This is an excerpt from the excellent 2006 documentary, "Independent America," which tells about besieged independent businesses fighting against big-box retailers. The first half of the excerpt contains a visit to Seligman, Ariz., and its Sno-Cap Drive-In and Route 66 advocate Angel Delgadillo. The second half tells about Wal-Mart's offensive ad against Flagstaff's efforts to … Continue reading “Independent America” on Route 66
The freedom to be stupid
I never thought a restaurant would be this dumb to want to alienate potential customers. But here it is, straight from the Arizona Daily Sun in Flagstaff: Over the last two weeks, Crazy Bill's Saloon and Steak House has put up two messages on its marquee facing Route 66 that have prompted some residents to … Continue reading The freedom to be stupid
Route 66 cuisine to be at Epcot Center
Walt Disney World's Epcot Center in Florida will host the Epcot International Food and Wine Festival from Sept. 28 to Nov. 11, which will feature Oklahoma and Route 66 diner foods, according to the Journal Record, based in Oklahoma. The festival showcases no less than 25 international marketplaces featuring tapas-sized portions of regional specialty foods … Continue reading Route 66 cuisine to be at Epcot Center
Preservation video
KOKH-TV in Oklahoma City interviewed Emily Priddy of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association preservation committee and aired video from the Ray's Motel preservation project in Clinton, Okla., and the National Route 66 Festival in June. The interview was conducted live on the station's morning show a few weeks ago, and was recently posted on the … Continue reading Preservation video
Save those signs
The City of Tucumcari, N.M., is working on a new Unified Development Code for the town, reports the Quay County Sun. Among the proposals are: • Adopt a Route 66 Overlay Ordinance to protect the existing historic neon signs along Route 66. These signs can be reused and adapted to meet new businesses, instead of … Continue reading Save those signs
Book review: “C.C. Pyle’s Amazing Foot Race”
C.C. Pyle's First Annual International Transcontinental Foot Race, better known as the Bunion Derby, was a plodding, disorganized event that taxed the health and sanity of the runners and was largely greeted with indifference by the American public. Fortunately, a new book about the race fares much better. Geoff Williams' "C.C. Pyle's Amazing Foot Race" … Continue reading Book review: “C.C. Pyle’s Amazing Foot Race”
Pointed questions mark Missouri 266 relocation hearing
The Missouri Department of Transportation wants to relocate Missouri Highway 266 a few hundred feet north so it can better accommodate Springfield-Branson National Airport. However, a lot of residents at a public hearing on Monday questioned whether relocating the highway was cost-effective compared to widening the existing one, reported the Springfield News-Leader. Those skeptics included … Continue reading Pointed questions mark Missouri 266 relocation hearing
Route 66 restaurant to be featured on Food Network
The Cafe on the Route, based on Route 66 in Baxter Springs, Kan., will be paid a visit tomorrow by a film crew from the Food Network for an episode of "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," reports the News-Record of nearby Miami, Okla. The segment shot at Café on the Route should be shown in a … Continue reading Route 66 restaurant to be featured on Food Network
Route 66 has a second newspaper
During the National Route 66 Festival in Clinton, Okla., I briefly met Jim Michalec and his business partner, Kristine Ramey, of the Route 66 Advertiser. I wasn't as sociable as I could have been because I was half-gassed from working at the Ray's Motel preservation project. But I had enough lucidity to ask for complementary … Continue reading Route 66 has a second newspaper
Riding on the freeway of love
Aretha Franklin's big hit from 1985 uses the freeway, aka interstates, as a metaphor. But the actual freeways shown in the music video don't look nearly as inviting as the footage of old Detroit cars. Also of note: That's Clarence Clemons, of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, playing saxophone. The song contains yet another reference … Continue reading Riding on the freeway of love