"The Grapes of Wrath" was an acclaimed novel by John Steinbeck. Then it became an acclaimed movie, starring a young Henry Fonda. It later became an acclaimed, Tony-winning play on Broadway. Now, "The Grapes of Wrath" as an opera? It's appears so. The Salt Lake Tribune in Salt Lake City reports that the story of … Continue reading Dust Bowl aria
Today is Mother’s Day …
... have you been nice to your Mother Road lately? Meanwhile, the Sarasota (Fla.) Herald-Tribune had this item in its Moments of Motherhood: 1926: U.S. Route 66, stretching from Chicago to Los Angeles, is formally opened. While novelist John Steinbeck would call it the "Mother Road" in his 1939 "The Grapes of Wrath," actress wannabes … Continue reading Today is Mother’s Day …
Save gas on your Route 66 trip
In the past week, gasoline prices have risen to over $3 a gallon in many parts of the country. A few unfortunate spots have seen the price at the pump surpass $4 a gallon. That's an increase of more than 40 percent in just a few months. Does that mean you should postpone that Route … Continue reading Save gas on your Route 66 trip
El Vado owner, city go into negotiations
An article in the Albuquerque Journal says that the city and El Vado Motel owner Richard Gonzales have entered talks to settle their spat over the historic Route 66 property: City officials and the old Route 66 tourist court owner, Richard L. Gonzales, are pursuing "settlement negotiations," according to a letter from Planning Director Richard … Continue reading El Vado owner, city go into negotiations
Big Mama’s big voice
This is a version of "Route 66" by Kim Hyun Jung, who uses the stage name Big Mama King, or BMK. She's known as one of the best jazz singers in Korea, and has the big pipes to prove it.
Look out for the Vultures
Some blokes from England are touring the Mother Road on Harley Davidson motorcycles and blogging their experiences at Vultures tour Route 66. They've made it to Tulsa so far. This tidbit on the Rolla-to-Tulsa entry cracked me up: The land is so green; even more so than Ireland! Yeah, well, everything tends to green up … Continue reading Look out for the Vultures
La Posada’s savior runs for Congress
Allan Affeldt has accomplished a lot. He saved the run-down La Posada in the Route 66 town Winslow, Ariz., and transformed it into one of the best lodging and dining destinations in the Southwest. He was elected mayor of Winslow two years ago. He's guiding the restoration of another Harvey House, El Garces, in Needles, … Continue reading La Posada’s savior runs for Congress
Reviews trickle in for “My Blueberry Nights”
Although there are few specifics about the shooting locations, early reviews confirm that Route 66 plays a fairly prominent role in the new film by Chinese director Wong Kar Wai, "My Blueberry Nights," which premieres at the Cannes Film Festival next week. Emmanuel Levy is the first to submit a review to Rotten Tomatoes, and … Continue reading Reviews trickle in for “My Blueberry Nights”
Launching Pad has a new owner
In December, we were the first to report that the Launching Pad Drive-In on Route 66 in Wilmington, Ill., was for sale. This restaurant is a Mother Road icon because of a 28-foot-tall fiberglass statue Gemini Giant, the only one of its kind. Today, the Naperville Sun reports that Morey Szczecin of Channahon is the … Continue reading Launching Pad has a new owner
Ummm … wrong
I found this news item tonight from the Inland Press-Enterprise about the San Bernardino County Fair, which is right off Route 66 in Victorville, Calif. But the article goes awry here: Serafini boasts that it is the last remaining county fair on the historic transcontinental highway [my emphasis]. Its closest contender is a fair in … Continue reading Ummm … wrong