Swing time

Here's a fresh arrangement of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" by the Beantown Swing Orchestra. UPDATE: The video has been removed. However, one of the band's members directed me to another of its performances of this tune: https://youtu.be/jvi5z-LO7Vs

Thoughts on film

Jim Luning, director of the "Route 66: Ten Years Later" documentary that will screen Thursday at the Portage Theater in Chicago, was interviewed on the Steve and Johnnie Show on WGN radio about the film this week. ---

Bringing back the Illinois prairie

I didn't know this existed, but the Montgomery County Natural Area Guardians have been diligently trying to restore an 8-acre tract off of Route 66 north of Litchfield, Ill., into its original prairie state. According to the Journal-News in nearby Hillsboro, Ill., the group will hold an annual free education day at 4 p.m. Thursday … Continue reading Bringing back the Illinois prairie

Sneak peak of Czech documentary

Here's a trailer of a documentary from the Czech Route 66 Association about the group's Route 66 trip. If you're a roadie, you're going to see a lot of people you'll recognize. The film is set to be released in October.

Fire destroys Admiral Twin Drive-In screens

A fast-burning fire on Friday afternoon destroyed the double screen of the historic Admiral Twin Drive-In theater in Tulsa. Whether the Admiral Twin, beloved by Tulsans for nearly 60 years, will reopen remained in doubt. Blake Smith, whose family has operated the drive-in near the Admiral Place alignment of Route 66 since 1987, told the … Continue reading Fire destroys Admiral Twin Drive-In screens

Saviors of the Wigwam Motel

Gary Warner of the Orange County (Calif.) Register takes a closer look at the three remaining Wigwam Motels in the United States, two of which are on Route 66. The third is in Cave City, Ky. All of the motels are praiseworthy. But the one that receives the most accolades is the Wigwam in San … Continue reading Saviors of the Wigwam Motel

Booklet on Tulsa’s neon signs to be published

The Tulsa Foundation for Architecture and Leadership Tulsa are publishing a booklet about the city's historic neon signs, including many on Route 66. The booklet, "Tulsa Vintage Neon Signs," will be distributed during a release party at one of the sites of a historic sign, El Rancho Grande restaurant on Route 66, at 5-6:45 p.m. … Continue reading Booklet on Tulsa’s neon signs to be published

Joplin marathon attracts runners from far and wide

The inaugural Mother Road Marathon that's set to run from Commerce, Okla., to Joplin, Mo., on Oct. 10 has already attracted 1,000 entrants from 34 states, according to the Joplin Globe. The event includes the full 26.2-mile marathon, a half-marathon, and a fun run. To attract that many runners with weeks to go before a … Continue reading Joplin marathon attracts runners from far and wide

Gallop to Gallup

Because The Huffington Post is primarily serves as a political site, I ordinarily don't surf there. But this decidedly nonpartisan post by travel writer Karen Tina Harrison serves as good overview of the Route 66 town of Gallup, N.M. It contains plenty of photos, and shout-outs to El Rancho Hotel and Richardson's trading post. Harrison … Continue reading Gallop to Gallup