The first thing you notice is the cover. Beneath huge, Old West letters is a painting of a 1960s Chevrolet Impala pointed into a red-and-orange sunset, pulling into the parking lot of a restaurant with a neon sign featuring a giant cowboy and a fiberglass steer on the roof. Below that is a photo of … Continue reading Book review: “Story of the Free 72-oz. Steak”
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.
Joliet turning into a hot spot
The Chicago Tribune has an interesting story about joliet, Ill., and how it's growing quickly in population. Joliet is one of the 25 fastest-growing cities in America. It even has edged long-touted Naperville to become the fourth-largest city in Illinois. Here's the Route 66 content: An increasingly popular destination is the Route 66 welcome center … Continue reading Joliet turning into a hot spot
An oldie but a goodie
St. Louis Post-Dispatch movie reviewer Joe Williams talks about some of his favorite theaters in the area. Some have enormous screens, others screen IMAX films, one has couches, and another serves beer. Yet none of these are my favorite theater. With apologies to my many friends in the film-exhibition business, my favorite theater in the … Continue reading An oldie but a goodie
Help bring back the sign
I received a news release from Illinois Route 66 roadie Lenore Weiss on Friday, but had too little time to do anything with it before my shift. Lo and behold, her news release was run later that day as a letter to the editor in the Coal City (Ill.) Courant. You can read it here. … Continue reading Help bring back the sign
University president to take pulse of nation on 66
Andrew K. Benton, Pepperdine University's president and chairman of the American Council on Education, is traveling the length of Route 66 on July 14-22 "to connect with people and invite them to speak about their values, hopes, and dreams," according to a press release today from the university. His stops on the Mother Road include … Continue reading University president to take pulse of nation on 66
A tragedy
NOTE: Bumped for an update. It's sure sad to read about a story like this. Be careful when you're driving the Mother Road, folks. UPDATE: Here's an update on the story by the Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph. The June 9 death of a German motorcyclist was avoidable, the jury said, because the driver failed to stop … Continue reading A tragedy
Photographer will publish book on Route 66
Fine-art photographer Tom Federbar, who's been capturing images for more than 50 years, including working with Ansel Adams, soon will publish a book on his Route 66 photographs, reports the Downey (Calif.) Patriot. After 43 years in the advertising photography business, Ferderbar sold Ferderbar Studios, Inc. in 1997, and returned to his first love – … Continue reading Photographer will publish book on Route 66
Talking about motels
Route 66 author Michael Wallis preaches the gospel to the Tulsa World about some of the Mother Road's mom-and-pop motels. "You can still find motels on Route 66 where people care if you have enough blankets and covers and pillows," said Wallis, who has written several books that have documented the famous highway, including "Route … Continue reading Talking about motels
Whatever happened to Susan Croce Kelly?
Remember Susan Croce Kelly? She's the one who co-wrote, with photographer Quinta Scott, the excellent "Route 66: The Highway and Its People" in 1988, one of the first books about the Mother Road after the highway was decommissioned. It predates Michael Wallis' bestselling "Route 66: The Mother Road." Well, Susan Croce Kelly got married and … Continue reading Whatever happened to Susan Croce Kelly?
Roadside oddities
AutoWeek compiled a good list weird attractions along America's highways. A few of them are on Route 66, including Cadillac Ranch, Bug Ranch, two Wigwam Motels (although AutoWeek mentions only one), World's Largest Catsup Bottle, and the Leaning Tower of Texas near Groom. (AutoWeek ought to send Roadside America a thank-you card for undoubtedly helping … Continue reading Roadside oddities