Route 66 artist, researcher and author Jerry McClanahan announced he is moving from north Texas to the Mother Road community of Chandler, Okla. McClanahan holds considerable stature with roadies. In addition to being an accomplished painter of scenes from the Mother Road, he wrote the indispensable "Route 66: EZ Guide for Travelers" guidebook that combines … Continue reading Route 66 artist setting up shop near Mother Road
Category: Businesses
From dirt into art
KFOR-TV in Oklahoma City did a story about Bradley's Pottery in Chandler, Oka., which is on Route 66. It turns out that Julie Bradley uses Oklahoma's red clay right in her back yard for her creations. "This red clay is equivalent to stoneware," she says. "So you can bake with it. You can microwave with … Continue reading From dirt into art
Arizona agency expands Route 66 redevelopment program
The first two paragraphs in a story in the Kingman (Ariz.) Daily Miner contains a subtle, but important, difference, with my emphasis in bold: KINGMAN - Kingman will host a conference to explore economic redevelopment opportunities for contaminated properties in all northern Arizona communities along historic Route 66. The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, the … Continue reading Arizona agency expands Route 66 redevelopment program
World’s largest rocking chair set up in Missouri
First off, this is not an April Fools' Day joke. Today, a rocking chair that's 46 feet tall was set up on old Route 66 four miles west of Cuba, Mo. It's next to the Fanning U.S. 66 Outpost & General Store in the tiny settlement of Fanning. According to the news release, the big … Continue reading World’s largest rocking chair set up in Missouri
Second thoughts
According to the information with the video, this is a student film shot at Dry Creek Station on old Route 66 east of Barstow, Calif. It's not an earth-shattering story, but it serves to show the value of slowing down and thinking about things -- a Mother Road attribute if there ever was one. Incidentally, … Continue reading Second thoughts
Michael Wallis takes Disney Imagineers down Mother Road
Taking Hollywood types on a tour down historic Route 66 is getting to be old hat for best-selling nonfiction author Michael Wallis He hasn't been guiding just Tinseltown actors, however. The first two tours Wallis guided were for employees of Pixar Animation Studios, who were researching the Mother Road for the 2006 summer hit movie, … Continue reading Michael Wallis takes Disney Imagineers down Mother Road
Parts line takes inspiration from Route 66
Navistar has introduced a new line of trucking parts called Lonestar DoubleSix Customs that takes its inspiration from the Mother Road, the company said in a news release today. The initial offering for LoneStar will feature 23 exterior parts and 17 interior parts -- including custom sunvisors, light bars and panels, exhaust, shifter accessories, door … Continue reading Parts line takes inspiration from Route 66
Notes from the road
A few things that should be of interest to most roadies: Roadside America has revamped its Web site. Not only did the purveyors of roadside oddities give it a spiffier design, but there's a new blog, more animation, new tools and more videos. Route 66 roadie Mark Potter reports that the Hot Dogs and Hot … Continue reading Notes from the road
Historic Tulsa hardware store will close
It's been rumored for weeks, and it appears the Tulsa World has confirmed it -- that Swinney's Hardware in Tulsa, which has been operating since 1934, is set to close Aug. 1. Swinney's has a long association with historic Route 66. Swinney's originally opened as a furniture store near Lewis Avenue and Admiral Place, the … Continue reading Historic Tulsa hardware store will close
Triumph T-shirts have a Route 66 flavor
Triumph motorcycles is set to release its summer T-shirts next month, and one of them is going to have a definite Mother Road flavor. A British twist has been placed on an American dream by Triumph with the Route 66 t-shirt design, which features the legendary Route 66 signpost graphic flanked by both American and … Continue reading Triumph T-shirts have a Route 66 flavor