Route 66 featured in Australian program October 25, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Television, Vehicles.2 comments
Readers in Australia may be interested to know that “Classic Restos,” a show devoted to restoring classic cars, recently wrapped filming of new episodes on Route 66.
The show is hosted by Mark Fletcher, and airs on Channel 31, a nonprofit station based in Melbourne. It airs in the major Australian cities and in New Zealand.
According to Southern Highland News:
He has just returned from a 19-day trip to the US where he drove along the famous Route 66 to film four half-hour episodes, which will run in addition to the regular series just before Christmas.
“It was a brilliant trip; one I’ve wanted to do for the past 20 years,” Mr Fletcher said.
“We had a massive three days in Vegas, then drove a 1966 Cadillac through Nevada, across Arizona to Kingman, then Williams, took in the sights of the Grand Canyon, stood on the corner at Winslow, Arizona, Gallup, Santa Rosa, Amarillo, Stroud, ventured through Kansas, Texas, then ended up in Memphis, Tennessee at Gracelands.
“The trip wound to a close at Nashville where we spent the last couple of days.”
Fletcher hopes the show eventually airs in the United States. The show also can be viewed on the Internet here.
Please keep Route 66 clean October 25, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Religion.1 comment so far
Here’s the latest edition of “Route 66: A Road Trip Through the Bible,” which covers the Book of Ecclesiastes.
I’m surprised Solomon and his valet aren’t pulled over for littering.
A postcard of Elkhart October 25, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in History, Restaurants, Towns.add a comment
Dave Bakke of the Springfield (Ill.) State Journal-Register has been writing a series for the newspaper called Illinois Postcards, which delve historical and social facets of the town. Today, the latest edition is about the Route 66 town of Elkhart.
One of the most notable things about Elkhart is a hill that stands 777 feet above sea level, called Elkhart Hill. That doesn’t sound like much, but it stands out amid the flat Illinois prairie.
Second, Elkhart’s always been a draw to historical figures, it seems.
That started with Abraham Lincoln, who stayed in a hotel on the hill.
Lincoln was followed by champion marksman A.H. Bogardus, credited with creating the sport of skeet shooting. Buffalo Bill Cody was a frequent visitor to Bogardus’ home. Civil War hero Richard Oglesby lived there and went on to become Illinois’ first three-term governor and served one term in the U.S. Senate. Adlai Stevenson wrote a campaign speech on Elkhart Hill.
Oglesby and Gillett are both buried in a cemetery on the hill.
Incidentally, Elkhart was officially known as Elkhart City until 1979, when residents voted to change the name. Apparently locals already had been referring to it as simply “Elkhart” anyway.
Also noteworthy: Horsefeathers, an antiques and gift shop on the main business district a block east of Route 66, is planning to open a Route 66-themed restaurant.
More about Elkhart can be found here.
Weirding out October 24, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Businesses.1 comment so far
Borrowing a well-known slogan from Austin, Texas, a couple have stated their desire to “Make Sixth Street Weird” in Amarillo, reports the Amarillo Globe-News.
From the story …
Ryan Koch and Kaylee Hamill are the founders of Make Sixth Street Weird, an effort aimed at promoting events and businesses on the historic thoroughfare, which is part of U.S. Route 66.
The area, situated in the San Jacinto neighborhood between McMasters and Western streets, suffers from a negative reputation, Hamill said. [...]
“We’re just trying to get people back down here,” he said. “This area offers so much to do and see, but people just don’t know about it.” [...]
Besides promoting and hosting events, Koch and Hamill said they also want the campaign to bring attention to businesses on Sixth Avenue.
The mile-long stretch of road includes everything from restaurants and bars to tattoo parlors and antique stores, plus some lesser-known businesses such as the Moon Lotus Dance Co. and the Cowboy Gelato shop, Koch and Hamill said.
One of the first events Make Sixth Street Weird is promoting is the Sixth Street Creepy Crawl on Halloween. The event includes a $5 wristband that provides discounts at participating businesses, and will include other activities. Other events are being planned for the spring and summer.
A merchant quoted in the story was concerned that the group’s efforts would attract only young kids, which made me want to bang my head against the wall. Wouldn’t it seem sensible from a long-term business standpoint to draw young potential customers, as they tend to live a lot longer?
Make Sixth Street Weird’s Twitter site is here, its Facebook site is here, its MySpace site is here, and its main Web site is here.
Meramec River Bridge named to National Register October 24, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Bridges, History, Preservation, Towns.2 comments
The old bridge that carried U.S. 66 over the Meramec River at the former town of Times Beach, Mo., was recently named to the National Register of Historic Places, according to an e-mail Friday from the National Park Service.
The bridge now serves to carry travelers into Route 66 State Park. According to the excellent Bridgehunter site, the Meramec River U.S. 66 bridge was built in 1931 and is more than 1,000 feet long. The bridge also was known as the Times Beach Bridge.
Incidentally, Route 66 State Park is an excellent place for a roadie to visit. The main offices are housed in the former Bridgehead Inn, a 1930s-era roadhouse that now contains a lot of Route 66 memorabilia and a well-stocked gift shop. More about the state park can be read here.
Times Beach was evacuated in the 1980s because of dioxin contamination during a flood. After the tainted soil was incinerated, the land was converted into a state park. More about the Times Beach saga can be read here.
Shakespeare in the raw October 23, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Events, Theaters.add a comment
Theatre group Avenue 10 in Amarillo will stage an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.” The unique thing is the actors are reportedly going to perform at least parts of the play nude, according to KFDA-TV.
It’s going to be titled “Midsummer Night’s Nude.”
And, yes, this story has a Route 66 connection. It’s going to be performed at the Route 66 Party and Event Rental at 413 Sixth Ave. (aka Route 66) in Amarillo.
Avenue 10′s MySpace site has a quick description of its version of the play:
Avenue 10 takes on William Shakespeare’s beloved comedy classic, presented in true kicka– style! What happens when elves, fairies, and the like intrude on the lives of ordinary, unsuspecting humans? Leave the kiddies at home and find out!
A perusal of Avenue 10′s other productions shows it isn’t afraid of edgy — or ambitious — material. For example, the group is tackling “Angels in America” next year.
A local resident isn’t happy about the upcoming play:
David Grisham of Raven Ministries says, “If you are basically stripping your clothes off on stage and you’re charging money for it, you’re basically operating like one of the strip clubs, like Beavers or something like that. And we think that should be covered under the adult business ordinance.”
The venue itself has seen controversy before. Protests were launched there for parties that allegedly included swinging, or the swapping of sexual partners.
However, Avenue 10′s spokesman was vague on how much nudity there would be during the show.
Sirc Michaels, the theatre group’s communication person says, “Man sort of basically goes back to nature, everything is stripped from him, which is where we get the nude from. And how much nude there is, you’ll have to see the show.” [...]
Michaels says, “If it’s going to cause people to think and provoke them, well then, that’s what art should do. This is William Shakespeare and it’s stirring controversy in Amarillo. It’s really kind of cool.”
Moments of getting naked aren’t unheard-of in stage shows — “Equus” is an example.
However, Michaels’ coy response suggests there may be little to no nudity in the play. Maybe the “nude” actors will be wearing flesh-colored body stockings. Maybe the production is going to be emotionally naked, and the vague reports of nudity are a publicity stunt. If nothing particularly strange happens during the production, Grisham and his quick-to-react cohorts are going to look pretty foolish.
If you’re curious about what’s going to happen during “Midsummer Night’s Nude,” the first performance is at 8 p.m. Nov. 13.
Tulsa’s fabulous Warehouse Market October 23, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, Businesses, History, Preservation.add a comment
The Journal Record published an excellent story about the historic Warehouse Market building, an art deco gem, on 11th Street (aka Route 66) in Tulsa.
Built in 1929, the building was designed by B. Gaylord Nofstger with lots of terra cotta.
Its entryway borrowed heavily from the famous patterns used with Chicago’s Commercial Building, mixing neo-classical medallions and geometric designs cast in blue, green, red and gold. Nofstger lifted the terra cotta into the spreading parapet, then leapt past the vertical yellow brick tower to crown it with a variety of blue, red and white crisscross designs against a vine motif and several Native American elements.
The Warehouse Market building became Club Lido for a short time, hosting Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman and Duke Ellington. After that, it became a grocery again until the 1970s, when it closed and started to deteriorate. But here’s probably the most remarkable part of the Warehouse Market building story:
In 1993 Home Depot acquired the 14-acre site, clearing out the open-air markets for construction of a downtown store. But the chain preserved the 10,000-square-foot Warehouse Market, spending more than $1 million to repair the structure.
We at Route 66 don’t often praise large chain stores, as their approach to historic preservation is frequently nonexistent. However, Home Depot did the right thing here. If Home Depot hadn’t gone the extra mile, it’s very doubtful the building would still be here to enthrall Route 66 travelers.
A look at the Warehouse Market by Google Street View can be seen here.