Susan Croce Kelly, well-known among Route 66 fans for co-writing "Route 66: The Highway and Its People" with photographer Quinta Scott in 1988, will publish a biography about Cyrus Avery, the so-called Father of Route 66, in 2014. The Avery book will be published by University of Oklahoma Press. Asked to describe her forthcoming volume, Kelly wrote … Continue reading Biography about Cyrus Avery coming next year
Category: Books
Downtown Plainfield named to National Register of Historic Places
Downtown Plainfield, Ill., which hosts not one, but two historic highways, was named to the National Register of Historic Places, according to an email Friday from the National Park Service. Plainfield's Downtown Historic District is bounded by Lockport, Main and Division streets. The listing was effective Sept. 18, but the NPS didn't send out the … Continue reading Downtown Plainfield named to National Register of Historic Places
“I hate the Okies”
The folks with the National Steinbeck Center recently completed a trip on Route 66 before the 75th anniversary of the publication of John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath." The group has posted a slew of videos in the last few days. But this stands out because it's a gut-punch of how the Great Depression and … Continue reading “I hate the Okies”
Video from the start of the “Grapes of Wrath” tour
As we've reported, the National Steinbeck Center is marking the upcoming 75th anniversary of the publication of John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath." The trio who are traversing Route 66 for the center posted a film today about the first three days of their journey. You'll see a familiar face -- "Route 66: The Mother … Continue reading Video from the start of the “Grapes of Wrath” tour
Artists retrace Joads’ trip on Route 66 in “Grapes of Wrath”
John Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath" is marking its 75th anniversary next year. To mark the occasion, three artists associated with the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, Calif., are traveling on the real-life Route 66, starting today in Oklahoma, to trace the Joad family's trek in the book. According to the Monterey County Herald: … Continue reading Artists retrace Joads’ trip on Route 66 in “Grapes of Wrath”
Michael Wallis confirms there will be a “Cars 3”
Michael Wallis, author of "Route 66: The Mother Road," recently traveled to Alton, Ill., for a reunion of Western Military Academy alums. You'll hear him during this 25-minute interview on WGBZ radio in Alton about the military school, plus Route 66 and his role in the movie "Cars." But about the 22-minute mark, you'll hear … Continue reading Michael Wallis confirms there will be a “Cars 3”
The story of Tulsa’s El Rancho Grande restaurant
Mark Brown at This Land Press wrote a long piece about the history and amazing consistency of Tulsa's first Mexican restaurant, El Rancho Grande, which still serves customers on 11th Street (aka Route 66) more than 60 years after it opened. The whole thing is worth reading, but here are a few nuggets from it: … Continue reading The story of Tulsa’s El Rancho Grande restaurant
Footage from the Bunion Derby
Here's rare footage of runners participating in C.C. Pyle's International Transcontinental Foot Race, aka the Bunion Derby, in 1928. Two-thirds of the Los Angeles-to-New York race took place on a fledgling Route 66. The footage is an excerpt from the Solomon Sir Jones Collection at Yale University. Jones was an African-American preacher who took his … Continue reading Footage from the Bunion Derby
Major Route 66 exhibit coming to Autry Center in a year
I just got this news release today. Some of you folks already know about it. But for those who don't ... We are one year away from the opening of a major exhibition on the history of the Mother Road. "Route 66: The Road and the Romance" will open on June 7, 2014, at the … Continue reading Major Route 66 exhibit coming to Autry Center in a year
On the trail of Ed Ruscha
Students from the University of Oklahoma traveled Route 66 to find the remnants of gas stations portrayed in photographer Ed Ruscha's influential 1963 art book, "Twentysix Gasoline Stations," according to the Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner. The effort is part of Road to Ruscha, a two-week course that offers three college credits and a road trip … Continue reading On the trail of Ed Ruscha