The KiMo Theatre in Albuquerque, which is along the Central Avenue alignment of Route 66, is marking its 80th year. Check out this excellent story by the Albuquerque Tribune about the theater's doughnut-loving ghost, performers such as a beer-drinking mule and Sally Rand, and its non-Nazi swastikas.
Category: Theaters
Book review: “Roadside Attractions”
Rating high on our wish list is an updated volume of "Roadside America." "New Roadside America," an irreverent but fond look at highway oddities, proved to be a critical influence to us at Route 66 News. The Roadside America site is still going strong, but the dead-tree version hasn't been updated since 1992. Brian and … Continue reading Book review: “Roadside Attractions”
Historic theater soon will close
The Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena, Calif., recently announced that its last day of operation will be Aug. 19. The Rialto, built in 1925, is on the Fair Oaks alignment of Route 66. According to the theater's MySpace site: Sadly we have to end with the Simpsons. So if you want to see the Simpsons … Continue reading Historic theater soon will close
A tour of the Gillioz Theatre
I haven't yet visited the recently restored Gillioz Theatre in Springfield, Mo., but this video tour will do nicely in the meantime. It reminds me of the Coleman Theatre Beautiful in Miami, Okla. Incidentally, the Gillioz is on an alignment of Route 66, as is the Coleman.
Remaining drive-ins are thriving
Although there are just 400 drive-in movie theaters left in the country after a peak of about 4,000 five decades ago, the remaining ones are mostly thriving, reports the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Among the survivors cited in the article are the Route 66 Drive-In in Springfield, Ill.; the Skyview Drive-In in Litchfield, Ill.; and the … Continue reading Remaining drive-ins are thriving
Bel-Air sign sits waiting — for now
Wally Spiers of the Belleville News-Democrat talks to the owner of the Bel-Air Drive-In sign on old Route 66 near Mitchell, Ill. The drive-in theater has been closed for 20 years, but the marquee still stands. Owner Larry Manns hasn't done much to shore it up, but also he seems reluctant to part with it. … Continue reading Bel-Air sign sits waiting — for now
High winds knock off part of Rialto Theatre sign
Nasty wind gusts Sunday afternoon knocked off part of the decorative scrollwork of the main sign of the Rialto Square Theatre, located on Route 66 in Joliet, Ill., reported the Herald-News. Fortunately, no one was hurt when the sign chunk came crashing down, although an adjacent street was closed. Workers were already busy repairing the … Continue reading High winds knock off part of Rialto Theatre sign
66 Drive-In opens for the season
The Chart, a publication of Missouri Southern University, published a feature about the 66 Drive-In Theater in Carthage, Mo., which began its 2007 season last weekend. (Note: Registration may be required to view the story.) And if you want to cruise out and see a movie there during the weekend, cruise over to the 66 … Continue reading 66 Drive-In opens for the season
Joliet to launch Route 66 campaign
After seemingly much indifference to the Mother Road for years, the city of Joliet, Ill., is embracing Route 66 tourism in a big way when it launches its Joliet Kicks on Route 66 campaign on June 2. According to the Herald-News: The Joliet Area Historical Museum will have a bunch of interactive displays, including watching … Continue reading Joliet to launch Route 66 campaign
Don’t forget the peanut-butter truffles
USA Today's travel staff asked experts from all 50 states what would be a romantic experience in their respective states on Valentine's Day. Here's the entry from Oklahoma: A cruise down Route 66 in the Tulsa area offers a chance for car-noodling spiced with a little kitsch. In the evenings, listen to the ghosts whisper … Continue reading Don’t forget the peanut-butter truffles