Author Michael Wallis will be interviewed Wednesday by Steven Colbert on The Comedy Channel's "The Colbert Report." Wallis says Colbert wants to discuss Wallis' recently published "The Lincoln Highway" book and other old roads -- presumably Route 66 one of them. Wallis is familiar with Colbert's sly satire, so don't expect him to get ambushed. … Continue reading Michael Wallis to appear on “The Colbert Report”
“Sarge” toy recalled because of lead paint
Mattel announced today it is voluntarily recalling 436,000 Sarge toys from the "Cars" movie because of elevated levels of lead paint by a Chinese subcontractor. According to the company's release: The recall of the Sarge toy results from Mattel's increased investigation and ongoing testing procedures following the recall of select Fisher-Price toys on August 1, … Continue reading “Sarge” toy recalled because of lead paint
Red Cedar Inn may be converted into museum
Personally, I'd rather have the Red Cedar Inn in Pacific, Mo., which closed in March 2005 and remains for sale, reopen as a restaurant. But this story from the Tri-County Journal indicates that the city is considering another option: Pacific officials are eyeing a longtime Route 66 landmark as a potential new home for the … Continue reading Red Cedar Inn may be converted into museum
Images from the road
Here's a new slide show of art and photos from Route 66. I don't know what singer or band is doing that jazzy version of "Route 66." If you know who it is, chime in in the comments section.
Tow Tater vandalized
Tow Tater, the 1951 International boom truck (shown above in May) that was a primary inspiration for Mater in the movie "Cars," was vandalized late Friday or early Saturday in front of the 1940s-era gas station that's become a Route 66 welcome center in Galena, Kan. Melba Rigg, one of the Four Women on the … Continue reading Tow Tater vandalized
Historic theater soon will close
The Rialto Theatre in South Pasadena, Calif., recently announced that its last day of operation will be Aug. 19. The Rialto, built in 1925, is on the Fair Oaks alignment of Route 66. According to the theater's MySpace site: Sadly we have to end with the Simpsons. So if you want to see the Simpsons … Continue reading Historic theater soon will close
Light and motion
I've posted this video of the animated neon rotosphere on top of El Comedor restaurant in Moriarty, N.M., on Route 66 simply because I liked it. Travel blogger Ace Jackelope posted it on YouTube yesterday for a future news item. On a related note, Debra Jane Seltzer of the terrific Roadside Architecture site informs us … Continue reading Light and motion
A struggle to preserve what’s left
The Chicago Tribune today tells about Route 66's struggles to preserve its historic motels. The article focuses on the closed and deteriorating Palamar Motel in Pontiac, of which a recent photo of it can be seen here. The Tribune lays out the dilemmas: But old motor lodges present trickier problems because they are larger and … Continue reading A struggle to preserve what’s left
Riding for peace
The Pontiac Daily Leader caught up with Vietnam War veteran Lane Anderson as he and other members of Veterans for Peace ride bicycles down old Route 66 from Chicago to St. Louis to attend an anti-war convention. Anderson is an environmentalist -- not because he's a treehugger, but so America will use less oil and … Continue reading Riding for peace
Triangle Motel rehab continues
About a year ago, Alan McNeil purchased the long-closed and long-neglected Triangle Motel on old Route 66 in Amarillo, Texas. It had been condemned, but the city gave a one-year moratorium if McNeil could show progress was being made in the cleanup. A review of the progress is coming shortly, reports the Amarillo Globe-News (free … Continue reading Triangle Motel rehab continues