I'll bet you didn't know the vaudeville and future movie stars once owned a farm in a location that eventually would be Route 66 in Countryside, Ill. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlh9CMglLWU According to the video description, the Marx Brothers' "Chicagoland" farm lay four miles west of Chicago, on the northeast corner of South LaGrange Road and Joliet Road (aka … Continue reading The Marx Brothers’ connection to Route 66
Category: People
A permanent spot on the pier
Dan Rice, proprietor of the Cali-to-66 souvenir shack that sits on near the end of the Santa Monica Pier, said in an e-mail over the weekend that he would move into a permanent kiosk on the pier this spring. [...T]he City is giving us our permanent spot to further establish us. They understand that this will help … Continue reading A permanent spot on the pier
“Get Your Tricks on Route 66”
I found this documentary video about skateboarders who live in the Route 66 town of Glendora, Calif. The interviews aren't much, but the slow-motion footage of their skateboard tricks is worth viewing. https://vimeo.com/20541672
Shake-up at the Route 66 Festival
A committee that oversees the June 9-12 International Route 66 Festival in Amarillo, Texas, recently took the responsibility for organizing the festival and its awards night away from longtime Route 66 enthusiast Jim Conkle. In the wake of that move, Conkle has vowed to hold another Route 66 festival in Joplin, Mo., the following weekend. Conkle says … Continue reading Shake-up at the Route 66 Festival
The man behind Stater Bros.
Here's a good profile by the San Bernardino County Sun about of Jack Brown, the CEO of Stater Bros. Markets in Southern California. Stater Bros. also is the chief sponsor of the annual and massively popular Route 66 Rendezvous in San Bernardino. Some excerpts about Brown and his leadership: But if Brown has a signature phrase, … Continue reading The man behind Stater Bros.
Blizzard biking
First, a little introduction to this couple: https://vimeo.com/19980629 They are Adam and Christy Coppola, who are on their Give a Bike: 50 State Tour: [They] will be devoting a year of their lives to help give bikes to those in need. They will be the first to complete an unsupported bike tour of the 50 … Continue reading Blizzard biking
Exotic World is subject of a documentary
Exotic World, the burlesque museum once located off Route 66 in Helendale, Calif., and run by the irrepressible Dixie Evans, now is the subject of an upcoming documentary. "Exotic World and the Burlesque Revival" is being produced by Red Tremmel, a professor at Tulane University and a longtime scholar about gender and women's issues. Here's … Continue reading Exotic World is subject of a documentary
Pontiac mural will include likeness of Bob Waldmire
We learned a few days ago that a mural in downtown Pontiac, Ill., will use a design by Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire, who died of cancer in December 2009 before the mural was completed. Today, the Pontiac Daily Leader reports that the building's mural not only will include Waldmire's design, but also a likeness … Continue reading Pontiac mural will include likeness of Bob Waldmire
One of the characters of the Mother Road
The fellows at Third Story Films pay a visit to Frank Kohlrus at The Old Station on old Route 66 in Williamsville, Ill. https://vimeo.com/19449706 More about the Game On road trips can be found here.
A history of bottle trees
I thought the dozens of bottle trees erected by Elmer Long along Route 66 in Oro Grande, Calif., were a one-of-a-kind. But apparently not, according to an article by Virginia Smith of the Philadelphia Inquirer: Bottle trees are a long-standing Southern thing, embedded in the life tapestries of African Americans, especially in the Mississippi Delta. … Continue reading A history of bottle trees