Weedpatch Camp, immortalized by John Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath," recently held its 30th and last Dust Bowl Festival on the outskirts of Bakersfield, California. Simply put, the festival is being shut down because the survivors of that calamity have gotten too old to run it. A local television station did a preview about … Continue reading End of an era: Final Dust Bowl Festival held at Weedpatch Camp
Tag: John Steinbeck
“The Bikes of Wrath” traces the Joads’ journey down Route 66
A new documentary, "The Bikes of Wrath," contains an intriguing premise -- five Australians on bicycles trace the path of the Joad family in the John Steinbeck novel "The Grapes of Wrath." PEZ Cycling News reports: The five Australian friends range in age from 24 to 35 and are a diverse lot: two were raised … Continue reading “The Bikes of Wrath” traces the Joads’ journey down Route 66
Man injured trying to rescue turtle on Route 66
A man suffered injuries Sunday while trying to move a turtle on Route 66 near Claremore, Oklahoma. The Tulsa World reported: Phillip Smith, 79, of Claremore, stopped his vehicle around 9:45 a.m. on Oklahoma 66, less than 2 miles north of Claremore, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol report. Smith was attempting to “save a … Continue reading Man injured trying to rescue turtle on Route 66
Happy 90th birthday, Route 66!
Today -- which also happens to be Veterans Day -- marks the 90th birthday of the official existence of U.S. Highway 66, better known as Route 66. Nov. 11, 1926, was the day the American Association of State Highway Officials formally adopted the 2,448-mile path from Chicago to Los Angeles and number for U.S. Highway … Continue reading Happy 90th birthday, Route 66!
Filmmaker is shooting documentary about “The Grapes of Wrath”
Filmmaker P.J. Palmer of (twenty)2 films is making a documentary movie about John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath" novel after acquiring official rights from the Steinbeck estate, according to a news release. The new documentary "The Grapes of Wrath: We Shall Overcome" began filming in New York City last month interviewing James Franco, who is currently … Continue reading Filmmaker is shooting documentary about “The Grapes of Wrath”
Book review: “On Reading The Grapes of Wrath”
I have bad news and good news about Susan Shillinglaw's "On Reading The Grapes of Wrath," a behind-the-scenes look on the writing and marketing of John Steinbeck's classic and controversial novel that marks its 75th anniversary this year. The bad news is Shillinglaw's book (paperback, 206 pages, Penguin) delves very little into the Joad family's journey on Route 66 ("the road … Continue reading Book review: “On Reading The Grapes of Wrath”
“The Grapes of Wrath” was published 75 years ago today
John Steinbeck's famous novel about the Great Depression and a family's Moses-like journey on Route 66, "The Grapes of Wrath," was published 75 years ago today. The National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, Calif., is marking the anniversary all year, and I'll post a review of a new book about the writing of the novel when … Continue reading “The Grapes of Wrath” was published 75 years ago today
Religious imagery and “The Grapes of Wrath”
Frank Gifford of rt66pix.com recently was interviewed by Susan Olasky of WORLD radio, which is part of a Christianity-based multimedia group. Gifford explained how he found Christian imagery in John Steinbeck's seminal novel, "The Grapes of Wrath," much of which takes place on Route 66 during the Depression: WORLD radio also linked to this University … Continue reading Religious imagery and “The Grapes of Wrath”
“I hate the Okies”
The folks with the National Steinbeck Center recently completed a trip on Route 66 before the 75th anniversary of the publication of John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath." The group has posted a slew of videos in the last few days. But this stands out because it's a gut-punch of how the Great Depression and … Continue reading “I hate the Okies”
Artists retrace Joads’ trip on Route 66 in “Grapes of Wrath”
John Steinbeck's novel "The Grapes of Wrath" is marking its 75th anniversary next year. To mark the occasion, three artists associated with the National Steinbeck Center in Salinas, Calif., are traveling on the real-life Route 66, starting today in Oklahoma, to trace the Joad family's trek in the book. According to the Monterey County Herald: … Continue reading Artists retrace Joads’ trip on Route 66 in “Grapes of Wrath”