The Santa Monica Pier, the symbolic western end of Route 66, will hold concerts July 23 to pay tribute to its former La Monica Ballroom and celebrate the pier's centennial, according to a news release. La Monica Ballroom hosted ballroom dances from 1924 to 1961, when it closed. Entertainers at the July 23 show will … Continue reading Santa Monica Pier swing
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.
Abandoned but not forgotten
The folks who run the Abandoned Oklahoma site take a closer look at the long-defunct Conoco gas station on Route 66 near Arcadia. The station is particularly notable because of its notorious history: Back then, times were very hard and it was difficult to make a living. One day, about the time Al Capone was … Continue reading Abandoned but not forgotten
Two kings
Here's another chapter of "Route 66: A Road Trip on the Bible." This entry covers the first book of Kings. The driver, I suspect, really regrets picking up hitchhikers at this point.
His own Radiator Springs
Inspired by the "Cars" movie, Roy Martinez Jr. of La Habra, Calif., is building a train-model set of the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs. Here are some photos he e-mailed: Martinez says he's spent about 400 hours building the set, and he isn't done. He needs to add detail work, finish Fillmore's building, … Continue reading His own Radiator Springs
“Cars” Web site gets a tune-up
"Cars," the hit Disney-Pixar movie from 2006 that takes place prominently on Route 66, recently gave its Web site an extensive face-lift. (Warning: The site will almost certainly require a high-speed Internet connection.) Above is a screen shot of the site. The new "Cars" site features lots of goodies, including streaming of three excellent short … Continue reading “Cars” Web site gets a tune-up
Tribute to a king
Emily read this Tulsa World article after Michael Jackson's death on Friday. The key passage: Hours after learning of Jackson's death, Paul Yeakey, a Tulsa artist, spray-painted a mural of Jackson on a wall outside a liquor store at 9347 E. 11th St. Eleventh Street in Tulsa is Route 66. She went to the Mad … Continue reading Tribute to a king
This old road
This is a section of a very old alignment of Route 66 that goes through Petrified Forest National Park in eastern Arizona. It was the Mother Road until 1961. An information kiosk right off the park's main road tells about Route 66 through there. But veteran roadies, guided by the no-longer-used telephone poles, can see … Continue reading This old road
A good day to tour Land of Lincoln
If you live in northern Illinois or are driving through it on Sunday, you're going to have the chance of seeing some unusual things on the Mother Road. The historic railroad depot of Braidwood, Ill., will be moved from its current spot at Illinois 53 (aka Route 66) and Illinois 113 to Main and Center … Continue reading A good day to tour Land of Lincoln
More road-tripping on Samuel
Here is the latest chapter of "Route 66: A Road Trip Through the Bible." This one's the second book of Samuel. Don't be surprised if you're not tracking this video.
Mural-painting begins in Pontiac
The painting of several murals by volunteer Walldogs artists in the Route 66 town of Pontiac, Ill., began Wednesday, reports the Pontiac Daily Leader. One of the murals will feature a Route 66 theme, on the wall of DeLongs' Casual Dining at 201 N. Mill St. The Walldogs should be done with the murals by … Continue reading Mural-painting begins in Pontiac