In the wake of Route 66 artist Bob Waldmire's death, I received this e-mail from Route 66 Alliance co-director Michael Wallis that deserves some attention: When it comes to those who truly helped Bob Waldmire, his family, and the greater Mother Road community a true unsung hero is Tom Wanko. This native of St. Louis … Continue reading Mother Road Samaritan
Category: People
Nominations sought for Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame
The Route 66 Association of Illinois will begin to accept nominations for its Hall of Fame from Jan. 1 to Feb. 28, according to a news release by the association. To qualify, nominees must have made significant contributions to the character or history of the Illinois Route 66 while it was an official U.S. highway … Continue reading Nominations sought for Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame
Bob Waldmire has died
Bob Waldmire, a beloved Route 66 artist and self-avowed hippie who also was the unofficial inspiration to Fillmore in the movie "Cars," died at 8:30 a.m. today, according to a news release from Michael Wallis, co-director of the Route 66 Alliance. Waldmire, 64, had been battling cancer. More on this is coming tonight, when I … Continue reading Bob Waldmire has died
Notes from the road
I've been watching this story carefully, even though it doesn't have much to do with Route 66. Johnny Hallyday, 66, a rock 'n' roll legend in France, was placed in a medically induced coma in Los Angeles after complications developed in France after back surgery. He's expected to make a recovery, and he emerged from … Continue reading Notes from the road
A chat with Quinta Scott
A little over three decades years ago, photographer Quinta Scott was learning how to use a recently purchased but unwieldy Speed Graphic camera. After shooting a photo at the historic Eads Bridge in St. Louis for a book, she made the fateful decision to also shoot photographs along the city's Route 66 alignment of Watson … Continue reading A chat with Quinta Scott
A chat with Michael Wallis
I talked with Michael Wallis, author of the best-selling "Route 66: The Mother Road" and more than a dozen other books, by phone Friday night from his home in Tulsa. Wallis was in an expansive mood, and talked about a few things that probably will be of interest to roadies: --- Wallis and Jim Conkle, … Continue reading A chat with Michael Wallis
Former Club Cafe manager now an artist
Santiago Chavez, the longtime manager for the beloved but now-closed Club Cafe restaurant on Route 66 in Santa Rosa, N.M., apparently has found a second career as an artist based in Carson City, Nev. According to the Reno Gazette Journal, Chavez was the subject of an artist's reception Friday night at Fiesta La Posada in … Continue reading Former Club Cafe manager now an artist
Harley & Annabelle documentary released on DVD
Two years ago, Joe Summars of Fluxfaze Creative Enterprises began shooting a documentary about Harley and Annabelle Russell, aka the inimitable Mediocre Music Makers, at their Sandhills Curiosity Shop just off Route 66 in Erick, Okla. It appears the film is finished. Summars started selling the "Harley & Annabelle -- Living Legends in Erick, Oklahoma" … Continue reading Harley & Annabelle documentary released on DVD
A dream in the desert
The Press-Enterprise in Riverside, Calif., posted quite an article about Gus Lizalde, who purchased the Route 66 hamlet of Chambless, Calif., years ago and hopes to eventually businesses in that spot. He described his vision for a multimillion-dollar makeover. "It's going to be a full-blown restoration to the way it was built," Lizalde said. "I … Continue reading A dream in the desert
First class inducted into Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame
The Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame eventually will open on Route 66 of Chandler, Okla. Recently, the first seven members of the Hall of Fame were announced, and they will be inducted at the Route 66 Interpretive Center in town on Dec. 6. The seven inductees will be: Bill Tilghman, Heck Thomas and Chris … Continue reading First class inducted into Oklahoma Law Enforcement Hall of Fame