A pitch for Pontiac

This is a new tourism video produced by McCoy Studios for the Route 66 town of Pontiac, Ill. https://youtu.be/bSlWGLrP178 It's well done. Chambers of commerce, take note.

Lifelong resident of Route 66 dies

Gene Hodkin, who was born and married in the Route 66 town of Carthage, Mo., and also resided in the Mother Road town of Barstow, Calif., died at age 95 on April 25, according to the Desert Dispatch in Barstow. An excerpt in a 2009 story about Gene and Clara Hodkin's 70th wedding anniversary details his … Continue reading Lifelong resident of Route 66 dies

Festival will pay homage to first Dairy Queen

As if the Illinois Route 66 Red Carpet Corridor Festival wasn't busy enough this coming weekend, Joliet is celebrating the creation of the first-ever Dairy Queen restaurant, according to the Joliet Herald-News. The public is encouraged to come to the Joliet Area Historical Museum, 204 N. Ottawa St., and experience: free admission to the Route … Continue reading Festival will pay homage to first Dairy Queen

Pontiacs arriving in Pontiac in early May

Oklahoma resident Tim Dye's collection of vintage Pontiac vehicles is set to arrive the morning of May 5 at the new Pontiac-Oakland Automobile Museum and Resource Center in Pontiac, Ill., according to a news release today from Pontiac Tourism. One semi-load of cars that will be displayed at the museum at 205 N. Mill St. in … Continue reading Pontiacs arriving in Pontiac in early May

Billy Connolly hits the Mother Road

Some months ago, we reported that Scottish actor and comedian Billy Connolly would be traveling Route 66 sometime in 2011 with a film crew in tow for a four-part television travel series. The working title is "Billy Connolly's Route 66." Today, we received word that Connolly showed up in Pontiac, Ill. According to Ellie Alexander of Pontiac Tourism: While … Continue reading Billy Connolly hits the Mother Road

New film will be shown at Chandler museum

Starting tomorrow, the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler, Okla., will show a new 20-minute documentary about one man's journey on Route 66 in 1959 and his revisiting the Mother Road decades later. Howard Dickman, a longtime trustee with the museum's historic Old Armory building and a Chandler resident, spent about 18 months working on … Continue reading New film will be shown at Chandler museum

Motorcycle museum selling its Steve McQueen collection

The Route 66 Vintage Iron Motorcycle Museum in Miami, Okla., is selling its memorabilia of late actor Steve McQueen, including its 1971 Husqvarna motorcycle. The motorcycle and a bunch of trophies that McQueen won in races, a racing trunk, and his antique furniture will be auctioned by Bonhams & Butterfields in Carmel, Calif. But this … Continue reading Motorcycle museum selling its Steve McQueen collection

Final auction of Roy Rogers Museum items is next week

The final items of memorabilia of the now-closed Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Museum will be auctioned April 9 in New Braunfels, Texas, according to a press release today. Roy Rogers, the long-acknowledged king of the Hollywood cowboys, and his co-starring wife Dale once operated their museum off Route 66 in Victorville, Calif. Amid declining … Continue reading Final auction of Roy Rogers Museum items is next week

California 66 museum volunteers nominated as “most inspiring”

Two volunteers at the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville, Calif., have been nominated as the 2011 Most Inspiring Women by the city's Daily Press newspaper. Charlotte “Chick” Kirk and Betty Halbe were nominated together, and apparently are such a strong combination, they have a nickname. Some may have never heard of a Chickanbetty, but … Continue reading California 66 museum volunteers nominated as “most inspiring”

Mural museum stays busy

The Pontiac Daily Leader has quite a story about the International Walldog Mural & Sign Art Museum, which opened last May in downtown Pontiac, Ill. In summary: More than 2,000 people, including those from 38 countries, have visited the museum since it opened. The museum is launching “1,000 Miles of Murals — Pontiac to Tucumcari,” a … Continue reading Mural museum stays busy