A crew from the "Small Town Big Deal" television program has shot along Route 66 in Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma for several upcoming episodes. "Small Town Big Deal," hosted by Rodney Miller and Jann Carl, originated on RFD-TV and became the cable channel's highest-rated program. The show went into syndication and now airs on 160 … Continue reading “Small Town Big Deal” TV crew shooting episodes along Route 66
Rialto Theatre’s exterior in South Pasadena gets an overdue face-lift
The exterior for the historic Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena, California, received its first refreshening in many years. The Friends of the Rialto group on Facebook posted these photos last week as the painting crews were taking down their scaffolding: Friends of the Rialto also wrote on this Facebook post last month about the repainting … Continue reading Rialto Theatre’s exterior in South Pasadena gets an overdue face-lift
Rialto Square Theatre will be temporarily converted into traffic court
The historic Rialto Square Theatre, closed since mid-March because of the coronavirus pandemic, will be used as a courtroom for traffic violations in Will County, Illinois, for as long as four months. The Joliet Patch reports the theater in downtown Joliet will be paid $700 a day for its use as a traffic court, the … Continue reading Rialto Square Theatre will be temporarily converted into traffic court
Musical Road in Tijeras is fading away, with no plans for restoration
The so-called Musical Road or Singing Road along Route 66 in Tijeras, New Mexico, is fading away with no plans from the state to restore or maintain it. ROUTE Magazine reported it on Facebook on May 26, and an Albuquerque Journal columnist confirmed it a few days later. D'val Westphal of the Journal reported that … Continue reading Musical Road in Tijeras is fading away, with no plans for restoration
Permits to city of Monrovia indicate Aztec Hotel may reopen in coming months
Two conditional use permits approved by the city planning commission for the city of Monrovia, California, indicate the historic Aztec Hotel will reopen as a lodging establishment with a restaurant after being closed for about nine years. Keith Johnson reported on the Route 66 Los Angeles page on Facebook that the planning commission on May … Continue reading Permits to city of Monrovia indicate Aztec Hotel may reopen in coming months
Birthplace of Route 66 Festival canceled because of coronavirus
The Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, one of the biggest events on the Mother Road, announced Monday it would cancel the Aug. 14-15 event because of concerns about coronavirus. The festival's steering committee voted unanimously to cancel. The Ozarks Independent reported: “Last year’s attendance was 65,000 over two days and we were … Continue reading Birthplace of Route 66 Festival canceled because of coronavirus
Rioters damage KiMo Theatre in Albuquerque
The historic KiMo Theatre along Route 66 in downtown Albuquerque sustained heavy damage from rioters early Monday after mostly peaceful protests on Sunday. According to a report by the Associated Press: Albuquerque police spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said officers reported shots fired at them in front of the historic Kimo Theater early Monday after a mostly … Continue reading Rioters damage KiMo Theatre in Albuquerque
Angel Delgadillo’s shop in Seligman to reopen today
In an act symbolic of Route 66's emergence from the coronavirus pandemic, Angel Delgadillo announced over the weekend he would reopen his gift shop today in Seligman, Arizona, to travelers after a two-month closure. In a short video announcing the reopening, the 93-year-old Delgadillo said "we will be wearing a mask for you, and we … Continue reading Angel Delgadillo’s shop in Seligman to reopen today
Historic Central Camera store goes up in flames during unrest in Chicago
The historic Central Camera store along Route 66 in downtown Chicago burned Saturday night amid unrest over the death a few days ago of an African-American man in Minneapolis police custody. The store's neon sign, however, appeared to be intact. A reporter with the CBS-TV affiliate in Chicago reported the store 332 S. Wabash Ave. … Continue reading Historic Central Camera store goes up in flames during unrest in Chicago
Retiring Public Radio Tulsa director plans books on Route 66 motels, theaters in Tulsa
Pierce Pennant Terminal in Tulsa Steve Clem, operations director at Public Radio Tulsa for 11 years, retired last week from his post and is planning two books about defunct theaters and Route 66 motels in that city. During a Q&A session with his now-former employer, Clem revealed about projects he has in the hopper: PRT: … Continue reading Retiring Public Radio Tulsa director plans books on Route 66 motels, theaters in Tulsa