... Redforkhippie saw the distinctive neon sign at the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., fire to life again many months after it was snuffed out by a fire in the restaurant. She saw the neon sign lit on Friday afternoon, thanks to David Burke, who is supervising the restoration of the historic Route 66 restaurant. … Continue reading With a flick of the switch …
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.
The smell of the road
This apparently aired on Israeli television -- an ad for Route 66 cologne, from Coty. Much of the footage was shot at Roy's, on Route 66 in Amboy, Calif. I think Coty quit making it. It's no longer listed on Coty's Web site, and it's out of stock at many online retailers. Here's a description: … Continue reading The smell of the road
Vintage Roadside has a new Route 66-related T-shirt
The good folks at Vintage Roadside, which put old graphics of defunct roadside businesses on apparel, have released a new image from the Mother Road. They have a T-shirt featuring Gwinn's Restaurant and Drive-In at 2915 E. Colorado Blvd. (Route 66) in Pasadena, Calif. The restaurant featured a striking Mid-Century design. The restaurant was in … Continue reading Vintage Roadside has a new Route 66-related T-shirt
POPS apparel mixes Easter and Route 66
You have to give POPS in Arcadia, Okla., a lot of credit. Not only is it wildly popular, but the restaurant/convenience store keeps coming up with new gimmicks to bring in even more visitors. Today, I received an e-mail announcing that POPS is holding its annual Easter Egg Hunt at 2 p.m. April 12. Hundreds … Continue reading POPS apparel mixes Easter and Route 66
Details on Illinois, Missouri motor tours
The Illinois and Missouri Route 66 Associations recently gave out additional details about their annual motor tours. First, some quick facts about the 20th annual Missouri tour on Sept. 11-13: The tour starts in Joplin and ends in Pacific. A block of rooms will be reserved at the Holiday Inn in Joplin, and the Munger … Continue reading Details on Illinois, Missouri motor tours
What is a road movie?
Author Chuck Klosterman (probably best known for his road-trip book "Killing Yourself to Live") attempts to answer the question in a thoughtful way in an article for The Telegraph in London. The essay contains ruminations about such films as "Easy Rider" and "Two-Lane Blacktop," both which were shot partially on Route 66. Klosterman also gets … Continue reading What is a road movie?
GPS 66 site launched
Drew Knowles, author of the "Route 66 Adventure Handbook" and the "Route 66 Quick Reference Encyclopedia" and proprietor of the Route 66 University site, has launched the interactive and open-source GPS 66 site. He described it "as the closest thing yet to an online tour of Route 66, including precise GPS-based mapping, eyewitness commentary, and … Continue reading GPS 66 site launched
“Gateway to Oklahoma”
"Gateway to Oklahoma" is what the state tourism director Hardy Watkins described Miami, Okla., during that city's chamber of commerce luncheon Wednesday, reported the Joplin (Mo.) Globe. Watkins told the crowd that successful communities know who they are, accept who they are and celebrate who they are. [...] “You’re being incredibly aggressive,” Watkins said, praising … Continue reading “Gateway to Oklahoma”
A take on Tulsa’s Mother Road
Urban Tulsa, the alternative weekly in town, has a report today about the still-being-planned Route 66 interpretive center in town. Many of the quotes are from Michael Wallis, author of the best-selling "Route 66: The Mother Road." Wallis' thoughts about the Route 66 center: "I saw this site as the key to really push Tulsa … Continue reading A take on Tulsa’s Mother Road
No hoaxes here
Today is April Fools' Day. I feel obligated to inform readers that you should not expect hoaxes today, or any other day, on this site. I value the credibility of Route 66 News too much to waste your time and mine on such tomfoolery. That is all.