“Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” Episode 6

Here’s the sixth installment of Japanese television’s “Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” which chronicles a singer and actor’s trip down the Mother Road last fall. In this episode, he cowboys up at a ranch in the Amarillo area: https://vimeo.com/36947317 This is my favorite episode so far. Yamashita is clearly thrilled to be on the back of a horse; … Continue reading “Yamashita Tomohisa Route 66,” Episode 6

Roadie wins free Phillips 66 fuel for a year

In November, we reported that St. Louis-based roadie Rich Dinkela of HookedonRoute66.com had entered the Local Legends contest sponsored by Phillips 66. The top winner would win $1,000 cash and free gasoline for a year. This was his video: https://youtu.be/4YN9Efq65nU The winners have been announced, and Dinkela finished third. He earned no cash, but he … Continue reading Roadie wins free Phillips 66 fuel for a year

A small fact about Whitney Houston’s death

I sorta hate to bring this up, since it's a trivial fact in light of a tragedy. But the hotel where singing superstar Whitney Houston died on Saturday -- the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, Calif. -- sits next to Route 66. A reader alerted me to this today. The hotel lists its address as 9876 … Continue reading A small fact about Whitney Houston’s death

Nominations sought for Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame

Every two years, one living and one deceased person are chosen for the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame. It is that time again. The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is seeking nominations for 2012. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be May 26 at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton. Here's what's need … Continue reading Nominations sought for Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame

Survivor of Joplin hotel collapse dies

Alfred Summers, the lone survivor of a collapse in 1978 of a large motel along Route 66 in Joplin, Mo., died Friday at age 64, according to the Joplin Globe. Summers, part of demolition crew, was trapped in the rubble for more than three days before he was extricated. Two co-workers died in the unexpected … Continue reading Survivor of Joplin hotel collapse dies

The heap behind Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree

The Disney Parks Blog took a behind-the-scenes look at Larry the Cable Guy, aka Mater from the 2006 Disney-Pixar film "Cars," recording a voice-over. Disney needed Larry's pipes for Mater's Junkyard Jamboree, one of the rides featured in Cars Land at Disney's California Adventure: https://youtu.be/_dzY9K_0nuM Cars Land is based on the fictional Route 66 town of … Continue reading The heap behind Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree

A good example to those along the Mother Road

Paul Chassey, a volunteer for the California Route 66 Museum in Victorville, Calif., wrote an interesting piece in the Victorville Daily Press about a fellow volunteer's experience with a Chinese couple. Go here to read it first. Read it? If so, here are my observations about the article: Although the volunteer's behavior was exemplary, such … Continue reading A good example to those along the Mother Road

This is good to see

Something I wasn't sure we'd see again ... Harley and Annabelle Russell recently performing in their home base of Erick, Okla. (Warning: the video contains Harley's typically bawdy humor ... another good sign, actually). https://youtu.be/VB2Jmk0CIvo For those new to Route 66 News, Annabelle was diagnosed with ovarian cancer about a year ago. She endured major … Continue reading This is good to see

Boot Hill restaurant put up for sale

The owner of the Boot Hill Saloon & Grill in Vega, Texas, has put the restaurant up for sale. However, Boot Hill will continue operating until it finds a buyer. Boot Hill chef and owner Rory Schepisi, known for her reality television roles in CMT's "Popularity Contest" and "The Next Food Network Star," has an … Continue reading Boot Hill restaurant put up for sale

A visit to Bottletree Ranch

Here's a good new video of one of the must-stops on Route 66 -- Elmer Long's Bottletree Ranch near Oro Grande, Calif. https://youtu.be/gh0wWifh5wQ There's nothing quite like it in the world, much less the Mother Road.