Joe Loesch and singer Don King, who front a musical group called The Road Crew, have written and recorded a song "The Road to Amarillo," specifically for the upcoming International Route 66 Festival in Amarillo, Texas. You can hear the song here: A few years ago, The Road Crew recorded an album specifically about Route … Continue reading Song written for upcoming Route 66 festival
Photo-op building in Kingman is demolished
A building in Kingman, Ariz., that was decorated in a Harley-Davidson motorcycle theme and often used as a photo opportunity by Route 66 travelers was torn down Thursday, reported the Kingman Daily Miner. The building was owned by the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe railroad. The structure had fallen into disrepair, including part of its roof being … Continue reading Photo-op building in Kingman is demolished
Motel time again
I'm positive they shot much of this video at the Route 66 Motel in Barstow, Calif. Check out the motel sign at the 1:14 mark and compare it to this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_TJeDmHYx8 Appropriately enough, the name of the band is The Western States Motel.
Midway point of what?
Amarillo Globe-News writer Lee Passmore discovered that the Route 66 hamlet of Bushland, Texas, apparently sits on the exact halfway point between Los Angeles and Chicago. While I was on the Net looking for high school baseball schedules (only eight days after four inches of snow covered the ground), I somehow found myself on the … Continue reading Midway point of what?
Joliet museum receives $25,000 grant
The Joliet Area Historical Museum in Joliet, Ill., received a $25,000 grant for audio-visual projects, according to the Joliet Herald-News. The museum’s audio-visual improvement project includes the installation of state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment in the auditorium and in the Route 66 Visitors Center. [...] In 2010, the museum and visitors center welcomed nearly 24,000 visitors from 37 … Continue reading Joliet museum receives $25,000 grant
A tour of Cajon Pass
This is an enticing opportunity for history buffs. Historian Nicholas Cataldo will lead an all-day expedition at Southern California's Cajon Pass, which once carried Route 66, on March 12. According to San Bernardino County Sun columnist John Weeks: "Exploring the Cajon Pass: Gateway to the San Bernardino Valley" is offered through Cal State San Bernardino's … Continue reading A tour of Cajon Pass
Special delivery
A couple of filmmakers plan a documentary, "Bring It 2 Peter," about a misaddressed fan letter to "Easy Rider" actor Peter Fonda and a planned partial road trip on Route 66. According to the Melany Joy Beck and Janelle Sorenson: This letter literally fell in our laps a few months ago. We were charmed with the … Continue reading Special delivery
Santa Rosa newspaper surviving just fine, thank you
About 15 months ago, Route 66 News and other media outlets reported about M.E. Sprengelmeyer, a former reporter for the defunct Rocky Mountain News, and his purchase of the Guadalupe County Communicator in Santa Rosa, N.M. Sprengelmeyer said he still had faith that print newspapers could survive, and staked his life's savings on it. A … Continue reading Santa Rosa newspaper surviving just fine, thank you
An inside look at Pixar Studios
Just sit back and watch this very rare, behind-the-scenes look at Pixar Animation Studios: https://vimeo.com/20014229 Here's the New York Times story that accompanies the video. But the video more than suffices. If you're a newcomer to this site, Pixar produced the Route 66-themed film, "Cars," in 2006. Pixar is producing a sequel, "Cars 2," that … Continue reading An inside look at Pixar Studios
Event revives the Bunion Derby
One of the fabled moments of Route 66 history was 1928's Transcontinental Foot Race, better known as the Bunion Derby. Going more than 3,200 miles from Los Angeles to New York City, it gave early publicity to the fledgling U.S. Highway 66 and provided fame and $25,000 in prize money to Oklahoma native Andy Payne, … Continue reading Event revives the Bunion Derby