CNN.com posted a story about the origins of certain food items. For the corn dog, it listed the Cozy Dog Drive-In in Springfield, Ill.: In 1946, Ed Waldmire, Jr., revolutionized the stick-meat world when he debuted the Cozy Dog -- the first corn dog on a stick. At first, he wanted to call his creation … Continue reading Where the corn dog was born
A chat with George Maharis
Early in a phone interview with "Route 66" television series co-star George Maharis, I acknowledged to him that I had never seen episodes of the early 1960s drama until I received an advance copy of the upcoming re-release on DVD. Maharis made a startling admission: Neither had he. "It was the first time I'd seen … Continue reading A chat with George Maharis
Side trips in Missouri
This video makes stops in the remarkable Red Oak II complex near Carthage, Mo. The one guy interviewed keeps calling it "Red Oaks II" for some reason. It also checks out the neon in Lebanon, Mo., focusing mostly on the Munger Moss Motel and recently revived Wrink's Market.
One from the archives
This is a news-station story from 2004 about Irv's Burgers on Santa Monica Boulevard (aka Route 66) in West Hollywood, Calif. At the time, Irv's was endangered by development. But customers and preservationists banded together to give it historic landmark status and protection. Irv's Burgers has its own Web site here.
An enjoyable stop on the dial
I was able to listen to a good chunk of the premiere of Randy Raley's "Route 66 of KMOX" show on Saturday night on the St. Louis flagship station -- both online, and on the airwaves at 1120 on the AM dial. It was about as good as I'd hoped. There were familiar tunes in … Continue reading An enjoyable stop on the dial
A look at Oklahoma City
Lonely Planet focuses its tourism lens at Oklahoma's state capital, with the perspective of a former resident, Robert Reid. Oklahoma City indeed has seen breathtaking changes since the trauma of the terrorist bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in 1995, which is now the site of the Oklahoma City National Memorial. Many of … Continue reading A look at Oklahoma City
Grand opening for Route 66 Visitors Center
I was pressed for time, but I managed to stick around for about an hour or so to shoot pictures the grand opening Saturday of the new Kansas Route 66 Visitors Center in Baxter Springs. The visitors center is located at 10th and Military (aka Route 66). It's housed in a 1930 gas station that … Continue reading Grand opening for Route 66 Visitors Center
Firefighter finishes ride across America
Laddie Williams, the firefighter who was bicycling across America (including Route 66) to raise money for the surviving relatives of nine firefighters who died in a furniture store blaze, finished his trek. The Post and Courier in Charleston, S.C., reports: After dodging a snake in Oklahoma, a vicious dog in Arkansas and a hit-and-run driver … Continue reading Firefighter finishes ride across America
The man behind Cadillac Ranch
The Austin American-Statesman published a good article about Stanley Marsh 3, the helium magnate who came up with the idea behind Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas, in 1974. Marsh bought the old cars from junkyards, paying $100 to $125 each. Some didn't have engines; most couldn't run. But from the waist down, they were gorgeous. … Continue reading The man behind Cadillac Ranch
Don’t try this at home, kids
Pole-vault aficionados B.J. and Becca try their luck vaulting onto the tops of the planted cars that are part of the Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo, Texas. At least they didn't try to vault over the cars, where no landing pad awaited them.