Famed sportswriter Joe Posnanski a few days ago wrote about Joe Bauman, who set a professional baseball record of 72 home runs in a season in 1954. That record stood until Barry Bonds hit 73 in 2001. The hot, dry air of the region and smallish ballparks of the Longhorn League undoubtedly helped Bauman set … Continue reading The amazing story of Joe Bauman
Category: People
Route 66’s lifeguard
The Bloomington Pantagraph recently published a profile about longtime Illinois state trooper Chester Henry, who patrolled Route 66 and Interstate 55 in the Pontiac area for more than 25 years and wrote an estimated 50,000 speeding tickets. Henry, now 84, has been retired for about 30 years. He still drives his old beat from time … Continue reading Route 66’s lifeguard
A chat with a Texola business owner
KC Keefer, as part of his ongoing "Genuine Route 66 Life" series, talks to Masel Zimmerman of the Tumbleweeds Grill and Country Store in the Route 66 ghost town of Texola, Okla. https://youtu.be/S6KJ-9yQReU About a year ago, Zimmerman took a 1930s building, Water Hole #2, and converted it into a personal art gallery, plus a … Continue reading A chat with a Texola business owner
Southwest Missouri station puts Route 66 segments online
Years ago, KY3-TV reporter Ed Fillmer, a native of the Route 66 town of Marshfield, Mo., shot segments about Route 66 in Missouri. Yesterday, the Springfield, Mo., station put those segments online. The video cannot be embedded, but I've provided direct links and descriptions of them. Some of these videos date to the 1970s. I recommend … Continue reading Southwest Missouri station puts Route 66 segments online
A chat with the co-owner of Del’s Restaurant
As part of his "Genuine Route 66 Life" series, KC Keefer interviews Yvette Peacock, co-owner of Del's Restaurant in Tucumcari, N.M. The restaurant opened in 1956. https://youtu.be/6SBJc09POqY And although Del's naturally plays up the beef part of its menu, its Mexican dishes are praised far and wide. (Image of the Del's sign by "Caveman Chuck" … Continue reading A chat with the co-owner of Del’s Restaurant
A chat with the operator of Texas Ivy Antiques
In his ongoing "Genuine Route 66 Life" video series, KC Keefer interviewed Dora Meroney, operator of Texas Ivy Antiques along the Sixth Street Historic District (aka Route 66) in Amarillo. https://youtu.be/YT3wV3Cx1-I Not only does Meroney sell Route 66 memorabilia and other items in a converted 1920s house, but she serves as president of the Old … Continue reading A chat with the operator of Texas Ivy Antiques
Elvis driving old Route 66 in Arizona
There's not much of a description to this video, except we know it's primarily Elvis Presley visiting Meteor Crater off Route 66 in Arizona in June 1967. All of the footage appears to be home movies. You'll also see glimpses the American Indian souvenir shops -- including Chief Yellowhorse's -- at the New Mexico-Arizona state line, … Continue reading Elvis driving old Route 66 in Arizona
The keeper of the Route 66 Trailhead Park’s grapevines
The grapevines growing at Route 66 Trailhead Park in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., serve an ornamental purpose, but they hold a historical aspect as well. Gino Filippi, a city counciler for nearby Upland, Calif., and the son of local vintner Joseph Filippi, volunteers to help prune and maintain the 36 fledgling Mission grapevines at the park, … Continue reading The keeper of the Route 66 Trailhead Park’s grapevines
La historia de Angel en Español
Here's a way to appeal to a wider scope of Route 66 travelers -- Angel Delgadillo, better known as the Guardian Angel of Route 66, tells his life story in Spanish from his barbershop in Seligman, Ariz. https://youtu.be/IUv7DR2rH6g The video is posted on the YouTube channel of Angel's gift shop. In case you're wondering, Delgadillo … Continue reading La historia de Angel en Español
Route 66 roadies’ memories of Jay Leno
In case you missed it, Jay Leno logged his last night Thursday as host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" after 22 years in the chair. You can watch the entire episode online, but here's his emotional and graceful goodbye: Even though Leno is known as a car nut, not many roadies can claim they had … Continue reading Route 66 roadies’ memories of Jay Leno