaurant reopens faster than expected
Instead of being closed for weeks, the Route 66 Restaurant in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, reopened July 30 in mere days after a lighting strike destroyed the historic eatery's electrical system, according to last week's print edition of the Guadalupe County Communicator. Lightning during a sudden storm July 22 destroyed the restaurant's electrical box and … Continue reading Santa Rosa restaurant reopens faster than expected
A tree grows in Galena
A Dutch arborist who loves Route 66 aims to help trees grow in the tainted soil of Galena, Kansas, and other Route 66 towns with a method that helps vegetation thrive in arid climates or poisoned soils, according to an article in the Joplin Globe. It's difficult for trees to grow in Galena and other … Continue reading A tree grows in Galena
Springfield mayor ends up with Bel-Aire Motel’s seal
The mayor of Springfield, Illinois, is the new owner of the seal sculpture that once stood at the now-demolished Bel-Air Motel on Route 66 in Springfield, according to the State Journal-Register. Jim Langfelder said he paid $2,500 of his own money for the 8,000-pound statue, which once stood as a fountain near what used to be … Continue reading Springfield mayor ends up with Bel-Aire Motel’s seal
Joplin approves rezoning of Dale’s Ole 66 Barber Shop
The city council of Joplin, Missouri, on Monday night unanimously voted to approve a special-use permit for Dale's Ole 66 Barber Shop that would allow an artist to set up a gallery and visitors center there, according to the Joplin Globe. The barber shop, owned by Dale Holly's widow, is in a former Phillips 66 cottage-style … Continue reading Joplin approves rezoning of Dale’s Ole 66 Barber Shop
Owner of Tally’s Good Food Cafe says he’s not closing
Apparently Tulsa popped with rumors that Tally's Good Food Cafe -- a fixture for locals and Route 66 travelers along 11th Street -- would close. Owner Tally Alame says it's not true. But he's not happy with his former landlord, according to a report by KRMG radio in Tulsa. Alame said he wanted to buy from Will … Continue reading Owner of Tally’s Good Food Cafe says he’s not closing
Full inventory of Negro Motorist Green Book sites released
Here's another reason to go on a road trip: The Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program has released a list of all the properties listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book from 1936 to 1964 during the Jim Crow era of rampant racial segregation. A full list of the properties and their statuses is here. Kaisa … Continue reading Full inventory of Negro Motorist Green Book sites released
A word from our sponsor …
The folks at MeUndies posted this video over the weekend publicizing its Route 66 underwear line. Give the company props for actually showing its undies at real-life Route 66 landmarks in Arizona and California. https://youtu.be/uDH5xSQi0Lo (Screen capture of the MeUndies ad at Bottletree Ranch in Oro Grande, California)
Milk Bottle Building reopens with new tenant
Prairie Gothic, a boutique based in nearby Guthrie, Oklahoma, opened a second store in the historic Milk Bottle Building along Route 66 in Oklahoma City last week after months of renovations, according to an article in The Oklahoman newspaper. It's not a carbon copy of the other Prairie Gothic store, either. The Milk Bottle Building … Continue reading Milk Bottle Building reopens with new tenant