The Cheetah Girls, a female trio that's gained a huge preteen and teen audience, launched a MySpace site last week. In case you're wondering what the Cheetah Girls have to do with the Mother Road, a few months ago they recorded a new version of the Bobby Troup classic, "Route 66," to help boost interest … Continue reading Cheetah Girls launch MySpace site
Category: Movies
Tilting at the Mill
The Decatur (Ill.) Herald & Review has a good article about Geoff Ladd, executive director of the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County, and his efforts to save The Mill on old Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill. He was looking to promote connections and objects associated with Route 66 and his optimistic eye soon … Continue reading Tilting at the Mill
“Route 66” film pushed back to 2010
I hadn't heard much lately about Harland Williams' animated film project, "Route 66." According to the last update on the IMDB site, Williams' movie was slated to be released this year. But a reader pointed out this excerpt in Punchline Magazine, which interviewed Williams: He recently began the painstakingly long process of directing his own … Continue reading “Route 66” film pushed back to 2010
“Phantom 309” and Pee-Wee Herman
I know a Red Sovine trucker song and Pee-Wee Herman seem like a strange combination, but bear with me. First, trucker tunes are part of the Route 66 traveling experience, or should be. At some point while traveling the Mother Road, you should have Dave Dudley's "Six Days on the Road" and "Truck Drivin' Son … Continue reading “Phantom 309” and Pee-Wee Herman
Route 66 on the silver screen
Speaking of guidebooks, Harry Medved was kind enough to send me a copy of the book he co-wrote with Bruce Akiyama, "Hollywood Escapes." It describes itself as "The moviegoing guide to exploring Southern California's great outdoors." The reason this book is mentioned here is because it contains a chapter about Route 66 and its role … Continue reading Route 66 on the silver screen
For sale — one historic police station
The Bloomington Pantagraph published a story that the State of Illinois may auction off surplus property to add a few million dollars to the state budget. That's routine in many states. But one of the pieces of property is anything but routine. It is the former Illinois State Police District 6 headquarters near Pontiac. It … Continue reading For sale — one historic police station
Missouri town is getting a huge interchange
The Joplin (Mo.) Globe reports that the nearby Route 66 town of Carterville, Mo., is getting a new Highway 249 interchange that helps connect to Highway 171, U.S. 400, U.S. 71 and Interstate 44. Locals predict it will give Carterville's economy a big shot in the arm. Larry Tamminem, a longtime resident and owner of … Continue reading Missouri town is getting a huge interchange
“Cars” gets one Golden Globe nomination
The hit Disney-Pixar movie about Route 66, "Cars," received just one nomination from the Golden Globes today, and that was for the new Best Animated Feature Film category. Its competition is "Happy Feet" and "Monster House." Disappointingly, composer Randy Newman and "Our Town" were not nominated for score and best song. Instead of Newman and … Continue reading “Cars” gets one Golden Globe nomination
Sheriff on patrol
Randy Chevrier, owner of Paintmaster Collision and a prominent member of the Route 66 Business League of Tulsa, sent me this photo of Michael Wallis driving riding along in what looks like an old patrol cruiser in this past weekend's PSO Christmas Parade of Lights in downtown Tulsa. Wallis portrays the Sheriff of Radiator Springs … Continue reading Sheriff on patrol
A “Cars” collage
Kutz63 has posted on YouTube a collage of scenes from "Cars" with Sheryl Crow's "Real Gone," which is part of the original soundtrack. It's a nice way to relive some of the scenes from the film. SPOILER ALERT: A few of the scenes might reveal too much of the plot. So if you haven't seen … Continue reading A “Cars” collage