Memories of the Sky View Drive-In

As part of the "Route 66 Stories" series, Walter "Chick" Bishop tells about the many fun things that have happened through the years at the Sky View Drive-In theater on Route 66 in Litchfield, Ill. https://youtu.be/HCmo_ptnTu0 The Sky View is still operating, as it has since 1950.

Memories of the Arrow / Strufe Motel

The Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway this week posted more "Route 66 Stories" videos. This one features Fred Strufe, whose family ran the Arrow / Strufe Motel in Dwight, Ill., for many years. Strufe packed in a slew of fascinating stories, including a hilarious one about a honeymooning couple, in five minutes: https://youtu.be/jjo8Xha6K7Y The Strufe … Continue reading Memories of the Arrow / Strufe Motel

Litchfield Route 66 museum soon will accept artifacts

The fledgling Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center Association in Litchfield, Ill., soon will begin accepting artifacts for its facility, reported The Journal-News. The newspaper said: The policy for the museum will be to accept objects, documents, photos, etc., that are directly related to the history of Litchfield and its relationship to Montgomery County. Also … Continue reading Litchfield Route 66 museum soon will accept artifacts

Patti Page, famed singer and Route 66 native, dies at 85

https://youtu.be/_Ek3eCbfqp0 Patti Page, an Oklahoma-born singer whose greatest claim to fame was her massively popular "Tennessee Waltz" song from 1950, died Tuesday in California at age 85, reported the Tulsa World and many other media outlets. I'll let other obituaries detail Page's amazing music career, which included more than 100 million records sold. But it … Continue reading Patti Page, famed singer and Route 66 native, dies at 85

Update on the “Mother Road Revisited” project

Natalie Slater posted this video update about her then-and-now "Mother Road Revisited" photography project, including an exhibition coming to Tulsa in April 2013. Route 66 The Mother Road Revisited - Then and Now from utulsa on Vimeo.

Grand Canyon Cafe marks 70th year

The Grand Canyon Cafe in downtown Flagstaff, Ariz., celebrated its 70th year on Tuesday, according to a feature in the Arizona Daily Sun. Freddy and Tina Wong -- who have operated the restaurant for the past 30 years -- say their family has owned the Grand Canyon Cafe for all of its existence except for less … Continue reading Grand Canyon Cafe marks 70th year

Mobile site launched featuring historic Oklahoma Route 66 locations

The Oklahoma Historical Society launched a smartphone-optimized Oklahoma's Historic Route 66 Mobile Tour website this week. The website provides information, maps, photos, audio clips, global-positioning system alerts, and other features of 72 historic sites along Route 66 in Oklahoma. The site was developed by OnCell, which specializes in mobile tour programs. The OnCell app can be downloaded … Continue reading Mobile site launched featuring historic Oklahoma Route 66 locations

The Angel interviews

A series of video interviews with Angel Delgadillo of Seligman, Ariz., recently were posted on YouTube. Here, Delgadillo talks about the first meeting of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona more than 25 years ago. It started with a core of five members and $10 in its treasury: https://youtu.be/jrHg-SkaAZs The YouTube account, called ANGELANDGOKINGMAN, … Continue reading The Angel interviews

Route 66 advocate and researcher Carl Johnson dies

Carl Johnson, 57, a longtime advocate and researcher for Route 66 in Illinois, died early Wednesday at Memorial Medical Center in Springfield, Ill. Health problems had beset Johnson in recent years, and his condition took a turn for the worse in the past week or so, reported several people in the Illinois Route 66 community. … Continue reading Route 66 advocate and researcher Carl Johnson dies

Where a celebrity’s fame persists after death

The Los Angeles Times posted a terrific article about Karie Bible, a black-clad tour guide at century-old and celebrity-filled Hollywood Forever Cemetery, located off Santa Monica Boulevard (aka Route 66) in Los Angeles. It seems Bible (her real name) is perfect for the site, combining a bit of kitsch with a lot of history in … Continue reading Where a celebrity’s fame persists after death