Do read this wonderful article in the Los Angeles Times' business section about the historic Desert Market in the tiny Route 66 town of Daggett, Calif. It's owned by Yousuf "Joe" Khawaldeh, yet another non-native who's helping keep a slice of the old Mother Road alive. We've actually been to this store, and this excerpt in … Continue reading A desert oasis
Category: History
New film will be shown at Chandler museum
Starting tomorrow, the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler, Okla., will show a new 20-minute documentary about one man's journey on Route 66 in 1959 and his revisiting the Mother Road decades later. Howard Dickman, a longtime trustee with the museum's historic Old Armory building and a Chandler resident, spent about 18 months working on … Continue reading New film will be shown at Chandler museum
“Our Town”
This is a collection of photos from the Route 66 town of Galena, Kan. Music is by Iris DeMent. If you haven't seen it, keep tissues handy. https://vimeo.com/22234719 This affecting video was played at 4 Women on the Route in Galena, but disappeared from Vimeo for a time. I'm glad it's back.
Report: Actor Russell Crowe buys Two Guns, Ariz.
Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe has purchased the Route 66 ghost town of Two Guns, Ariz., and intends to use it as a set for a western-sci fi movie titled "Two Guns," according to a report in Zimbio.com. No other media outlets have reported this. So it appears Zimbio either landed a big scoop, or such … Continue reading Report: Actor Russell Crowe buys Two Guns, Ariz.
Ozark Trail cruise
Here's a video I made about the old Ozark Trail alignment of Route 66, west of Sapulpa, Okla. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQfAYLI9BWY This 3.3-mile section of highway (map here) predates Route 66, and it served as the Mother Road from 1926 to 1952. Highlights include the 1921 Rock Creek Bridge, ruins of the Tee Pee Drive-In theater, a … Continue reading Ozark Trail cruise
Tank Farm Loop cruise
Here's a video I shot of the historic Tank Farm Loop of Route 66, east of Bristow, Okla. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2RcGFkxAJrw It served as Route 66 from 1926 to 1938, when it was bypassed. It now serves as a quiet country road for farms and residences. Tank Farm Loop is so named because of the oil tanks … Continue reading Tank Farm Loop cruise
Scenes from the carnival
Crystal City Shopping Center, which sits just off Route 66 in southwest Tulsa, is hosting its first carnival in decades. Here are scenes I shot tonight at the Route 66 Carnival. It continues through Sunday night. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OcJMgwwKtW8 The Crystal City Shopping Center was built in 1958, but an amusement park in that spot dates to the … Continue reading Scenes from the carnival
Bob Waldmire’s old car acquired by Henry’s Rabbit Ranch
Rich Henry, owner of Henry's Rabbit Ranch on Route 66 in Staunton, Ill., recently acquired a 1967 Volkswagen station wagon once used by Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire, who died of cancer in December 2009. Henry says the car will be displayed on his property, where other large Route 66 memorabilia have found a home. … Continue reading Bob Waldmire’s old car acquired by Henry’s Rabbit Ranch
Mystery solved on the Texola monument
Longtime readers may remember Corkey Mayberry of Park Hills, Mo., and his search for a Texas-shaped monument that greeted westbound Route 66 travelers in Texola, Okla., right on the Texas border. Mayberry and his wife had their photo taken at the monument in 1955, seen above. On a Route 66 trip in 2010, Mayberry tried … Continue reading Mystery solved on the Texola monument
“Across the Tracks” CD set is re-released
David Dunaway's acclaimed documentary radio program, "Across the Tracks: A Route 66 Story," has been re-released as a three-CD set for just $14.95. The program was produced in 2001, heard across more than 200 radio stations, and was excerpted on NPR's "Morning Edition." Here's more about it: ACROSS THE TRACKS: A ROUTE 66 STORY is … Continue reading “Across the Tracks” CD set is re-released