Manhattan Transfer’s original version of “Route 66”

Here is the Manhattan Transfer's original 1981 studio recording of Bobby Troup's "Route 66." The maker of the video superimposed footage of the group performing the song, along with vintage film of Route 66 scenes. https://youtu.be/8xro0lpukfs The video is nicely done. The cars going into a ditch, however, may be more kicks than a Route … Continue reading Manhattan Transfer’s original version of “Route 66”

Scottish comedian injured during Route 66 trip

Billy Connolly, the Scottish comedian and actor, was injured during a motorcycle mishap while filming a television documentary about Route 66, reported the Scottish Sun on Thursday. The accident happened as the comedy legend tried to turn the powerful three-wheel motorbike while travelling in the Deep South this week. The trike skidded on gravel and Billy … Continue reading Scottish comedian injured during Route 66 trip

Mother Road matchmaker

News broke Friday afternoon that music legend Paul McCartney and girlfriend Nancy Shevell are engaged to be married after a four-year courtship. You can read many of the particulars from the Daily Mail in London here, along with seeing a charming photo of the couple. And it's fairly likely a Route 66 trip that McCartney and … Continue reading Mother Road matchmaker

A word from our sponsor …

This outfit is based in Scotland, but it filmed a chunk of this segment near the Santa Monica Pier. https://youtu.be/fGYK1V0PiI8 If you're across the pond and are interested, Route 66 Rider Training's website is here.

More teaser clips from KY3’s Route 66 special

KY3, a television station based in Springfield, Mo., has posted short clips from its upcoming one-hour special about Route 66 in the Missouri Ozarks. https://youtu.be/Ovp1pVE387o https://youtu.be/-zLfBoo8Y2g https://youtu.be/1g6E_7mFXvY More KY3 clips can be viewed here. The special will air at 7 p.m. Friday, and will be posted on the Internet at a later date.

A note from the past

Greene HD Productions has posted another episode of "Route 66: The Marathon Tour." This one, which starts in Chicago, is going to be bittersweet for a many longtime roadies. First, it contains an interview with Zora Vidas, longtime owner of the historic Wishing Well Motel in Countryside, Ill. Vidas died a few years ago, and … Continue reading A note from the past

Billy Connolly hits the Mother Road

Some months ago, we reported that Scottish actor and comedian Billy Connolly would be traveling Route 66 sometime in 2011 with a film crew in tow for a four-part television travel series. The working title is "Billy Connolly's Route 66." Today, we received word that Connolly showed up in Pontiac, Ill. According to Ellie Alexander of Pontiac Tourism: While … Continue reading Billy Connolly hits the Mother Road

TV station will air special program about Missouri Route 66

"Celebrate the Ozarks: Route 66," a one-hour special about Missouri's Route 66, will air at 7 p.m. CDT Friday, April 29, on KYTV (KY3) in Springfield, Mo. Tim Leimkuhler, a news photographer at KY3 and producer of the program, says it deals with the Mother Road from Rolla, Mo., to just across the border in … Continue reading TV station will air special program about Missouri Route 66

A tour in the Mother Road’s midsection

This episode from Greene HD Productions is from the "Route 66: The Marathon Tour" DVD box set. The segment goes from Erick, Okla., to Adrian, Texas, with small snippets of other sights on Route 66 in the beginning. https://vimeo.com/22500537

“American States of Mind”

This is an exceptional photo essay by Eva E. Davier. You'll see a few side trips, but many of the images come from Route 66. https://vimeo.com/22487104 More of her photos can be seen here, including the ruins of Ella's Frontier in Joseph City, Ariz.