Missouri State University Libraries has been interviewing African American people who hailed from the Springfield, Missouri, area for the Greater Springfield Route 66 Oral History Project. The project, funded in part by a grant from the Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, has been posting the interviews every few weeks. If you have an hour, you'll … Continue reading Recording the black experience on Route 66
Category: People
Willem Bor builds more Route 66 miniatures
Willem Bor, a roadie from the Netherlands who's been building detailed scale models of Route 66 landmarks, has made a few more in recent months as gifts to fellow Mother Road fans. The first is a miniature of the ruins of the Painted Desert Trading Post in eastern Arizona. He gave the model to Route … Continue reading Willem Bor builds more Route 66 miniatures
“Highway or My Way”
https://youtu.be/pE3kqBjRcnU Frank Kocevar, the former co-owner of Historic Seligman Sundries in Seligman, Arizona, put together this Route 66-themed video a few days ago. Frank now has time to travel the Mother Road and meet the people he heard about or those who came to his shop. So there may be quite a few people you … Continue reading “Highway or My Way”
A chat with Jerry McClanahan
KC Keefer adds to his "Genuine Route 66 Life" video series with a talk with Route 66 artist, author and researcher Jerry McClanahan at his studio in Chandler, Oklahoma. https://youtu.be/ISZLdWzTx2o McClanahan has been traveling regularly on Route 66 for more than 30 years, and his memories of the Mother Road date back even further. Novice … Continue reading A chat with Jerry McClanahan
“The Tattoo Man of Route 66”
We meant to post this on Veterans Day, the same day The Road Crew debuted a music video about Route 66 enthusiast and Vietnam combat veteran Ron "Tattoo Man" Jones of Bartlesville, Oklahoma. But that was when Route 66 News' old hosting service quit working. We have a new hosting service, but this is a … Continue reading “The Tattoo Man of Route 66”
Ownership change indicated at Boot Hill in Vega
A series of Facebook posts in recent days and a direct message show an ownership change at Boot Hill Saloon & Grill Restaurant on Route 66 in Vega, Texas, has been made or is imminent. Owner, chef and reality-television contestant Rory Schepisi said in an email Sunday "nothing is official at the moment" about the restaurant she's … Continue reading Ownership change indicated at Boot Hill in Vega
A shave from Angel Delgadillo
HairCut Harry is on a mission to have a hair-cutting experience in every country in the world. Recemtly, he stopped by Angel Delgadillo's shop on Route 66 in Seligman, Arizona, to get a wet shave with a straight razor. This is probably the only video on the Internet that really shows Delgadillo's old-school style. https://youtu.be/4YtkC-vfRpg … Continue reading A shave from Angel Delgadillo
A chat with Rock Cafe’s Dawn Welch
KC Keefer, continuing with his Genuine Route 66 Life video series, talks to Dawn Welch, longtime owner of the historic Rock Cafe in Stroud, Oklahoma. Welch talks about the Route 66 restaurant's up-and-down history, including her role in the Disney-Pixar "Cars" movie and the restaurant nearly being destroyed by fire in 2008. https://youtu.be/rXZ5p1qfm8Q More can … Continue reading A chat with Rock Cafe’s Dawn Welch
Book review: “Father of Route 66: The Story of Cy Avery”
Some may assume Cyrus Avery became known as "The Father of Route 66" simply because he was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time when the highway became designated and federally certified in 1926. But as Susan Croce Kelly's well-researched new biography shows, Avery's involvement in Route 66's birth and … Continue reading Book review: “Father of Route 66: The Story of Cy Avery”
Former owner of Club Cafe dies
Ron Chavez, 78, a former owner of the long-closed Club Cafe in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, who later became noted as a writer and poet, died Oct. 15 in Albuquerque, reported the Taos News. His daughter, Sonia Valdez, told the newspaper he died of complications from diabetes and a stroke. The family declined to give … Continue reading Former owner of Club Cafe dies