"Hollywood Escapes," written by Harry Medved and Bruce Akiyama, guides movie buffs to old movie locations all over Southern California, reports the Hollywood Reporter. Incidentally, Medved has co-written some great movie books, like "The Golden Turkey Awards" and "The Fifty Worst Films of All Time (and How They Got That Way)." "Hollywood Escapes" includes directions … Continue reading New book guides you to California movie scenes
Category: Books
New book about Oklahoma Route 66 is out
An enticing coffee-table book about Oklahoma's Route 66 was recently published by New Forums Press. It's "Once Upon a Highway: Route 66 in Oklahoma" by Oklahoma State University architecture instructor John Womack. Womack's book contains more than 150 of his detailed pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations of Route 66 sights in the Sooner State. Womack's illustration … Continue reading New book about Oklahoma Route 66 is out
Popularity of road trips strong despite gas prices
Voice of America reports: Surveys show that half of all Americans still prefer the car for summertime vacation travel — instead of a plane, bus, or train — despite rising gasoline prices. There appears to be a resurgent nostalgia for the great American road trip, a motorized odyssey that’s long been part of the popular … Continue reading Popularity of road trips strong despite gas prices
Route 66 trips better for the environment?
According to an Associated Press book review, the answer is yes. The book is Lonely Planet's "Code Green: Experiences of a Lifetime" ($19.95), which lists 82 trips that have a lesser impact on the environment. For Americans who may be interested in exploring their own country in an environmentally responsible way, the book outlines several … Continue reading Route 66 trips better for the environment?
Route 66 Lost and Found, Vol. 2
The new second installment of Russell A. Olsen's "Route 66 Lost and Found" book (160 pages, $32) made me realize how far the renaissance of the Mother Road has come and how very far it still has to go. For those who are unfamiliar with his books, Olsen finds vintage photographs of businesses along Route … Continue reading Route 66 Lost and Found, Vol. 2
Gone to look for America
The New York Times has added Robert Sullivan's new book about American travel, "Cross Country," to its "First Chapter" excerpt feature. The feature includes a photo of the author in front of Amarillo's Cadillac Ranch. It looks like a promising book, but somebody better tell Sullivan and his editors that Interstate 70 was never associated … Continue reading Gone to look for America
A Route 66 guidebook with broad shoulders
The newly published "Exploring Route 66 in Chicagoland" by David G. Clark, aka the Windy City Road Warrior, is not just a guidebook of the Mother Road in Chicago, but a history primer of that great city. The book is about 150 pages, filled with dozens of black-and-white photos, maps, driving directions, a walking-tour guide, … Continue reading A Route 66 guidebook with broad shoulders
Updated “Route 66 Adventure Handbook” is out
I found this Associated Press article about Drew Knowles' newly expanded, third-edition version of the "Route 66 Adventure Handbook." I haven't perused the new version, but I've read earlier editions of Knowles' book. I recommend it highly, because it not only concentrates on main attractions along the Mother Road, but also worthwhile side trips. This … Continue reading Updated “Route 66 Adventure Handbook” is out
Barstow Route 66 Museum to celebrate sixth anniversary
The Route 66 Mother Road Museum in Barstow, Calif., is marking its sixth annivesary on Saturday, June 17. There will be a classic car show, and several Route 66 authors will be on hand to sell and sign their books, including "Route 66 Lost and Found, Vol. 2" by Russell Olsen, "Route 66 in California" … Continue reading Barstow Route 66 Museum to celebrate sixth anniversary
“Cars” movie news roundup
The reports on the upcoming "Cars" movie, which opens wide June 9, are coming hot and heavy. Roger Colton of Jim Hill Media has a review of Michael Wallis' and Suzanne Fitzgerald Wallis' companion book to the movie, "The Art of Cars." But remember where you read the first review. 😉 Dark Horizons has an … Continue reading “Cars” movie news roundup