Here's the clip, posted today, of the trailer for the Jim Luning and Tim Steil documentary, "Route 66: Ten Years Later." Steil and Luning joined forces in 1999 to write a book, "Route 66." In 2009, they decided to revisit those places on the Mother Road. More clips from the video shoot can be seen … Continue reading Trailer for “Route 66: Ten Years Later”
Category: Movies
Behind the scenes of the Route 66 Bible series
Regardless of whether you love or loathe the "Route 66: A Road Trip through the Bible," you'll probably find this video interesting. It's a behind-the-scenes look on how segments are filmed. This one in particular is for the Book of Malachi. And here is the finished product: Since His Place Community Church has finished the … Continue reading Behind the scenes of the Route 66 Bible series
Notes from the road
(Editor's note: This is my Catch Up from the Memorial Day Holiday Edition.) Actor and director Dennis Hopper died over the weekend after a long bout with prostate cancer. He was 74. A memorial service and burial was held Wednesday at a church in his beloved Taos, N.M., where he lived for years. Although a … Continue reading Notes from the road
Wagon Wheel Motel reopens to travelers
The Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Mo., will partially reopen to travelers this weekend, then will have a full opening the following weekend, according to its owner. This comes after months of renovations on the historic Route 66 property. Owner Connie Echols, who bought the motel in fall 2009, said three rooms will be available … Continue reading Wagon Wheel Motel reopens to travelers
Drive-in theaters stage a small comeback
Julianne Glatz, writing for the Illinois Times and using the Route 66 Drive-In in Springfield as a focus, notes that drive-in theaters seems to have halted a long decline in popularity. But in the last decade, drive-ins have been making a comeback. Some old drive-ins have reopened, others have expanded and new ones are popping … Continue reading Drive-in theaters stage a small comeback
“Rawhide” was once filmed in Tucumcari area
"Rawhide," the TV western that helped launch the long career of Clint Eastwood, used the Route 66 town of Tucumcari, N.M., as a base to film five episodes in 1959, according to a story in the Quay County Sun. If you have fuzzy memories of "Rawhide," this might jolt your brain: The Sun reports: Actors … Continue reading “Rawhide” was once filmed in Tucumcari area
Scenes from the Fun Run
Here's a very good slide show by Jeff Rucker from last week's Historic Route 66 Fun Run in western Arizona. Songs from the "Cars" soundtrack are included.
Notes from the road
Kim Benoit of Montreal has created a miniature version of the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs, seen in the 2006 Disney/Pixar animated movie "Cars." Here are the photos that Benoit sent: Well done, I'd say. --- The owners of Seaba Station on Route 66 near Warwick, Okla., seek to reopen the historic auto … Continue reading Notes from the road
Child actor in “The Grapes of Wrath” dies
I missed this a few weeks ago, but Shirley Mills Hanson, 83, who portrayed a young Ruthie Joad in the 1940 classic film "The Grapes of Wrath," died on March 31 from complications of pneumonia at a hospital in Arcadia, Calif., according to the Los Angeles Times. Known during her acting career as Shirley Mills, … Continue reading Child actor in “The Grapes of Wrath” dies
Notes from the road
Richard Talley of the Motel Safari in Tucumcari, N.M., says a lot has been happening in his town lately. Here's what he said by e-mail (with some minor editing): Here's a shot of the new AutoPros auto care center across the street from us on Route 66 (used to be Tucumcari Tire Co., closed for years). … Continue reading Notes from the road