In July, Sweet Pea, an 8-foot-tall mummy-like mascot that stood in front of the Cigars & Stripes restaurant and lounge for years on Route 66 in Berwyn, Ill., was spirited away. This brief clip shows what ol' Sweet Pea looked like: Sweet Pea from Jay Hagstrom on Vimeo. It turns out Sweet Pea wasn't stolen. … Continue reading Building a better beast
Category: Art
Other half of East Meets West statue arrives
The other half (or practically speaking, two-thirds) of the massive "East Meets West" statue arrived Thursday at Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza near the Route 66 intersection of Southwest Boulevard and 12th Street in Tulsa. One part of the bronze that arrived Thursday is the two carriage horses rearing. The other part is a farmer and … Continue reading Other half of East Meets West statue arrives
Filmmakers shooting documentary on Bob Waldmire
A film crew was in Pontiac, Ill., on Thursday shooting footage for a documentary about the late Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire, reported the Pontiac Daily Leader. Producer Mark Silverstein, director of photography Rick Diamond, and cinematographer Matt Diamond were at the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame & Museum in Pontiac to grab footage … Continue reading Filmmakers shooting documentary on Bob Waldmire
Braidwood mayor adds folk artist’s work to Route 66 park
A few weeks ago, we reported that the Wilmington Chamber of Commerce in Wilmington, Ill., had bought a buffalo sculpture by late folk artist Jack Barker so it could eventually install it on Route 66. Now it appears the nearby town of Braidwood, Ill., is getting to the act. According to the Joliet Herald-News, Braidwood … Continue reading Braidwood mayor adds folk artist’s work to Route 66 park
Part of “East Meets West” sculpture arrives
One part of the large "East Meets West" sculpture arrived Saturday at the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza in Tulsa. This part of the bronze depicts a Ford driven by Cyrus Avery with his wife, daughter, and the family cat. Avery, who is known as the Father of Route 66, is getting out of the car … Continue reading Part of “East Meets West” sculpture arrives
The true story of Waynesville’s Frog Rock
A fascinating article in the Waynesville Daily Guide talks about the history of the Frog Rock landmark along Route 66 in Waynesville, Mo., and the urban legends associated with it: Contrary to popular belief, the large frog-shaped boulder that sits on the side of Waynesville Hill wasn't always shaped like a frog. And contrary to … Continue reading The true story of Waynesville’s Frog Rock
Details revealed for upcoming Route 66 exhibit at Autry Center
In a Shalom Life story about artist and journalist Jim Farber, he revealed a few of the things that will be featured in a Route 66 exhibit staring in May 2014 at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. The key excerpts: I talked with Jim recently in his backyard, which is only a few … Continue reading Details revealed for upcoming Route 66 exhibit at Autry Center
Sculpture at Avery Plaza should be unveiled next month
The delayed and long-awaited "East Meets West" sculpture at the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza in Tulsa is set to be unveiled in October, reported the Tulsa World. The bronze sculpture, which depicts two frightened carriage horses rearing up at the sight of an early car driven by Cyrus Avery and his wife, was designed by … Continue reading Sculpture at Avery Plaza should be unveiled next month
A closer look at El Trovatore Motel
This video wasn't produced by the renovated El Trovatore Motel in Kingman, Ariz., but it serves a promotional purpose for that historic Route 66 establishment well enough: https://youtu.be/MFnH8cJuotg You'll see owner Sam Frisher's latest draw -- purportedly the world's longest map of Route 66, painted right on the buildings.
Berwyn’s Spindle sculpture may be revived on Route 66
The Spindle, a long-celebrated sculpture at a shopping plaza in Berwyn, Ill., that was taken down in 2008, may return to the city at its Route 66 museum, reported Berwyn Life. The Spindle, which featured eight cars impaled on a 50-foot spike, stood at Cermak Plaza in Berwyn for nearly 20 years. Dustin Shuler's creation … Continue reading Berwyn’s Spindle sculpture may be revived on Route 66