Just when you think there are no more new avenues to books about Route 66's history, Peter Dedek finds unexplored backroads and obscure alignments in his "Hip to the Trip: A Cultural History of Route 66" (169 pages, University of New Mexico Press, $19.95). Dedek, a professor at Texas State University, diligently researches the history … Continue reading Book review: “Hip to the Trip”
Category: Books
“Cars” the movie — one year later
On June 9, 2006, Disney/Pixar released the animated movie, "Cars." It became the second-biggest box-office hit of that year, grossing more than $400 million worldwide. Its four-wheeled characters in the lonely desert town of Radiator Springs earned many millions of dollars for Mattel and other toy companies. It earned two Golden Globes and was nominated … Continue reading “Cars” the movie — one year later
Route 66 and the rails
Elrond Lawrence sees the parallel to the railroads and Route 66. That's why a book he's writing, "Route 66 Railway," is being published by the Los Angeles Railroad Heritage Foundation. A story in The Salinas Californian delves into how Lawrence became fascinated with the Mother Road and the rails. The Web site for Lawrence's book … Continue reading Route 66 and the rails
Italians on the Mother Road
The Rolla (Mo.) Daily News reports that a new book, "Searching for Italy in America's Rural Heartland," contains a chapter about Italians who settled in the Rolla, Rosati and St. James region of central Missouri. In the chapter about Rosati, Calvitto notes that a group of immigrants from Italy came to the United States and … Continue reading Italians on the Mother Road
It was one year ago today …
One year ago today, Disney-Pixar released a new animated movie, "Cars." The movie starred Paul Newman, Owen Wilson, Larry the Cable Guy, Bonnie Hunt, George Carlin and Cheech Marin. The film had another star that wasn't listed on marquees, but loomed large -- Route 66. The film grossed $460 million worldwide, won two Golden Globes … Continue reading It was one year ago today …
Don’t worry about the roadkill
The Reuters wire service reports about the Roadkill Cafe on Route 66 in Seligman, Ariz. Just in case there's any confusion, the restaurant's motto of "you kill it, we grill it" and entrees such as "Rack of Raccoon," "Rigor Mortis Tortise" and "Long Gone Fawn" are done with tongue firmly planted in cheek. Like many … Continue reading Don’t worry about the roadkill
Book review: “Route 66 to Mojave”
There's one vital thing that Route 66 aficionados need to know about Marilyn Andersen Brown's family memoir, "Route 66 to Mojave" (iUniverse, 278 pages, $20.95). Very little of the book takes place on Route 66. Mojave is a town that's not even on the Mother Road, about 70 miles west of Barstow, Calif. The chapter … Continue reading Book review: “Route 66 to Mojave”
Hillbilly sign returns at Mule Trading Post
The Mule Trading Post near Rolla, Mo., blessed by energetic new owners, tracked down an old hillbilly sign that once graced the Hillbilly Store and brought it back from the dead, reports the Rolla Daily News. The hillbilly sign now stands in front of a new tobacco barn they opened Memorial Day weekend, just next … Continue reading Hillbilly sign returns at Mule Trading Post
Wayside Motel
Last weekend, on the way back to Tulsa from Illinois, I stayed overnight in the Wayside Motel at 7800 Watson Road (Route 66) in the St. Louis suburb of Marlborough, Mo. (map is here.) According to the late Skip Curtis' well-researched book, "The Missouri Route 66 Tour Book," the Wayside was built in 1940. It's … Continue reading Wayside Motel
Dust Bowl aria
"The Grapes of Wrath" was an acclaimed novel by John Steinbeck. Then it became an acclaimed movie, starring a young Henry Fonda. It later became an acclaimed, Tony-winning play on Broadway. Now, "The Grapes of Wrath" as an opera? It's appears so. The Salt Lake Tribune in Salt Lake City reports that the story of … Continue reading Dust Bowl aria