I've been fortunate enough to hike inside the dormant volcano that is Amboy Crater, near Amboy, Calif. Many people have not because it's a long hike in often-dangerous heat. But, in case you haven't, here's another way to see what's inside. Here's the explanation behind this remarkable video: Jeff Parisse and Nick Ritter travel via … Continue reading An aerial view of Amboy Crater
Car-restoration TV show coming this spring
Greene HD Productions, which has produced previous programs about Route 66, has shot a reality-television series, "Reality Rides," about restoring a 1955 Buick Special. The program is set to air in spring 2011. Brian Greene says it's a 12-part series shot in high-definition video. A five-man team restored the Buick from the frame up, even … Continue reading Car-restoration TV show coming this spring
Frets and fingers
Classical guitarist Jane Rosenbohm shows some mighty impressive skills with her fingering and fretwork on this version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66."
“Interstate”
Here's a movie made a few years ago that took Route 66 elements as bits of inspiration. It's about 80 minutes, and a few breaks for advertising are sprinkled in. It's an early YouTube effort to stream movies. Fair warning: It's got a bit of adult language and adult situations, so it's probably not appropriate … Continue reading “Interstate”
Businesses urge cleanup of Amarillo Boulevard
Ordinarily I don't advocate viewing a video over a written story. But in the case of this KFDA-TV report about Amarillo Boulevard, aka Route 66, in Amarillo, Texas, it is an exception. Here's the gist: Business owners along Amarillo Boulevard are complaining about crime, crumbling sidewalks, prostitution and other alleged neglect. They think these things … Continue reading Businesses urge cleanup of Amarillo Boulevard
Route 66 photo exhibit on display near Detroit
If you live or pass through the Detroit area in the next week, you ought to go see Michael Campanelli's Rotue 66 photography exhibit in Royal Oak, Mich. According to the Detroit News, Campanelli's photos will be on display at the Shrine of the Little Flower Conference Center in Royal Oak (map here) through Aug. … Continue reading Route 66 photo exhibit on display near Detroit
Notes from the road
The documentary "Route 66: Ten Years Later" will have its debut at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Portage Theater in Chicago. Writer Tim Steil and photographer Jim Luning collaborated on their "Route 66" book during a Mother Road trip in 1999. A decade later, they decided to revisit the places they saw and see … Continue reading Notes from the road
“Cars” movie launches online community
Disney has started an online community, World of Cars Online, for fans of the hit 2006 Disney-Pixar animated movie "Cars," reported the Los Angeles Times. The reason for launching the site seems obvious. But in case you're out of the loop: The Burbank entertainment giant plans to begin revving its marketing engine for the virtual … Continue reading “Cars” movie launches online community
Sooners football owes a debt to John Steinbeck
A report by J. Robert Byrom at Bleacher Report makes a fairly compelling case of why John Steinbeck's famous Depression-era novel "The Grapes of Wrath" paved the way to the University of Oklahoma becoming a college football powerhouse, even to this day. The story is too long and multifaceted to summarize briefly here. Just go … Continue reading Sooners football owes a debt to John Steinbeck
County seeks grant to restore wooden Route 66 bridges
The Desert Dispatch reports that San Bernardino County in California is seeking a federal grant to restore old bridges on the National Old Trails Road -- an early alignment of Route 66. The county applied for a $52 million stimulus grant to replace 130 bridges that were built between 1929 and 1931 on the old … Continue reading County seeks grant to restore wooden Route 66 bridges