The Bloomington (Ill.) Pantagraph recounts the history of The Filling Station, just off Route 66 in Lexington, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary. The restaurant has been a strong Route 66 supporter for years and has its legions of fans. The Filling Station also is listed in the Route 66 Dining & Lodging Guide, published … Continue reading Filling Station marks 25 years
Jealous over Joplin?
Hank Billings' column today in the Springfield (Mo.) News-Leader, often filled with interesting historical tidbits, struck me as a bit of unseemly whining. He makes the dubious claim that "Does Joplin have a better press agent than Springfield or what?" by citing just two examples: A "Beverly Hillbillies" television episode in which Granny and Jed … Continue reading Jealous over Joplin?
“Cars” gets bypassed at Oscars
The hit Disney-Pixar movie "Cars" was bypassed for any Academy Awards victories on Sunday night, falling short in both the Best Animated Feature and Best Song categories. And you can blame it on global warming. But more on that later. "Cars" was favored to win Best Animated Feature, but "Happy Feet" scored a mild upset. … Continue reading “Cars” gets bypassed at Oscars
Sepia-toned scenes
Here's a different YouTube video with a Route 66 theme. These are sepia-toned images of decaying vehicles and spots along the Mother Road, set to Lyle Lovett's "The Truck Song."
Blue Whale blues
Canadian singer-songwriter Melissa McClelland has posted Part 4 of her video diary from last summer's trip down Route 66. In it, she wears a pretty white dress and belts out a bluesy tune, "Go Down Matthew," at the grounds of the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla. The song comes from her "Thumbelina's One Night Stand" … Continue reading Blue Whale blues
New “Cars” video game being produced
Author and Route 66 expert Michael Wallis, who portrayed the Sheriff of Radiator Springs in the hit Disney-Pixar movie "Cars," provided some interesting news to me this week via e-mail: This week I spent several hours in studio recording a brand new CARS video game featuring the Sheriff, Mater, Lightning and many of the other … Continue reading New “Cars” video game being produced
Dining at Al’s
Scott Cherry, food writer for the Tulsa World, stopped by Al's Route 66 Diner in Sapulpa, Okla. Al's is gaining notice for its Big Daddy -- a 66-ounce burger, three pounds of french fries and a 32-ounce milkshake. If you have a big enough appetite for it, call a day ahead and it will cost … Continue reading Dining at Al’s
Rally ’round Red Fork
Today, I was sent this link to a video produced by Webster High School students in Tulsa and broadcast on a local TV station. The film is about the Red Fork Main Street revitalization program, and Route 66 plays a prominent part in those plans for Tulsa's west side. The fledgling program is giving Red … Continue reading Rally ’round Red Fork
Yes, the Grand Canyon Skywalk is real
It's been reported for a while that Hualapai Indian tribe is constructing a Plexiglass-rimmed Skywalk that juts out 70 feet into the Grand Canyon, over the Colorado River. The fantastical project sounds like a scenery-lover's dream (or a nightmare if you have problems with vertigo). Anyway, the Skywalk seems so improbable that Snopes.com, a site … Continue reading Yes, the Grand Canyon Skywalk is real
Why Toyota is ascendant
For years, I've told my friends that if I were an automobile executive with a new vehicle model, I'd take it down Route 66. First, a cross-country trip would expose any weaknesses of the vehicle so they be corrected before hitting the showroom floor. Second, driving the model down America's most famous highway would generate … Continue reading Why Toyota is ascendant