KOCO-TV in Oklahoma City recently produced a story about Sam "Mr. Sam" Gillaspy and the story he told about a long-closed Route 66 gas station between Arcadia and Luther, Oklahoma. Gillaspy, known as a longtime host at the Round Barn in nearby Arcadia, told the TV crew a secret back room in the Depression-era gas … Continue reading Tall tales spun around long-closed gas station
Category: History
Old book provides a look back at Quay County, New Mexico
In the last few days, I've perused a book titled "Quay County, New Mexico, 1903-1985." It contains hundreds of stories and photos from the region, including the Route 66 towns of Endee, Bard, San Jon, Tucumcari, Polomas and Montoya. The book, edited by Mary Lynn Moncus and Marian Farmer Knapp, contains nearly 800 pages of … Continue reading Old book provides a look back at Quay County, New Mexico
Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill will open in March
Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill in Springfield, Illinois, which contains memorabilia from Route 66 sites in central Illinois, is slated to open in March. The Springfield State Journal-Register reported the former Stuckey's restaurant on Toronto Road on the west side of Interstate 55 will open its bar and gaming room in mid-March, its grill … Continue reading Route 66 Motorheads Bar and Grill will open in March
Route 66 Dog Haus in Flagstaff changes hands
The Route 66 Dog Haus in Flagstaff, Arizona, best known for its role in key lines of The Eagles' signature hit "Take It Easy," recently swapped owners, but little else is changing. According to Flagstaff Business News, longtime owner Gary McElfresh sold the restaurant at 1302 Historic Route 66 to longtime Flagstaff resident Bill Unkovich. The new owner … Continue reading Route 66 Dog Haus in Flagstaff changes hands
A brief chat with Michael Wallis
The folks at #Unscripted recently posted this interview of author Michael Wallis that covers quite a bit of ground in just eight minutes. The interview was conducted in the lobby of the historic Campbell Hotel in Tulsa, along Route 66. In the video, Wallis explains: What motivated him to write his eventual best-selling "Route 66: … Continue reading A brief chat with Michael Wallis
Angel Delgadillo approaches 40th anniversary of his Route 66 guardian role
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
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