Billy Connolly, the Scottish comedian and actor, was injured during a motorcycle mishap while filming a television documentary about Route 66, reported the Scottish Sun on Thursday. The accident happened as the comedy legend tried to turn the powerful three-wheel motorbike while travelling in the Deep South this week. The trike skidded on gravel and Billy … Continue reading Scottish comedian injured during Route 66 trip
Talks over Round Barn billboard break down
Negotiations to move a controversial billboard near the historic Round Barn of Arcadia, Okla., have reached an impasse, reports the Edmond Sun. In September, Zoom Media bought a small parcel just east of the Round Barn and began to install a billboard. Claiming it was an eyesore, officials with the Arcadia Historical Society protested, even … Continue reading Talks over Round Barn billboard break down
Route 66 festival in Joplin postponed
The Joplin Route 66 Fest, created shortly after Jim Conkle was removed as primary organizer of the International Route 66 Festival, has been postponed indefinitely after this week's destructive tornado in Joplin, Mo. This message was posted today on the Joplin festival's website: The Festival Committee has decided to re-schedule the Joplin Route 66 Festival … Continue reading Route 66 festival in Joplin postponed
King of the Juke Joints
In the previous post, we mentioned blues legends in an upcoming movie. Here's a documentary about a real-live blues legend, Blues Boy Willie, who's still performing, including a regular gig at Smokey Joe's Texas Cafe on Sixth Street (aka Route 66) and Joe Taco, both in Amarillo, Texas. https://vimeo.com/24067509 In fact, the "King of the … Continue reading King of the Juke Joints
Rock movie on Route 66 set for August release
"The Perfect Age of Rock 'n' Roll," which starts "Easy Rider's" Peter Fonda and prominently features Route 66 in its plot, is slated for an Aug. 5 limited release in theaters, according to IconVsIcon.com. Here's the synopsis, according to the film's website: Spyder (Kevin Zegers—Transamerica, Dawn of the Dead), a world famous musician whose debut album … Continue reading Rock movie on Route 66 set for August release
Book review: “Ghost Towns of Route 66”
Ghost town -- a once-flourishing town wholly or nearly deserted usually as a result of the exhaustion of some natural resource. -- Merriam-Webster dictionary The term "ghost town" conjures images of abandoned, dusty, and tumbleweed-strewn buildings in a once-bustling Wild West town founded in the 1800s. However, in the case of historic U.S. 66, ghost towns are … Continue reading Book review: “Ghost Towns of Route 66”
Now tornadoes lash Oklahoma
Just days after much of Joplin, Mo., was destroyed by a tornado, twisters are wreaking havoc in neighboring Oklahoma -- including near and in the Route 66 town of El Reno, where at least three people are dead, according to the Daily Oklahoman and other media outlets. One Oklahoma City television crew that chased the storm … Continue reading Now tornadoes lash Oklahoma
Asleep At the Wheel archives
Bobby Troup's "Route 66" has been a part of Asleep of the Wheel's concert set list for decades. In fact, the western-swing band performs it just about every night. Here's the group's original recording of that song, way back in 1976: https://youtu.be/ih7kl0sjdSM
Route 66 tattoo artist sues “Hangover Part II” studio
A tattoo artist based on Route 66 in Waynesville, Mo., is suing Warner Bros. Pictures for copyright infringement because a tattoo that actor Ed Helms sports in the upcoming comedy "The Hangover Part II" resembles the artist's original design, according to The Daily Mail in London. S. Victor Whitmill co-owns Paradox Studio and Gallery, which is … Continue reading Route 66 tattoo artist sues “Hangover Part II” studio
Joplin tornado, continued
The Joplin, Mo., tornado thread was getting long, so here's another one to keep track of developments: The death toll as of Monday evening stands at 116 people, according to the Joplin Globe, with more then 1,100 injured. Local officials estimate about a third of the city has been destroyed. The disaster is the worst … Continue reading Joplin tornado, continued