The Arizona Republic -- which is the state's largest newspaper -- recently published a lengthy feature about Angel Delgadillo, now known as the Guardian Angel of Route 66. Delgadillo, 90, is approaching the 40th anniversary of a date that caused him great sorrow. That date also laid the foundation for great joy. The date is … Continue reading Angel Delgadillo approaches 40th anniversary of his Route 66 guardian role
Category: History
Crystal City Shopping Center in Tulsa won’t allow Route 66 Carnival this year
The Route 66 Carnival that has set up annually at Crystal City Shopping Center in southwest Tulsa since 2011 won't be allowed this year because the fast-growing number of merchants at the once-moribund site needs the parking. Tulsa city councilor Jeannie Cue confirmed in an email this weekend Crystal City won't host the carnival scheduled … Continue reading Crystal City Shopping Center in Tulsa won’t allow Route 66 Carnival this year
Old Joliet prison to become haunted house this fall
The historic but long-abandoned Joliet Correctional Center in Joliet, Illinois, best known for the opening scene of "The Blues Brothers" movie, will become a haunted house in time for Halloween. The Joliet Patch reported this week Evil Intentions, which operates an acclaimed haunted house in nearby Elgin, Illinois, announced it will open a second site … Continue reading Old Joliet prison to become haunted house this fall
Route 66 figures prominently in Chinese-food documentary
At least two restaurants on Route 66 were featured in "The Search for General Tso," a 2014 documentary about the rise of Chinese cuisine in America. The Route 66 town of Springfield, Missouri, also figures prominently. A total of only 13 theaters screened the film upon its early 2015 release, so it barely made a … Continue reading Route 66 figures prominently in Chinese-food documentary
Bob Boze Bell’s garage find
Bob Boze Bell, an author, artist and owner of True West magazine, wrote on his blog he recently had found some long-lost photographs from the 1950s -- many of them on Route 66 -- in a yellowed box in his garage. He wrote: Wish I would have had them when we were doing "The 66 … Continue reading Bob Boze Bell’s garage find
Volunteer crew aims to have Santa Fe 2926 steaming again by 2019
A group of volunteers in Albuquerque has labored for years to restore a Santa Fe 2926 steam locomotive that hasn't rolled down a set of tracks in 65 years. With more work and a bit of luck, the locomotive will chug into Las Vegas, New Mexico, about the time the long-closed Castaneda Hotel there reopens … Continue reading Volunteer crew aims to have Santa Fe 2926 steaming again by 2019
Pecos National Historical Park visitors center to receive an upgrade
The visitors center at Pecos National Historical Park in Pecos, New Mexico, soon will undergo a three-year, $1 million improvement plan. Becky Latanich, the park’s chief of interpretation and education, told the Albuquerque Journal she wants to make the visitors center more appealing to children and families. One of the most important changes for Latanich … Continue reading Pecos National Historical Park visitors center to receive an upgrade
Angels on the Route restaurant in Baxter Springs closes temporarily
The Angels on the Route restaurant in downtown Baxter Springs, Kansas, has closed at least temporarily until spring. Sue Gast, who helped revitalize the historic building into a restaurant more than 10 years ago, wrote in an email Thursday: My business is temporarily closed for the season and hoping to open in April. We will … Continue reading Angels on the Route restaurant in Baxter Springs closes temporarily
Premiere of “Breaking Bad” marks 10th anniversary
Ten years ago today, the first episode of the acclaimed AMC drama "Breaking Bad" aired. Although "Breaking Bad" -- now considered one of the best dramas in television history -- concluded its run more than four years ago, "Breaking Bad" fans continue to flock to Albuquerque to see its shooting sites, including a few on … Continue reading Premiere of “Breaking Bad” marks 10th anniversary
Joplin History Guide re-released and expanded
The Joplin (Missouri) Convention and Visitors Bureau expanded and re-released its Joplin History Guide -- the first update to that free publication in 15 years. According to the Joplin Globe newspaper: The guide is is not entirely new but is an enlarged version of one that was printed for the convention bureau in 2003. "It's … Continue reading Joplin History Guide re-released and expanded