A closer look at Gallup November 20, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, Events, Motels, Towns.add a comment
This tourism video does a good job in showing many of the attractions of the Route 66 town of Gallup, N.M., including El Rancho Hotel and the Inter-Tribal Indian Ceremonial.
Ghost highway November 19, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Ghosts and Mysteries.1 comment so far
If you like ghost stories, you’ll love the tale told at Walkingbear’s Blog.
He swears this happened to a friend of his in 1960 as he was traveling Route 66 in Arizona and New Mexico. I commend it to your attention. You may want to keep a night light burning next to your bed before you turn in at night, however.
A visit to Devil’s Elbow November 19, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, History, Railroad, Towns.add a comment
The Southeastern Missourian has quite an essay and photos about attractions along Route 66 in Devil’s Elbow, Mo.
The most intriguing are things of which I was unfamiliar — The Trestle, which is a massive wooden railroad trestle that was built around World War II, and another large wooden trestle at the Big Piney River. Both are still standing, and are impressive.
Music video shot in Ludlow November 19, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Music, Towns.add a comment
Last November, a pop-rock band based in Atlanta, shot the video for its new single “Julie” in the Route 66 ghost town of Ludlow, Calif., which is smack dab in the middle of the Mojave Desert.
“Julie” is available as a download on iTunes. Last November will release an EP titled “tug o’war” on Jan. 26.
According to the band’s news release, the video shoot was a spontaneous decision:
Lead singer and guitarist Luke Pilgrim edited and directed the music video for “Julie” demonstrating not only his talent in music, but his talent in production as well. While on their summer 2009 tour, the band stumbled upon the little desert town of Ludlow, CA off the Historic Route 66 where on a spur of the moment, they decided to shoot the video.
I hope the band had a bite to eat at the Ludlow Cafe. It’s a 1960s gem that’s still operating.
Not just a road trip November 19, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Fashion, Road trips.1 comment so far
Here is one of French fashion designer Louis Vuitton’s Journeys. You’ll probably see familiar landmarks in this clip, titled “Once Upon a Time in the West.”
The silence of the trains November 19, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motels, Railroad.2 comments
Flagstaff, Ariz., has long sought to establish its city as a Quiet Zone to the numerous trains that go through town. City officials predict the Quiet Zone will happen sometime in 2010, reports the Arizona Daily Sun.
Trains currently sound their horns as they approach the city’s five at-grade crossings. If the crossings are upgraded, trains would no longer have to blast away — bringing relief to residents and guests at several of the city’s motels.
Construction has been delayed over the years for a number of reasons, including delays by BNSF, a stop work order from the Arizona Corporation Commission and reconsideration of Quiet Zone solutions by the Flagstaff City Council.
The latest step in the process was accomplished earlier this week when the city hired a contractor to complete the city’s portion of the construction work.
I wouldn’t set the 2010 date in concrete, however. The city has repeatedly missed deadlines for the Quiet Zones. So if you’re planning a stayover in Flagstaff at a motel near the railroad tracks, I wouldn’t put away the earplugs just yet.
Judge says porn film doesn’t infringe on “Route 66″ trademark November 18, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Movies, Television.1 comment so far
A judge earlier this month ruled against a copyright-infringement lawsuit by Roxbury Entertainment, which owns the rights to the “Route 66″ television program from the 1960s, against Penthouse Entertainment for producing a pornographic film by the same title.
The ruling can be found here. To summarize, the judge ruled that the mere use of the title “Route 66″ wasn’t enough to infringe on Roxbury’s copyright:
The relevant question, therefore, is [“]whether the [product] would confuse [consumers]…. In answering that question, we keep in mind … that the mere use of trademark alone cannot suffice to make such use explicitly misleading.[“] Here, there is nothing to indicate that there is any risk of Defendants’ use of the mark “duping” consumers into thinking they are buying a product sponsored by, or in any way affiliated with, Plaintiff or the 1960s television series in which it owns rights.
I surmised 18 months ago that the lawsuit wouldn’t prevail due to First Amendment reasons. But the ruling about copyright infringement made Penthouse’s defense of its film even more of a slamdunk than I ever suspected.
Also, I thought Roxbury’s lawsuit was ill-conceived. Porn films are cranked out by the truckload every year, and the “Route 66″ flick would have quickly sunk into obscurity like all the others. Instead, Roxbury’s lawsuit gave the film and Penthouse a lot of publicity they likely didn’t deserve.
(Hat tip: Volokh Conspiracy and Peter Black, aka PeterBlackQUT)
More and more Rhythms November 18, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Music, Restaurants, Road trips, Television.1 comment so far
Here’s another episode of Greene HD Productions‘ “Rhythms of the Road” that’s just been posted online. This is the episode that was shot at the Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas.
From Big River to the ocean November 18, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, Music, Photographs, Road trips.3 comments
Here’s one of the best slide shows I’ve seen on YouTube in a long time. Mixing a few older photos, it’s a travelogue of Route 66 from about St. Louis to the Pacific.
Music is “Route 66,” by Nat King Cole.
A visit to Winslow November 18, 2009
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, Motels, Towns.add a comment
The Out & About columnist for the Elk Grove (Calif.) Citizen traveled to the Route 66 town of Winslow, Ariz., to take in the sights.
In addition to the usual suspects such as La Posada and Standin’ on the Corner Park, the columnist also checked a couple of more obscure local attractions.
One was the Homolovi Ruins State Park, where a Hopi Indian tribe lived until about 1330 A.D. The other is Winslow Remembrance Garden, which is described here:
This site is a dedication to the tragic events of 9/11. In the center of the garden are 15-foot beams from the World Trade Center. Given to the citizens of Winslow by the city of New York, this is Northern Arizona’s promise never to forget.
More about the 9-11 Remembrance Garden can be found here.