C.H. "Skip" Curtis, a longtime historian and booster of Route 66 in Missouri, died Saturday night at his home in Springfield, Mo., reports Tommy Pike, president of the Route 66 Association of Missouri. I don't have any funeral arrangements yet. I'll pass them along and other details as I get them. Curtis was a contributing … Continue reading Longtime roadie Skip Curtis dies
Category: Books
Battle of the “route 66” TV series books
The acclaimed "route 66" television series has been off the air for more than 40 years. Suddenly, within weeks of each other, two books have been released on the CBS-TV drama about Buzz and Tod driving across the country in a Corvette, looking for adventure. The first book out is Robin Fletcher's "The Route 66 … Continue reading Battle of the “route 66” TV series books
Book review: “Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride”
When Michael Wallis informed us that he was writing a book about Wild West outlaw Billy the Kid, we hoped that Wallis would separate the reality from the myth in Billy the Kid's story. It wouldn't be an easy task. Since his death at age 21 to a bullet from Pat Garrett's gun in 1881, … Continue reading Book review: “Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride”
Booze and book tours don’t mix
I don't care how good this guy's math is -- this is a bad idea. Sy Nazif, author of "Never Mind the Track," plans for a month-long ride from Los Angeles to Chicago along old Route 66, and continuing on to New York City promoting his book. In the spirit of the novel, which features … Continue reading Booze and book tours don’t mix
New “Cars” video game being produced
Author and Route 66 expert Michael Wallis, who portrayed the Sheriff of Radiator Springs in the hit Disney-Pixar movie "Cars," provided some interesting news to me this week via e-mail: This week I spent several hours in studio recording a brand new CARS video game featuring the Sheriff, Mater, Lightning and many of the other … Continue reading New “Cars” video game being produced
Book review: “Find Me”
While reading Carol O'Connell's "Find Me," the latest in a series of novels featuring detective Kathy Mallory, a realization struck me: "Find Me" (352 pages, Putnam, $24.95) is the first novel by a major, bestselling writer that takes place on modern-day Route 66. That alone tells you how far Route 66 has come. About 15 … Continue reading Book review: “Find Me”
“Route 66 for Kids” free guidebook is updated
Emily Priddy has just finished the second update of her free, downloadable "Route 66 for Kids" guidebook, which is a primer for parents who want to find kid-friendly attractions on the Mother Road. The book was originally published in 2003, and Priddy updates it every two years. The newest version has several new listings suggested … Continue reading “Route 66 for Kids” free guidebook is updated
Even the losers need to a place to sleep
While doing a search for Route 66 news items, it was a jolt to find this New York Times book review of Charlie LeDuff's new book, "US Guys: The True and Twisted Mind of the American Man." In this nonfiction book "about folks who claw and hang on by their fingernails," the review says: Things … Continue reading Even the losers need to a place to sleep
New book tells the history of Amarillo
There's a new book about that windy, dusty Route 66 town on the Plains that is Amarillo, Texas. The Mexia (Texas) Daily News reports that Texas Tech University has published "Amarillo -- The Story of a Western Town" by professor Paul H. Carlson. The newspaper says: Amarillo is the first comprehensive history of the “Queen … Continue reading New book tells the history of Amarillo
“Guy with the horns” dies
Arlen Strehlow's name probably doesn't ring a bell for most people. It probably wouldn't even jolt memories for many of his fellow Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders. However, Harley owners knew of him because of his look -- wearing a helmet fitted with a pair of outlandishly long Texas longhorns. He was known as "The Guy with … Continue reading “Guy with the horns” dies