Will she be a bridesmaid again, or the bride? Rory Schepisi, who finished runner-up in the CMT's "Popularity Contest," made the finals of another reality TV show, "The Next Food Network Star." Schepisi is about to open a restaurant, Boot Hill Saloon and Grill, on Route 66 in Vega, Texas. A short video recap of … Continue reading Rory is in the finals
Category: People
Dean Walker will appear on Leno
Dean Walker, a Kansas Route 66 advocate and one of the inspirations for Mater in last summer's animated movie "Cars," will appear on NBC's "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" on Wednesday. Prominent Route 66 author Michael Wallis, who's known Walker for years, said that Walker will do his turning-his-feet-backwards trick during an audience segment … Continue reading Dean Walker will appear on Leno
Wrink’s Market seeks to ‘recreate’ dad’s legacy
Terry Wrinkle, the son of the late Glenn Wrinkle of Wrink's Market in Lebanon, Mo., was interviewed by the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader before the store reopens sometime next week as a deli, diner, florist and convenience store. "Route 66 was more than a highway across the country," said Terry Wrinkle, son of the store's longtime … Continue reading Wrink’s Market seeks to ‘recreate’ dad’s legacy
Lady Bird’s mixed legacy for Route 66
I loathe to speak ill of the dead, except for the biggest scoundrels. Lady Bird Johnson, the wife of President Lyndon Johnson who died at age 94 on Wednesday, certainly wasn't a scoundrel. But the Highway Beautification Act of 1965, which restricted billboards along our nation's highways, proved to be damaging to Route 66 businesses … Continue reading Lady Bird’s mixed legacy for Route 66
Rory Schepisi advances to top three in series
Rory Schepisi, the former "Popularity Contest" reality TV series contest who's about to open a new restaurant on Route 66 in Vega, Texas, advanced to the final three of another reality series, "The Next Food Network Star." Tune-in on Sunday, July 15th, at 9pm ET/PT as the remaining three finalists test their media skills when … Continue reading Rory Schepisi advances to top three in series
Living link to Route 66’s early history
The Portales News-Tribune in New Mexico scored an interview with a man who actually helped build Route 66. The man is Elmer Jones. He is 95 years old. He is the only member left from Portales' Class of 1931. As a young man in Childress, Texas, Jones, with his brother Allen, drove a team and … Continue reading Living link to Route 66’s early history
Miss Goodwrench
Here's a rarity: a full-service gas station. This one, Groneman's Service Center, is on Route 66 in Vega, Texas. Here's a bigger rarity: a girl who works at a full-service station. Heather Newton, 16, a soon-to-be junior at the local high school, is employed at Groneman's. Here's an excerpt from a story by the Amarillo … Continue reading Miss Goodwrench
Illinois bridge being restored
John and Lenore Weiss are at it again. The two Illinois Route 66 preservationists are restoring the original appearance of the Division Street Bridge in Pontiac, which carried the original Illinois Highway 4 and the first alignment of Route 66 in the state during the 1920s, according to the Pontiac Daily Leader. Their work on … Continue reading Illinois bridge being restored
Gunfight at Oatman
OK, not really. But every day at 1:30 p.m., Old West gunfighters do a show on Route 66 in Oatman, Ariz. As this video shows, it's all pretty tongue-in-cheek and done for entertainment instead of historical re-enactment. The sound quality of the video is erratic, but it's almost as good as being there if you … Continue reading Gunfight at Oatman
Hear Michael Wallis’ keynote speech
If you missed author Michael Wallis' keynote speech at the National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla., last week, you can listen to it on this page. The QuickTime sound file is about 33 minutes. Rod Harsh at Route66TVonline.com and Visit66.com recorded it. Harsh also has a bunch of photos from the festival.