The owners of the troubled Bel-Aire Motel in Springfield, Illinois, reached a settlement agreement this week with the city to vacate and tear down the historic structure within six months, reported the State Journal-Register. The decrepit and crime-infested motel had racked up more than 1,000 code violations and hundreds of thousands of dollars in fines over the years. … Continue reading Bel-Aire Motel will be gone by summer
Fundraiser launched for Route 66 barber shops documentary
A fellow that readers may recognize by the nickname of Haircut Harry is launching an Indiegogo fundraiser to make a documentary film about barber shops along Route 66. Titled "Zen and the Art of Barbering," Harry wants to raise $5,000 to cover travel expenses for the film. As of Thursday night, he'd raised more than … Continue reading Fundraiser launched for Route 66 barber shops documentary
Pulitzer winner documented Route 66
Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Edward Keating documented Route 66 beginning about 15 years ago in black-and-white images that often recalled the bleak Depression-era images of Dorothea Lange. Keating won the Pulitzer in 2002 for his photo coverage of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York City. He also spent 11 years on the Mother Road, documenting … Continue reading Pulitzer winner documented Route 66
One Whiting Bros. sign relighted
The good news last week was that one of the refurbished neon signs at still-operating Whiting Bros. station in Moriarty, New Mexico, was relighted to much fanfare. The bad news was, because of technical problems, the second sign didn't relight. Here's a video from the Mountain View Telegraph newspaper of the relighting. If the embedding … Continue reading One Whiting Bros. sign relighted
Pacific’s 70-year Christmas tradition began as a prank
Right before Thanksgiving, members of the local Lions Club raised 14 lines of lights to create a Christmas tree on the top of the bluff on Blackburn Park, next to Route 66 in Pacific, Missouri. It's been a tradition in Pacific for many years. A recent article in the Washington Missourian illustrates it's not only … Continue reading Pacific’s 70-year Christmas tradition began as a prank
Palms Grill Cafe honored by Illinois Tourism
The historic Palms Grill Cafe in Atlanta, Illinois, has been given an “Enjoy Illinois: Delicious Destination” award from the Illinois Office of Tourism, it was announced Monday. According to a news release from Illinois Tourism and Logan County Tourism: “From family-owned restaurants with long and storied histories to the hottest new cuisines in the world, … Continue reading Palms Grill Cafe honored by Illinois Tourism
Fashion amid the ruins
Photographer Joanna Delys and a crew of assistants did a photo shoot of Route 66 clothing (a European fashion line, I believe) with French model Gaëlle Fromaigeat at the ruins of a gas station. https://youtu.be/-nHeOoYhPAg I think this is along Route 66 at a long-abandoned station in Lela, Texas. Anyone else more sure where it … Continue reading Fashion amid the ruins
“American Countryside” visits Holbrook
Andrew McCrea of "American Countryside" takes in a visit to the Route 66 town of Holbrook, Arizona, and explores the links that inspired the fictional town of Radiator Springs in the 2006 Disney-Pixar movie "Cars." The segment focuses on the Wigwam Motel and Joe & Aggie's restaurant. Other sites and towns inspired the creation of … Continue reading “American Countryside” visits Holbrook
“Painted Desert Trading Post” trailer
A few days ago, Nick Gerlich and KC Keefer revealed a trailer for "Painted Desert Trading Post," a short documentary about the long-abandoned property in eastern Arizona near the Petrified Forest National Park. The trailer is long on atmosphere, which I like a lot. https://youtu.be/swTWrpX9qNw Gerlich, a professor of marketing at West Texas A&M University, … Continue reading “Painted Desert Trading Post” trailer
Chinese crew shooting film about Route 66
A film crew from China stopped at the Boots Motel in Carthage, Missouri, and other Route 66 sites to shoot a movie that will be screened next year, reported the Joplin Globe. According to the newspaper, other filming sites included the Grand Canyon and Yellowhorse Trading Post at the New Mexico-Arizona border. Crews with JAJ … Continue reading Chinese crew shooting film about Route 66