Jim Conkle and others have set a tentative schedule for the 2008 Route 66 Caravan. According to the caravan Web site, the west-to-east trek starts April 22 in Santa Monica, Calif., and ends June 17-23 at the Route 66 Festival in Litchfield, Ill. The caravan also will hit a few spots on the Mother Road … Continue reading Route 66 Caravan schedule set
Nominations being taken for Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame
The Illinois Route 66 Association is taking nominations for the state's Route 66 Hall of Fame through Feb. 29. According to this news release in the Morris (Ill.) Daily Herald: They can be submitted to Route 66 Association of Illinois, Attention Hall of Fame Committee, 110 W. Howard St., Pontiac, Ill. 61764. Deadline for nominations … Continue reading Nominations being taken for Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame
A songwriter and Route 66 convert dies
John Stewart, 68, died of a brain aneurism on Saturday. He was best-known as a member of the Kingston Trio and the writer of "Daydream Believer," a hit single for the Monkees and Anne Murray that was covered by dozens of other artists. In this obituary from the Associated Press, I learned he had a … Continue reading A songwriter and Route 66 convert dies
Charmingly crude animation
A YouTube poster named Valvagia makes crude animation videos of a stick character named Mr. Man. Valvagia just posed Mr. Man's interpretation of John Mayer's version of "Route 66." Be on the lookout for the lighter scene.
Bono’s restaurant named to National Register
Bono's Restaurant and Deli at 15395 Foothill Blvd., aka Route 66, in Fontana, Calif., was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, effective Jan. 10. The National Park Service made the announcement in an e-mail Friday evening. Bono's also was the longtime home to the Bono's Historic Orange stand, an orange-shaped building that was … Continue reading Bono’s restaurant named to National Register
Route 66 photo exhibit in Colorado
If you live in Colorado, you can get a taste of the Mother Road without leaving the state. Shellee Graham's exhibit, "Return to Route 66: Photographs from the Mother Road," will be at the Longmont Museum and Cultural Center in Longmont from Saturday through March 9. The Longmont Daily Times-Call published a good article about … Continue reading Route 66 photo exhibit in Colorado
A look at the ol’ Mother Road
An outfit called Trumbly Productions posted this short documentary about Route 66 in Oklahoma, especially in the western half of the state. You also get a look inside the National Route 66 Museum in Elk City.
A chat with Kirk Hallam
This week, I talked on the phone with Kirk Hallam, owner and president of Roxbury Entertainment. We talked about the company's DVD re-releases of the "Route 66" television series and an upcoming "Route 66" film, based on the 1960s TV show, that he is producing. A lot of interesting information was revealed by Hallam during … Continue reading A chat with Kirk Hallam
Judge urges compromise with El Vado Motel
Here's a brief from Wednesday's Albuquerque Journal about the continuing fight to preserve El Vado Motel: A state district judge advised developer Richard Gonzales and the city of Albuquerque on Tuesday to seek a compromise in their dispute over El Vado Motel. Gonzales is seeking a demolition permit to tear down at least part of … Continue reading Judge urges compromise with El Vado Motel
Oral history
Vic Plunk has lived near the Rock Island railroad line and Route 66 at Grey's Corner, Texas, just west of Amarillo, for many years. Grey's Corner isn't listed on maps, but Vic's Happy Tracks Horse Motel is near Exit 60 of Interstate 40. In addition to telling his steam-engine memories, he points out the old, … Continue reading Oral history