Drew’s road trip

This is a segment from the 2005 movie "Elizabethtown." You'll see Route 66, then the Round Barn and Hillbillee's in Arcadia, Okla., at the 7:14 mark. I was about to say it seems unlikely that anyone would put 42 hours of music on CDs for a road trip -- until I realized that I have … Continue reading Drew’s road trip

Michael Wallis news

I met up with author Michael Wallis and a few other longtime roadies for lunch Friday at Ollie's Station in Tulsa. Wallis had a few interesting announcements to make: His book "Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride" has been optioned for a film. It will star Haley Joel Osment, who is famed for his child … Continue reading Michael Wallis news

“The Grapes of Wrath” online

Holy cow. The Academy Award-winning film "The Grapes of Wrath" has been posted in its entirety at Google Video. You can see the Route 66 footage in the film for yourself, including the Beckham County Courthouse in Sayre, Okla., in the background as the Okies drive west on "the road of flight." (Hat tip: Tim … Continue reading “The Grapes of Wrath” online

The best checklist for “Cars” toys

I've long quit trying to keep up with all the die-cast toys Mattel has released since the release of the Disney/Pixar film "Cars" in June 2006. But this entry in the 2 a Day blog has done a better job of keeping track than any I've seen. He says there are now more than 80 … Continue reading The best checklist for “Cars” toys

“Independent America” airs Tuesday

The excellent documentary, "Independent America: The Two-Lane Search for Mom & Pop," is airing at 7 p.m. Tuesday on the Sundance Channel. That happens to be Election Day in some areas across the country. Also, Sundance is airing the film at 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 9; 10:05 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 22; and 8 p.m. Monday, … Continue reading “Independent America” airs Tuesday

“Route 66 Tour, Part 1”

A YouTube poster who calls himself/herself "Route 66 Tour" has posted the first segment of what appears to be well-produced documentary series about Route 66: I'm not 100 percent positive, but I think the segment comes from this five-DVD box set, titled "Route 66: The Marathon Tour."

This is short notice …

... but Shellee Graham will have a screening of her documentary "Built for Speed: The Coral Court Motel" at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Lincoln County Museum of Pioneer History at 717-719 Manvel, aka Route 66, in Chandler, Okla. The Coral Court Motel was an exquisite art deco business on Route 66 in Marlborough, Mo., … Continue reading This is short notice …

“My Blueberry Nights” being released in February

Wong Kar Wai's film, "My Blueberry Nights," is set to be released in Canada on Feb. 13, according to the Empire Movies site. Most movies are released wide in North America on the same date, so I'm assuming the film will open in the United States the same week. I'm unable to verify this, however. … Continue reading “My Blueberry Nights” being released in February

A visit to 4 Women on the Route

It was nearly a year ago when I went to 4 Women on the Route's event to show off the boom truck that was the inspiration for Mater in the movie "Cars" and fledgling Route 66 visitors center at Front and Main streets in Galena, Kan. I'd driven by the 4 Women on the Route's … Continue reading A visit to 4 Women on the Route

Coral Court film trailer

Someone has posted the trailer for the award-winning documentary "Built for Speed: The Coral Court Motel," which tells the history of the greatly missed Coral Court Motel on Route 66 in the St. Louis suburb of Malborough, Mo. The film was directed by Bill Boll and Shellee Graham. I don't think the film is on … Continue reading Coral Court film trailer