I just finished Chris Epting's 2007 book, "Led Zeppelin Crashed Here," subtitled "The Rock and Roll Landmarks of North America." It's the most comprehensive book I've read that lists famous rock history sites, venues of noteworthy concerts, where rock musicians died, their burial sites, locations of famous album covers, and rock-inspired museums. Epting's book will … Continue reading Rock ‘n’ roll landmarks on Route 66
Category: History
“In Sight It Must Be Right”
Pulitzer Prize-winning film critic Roger Ebert waxes ecstatic about the Steak 'n Shake restaurant chain and his memories of the restaurant growing up in Urbana, Ill. Ebert's whole blog entry is worth reading (as are the comments and his replies). But here is a choice excerpt, of which many roadies will concur: If I were … Continue reading “In Sight It Must Be Right”
A big hole in the ground
The International Herald Tribune has an excellent article about meteor impact sites and other natural holes around Arizona, including the big Meteor Crater off Route 66 east of Flagstaff. Some interesting facts about Meteor Crater: If a football game were played at the bottom, the crater's walls would hold 2 million spectators. The 4,100-foot-wide crater … Continue reading A big hole in the ground
My, how times have changed
Today, "Route 66 Backroads" author Jim Hinckley sent me a link to a 1949 edition of the Negro Motorist Green Book. The guidebook says it provides a "list of hotels, boarding houses, restaurants, beauty shops, barber shops and various other services can most certainly help solve your travel problems. It was the idea of Victor … Continue reading My, how times have changed
“I have a dream”
NOTE: I posted this two years ago. Now, with a black man about to become president of the United States, it's worth looking at again. This is the full version of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech in 1963. So what does King have to do with Route 66? Well, there's this … Continue reading “I have a dream”
“House of the Rising Sun” in Baxter Springs?
The answer to the question: Sort of. The story behind this is complicated. So bear with me. I just finished reading Ted Anthony's excellent 2007 book, "Chasing the Rising Sun," which traces the tangled and twisted origins of the famous song, "House of the Rising Sun." It's nearly certain that you've heard the tune. But … Continue reading “House of the Rising Sun” in Baxter Springs?
Suicide Bridge
The LAist has a story about the Colorado Street Bridge in Pasadena, Calif., which once carried Route 66 on the way to Los Angeles. Here's a startling fact about the 1913 bridge that gives it its nickname: Six years after the construction the first suicide took place, and it is now estimated that more than … Continue reading Suicide Bridge
New song takes place on Route 66 in Texas
The Gourds, a folk-rock band out of Texas, has a song, "All the Way to Jericho," on its new album, "Haymaker!" that takes place on Route 66 in the Lone Star State. The Jericho in the song, according to a review in Pitchfork Media, refers to the notorious Jericho Gap of old Route 66 in … Continue reading New song takes place on Route 66 in Texas
Arcadia museum hosts Route 66 exhibit
The Ruth and Charles Gilb Arcadia Historical Museum in Arcadia, Calif., is hosting the "Get Your Kicks on Route 66" exhibit, reports the Pasadena Star-News. Curator Dana Dunn hopes it will bring back fond memories for older Arcadia residents, as well as educate a younger generation. [...] On display will be items like a Chas. … Continue reading Arcadia museum hosts Route 66 exhibit
A crash-landing near Route 66
The Hillsboro (Ill.) Journal-News has the remarkable story of two Air Force bombers that crash-landed in a field near Route 66 near Litchfield, Ill., on Feb. 15, 1945. The story was related by Terry Birkenkamp and Marge (Birkenkamp) Allen, who saw it all as children at the time. The bombers were supposed to be delivered … Continue reading A crash-landing near Route 66