David Stevens, editor of the Clovis News Journal and Portales News-Tribune in New Mexico, in a column said he had a few questions for potential interview subjects about long-ago local issues. Stevens' wish list had some urgency because all the people "are getting old," he said. One of those interview subjects would be actor Clint Eastwood, … Continue reading Questions for Clint Eastwood and his Tucumcari time
Category: History
New statues coming to Route 66 in Illinois
A series of new statues and wayside kiosks will be erected in nine towns along Route 66 in Illinois, according to a news release. The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway project was paid for by grants from National Scenic Byway Program and the Illinois Office of Tourism. The new kiosks and statues add to the 31 wayside exhibits and … Continue reading New statues coming to Route 66 in Illinois
Los Angeles and Woody Guthrie
Folk singer Woody Guthrie's many links to Route 66 have been long documented. However, this excellent clip by filmmaker Aric Allen shows that Los Angeles played a crucial role in Guthrie's road to fame in 1937. Amazingly, many of the places where Guthrie hung around in L.A. still exist, as this film shows. https://youtu.be/FCh4O9nv0mo (Image … Continue reading Los Angeles and Woody Guthrie
Traveling Route 66 exhibit planned for Europe
Three men are planning an unprecedented traveling Route 66 exhibit that will be taken around Europe -- which is a hotbed of enthusiasm for the Mother Road. The men planning the exhibit are Jim Farber, who helped shepherd the current "Route 66: The Road and the Romance" exhibit at the Autry National Museum at Los … Continue reading Traveling Route 66 exhibit planned for Europe
‘Million Dollar Courthouse’ needs $20 million in fixes
Locals probably were startled and even irritated when the construction budget for the Macoupin County Courthouse in Carlinville, Illinois, swelled from $50,000 to $1.3 million by the time it was finished in 1870. That's why the landmark has been called the "Million Dollar Courthouse," for good or ill, ever since. Imagine their reaction when, more … Continue reading ‘Million Dollar Courthouse’ needs $20 million in fixes
A visit to the Snow Cap Drive-In
Here's a recent visit to the historic Snow Cap Drive-In restaurant that's graced Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona, for more than 60 years. Founder Juan Delgadillo died 10 years ago, but it's apparent from this clip his family is keeping it going quite well. https://youtu.be/_Sz7ySgzvFA For those who never met Juan, here he is in … Continue reading A visit to the Snow Cap Drive-In
Replica of La Bajada Hill sign erected
In recent days, "Roamin' Rich" Dinkela commissioned a replica of a warning sign that long ago graced the top of La Bajada Hill between Santa Fe and Albuquerque in New Mexico. La Bajada Hill served as Route 66 during the 1920s and the early '30s, although the path itself dates to the 1500s as part … Continue reading Replica of La Bajada Hill sign erected
A look at downtown Los Angeles
With the help of a quad-copter, filmmaker Ian Wood produced this video about the landmarks of downtown Los Angeles, which was the western end of Route 66 until the highway was extended to Santa Monica. Downtown Los Angeles from Ian Wood on Vimeo. Wood's description of the video: Above the grit and noise of the … Continue reading A look at downtown Los Angeles
Springfield erects new welcome sign, Red’s Giant Hamburg replica
On Friday, right when the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival was kicking off, the city of Springfield, Missouri, showed off its new Route 66-themed welcome sign and a replica of the long-gone Red's Giant Hamburg restaurant sign at the newly christened Route 66 Roadside Park. The Springfield News-Leader had some details about the park: Plans … Continue reading Springfield erects new welcome sign, Red’s Giant Hamburg replica
Voice of America’s report on the Autry Museum’s Route 66 exhibit
The Voice of America posted this well-done report about the "Route 66: The Road and the Romance" exhibit at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles. https://youtu.be/ZMjMZ3n_ZFg The exhibit at the museum runs through Jan. 4. (Image courtesy of the Autry National Center)