KTUL-TV in Tulsa recently did this story about the "rebirth" of 11th Street in town, known as Tulsa's Route 66. KTUL.com - Tulsa, Oklahoma - News, Weather We've dutifully reported about many of these businesses -- including Ike's Chili -- moving to the more-prominent alignment of Route 66 in Tulsa. I was a bit saddened … Continue reading The rebirth of Tulsa’s 11th Street
Category: Towns
Plainfield considers new Route 66 signs
The village of Plainfield, Illinois, is considering new signage -- including ones marking Route 66 (seen above) -- as a rebranding effort for the town, reported The Herald-News. The new designs would encourage commemoration of the “legacy” of the historic Route 66, which runs along Route 59 through the village. The Route 66 signs could … Continue reading Plainfield considers new Route 66 signs
Albuquerque sign irks tourists, businesses
I missed this the last few times I was in downtown Albuquerque. But a sign on private property that says "Please, no puking, no pissing, no panhandling or perversion, thank you" continues to draw the ire of Route 66 tourists, businesses and city officials. KOAT-TV in Albuquerque posted a story about the sign, which has … Continue reading Albuquerque sign irks tourists, businesses
Gallup’s anti-panhandling campaign comes under fire
The Navajo community is criticizing a campaign in Gallup, New Mexico, that discourages tourists -- including those on Route 66 -- from giving money to panhandlers, reported Indian Country Today. In April, a coalition of city officials, church, business, and community groups rolled out the 90-day “Change In My Heart, Not In My Pocket”campaign to encourage people … Continue reading Gallup’s anti-panhandling campaign comes under fire
Questions for Clint Eastwood and his Tucumcari time
David Stevens, editor of the Clovis News Journal and Portales News-Tribune in New Mexico, in a column said he had a few questions for potential interview subjects about long-ago local issues. Stevens' wish list had some urgency because all the people "are getting old," he said. One of those interview subjects would be actor Clint Eastwood, … Continue reading Questions for Clint Eastwood and his Tucumcari time
Los Angeles and Woody Guthrie
Folk singer Woody Guthrie's many links to Route 66 have been long documented. However, this excellent clip by filmmaker Aric Allen shows that Los Angeles played a crucial role in Guthrie's road to fame in 1937. Amazingly, many of the places where Guthrie hung around in L.A. still exist, as this film shows. https://youtu.be/FCh4O9nv0mo (Image … Continue reading Los Angeles and Woody Guthrie
How did the Kingman Route 66 festival do?
The answer: Pretty well; thanks for asking. The town of Kingman, Arizona, hosted the annual International Route 66 Festival for the first time last weekend. I've cobbled together some highlights from the event: Estimated attendance, according to the Kingman Daily Miner newspaper, was 6,000, which was in line with forecasts. About 60 percent of festival attendees … Continue reading How did the Kingman Route 66 festival do?
‘Million Dollar Courthouse’ needs $20 million in fixes
Locals probably were startled and even irritated when the construction budget for the Macoupin County Courthouse in Carlinville, Illinois, swelled from $50,000 to $1.3 million by the time it was finished in 1870. That's why the landmark has been called the "Million Dollar Courthouse," for good or ill, ever since. Imagine their reaction when, more … Continue reading ‘Million Dollar Courthouse’ needs $20 million in fixes
Route 66 Alliance revealed as the group proposing a Route 66 museum in Tulsa
Prominent Route 66 author Michael Wallis and the Route 66 Alliance he leads are part of the group that submitted a proposal to the City of Tulsa to build a Route 66 museum, revealed the Tulsa World. City planner Dennis Whitaker and other unnamed city officials confirmed to the newspaper it was the Route 66 … Continue reading Route 66 Alliance revealed as the group proposing a Route 66 museum in Tulsa
A look at downtown Los Angeles
With the help of a quad-copter, filmmaker Ian Wood produced this video about the landmarks of downtown Los Angeles, which was the western end of Route 66 until the highway was extended to Santa Monica. Downtown Los Angeles from Ian Wood on Vimeo. Wood's description of the video: Above the grit and noise of the … Continue reading A look at downtown Los Angeles