Route 66 neon sign park takes shape in Tulsa

In recent days, workers have installed three replicas of classic neon signs that once stood along Route 66 in Tulsa. Replicas of the Will Rogers Motor Court, Oil Capital Motel and Tulsa Auto Court signs were installed in a small park on the south end of the historic 11th Street Bridge that once carried Route … Continue reading Route 66 neon sign park takes shape in Tulsa

Route 66 MotorHeads erects its ‘world’s largest Route 66 emblem’

Route 66 MotorHeads Bar, Grill and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, on Friday erected its "world's largest Route 66 emblem." According to the Springfield State Journal-Register, the sign measures 32 by 32 feet. It was attached to 60-foot-tall poles that once carried a Stuckey's sign. Route 66 MotorHeads is housed in a former Stuckey's. The sign … Continue reading Route 66 MotorHeads erects its ‘world’s largest Route 66 emblem’

Route 66 MotorHeads will dedicate ‘world’s largest Route 66 sign’ on Friday

The Route 66 MotorHeads Bar, Grill and Museum in Springfield, Illinois, will celebrate the installation of the "world's largest Route 66 sign" on Friday evening. The big event will take place at 6 p.m. Friday when the massive sign is mounted on two 60-foot-tall poles that once held a Stuckey's sign in front of the … Continue reading Route 66 MotorHeads will dedicate ‘world’s largest Route 66 sign’ on Friday

Fire guts restaurant building at Road Runner’s Retreat near Chambless

A likely arson fire destroyed the restaurant building Wednesday at the long-closed Road Runner's Retreat complex near Chambless, California. Beth Murray reported the fire began about 4:15 p.m. The sign and service station remained intact, but the restaurant was "a total loss." After the bad news, Murray set up a fundraiser with a goal of … Continue reading Fire guts restaurant building at Road Runner’s Retreat near Chambless

Central Camera in Chicago to reopen in a storefront next door in September

Central Camera, a mainstay on Route 66 in downtown Chicago for over a century that burned during unrest in late May over the George Floyd police-brutality case, will reopen in September in a temporary store as the original is rebuilt. Block Club Chicago had the story Tuesday: The store at 228 S. Wabash Ave. will … Continue reading Central Camera in Chicago to reopen in a storefront next door in September

Museum rescues House of Spirits sign from Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles

The Museum of Neon Art last week rescued the iconic House of Spirits signs that stood in the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles after a major fire closed the business. The museum, based in nearby Glendale, California, also accepted the donations of the liquor store's storybook house with the crooked chimney, white picket fence … Continue reading Museum rescues House of Spirits sign from Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles

A chat with Mary Beth Babcock, owner of Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on Route 66

Last week, Tim Landes of TulsaPeople magazine sat down for a chat with Mary Beth Babcock, owner of the Buck Atom's Cosmic Curios on 66 shop in Tulsa. For the uninitiated, the gift shop in a repurposed gas station at 1347 E. 11th St. (aka Route 66) not only commissioned its own Muffler Man fiberglass … Continue reading A chat with Mary Beth Babcock, owner of Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios on Route 66

Vintage Firestone station in downtown Albuquerque closes

Firestone Complete Auto Care, a fixture along Route 66 in downtown Albuquerque since at least the early 1930s, closed and its classic neon sign was hauled away about a month ago. The auto-repair shop was at Seventh Street and Central Avenue (aka Route 66). Downtown Albuquerque News (subscription required) reported: In response to questions, Firestone … Continue reading Vintage Firestone station in downtown Albuquerque closes

Rialto Theatre’s exterior in South Pasadena gets an overdue face-lift

The exterior for the historic Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena, California, received its first refreshening in many years. The Friends of the Rialto group on Facebook posted these photos last week as the painting crews were taking down their scaffolding: Friends of the Rialto also wrote on this Facebook post last month about the repainting … Continue reading Rialto Theatre’s exterior in South Pasadena gets an overdue face-lift

Historic Central Camera store goes up in flames during unrest in Chicago

The historic Central Camera store along Route 66 in downtown Chicago burned Saturday night amid unrest over the death a few days ago of an African-American man in Minneapolis police custody. The store's neon sign, however, appeared to be intact. A reporter with the CBS-TV affiliate in Chicago reported the store 332 S. Wabash Ave. … Continue reading Historic Central Camera store goes up in flames during unrest in Chicago