For an all-too-brief period, Terry Wrinkle resurrected Wrink's Market, the longtime Route 66 business in Lebanon, Mo., owned and operated by his late father Glenn Wrinkle. When Terry shut down the business in 2009, the future of the building looked cloudy. However, in recent weeks, the old Wrink's Market has found new life with D.C. … Continue reading A new wrinkle on Wrink’s Market
Category: History
Two-steppin’ back in time
Someone posted a newscast video from circa 1987 by the now-defunct KTSP-TV in Phoenix about Bert's Country Dancin', a place that held dances only on Saturday nights on old Route 66 between Hackberry and Valentine, Ariz. https://youtu.be/ukXZbnB5gPQ This site had a bit more information about Bert's: That was when Bert Denton, a retired cowboy and sometimes … Continue reading Two-steppin’ back in time
Book review: “The Big Roads”
Many Route 66 fans loathe to give much thought to interstate highways. However, to understand the history of the Mother Road, one must also understand the history of the superslabs. That's where Earl Swift's new book, "The Big Roads" (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 376 pages, $27, e-book available), comes in. Subtitled "The Untold Story of the Engineers, … Continue reading Book review: “The Big Roads”
Star Cash grocery in Commerce closes
Star Cash Grocery, which operated on old Route 66 in Commerce, Okla., since 1938, closed its doors last week, reported the Tulsa World today. "The economy and Walmart has forced the store to close down," Trease said. Large chain stores like Walmart and Dollar General are within a few of miles of Star Cash and … Continue reading Star Cash grocery in Commerce closes
Birthday time
This video from Rand McNally's BestoftheRoad.com was released this morning: https://vimeo.com/25967527
New photo-op in Albuquerque
If you love the glow of neon, you'll find a new attraction among the many you'll find along Central Avenue (aka Route 66) in Albuquerque. A re-created sign was installed on the side of the KiMo Theatre during a ceremony on June 3. Because the theater was originally opened in 1927, the street during the … Continue reading New photo-op in Albuquerque
Where was this photo taken?
Today, I received this email from Lt. John Bayer of the U.S. Navy: I'm seeking help identifying where the attached family photo was taken. This was photographed during a family road trip from Cleveland to CA in 1929. Presumed to be along Route 66. The people in the photo are identified as Bayer's uncle and … Continue reading Where was this photo taken?
Book review: “Get Your Pics on Route 66”
Joe Sonderman has written at least four books through Arcadia Publishing using his massive collection of vintage postcards from Route 66. Alas, those books come in black-and-white, preventing readers from seeing the postcards' vivid colors. That problem has been rectified with a beautiful new book, "Get Your Pics on Route 66" (160 pages, softcover, full … Continue reading Book review: “Get Your Pics on Route 66”
Michael Wallis’ “State of the Road” speech
Each year at the International Route 66 Festival awards banquet, "Route 66: The Mother Road" author Michael Wallis makes a "State of the Road" speech. Save for a time when it was streamed live, I'm not aware anyone has ever posted video of Wallis' Route 66 speeches on the Internet. Wallis owns a great baritone … Continue reading Michael Wallis’ “State of the Road” speech
Angel’s story
This is an excerpt from the recently released film "Route 66 Arizona." This segment concentrates on Angel Delgadillo and his hometown, Seligman, Ariz. https://youtu.be/YHWjLkkkHJk The DVD of this film can be purchased here.