David King Dunaway, a professor at the University of New Mexico, has done a lot of historic research about Route 66 and helped others do the same with his oral history workshops. He also produced the excellent the "Across the Tracks: A Route 66 Story" for radio. We've met Dave at just about every significant … Continue reading Route 66 historian’s book about Pete Seeger reissued
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.
World’s largest rocking chair set up in Missouri
First off, this is not an April Fools' Day joke. Today, a rocking chair that's 46 feet tall was set up on old Route 66 four miles west of Cuba, Mo. It's next to the Fanning U.S. 66 Outpost & General Store in the tiny settlement of Fanning. According to the news release, the big … Continue reading World’s largest rocking chair set up in Missouri
Vince Gill has new song set on Route 66
Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill performed an intimate concert in Oklahoma City on Thursday night, partly as a fundraiser to renovate the auditorium for the city's public schools and partly to receive the 2007 Oklahoman of the Year Award from Oklahoma Today magazine. Here's the interesting item about the show, straight from Gill's … Continue reading Vince Gill has new song set on Route 66
Grooving with the King
Here's a slightly different version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" by Nat King Cole, a decade after he hit the charts with it. This is off King's all-jazz "After Midnight" album in 1956. This take on "Route 66" also features excellent playing by Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet John Collins on guitar. In this sound … Continue reading Grooving with the King
Second thoughts
According to the information with the video, this is a student film shot at Dry Creek Station on old Route 66 east of Barstow, Calif. It's not an earth-shattering story, but it serves to show the value of slowing down and thinking about things -- a Mother Road attribute if there ever was one. Incidentally, … Continue reading Second thoughts
Two guitar heroes
Here on this version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66," you get not one, but two talented guitar-slingers in Popa Chubby (the bald, portly one) and Arthur Neilson. Great stuff.
Football promotion for Mother Roaders
If you like football and the Mother Road, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association has an event for you. The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz of the Arena Football 2 league, along with POPS in nearby Arcadia, are hosting a Route 66 Night on April 27. Association members can purchase tickets for $5 off. Members can buy … Continue reading Football promotion for Mother Roaders
Photographer’s work inspires preservation
There's an excellent article in the Daily Oklahoman about Larry Nance, a photographer based in El Reno, and the impact he's making with local preservationists. It's advisable to read the whole thing. But the gist is that Nance as a child suffered from epilepsy, and was unable to stay at Route 66 landmarks such as … Continue reading Photographer’s work inspires preservation
A “Cars” mural
Vern Hestand III of Bear Mountain Woodworx created a mural inspired by the "Cars" movie, complete with three-dimensional touches (check out the power lines and Route 66 sign). The mural obviously is inside a private residence, but he made a video of it so you can see it. Here's the original proposal for the mural. … Continue reading A “Cars” mural
Visitors center sought at Tulsa transportation park
The blog for RedFork Main Street reports that the Southwest Tulsa Chamber of Commerce is applying for a cost-share grant to build a visitors center for the Route 66 transportation theme park under construction. The chamber is filling out an application to the National Scenic Byways program for the grant. Dittman said he and other … Continue reading Visitors center sought at Tulsa transportation park