The Admiral Twin Drive-In, a landmark theater in Tulsa that's still being rebuilt after a devastating fire in September 2010, suffered vandalism to its ticket booth and new concession stand on Saturday, reported KOTV in Tulsa. Almost every ceiling light in the new concession stand was smashed. Shattered glass covers the floor with broken bulbs … Continue reading Admiral Twin Drive-In vandalized
DVD review: “Route 66: The Complete Series”
https://youtu.be/VaT4pQDSWZw No more piecemeal releases. No more half-baked formatting. Shout! Factory has released all four seasons of the acclaimed "Route 66" television drama of the early 1960s, and they all come in one well-conceived package, in stores tomorrow. The guts of "Route 66: The Complete Series": It's a box set of 24 DVDs, inside four … Continue reading DVD review: “Route 66: The Complete Series”
Volunteers repaint Paul Bunyan statue in Illinois
Volunteers from the Illinois Route 66 Association this weekend repainted the 19-foot-tall Paul Bunyan fiberglass statue on Route 66 in downtown Atlanta, Ill., reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. The newspaper reported that help came from Michigan and Iowa, as well as the Land of Lincoln. “I’m impressed by what people want to do to help,” said … Continue reading Volunteers repaint Paul Bunyan statue in Illinois
One from the BBC vault
This is a version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" by an apparently long-gone band called Freak UK. The video was broadcast by the BBC in 1991. I suspect this was influenced by Depeche Mode's version from 1987. https://youtu.be/fLgS9_GTumg Freak UK's frontman was Mik Scarlet, who found later fame as a TV and radio broadcaster, journalist, and actor. … Continue reading One from the BBC vault
High rider
A woman from Los Angeles wants to ride her double-high bicycle (like the one seen above) down Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica later in the summer, with the help of a national magazine. Melissa Rougeaux yesterday applied for a $10,000 Adventure Grant from Outside magazine. The magazine explained: In celebration of our 35th … Continue reading High rider
Media get a sneak preview of Cars Land
A small group of journalists toured Cars Land at Disney California Adventure before it officially opens on June 15. The Orange County Register was one of them. Cars Land is patterned after the fictional Route 66 town of Radiator Springs, as depicted in the Disney-Pixar animated films "Cars" and "Cars 2." According to the newspaper: … Continue reading Media get a sneak preview of Cars Land
“We’re Going West”
Here's a new video from the good folks at The Road Crew, a country-rock band that's served as boosters of Route 66 for the past few years: https://youtu.be/ocnYDLw934A The song comes from "Songs from the Mother Road" album, which you can download from Amazon here. It's also on iTunes.
Learning about Route 66 on a zip line
Here's a novel new way for tourists to learn about the Mother Road -- Pirate Cove Resort & Marina in Needles, Calif., soon will use zip lines to educate groups about the Colorado River and Route 66. According to news release: The adventures continue with a guided "Pirates Quest" zip line tour that will run … Continue reading Learning about Route 66 on a zip line
Romeoville seeking grant to beautify its portion of Route 66
The village of Romeoville, Ill., is applying for a state grant to spruce up its section of Illinois Highway 53, aka Route 66, according to the Joliet Herald-News. The newspaper reported: Renovations will include landscaping upgrades to islands along the roadway along with new signage that will include a Route 66 theme. Landscaping within the … Continue reading Romeoville seeking grant to beautify its portion of Route 66
Tulsa Art Deco Museum opens today
The Tulsa Art Deco Museum, dedicated to that city's abundant style of architecture, opens today in the lobby of the downtown Philcade Building at 511 S. Boston Ave., reported the Tulsa World. More about Tulsa Art Deco, from a 2008 film by Jack Frank: https://youtu.be/rkMQdEW6v5A Local artist William Franklin, president and founder of the museum, … Continue reading Tulsa Art Deco Museum opens today