The video and editing are a little shaky, but this new video about the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield, Ill., has its charms: https://youtu.be/fzA_xYRADEE
No, he’s not that Dick Dale
Here's a performance of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" by Dick Dale with Kenny Trimble and Charlie Perlato, along with Bobby Burgess, Arthur Duncan, and Jack Imel in their tap shoes in a 1973 episode of "The Lawrence Welk Show." https://youtu.be/rCrX_DwwbcM It's so square it's almost cool. Almost. I admit to being disappointed the performance didn't feature the … Continue reading No, he’s not that Dick Dale
There may be gold in them hills near Ludlow
The small Route 66 town of Ludlow, Calif., may see a lot more economic activity if a company reopens a closed gold mine south of there, reported the Desert Dispatch, based in Barstow. The newspaper said: Bagdad Chase, Inc. plans to reopen the Bagdad Chase mine, said George Rodda, who serves on the board of … Continue reading There may be gold in them hills near Ludlow
On the Mother Road with Charles Kuralt
In the quarter-century that Charles Kuralt produced his "On the Road" series for CBS News, I figured that he and Route 66 crossed paths eventually. Sure enough, here's one I found about Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo, Texas: https://youtu.be/VuvO4StUUbo The clip is notable in that it apparently was shot shortly after Cadillac Ranch was installed by … Continue reading On the Mother Road with Charles Kuralt
Protests greet possible destruction of West Hollywood film studios
The recent news that a developer may raze several historic movie studio buildings on Santa Monica Boulevard (aka Route 66) in West Hollywood, Calif., sparked protests Sunday, reported the Los Angeles Times. About 50 protesters were at the site, said the newspaper. The Lot studio, built in the 1920s and '30s, includes Mary Pickford, Charlie … Continue reading Protests greet possible destruction of West Hollywood film studios
Running the route
The blog of the Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association recently posted this video about the Route 66 Trail Biking Loop, which contains old alignments of the Mother Road on Ash Fork Hill west of Williams, Ariz. https://youtu.be/x9R6MDE12vQ The group's blog said: In the late 1980s and early 1990s, my Kaibab National Forest co-worker Teri Cleeland … Continue reading Running the route
El Trovatore sign tower glows again
The neon letters of the sign tower at the historic El Trovatore Motel along Route 66 in Kingman, Ariz., are glowing again for the first time in decades. Here are a few photos emailed by Kingman resident and Route 66 enthusiast Jim Hinckey: And here's an image of the tower from a distance; the motel's … Continue reading El Trovatore sign tower glows again
Documentary planned on former Club Cafe owner
A filmmaker plans a documentary about Ron Chavez, the former longtime owner of the Club Cafe in Santa Rosa, N.M., who now is known for his writings and poetry as "The Route 66 Storyteller" in Taos. A Kickstarter campaign has been launched to raise $80,000 to fund the film's production. Here's a short video about … Continue reading Documentary planned on former Club Cafe owner
Straight from the garage
Here's a version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" that I've never heard, by Los Jockers in 1967. https://youtu.be/ID3FE6QargE Evidence indicates that Los Jockers were based in Chile. I found another band from Mexico by the same name, but it broke up in 1962.
Roadie will be on nationally syndicated radio show next week
Frank Gifford, proprietor of rt66pix.com and a Route 66 enthusiast, will appear on the nationally syndicated "The Jim Bohannon Show" and its companion "America in the Morning" radio shows starting the night of April 5. "The Jim Bohannon Show" is heard on more than 500 radio stations, mostly in the talk format. "America in the … Continue reading Roadie will be on nationally syndicated radio show next week