Singer-songwriter Melissa McClelland is set to release her third album, "Victoria Day," on Six Shooter Records and is playing concerts with her musician husband, Luke Doucet, in England and her native Canada in the coming weeks. But after that, she's heading to the Mother Road (with her mother, natch). It's not McClelland's first time on … Continue reading A chat with Melissa McClelland
Category: Movies
Frozen yogurt served by Marky Mark
The Pasadena Star-News reported on the opening of a new Blizzberry frozen-yogurt stand on Route 66 in Glendora, Calif. Blizzberry is a regional but rapidly expanding chain in Southern California. Route 66 News is always happy to plug good desserts along the Mother Road, such as Ted Drewes frozen custard to the Midpoint Cafe's ugly-crust … Continue reading Frozen yogurt served by Marky Mark
What is a road movie?
Author Chuck Klosterman (probably best known for his road-trip book "Killing Yourself to Live") attempts to answer the question in a thoughtful way in an article for The Telegraph in London. The essay contains ruminations about such films as "Easy Rider" and "Two-Lane Blacktop," both which were shot partially on Route 66. Klosterman also gets … Continue reading What is a road movie?
Sign of the times
From an op-ed piece by Rachel Dry in the Washington Post: Seventy years after John Steinbeck published his best-selling tale of the Joad family's journey from Oklahoma to California along Route 66, "The Grapes of Wrath," required reading that never really went out of style, is suddenly in high demand. At the National Endowment for … Continue reading Sign of the times
Indie film to soon begin shooting on Route 66
Independent filmmaker Billy Yeager, with his wife Anais, will begin shooting a number of scenes on Route 66 in Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona for his upcoming movie "Jesus of Malibu" in the next few weeks. Some excerpts from a couple of e-mails (lightly edited for clarity) that he sent: Growing up in Florida and … Continue reading Indie film to soon begin shooting on Route 66
New murals at the Blue Swallow
Bill Kinder, co-owner of the Blue Swallow Motel on Route 66 in Tucumcari, N.M., showed us new murals that recently were painted by a traveling artist. These murals are painted inside the garages that are next to the rooms. The murals really bring vibrant color in an unexpected place.
Smithsonian takes a dour look at the Mother Road
Megan Gambino in the March issue of Smithsonian magazine takes a somewhat dour look at the Mother Road. Here's an excerpt: Writing about the Joad family's journey from the Dust Bowl of Oklahoma to the promised land of California in The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck famously called Route 66 the "mother road." But today … Continue reading Smithsonian takes a dour look at the Mother Road
Film footage of Route 66 from the 1950s
Here's a find: film footage of Route 66 during the 1950s. You'll see a lot of stuff that's changed or gone in those two minutes. It's owned by FootageWorld.com, which specializes in stock footage for license for telecasts, film and the like. More footage can be seen here (QuickTime is required to view). It's a … Continue reading Film footage of Route 66 from the 1950s
Adding ladies to the legend
The Tampa Tribune takes more of a feminist angle of Route 66 in leading off its story about 4 Women on the Route of Galena, Kan.: Think of Route 66 and several names come to mind: Bobby Troup, who wrote "Route 66"; John Steinbeck, who proclaimed it the Mother Road in "The Grapes of Wrath"; … Continue reading Adding ladies to the legend
“Wild Hogs” tour
If you liked the motorcycle road-trip comedy "Wild Hogs," the Examiner.com has a listings of where you can find the real-life places showed in the film, including spots on Route 66 in Albuquerque. All the downtown city shots were also filmed in Albuquerque, primarily along Central Avenue. The friendly biker bar is the Library Bar … Continue reading “Wild Hogs” tour