A few days ago, there was a story about the world's largest rocking chair on Route 66. Now there's the world's tallest motorcycle. The inaugural Berdoo Bikes & Blues Rendezvous, an offshoot of the Route 66 Rendezvous in San Bernardino, Calif., will have the "Dream Big" motorcycle at the event on May 2-3, reports the … Continue reading Riding tall
The Mill makes state’s most-endangered list
The Mill on old Route 66 in Lincoln, Ill., was named today to Landmarks Illinois' 10 Most Endangered Historic Places, according to the Lincoln Courier. It's ironic that The Mill makes the list now. It's much less endangered than it was 18 months ago, when the city was about to knock it down because of … Continue reading The Mill makes state’s most-endangered list
Neon highway
Here's a new video that shows many of the current neon icons of Route 66.
Route 66 historian’s book about Pete Seeger reissued
David King Dunaway, a professor at the University of New Mexico, has done a lot of historic research about Route 66 and helped others do the same with his oral history workshops. He also produced the excellent the "Across the Tracks: A Route 66 Story" for radio. We've met Dave at just about every significant … Continue reading Route 66 historian’s book about Pete Seeger reissued
World’s largest rocking chair set up in Missouri
First off, this is not an April Fools' Day joke. Today, a rocking chair that's 46 feet tall was set up on old Route 66 four miles west of Cuba, Mo. It's next to the Fanning U.S. 66 Outpost & General Store in the tiny settlement of Fanning. According to the news release, the big … Continue reading World’s largest rocking chair set up in Missouri
Vince Gill has new song set on Route 66
Country Music Hall of Famer Vince Gill performed an intimate concert in Oklahoma City on Thursday night, partly as a fundraiser to renovate the auditorium for the city's public schools and partly to receive the 2007 Oklahoman of the Year Award from Oklahoma Today magazine. Here's the interesting item about the show, straight from Gill's … Continue reading Vince Gill has new song set on Route 66
Grooving with the King
Here's a slightly different version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66" by Nat King Cole, a decade after he hit the charts with it. This is off King's all-jazz "After Midnight" album in 1956. This take on "Route 66" also features excellent playing by Harry "Sweets" Edison on trumpet John Collins on guitar. In this sound … Continue reading Grooving with the King
Second thoughts
According to the information with the video, this is a student film shot at Dry Creek Station on old Route 66 east of Barstow, Calif. It's not an earth-shattering story, but it serves to show the value of slowing down and thinking about things -- a Mother Road attribute if there ever was one. Incidentally, … Continue reading Second thoughts
Two guitar heroes
Here on this version of Bobby Troup's "Route 66," you get not one, but two talented guitar-slingers in Popa Chubby (the bald, portly one) and Arthur Neilson. Great stuff.
Football promotion for Mother Roaders
If you like football and the Mother Road, the Oklahoma Route 66 Association has an event for you. The Oklahoma City Yard Dawgz of the Arena Football 2 league, along with POPS in nearby Arcadia, are hosting a Route 66 Night on April 27. Association members can purchase tickets for $5 off. Members can buy … Continue reading Football promotion for Mother Roaders