At some point later today, I'll do some tinkering and maintenance on the website. You may or may not see brief outages. So please hang in there if you do. Also, it's come to my attention that the UppSite program to create a Route 66 News app for Apple or Android mobile systems isn't working … Continue reading Programming note
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.
A Southern detour
Buckwheat Zydeco, an acclaimed Cajun and Creole musician from Louisiana, provides his unique version of Bobby Troup's famous song, with David Hidalgo of Los Lobos on guitar: https://youtu.be/MxZTTSfnAN0
A preview of Cars Land
Cars Land at Disney California Adventure won't open to the public until Friday. But this cobbled-together video of still photos and sound clips from Cars Land will do nicely until then: https://youtu.be/gfN4pCA3tmI Cars Land is inspired by the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs as depicted in the Disney-Pixar films "Cars" and "Cars 2."
Memories of the Aztec Motel
The Weekly Alibi, an alternative newspaper in Albuquerque, today uploaded this short documentary shot in 2001 about the Aztec Motel that once stood on Central Avenue (aka Route 66). https://youtu.be/FWFTG6lCPJw According to the Alibi, the film was screened at the 2001 Flicks on 66 Wild West Digital Shootout. Filmmakers were Kirsten Browne, Jen Lipow, Niels Dugan … Continue reading Memories of the Aztec Motel
Why would a unique gas station not be an appropriate gateway?
A developer wishes to build a uniquely styled gas station at an intersection in Plainfield, Ill., where the Lincoln Highway and Route 66 meet. However, planning commissioners and residents are balking at the plan, reported the Plainfield Patch. A Go-Tane station once stood at U.S. 30 (the Lincoln Highway) and Illinois 59 (Route 66). The station went … Continue reading Why would a unique gas station not be an appropriate gateway?
A quilt four years in the making
Joyree of Oklahoma started work on a Route 66 quilt in June 2008. Yesterday, she finished it. The quilt is huge, and it's fairly elaborate. She explains: https://youtu.be/rhHP_3oxK7M Joyree is enthusiastic about getting it done; her effervescence makes this long-ish video a lot more entertaining that you'd expect. Verlinda Magby at Oklahoma Quiltworks designed it. … Continue reading A quilt four years in the making
Jamming on Oatman Road
Don't know much about this video, except it's by a group called A3, and it's filmed on Oatman Road (aka Route 66) in western Arizona. It's also charming. https://youtu.be/2XQ_KBqbsLQ
Tulsa’s home of orphaned neon signs
In case you're wondering what happened to the neon signs at Route 66 businesses in Tulsa that went kaput, chances are good you'll find them at the Stokely Event Center. According to this report on KOTV, the signs from the 66 Motel, Metro Diner, and Swinney Hardware are here:
Henry’s Rabbit Ranch among Illinois Hall of Fame inductees
https://youtu.be/lh_uI2hDmZA Henry's Rabbit Ranch in Staunton, Ill., is among the inductees into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame for 2012, according to a story today in the Bloomington Pantagraph. The other honorees are Elmo and Eula Quinn of Quinn's Shell station in Bloomington, gas station owner Samuel Reichert Sr. of Plainfield, and Roger Gray of Gray’s … Continue reading Henry’s Rabbit Ranch among Illinois Hall of Fame inductees
Saga Motor Hotel will match donations for Route 66 motels project
https://youtu.be/YoezV5IWF90 The historic Saga Motor Hotel in Pasadena, Calif., will match donations to a total of up to $5,000 for The Motels of Route 66 documentary and book project, filmmaker Simon Cantlon said. Cantlon had launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the project, but canceled it three days ago. Instead: [W]e have streamlined the … Continue reading Saga Motor Hotel will match donations for Route 66 motels project