Bill Shea, a longtime owner of a gas station in Springfield, Ill., and then curator of a gas-station museum on Route 66, died in his sleep today at age 91, according to a post on the Shea's Route 66 Museum Facebook page. Funeral arrangements will be announced later. Shea started in the gas-station business shortly … Continue reading Bill Shea, owner of Shea’s 66 Gas Station Museum, dies at 91
Category: History
The true story about the ruins at Plano, Mo.
The Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader did a public service Wednesday, namely clearing up fact from fiction about the much-photographed limestone ruins at the ghost town of Plano, Mo., on Route 66. Among the wild claims -- no doubt fueled by the ruins' gothic appearance -- were the building once served as a casket factory or a … Continue reading The true story about the ruins at Plano, Mo.
DVD review: “The Spirit of 66”
Here's an interesting addition to a Route 66 fan's library -- a documentary shot so long ago and out of circulation for so long, it's become a relic in its own right. That would be the DVD version of "The Spirit of 66" ($20, plus shipping), the 50-minute pilot for a proposed 10-part television series … Continue reading DVD review: “The Spirit of 66”
Team wants Joplin to improve historic baseball stadium
The El Paso Diablos baseball team wants to move to Joplin, Mo., but wants the city to improve Joe Becker Stadium in return. The Diablos, affiliated with the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball and owned by WLD Suarez Baseball, were so successful in El Paso, Texas, that a professional team moved a Class AAA affiliate … Continue reading Team wants Joplin to improve historic baseball stadium
“American Giants,” Episode 7
Here is the seventh episode of Joel Baker's "American Giants" series, about the history of Muffler Men fiberglass figures. https://youtu.be/M5fjDMRg8kI This episode, based in the Chicago area, delves into the difficulty of finding the history and spare parts for Muffler Men.
JFK cruised Route 66 in Albuquerque
KOB-TV in Albuquerque found a gentleman in town who used a home movie camera to document President John F. Kennedy and his motorcade going down Central Avenue (aka Route 66) in 1962. The footage had never been seen in public until now. https://youtu.be/9L91QhId0mY KOB's reporter, Chris Ramirez, wrote: The two minute silent film starts off … Continue reading JFK cruised Route 66 in Albuquerque
Book review: “Route 66 Treasures”
A new book from prolific author Jim Hinckley, "Route 66 Treasures" (64 pages, hardback, Voyageur Press, $30 U.S. retail) might seem just a simple collection of facsimile souvenirs from the Mother Road. It is that, but it's more. Although its 64 pages seem to be a slim book, Hinckley and more than 100 color illustrations … Continue reading Book review: “Route 66 Treasures”
Old road west of Glenrio
Rich Dinkela posted this video of an old and hard-to-access piece of Route 66 west of the ghost town of Glenrio in New Mexico. This old road carried Route 66 from the 1950s to the early 1970s and runs up to the current Russell's Travel Center. https://youtu.be/NqDqFSBwSN4 You can see the old road on satellite … Continue reading Old road west of Glenrio
Ike’s Chili making a sideways move
Ike's Chili House in Tulsa is moving from Admiral Place -- an older alignment of Route 66 -- to East 11th Street, a newer alignment of Route 66, in the next few weeks, according to the Tulsa World. The restaurant, reputedly the oldest in Oklahoma, will moved by the end of the year from 5941 … Continue reading Ike’s Chili making a sideways move
Lillian Redman’s benediction
Today would have been the 104th birthday of Lillian Redman, longtime owner of the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M. When she ran the motel, Redman provided each overnight guest a copy of a prayer for travelers. Videographer KC Keefer produced this new video about the prayer and Redman, with historic still photos of the … Continue reading Lillian Redman’s benediction