British celebrity couple is traveling Route 66 November 30, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Music, People, Road trips, Television.8 comments
A celebrity couple from Great Britain is traveling on a portion of the Mother Road for three weeks, according to a story in The Daily Mirror of London.
Jason Orange, a member of the UK-based pop band Take That, and British comedian Catherine Tate reportedly are dating, and decided to take some time together on Route 66.
The newspaper said:
The shy couple, who are still trying not to parade their affection, are heading towards their first Christmas together in a ‘57 Chevy (probably) taking in Illinois, New Mexico, Texas and California.
A pal of the pair says: “Jason and Catherine wanted to get away from it all now their relationship is out in the open.
“They wanted somewhere off the beaten track where they can spend some quality time together, so decided to take a three-week vacation.
“They both loved the idea of a long break with just the two of them and the road.”
I confess to never hearing about either Orange or Tate before this report. So there’s a certain good sense for them to travel Route 66 — except for the British accents, they’re probably not going to attract any unusual attention here in the States.
At the least, they’re not going to find any paparazzi until perhaps Los Angeles. It’s safe to say a photographer won’t pop out of the bushes in, say, Glenrio.
Orange and Tate certainly will be more incognito than Paul McCartney, when he and his future wife Nancy Shevell traveled much of Route 66 in 2008. Even then, McCartney and Shevell managed to drive from Chicago to Oklahoma before attracting much media attention.
I wonder whether Orange and Tate got their idea of traveling Route 66 from “Billy Connolly’s Route 66″ on UK television a few weeks ago. The four-part series drew high ratings, and it’s likely it will spur a new wave of British travelers on the Mother Road in 2012, if not sooner.
Kansas Route 66 attains Historic Byway status November 29, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Gas stations, Highways, Movies, Preservation.add a comment
The Kansas portion of historic Route 66 has been designated as a Kansas Historic Byway, according to a news release today from the Kansas Department of Transportation.
The designation applies to all 13 miles of Route 66 in southeastern Kansas, including older alignments. As a result, the route will feature Kansas Scenic Byway signs (example here), be placed on the National Scenic Byways listing, and be included on the Kansas Scenic Byways website.
Also, the designation will enable the route to be eligible for federal grants to enhance and/or promote the byway.
The news release said:
“The designation of Kansas Historic Route 66 will emphasize the important significance of the route in this area for visitors and local residents, encouraging them to drive the route and explore the communities along it,” said Scott Shields, Kansas State Byways Coordinator.
An historic byway must have resources that are historically significant, be numerous, visible and have a setting or character that is complementary to the resources. “We are excited to add Historic Route 66 to the Kansas Byway collection. The route designation provides travelers a chance to view the relationship between the history of the original highway and the landscape and structures that define the area, in a combined effort to promote tourism and economic development, while exploring the natural and cultural importance of the byway communities,” Shields said.
Renee Charles of Galena and Marla Larison of Baxter Springs serve as co-chairs of the Kansas Historic Route 66 Byway Planning Committee.
Charles is one of the proprietors of 4 Women on the Route in Galena, which has become a significant Route 66 attraction. The business serves as a combination restaurant and tourism center in a refurbished Kan-O-Tex gas station. Also, a 1951 International boom truck that served as a major inspiration to Mater in the Disney-Pixar films “Cars” and “Cars 2″ is displayed at 4 Women on the Route.
Kansas joins Oklahoma, Missouri, Illinois, Arizona, and New Mexico as states which have earned National Scenic Byway or All-American Road designations along their stretches of Route 66.
The only holdouts left are Texas and California, and the Golden State probably will join the byways program soon upon the completion of a comprehensive study of Route 66 in California.
Roadie enters Phillips 66 Local Legends contest November 29, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Businesses, Road trips, Vehicles.4 comments
Rich Dinkela, a Route 66 enthusiast based in St. Louis and proprietor of HookedOnRoute66.com, has entered a video in Phillips 66′s Local Legends contest.
Among the prizes is one year of free gasoline, which Dinkela says he’ll use for his customized and heavily autographed “Route 66 Adventure Truck” on future trips. On his blog, he said:
I have decided to enter a contest showing some of my efforts and talents to keep Route 66 alive. This video demonstrates to Phillips that I put a lot of energy and talent into marking roads, documenting old alignments, and commemorating iconic figures that are also directly involved with keeping Route 66 alive.
Interestingly, Phillips Petroleum Co. developed its gasoline in 1927 during testing on Route 66 in Oklahoma. Because the car was purring along at 66 mph on U.S. 66, it was decided to name the gasoline Phillips 66.
You can vote for Dinkela’s video here (registration is required). Voting will continue through Dec. 4.
UPDATE: I placed another version of the video in the post. The other clip had been moved into “Private” mode.
Lake Overholser Bridge November 28, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Bridges, Music, Preservation.add a comment
The historic Lake Overholser Bridge in western Oklahoma City was reopened to traffic a few weeks ago, as this new video clip shows:
Music is by The Road Crew.
UPDATE: Concidentally, here’s another angle from the bridge that was just posted from another YouTube account:
Latest Tucumcari gas-station makeover is complete November 28, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Gas stations, Preservation.add a comment
The latest old gas station in Tucumcari, N.M., to receive a makeover has been completed.
This building, which now houses Four Season Pest Control, has been repainted to resemble an old-time Magnolia station.
A group of volunteers has given nostalgic paint jobs to more than a half-dozen abandoned or repurposed gas stations along Route 66 in Tucumcari. It’s a cheap way to dress up eyesore properties along the Mother Road. Such an effort deserves to be copied.
Tucumcari also will host its annual Christmas Parade of Lights on Saturday night, Dec. 17.
(Photo courtesy of Richard Talley)
Santa Rosa newspaper makes a sequel November 27, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Publications, Sports.add a comment
Last year about this time, the Guadalupe County Communicator newspaper, based in Santa Rosa, N.M., printed a special edition in case its local high-school football won the state championship.
To top it off, the newspaper timed it so the congratulatory edition would actually be distributed at the game the minute the state title was won. The publisher took a gamble, risking $700 in printing expenses that Santa Rosa would win. If the team lost, the special edition would be quietly tossed into a Dumpster.
On Saturday, Santa Rosa — and the Communicator — did it again. The Lions defeated previously unbeaten Eunice 21-14, with the winning touchdown scored with less than a minute remaining. And a congratulatory edition was distributed immediately after the game.
You can see the front page of the special edition in this Facebook post.
And, at 3:35 in this video recap of the game, you can see a Santa Rosa player showing off that special edition:
The Communicator, as you may recall, is owned by M.E. Sprengelmeyer, who lost his job as a reporter for the Rocky Mountain News when the newspaper went belly-up in early 2009. He argued that newspapers could still be financially viable and took a gamble on a struggling weekly newspaper in Santa Rosa.
More than two years later, it appears he’s succeeding. The Communicator recently took home about two dozen awards at the state’s newspaper-excellence contest. His advertising percentages in the newspaper continue to hover at a healthy 50 percent level. And, with such stunts as Saturday’s, he’s adding excitement to the community.
A tourism director worth watching November 26, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in People, Towns.add a comment
Those who are in charge of chambers of commerce on Route 66 probably should observe closely the guy who’s just been hired for the same sort of job in Springfield, Ill. — Fred Puglia.
Puglia still needs City Council approval to be named chief of the Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. But, rest assured, the Council will sail it through if it knows anything about his background, especially in the region. One of the events he’s promoted was the International Route 66 Mother Road Festival in Springfield, a one-time event that became so popular, it’s now annual.
The State Journal-Register reports:
Puglia said Friday his goal is to take city tourism to a new level, but he intends to start cautiously. [...]
He knows the job won’t be easy, because Springfield competes against other popular nearby convention destinations — Peoria, Chicago and St. Louis — for tourism dollars.
“My experience tells me that I have to be careful,” Puglia said. “Everything that I’ve done is based on tourism, how many people you can draw into your event or into your community, so I’m just thinking that if I do it by the book it all will work out.”
Honestly, I don’t expect Puglia to be cautious. His crowning achievement, the Decatur Celebration in Decatur, Ill., worked because he was bold. I lived in the region at the time the festival began, and this description of its history rings true:
In 1986 ….
Fred Puglia brought a “crazy” idea to City of Decatur Mayor Gary Anderson. His idea was to produce a festival in the city streets of downtown that would be absolutely free to everyone who attended.
At the time the City of Decatur was experiencing a recession, labor disputes, and several other issues that resulted in a less-than-attractive image. With the concern of the community’s image and morale on his mind, Mayor Anderson loved the idea believing an event like this was just what the city needed to boot community pride and quality of life. [...]
The first year was major success with an estimated 125,000 people packed in to the downtown streets of Decatur on August 1, 2, and 3, 1986. The weather was perfect. The timing was perfect. And the enthusiasm from the public was overwhelming. [...]
Revenues from the three-day event were more than enough to cover the expenses the first year, leaving some cash to start planning for Celebration #2. And according to the public’s response, a second Decatur Celebration was inevitable. The rest is history!
It’ll be interesting to see whether Puglia takes a more pro-active approach to Route 66 landmarks, like Geoff Ladd has in Lincoln, Ill., or whether Springfield will try to hype its museums to tour groups like Ellie Alexander and Pontiac, Ill., do. Maybe Puglia will steer to an unexpected or unexploited course. Regardless, it’ll be intriguing to see how he tinkers with Springfield’s tourism strategy.
Christmas windows in Tucumcari November 25, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, Events, Motels.3 comments
On Saturday night, the 2011 Christmas Village Display will debut at 808 E. Route 66 Blvd. in Tucumcari, N.M.
The display, across the street from the historic Blue Swallow Motel, will feature Lionel toy trains and Rose Kaye’s extensive collection of ceramic lighted buildings. The display was set up inside vacant spaces of the building; it also houses the Contemporary Designs gift shop and A Cut Above hair salon.
Here’s a sneak preview of the Christmas display, with photos shot by Blue Swallow co-owner Kevin Mueller. In a couple of the photos, you’ll see the reflection of the neon lights from the Blue Swallow:
More photos can be seen here.
The display will be on nightly from 6 to 8 p.m. through the Christmas season.
I know of at least one other Christmas window display on Route 66, and that’s in Joplin City Hall in Joplin, Mo. Here’s a video of the displays from the 2009 Christmas season:
And I’d be remiss to not mention the Christmas animated window displays that were a fixture for decades at the Marshall Field’s store in downtown Chicago. Marshall Field wasn’t on Route 66, but the store and its displays were a big enough legends to warrant a side trip.
Marshall Field’s is now a Macy’s, but it has continued the tradition. This video shows the windows from last year:
One-man band November 24, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Music.add a comment
But you’ve never seen a version of Bobby Troup’s most famous song like this one:
The performer’s name is Mark Di Giuseppe of Italy, aka The Legendary Straniero.
Church expansion takes on a Route 66 theme November 24, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Religion, Restaurants.add a comment
The Wildwood Community Church in Norman, Okla., recently built an addition that includes a Route 66 theme, according to an article in the Norman Transcript.
According to the newspaper:
The general idea of the expansion centers around a Route 66 theme. All of the art is original and much of the general decor are things repurposed from junkyards, like a real Spartan travel trailer estimated to have been manufactured in Tulsa around 1949.
“They (Team JYD) found it buried up to the windows outside of a truck stop in Chandler. It was one of those things where if you can get it out of here, you can have it. They dug it out and they drove it back to Oklahoma City and they didn’t know for sure where they would use it, but they found someone to give it to. It fit the Route 66 idea,” Robinson said. “I love the icon of the trailer, too because it’s the idea that church is your home away from home.”
There are four halls in the building and they all have different geographic areas — the beach, the mountains, the desert and the forest.
Team JYD, which came up with the addition’s design, is the same firm that bought the 66 Bowl’s neon sign in Oklahoma City when the property changed hands a year ago.
Team JYD didn’t post photos of the church addition on its website. However, you can see 360-degree panoramic photos of it here (images may take some time to load).
Also, Team JYD is designed a restaurant in the Route 66 town of Edmond, Okla., called Red’s Southern Diner. Cameron Eagle at Team JYD said in an email:
It also has a an 8 foot tall rotating bucket of chicken inside hanging from the ceiling, a 1949 Spartan eat in trailer, and fans made from lawn mowers.
It also features a giant neon chicken sign in the front.
The address of the restaurant is 840 W. Danforth Road (map here), about a mile northeast of Route 66′s closest point, at Edmond Road and Broadway.