Here is the eighth episode of Joel Baker's ongoing "American Giants" series about roadside fiberglass giants, also known as Muffler Men. https://youtu.be/nHZekubninc This episode covers the last of the Muffler Men in Chicago, including one extensively modified into a Frankenstein monster. Baker told me that the next episode will take place in Dodge City, Kan.
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.
New sex-abuse lawsuit filed against Stanley Marsh 3
Seven anonymous men have filed a new lawsuit alleging sex abuse by Stanley Marsh 3, the proprietor of the Cadillac Ranch landmark and other whimsical art projects in the Amarillo area, reported the Amarillo Globe-News on Monday. The suit alleges that between November 2009 and June 2011 Marsh 3 enticed the teens with cash or … Continue reading New sex-abuse lawsuit filed against Stanley Marsh 3
A hike to Padre Canyon Bridge near Twin Arrows
An editor for the Arizona Daily Sun newspaper apparently figured out a legal way to get close to and then hike over the 100-year-old Padre Canyon Bridge that once carried Route 66 near Twin Arrows. You can't access the bridge from less than a mile west of the new Twin Arrows Navajo Casino Resort because … Continue reading A hike to Padre Canyon Bridge near Twin Arrows
Former owner of the Elms Motel of Miami dies
James Leonard Swinney Jr., the former owner of the long-gone Elms Motel on Route 66 in Miami, Okla., and son of the founder of the closed Swinney's Hardware on Route 66 in Tulsa, died at age 98 on Dec. 28 in Albuquerque, according to an obituary in the Grand Lake News in Oklahoma. Swinney owned … Continue reading Former owner of the Elms Motel of Miami dies
Religious imagery and “The Grapes of Wrath”
Frank Gifford of rt66pix.com recently was interviewed by Susan Olasky of WORLD radio, which is part of a Christianity-based multimedia group. Gifford explained how he found Christian imagery in John Steinbeck's seminal novel, "The Grapes of Wrath," much of which takes place on Route 66 during the Depression: WORLD radio also linked to this University … Continue reading Religious imagery and “The Grapes of Wrath”
Irv’s Burgers reopens on Route 66
Irv's Burgers reopened last week in West Hollywood, Calif., on Route 66, less than a half-mile east from its original place, according to several tweeters close to the matter. Irv's new location is 7998 Santa Monica Blvd. (aka Route 66), next to the Fubar tavern. Dave White snapped the above photo Saturday for his Twitter … Continue reading Irv’s Burgers reopens on Route 66
Corvette arrives for Joplin mural park
A red 1964 Chevrolet Corvette -- or half of one, anyway -- recently arrived in Joplin, Mo., to be installed as part of a photo-op at the Route 66 Mural Park in downtown. According to a news release from the Joplin Convention and Visitors Bureau: Final dedication of the finished park will be held in … Continue reading Corvette arrives for Joplin mural park
An old Chevy can break down here
If you're ever driving a mid-1950s Chevrolet on Route 66, there are far worse places to break down than in Stroud, Okla. KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City reports about Route 66 Restoration Supplies, a shop that specializes in parts for 1955, 1956 and 1957 Chevys. To see the report, just hit the KFOR link. As … Continue reading An old Chevy can break down here
Scout replants crosses at Route 66 cemetery
KOTV in Tulsa unearthed this remarkable story about a Boy Scout and a cemetery for a long-gone poor farm along Route 66 near Bristow, Okla. NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com | Richard Dye, 17, was the one with the idea to plant new and improved white crosses at … Continue reading Scout replants crosses at Route 66 cemetery
On the Mother Road with Freeway Jim
A fellow on YouTube by the name of Freeway Jim takes a lot of video of his travels. A few days ago, he posted "Off the Beaten Path" videos of sections of Route 66 that were bypassed by Interstate 40. Although they're high-definition, the speeded-up videos aren't remarkable by themselves. What's interesting are the annotations, … Continue reading On the Mother Road with Freeway Jim