Like others, I've been watching with morbid fascination the reaction to Arizona's new illegal immigration law. It makes failing to carry immigration documents a crime, and gives police broad power to detain those suspected of being in the country illegally. Because the issue seemed to be peripheral to Route 66, I initially decided to observe from … Continue reading Anxiety in Arizona
Category: People
Child actor in “The Grapes of Wrath” dies
I missed this a few weeks ago, but Shirley Mills Hanson, 83, who portrayed a young Ruthie Joad in the 1940 classic film "The Grapes of Wrath," died on March 31 from complications of pneumonia at a hospital in Arcadia, Calif., according to the Los Angeles Times. Known during her acting career as Shirley Mills, … Continue reading Child actor in “The Grapes of Wrath” dies
Journalist dies in train-car crash near Amboy
I saw a story in the San Bernardino County Sun yesterday in which a man from Las Vegas had been traveling Route 66 west of Amboy, Calif., and suddenly stopped his car on the railroad tracks, where he died when a freight train hit it. The article didn't mention it at the time, but the … Continue reading Journalist dies in train-car crash near Amboy
Notes from the road
Richard Talley of the Motel Safari in Tucumcari, N.M., says a lot has been happening in his town lately. Here's what he said by e-mail (with some minor editing): Here's a shot of the new AutoPros auto care center across the street from us on Route 66 (used to be Tucumcari Tire Co., closed for years). … Continue reading Notes from the road
Bob’s last ride
Dave Bakke at the Springfield (Ill.) State Journal-Register has the details about the burial Sunday of the cremains of Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire at the family plot near Rochester, Ill. The other half of his ashes are to be released along the Mother Road. True to Bob’s wishes, some of his ashes have been … Continue reading Bob’s last ride
A talk with the Donut Man
A reporter from the Inland Valley Daily Bulletin sat down to chat with Jim Nakano, owner of the famed Donut Man stand on Route 66 in Glendora, Calif. In a region that really likes its doughnuts, the Donut Man stands out -- especially because of its strawberry doughnut. It's a split pastry piled generously with … Continue reading A talk with the Donut Man
High-stepping
Manu Cuadra, the Frenchman who aims to walk Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica on stilts, arrived in Pontiac, Ill., on Friday evening, according to the The Community News of Pontiac. Cuadra is hoping to cover about 40 to 60 miles per day. His entire trip is expected to take around two to two … Continue reading High-stepping
Missouri association co-founder dies
Thelma White, a founding member of the Route 66 Association of Missouri and a longtime owner of Whitehall Mercantile in the Route 66 hamlet of Halltown, Mo., died at age 83 on Tuesday in a nursing home in nearby Springfield, according to an obituary in the Springfield News-Leader. White, an Indiana native, was a representative … Continue reading Missouri association co-founder dies
Farewell to a friend
Tony Paglia paid a visit to the Snow Cap Drive-In on Route 66 in Seligman, Ariz., the day after its longtime owner, Juan Delgadillo, died on June 2, 2004. Here's a video Paglia made in tribute: This is what he says about the video: We visited the Snow Cap the day after its proprietor, Juan … Continue reading Farewell to a friend
Illinois Route 66 Association announces its Hall of Fame inductees
The Illinois Route 66 Association announced its Class of 2010 for its Route 66 Hall of Fame. Here is the complete list, courtesy of the association: 817 Hillsboro (known as Halley's) in Edwardsville The building at 817 Hillsboro in Edwardsville was built in 1914 and started as a cash & carry mom-and-pop market called Barns … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Association announces its Hall of Fame inductees