A new billboard usually isn't anything special. But this one for the Route 66 town of Tucumcari, N.M., boasts a retro look that's difficult to ignore. Richard Talley, owner of the Motel Safari in Tucumcari, said in an e-mail: We’re helping to celebrate New Mexico’s Centennial 1912-2012 this time, with a turquoise colored background, much … Continue reading New “Tucumcari Tonite!” billboard
Pixar’s podcasts from the Mother Road
A few weeks before "Cars" debuted in movie theaters in 2006, Pixar Animation Studios made available a series of behind-the-scenes podcasts about the film. The podcasts were available only via iTunes. But an enterprising soul on YouTube recently posted the videos for greater mass consumption. Here's the "Kickin' It on Route 66" podcast, showing how the … Continue reading Pixar’s podcasts from the Mother Road
“The Road to Amarillo” video
A few months ago, The Road Crew composed and recorded a new song about the International Route 66 Festival that came to Amarillo in June. After the festival, the country-rock band has unveiled its video for "The Road to Amarillo." https://youtu.be/ncQPJd2QnQk The band was presented with the Bobby Troup Artistic Recognition Award during the festival's … Continue reading “The Road to Amarillo” video
“My Hometown”
David Lowe, an opera singer who is a native of Joplin, Mo., composed this song after the tornado destroyed much of his hometown on May 22. https://youtu.be/SLQ-SjeU6x8 The song is part of a CD, titled "Back to My Roots," of which proceeds of its sales will go the Bright Futures program at Joplin High School. … Continue reading “My Hometown”
“My Town”
Dennis Beck and his longtime music group, the James River Band, grew up in the Route 66 town of Marshfield, Mo. The video for this song, "My Town," includes vintage footage from Marshfield and plenty of reminisces as well. https://youtu.be/zc770HH9z70 As a bonus, here's another James River Band song that mentions Route 66: https://youtu.be/lDlV3dtEFu4 (Hat … Continue reading “My Town”
A culinary tour
The Food Channel (not to be confused with the Food Network) posted this clip about many restaurant signs along the Mother Road and some non-food landmarks as well. https://youtu.be/UZOQqv9dWd8
More Route 66 signs installed in Oklahoma City
Finishing a four-year project, Oklahoma City and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation installed about 30 Route 66 road signs in the metro area, reported The Oklahoman newspaper. State Sen. David Holt said it was done to help direct Route 66 travelers through the city. Holt [...] noted there were only a half-dozen or so signs … Continue reading More Route 66 signs installed in Oklahoma City
New Web address, same site
Those of you who surfed here during the weekend may have noticed the "route66news.com" in your browser address bar being replaced by "route66news.com." That's because I used a tool that WordPress.com offers called domain mapping. It basically slaps a new domain name over the old, although the original domain remains operational. I used "rwarn17588" in … Continue reading New Web address, same site
Mixing the metaphors
One of the fellers from the "Route 66: A Road Trip through the Bible" needs to keep his cliches straight. https://youtu.be/eugIgMu3KUc This entry covers the third book of John.
Open house at the Boots Motel, pre-renovation
When we went Sunday afternoon to the open house at the Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo., tour guide Ron Hart of the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce said about 500 people had already visited the historic Route 66 business over the weekend -- a number that astounded him and the motel's new owners. The open house … Continue reading Open house at the Boots Motel, pre-renovation