Longtime Tulsans know about him, and those who attended the awards banquet during the 2004 Route 66 Festival probably remember him. This is Chuck Cissel, performing "Route 66" at the Riverparks Amphitheater in Tulsa. Cissel forged a nice career on Broadway and the music industry before returning to his hometown. Cissel is also CEO of … Continue reading Hello from Tulsa
Museum acquires Wishing Well Motel memorabilia
The Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame and Museum has acquired memorabilia from the razed Wishing Well Motel in Countryside, Ill., including the wishing well itself, reports the Bloomington Pantagraph. The motel, which was built in 1941, was owned and operated by father and son Charles and Emil Vidas and their wives. Charles’ wife, Zora … Continue reading Museum acquires Wishing Well Motel memorabilia
Notes from the road
We went on a brief trip from Tulsa to Tucumcari, N.M., over the weekend. Here are a few notes from that trip: The Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, has printed a new edition of "Ugly Crust Pies," a collection of favorite recipes from the restaurant. It's a color, spiral-bound cookbook that goes for $13.99 in … Continue reading Notes from the road
New murals at the Blue Swallow
Bill Kinder, co-owner of the Blue Swallow Motel on Route 66 in Tucumcari, N.M., showed us new murals that recently were painted by a traveling artist. These murals are painted inside the garages that are next to the rooms. The murals really bring vibrant color in an unexpected place.
Updates from Kingman
Jim Hinckley, an author and roadie in Kingman, Ariz., recently sent me Route 66 updates regarding his town. Demolition has begun on a block of several moribund and closed businesses on Route 66, including the City Cafe, the Imperial Motel and a Texaco gas station that dated to the 1940s. A Walgreens drug store is … Continue reading Updates from Kingman
A road trip on Leviticus
The latest chapter of "Route 66: A Road Trip through the Bible" is Leviticus, a book in which the pastor apparently acknowledges is tedious. I don't think it's terribly safe to barbecue goat in a convertible, however.
Salute to a King
Today is what would have been the 90th birthday of singer and jazz pianist Nat King Cole, whose version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" became a big hit in 1946 and helped inspire generations to explore the Mother Road. A number of news outlets have published tributes to the man, including the Los Angeles Times, … Continue reading Salute to a King
Space cowboy
The Examiner.com has posted an article about the Thomas P. Stafford Air & Space Museum on Route 66 in Weatherford, Okla. The museum pays tribute to Weatherford native Stafford, who logged six NASA missions and more than 500 hours in space, including the first manned flight to the moon. The museum is a complete air … Continue reading Space cowboy
Book review: “Roadside USA: Route 66 and Beyond”
"Roadside USA: Route 66 and Beyond" by Shellee Graham and Jim Ross (64 pages, Ghost Town Press, $10.95) isn't strictly a book as much as a bound collection of their vibrant travel photographs in postcard form. The 30 postcards are detachable from the binding so you can mail them to friends and family. However, "Roadside … Continue reading Book review: “Roadside USA: Route 66 and Beyond”
Skippy’s restaurant keeps making improvements
Skippy's Route 66 Restaurant, near the Mother Road in Leasburg, Mo., has a new sign to beckon travelers and will open its Gravel Bar patio for the season next month. Skippy's is a story of a proprietor learning on the job and making continual improvements. From a news release: The Gravel Bar boasts its own … Continue reading Skippy’s restaurant keeps making improvements