Route 66 in 2 minutes December 18, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Road trips.1 comment so far
Ludwig Bispink, the fellow who traveled the length of Route 66 and posted his videotaped experiences in three parts, has just posted a two-minute summary of his big road trip:
Music is the Rolling Stones’ version of Bobby Troup’s “Route 66.”
Painter takes his inspiration from Route 66 December 17, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Art, Events.add a comment
A painter who gets his inspiration from Route 66 will have an exhibit of his work at the Peoria Public Library in Peoria, Ariz., reported the Peoria Times.
Red Rohall‘s “Roadside Americana” will be on display starting this weekend at the Main Library at 8463 W. Monroe St. (map here).
Many of Rohall’s oil paintings are of diners, soda fountains, and vintage buildings in soft light. According to the Times:
While he was living in Indiana, he was painting subjects that had a Southwest connection, and “people were rolling their eyeballs,” he said. “But, I love the subject matter. It works for me, like hand in glove.”
Over the years, Rohall has traveled the country for workshops and open exhibits. He doesn’t fly; he drives everywhere.
“Taking back roads let’s me see things,” he said. “The best way: See things, do paintings. For me, it’s a dream come true. It lets me see the highways. “For Route 66, I see history, I love it.”
Roadies may recognize one of his works — an image of the Dairy Best Drive-In along Route 66 in Clinton, Okla.
Typical day at Carl’s Drive-In December 17, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Food, History, Restaurants.add a comment
Rich Dinkela of HookedonRoute66.com filmed this slice-of-life video at the typically busy Carl’s Drive-In restaurant in Rock Hill, Mo.
Carl’s remains one of the treasures of the old Manchester Road alignment of Route 66 in the St. Louis area. Carl’s has fewer than 20 stools to serve its customers, and nearly all of them are filled throughout a typical day of operation.
Norma Maret Bolin’s excellent “Route 66 St. Louis” book contains a lot of interesting stories and history about Carl’s, including these:
- The building was built in the 1920s as a gas station.
- It became the Foot Long Hot Dog Company in the mid-1930s, then the Good Food Drive Inn during the 1950s.
- It became Carl’s Drive-In in 1959.
- Carl’s uses the original recipe to make its draft root beer, which reputedly became the basis behind the nationally distributed IBC Root Beer.
Springfield continues to negotiate for Bel-Aire Motel December 16, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motels, Museums, Preservation.3 comments
The City of Springfield, Ill., is continuing negotiations with the owners of the historic Bel-Aire Motel, with the hope to eventually convert it into a Route 66 museum and visitors center or some other use, reported the State Journal-Register.
The owners are Gopal and Nimal Motwani, based in Florida. The motel, on the Sixth Street alignment of Route 66 in Springfield, sits in Alderman Cory Jobe’s district.
Jobe, whose ward includes the Bel-Aire, said those talks continue. He added that there have been discussions with the Motwanis, as well a potential developer. According to a commercial real estate listing, the owners are asking $900,000 for the 80-room property.
The Sangamon County assessor put the fair market value at about $755,000.
The motel was targeted for city inspections in June, and the owners were forced to make electrical, structural and fire safety repairs afterward. The Bel-Aire rents mainly to long-term residents.
The distance between the market value and the owners’ buyout price isn’t that vast. It wouldn’t surprise me if an agreement is reached eventually.
A recent photo of the Bel-Aire can be found here. As you can see, the retro neon sign, including a Sputnik structure, would make it a beacon for Route 66 travelers if the motel were converted into a tourist center.
You don’t often see a live one December 15, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Animals.3 comments
You can spot plenty of armadillos in Oklahoma, but nearly all of them are deceased along the sides of highways.
This videographer found a live armadillo digging for food along the historic Lucille’s property, on Route 66 near Hydro, Okla.
It’s hard to believe the guy got as close to this critter without it scampering away.
It’s a small world after all December 15, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Art, Photographs, Road trips.1 comment so far
Every time you think you’ve seen everything regarding photography on Route 66, someone comes up with a new twist.
The latest is Kurt and Edwige Moses of St. Paul, Minn. The husband-and-wife team recently created a fine-art photo project titled “Un Petit Monde,” which translates from French to “A Small World.” He photographs small HO scale train figures in real world settings, including landmarks on the Mother Road. It requires a camera with a lot of depth of field.
A sample of their work can be seen above, with miniature figures in front of one of the units at the historic Wigwam Motel in Holbrook, Ariz.
More “Un Petit Monde” images from Route 66 can be seen here.
Kurt explained in an email:
We started this project back in the summer of 2010. As it began to take shape, we decided the first major theme should revolve around Route 66. So in March 2011 we hit the road and traveled the stretch from St. Louis to Kingman and back. Along the way I photographed my miniature figures in front of landmarks and historic locations. We decided that besides fine art prints, postcards would be the perfect medium for our photography. Our goal is to make the postcards available in gift shops and businesses along the route. Eventually, we will produce another 6 postcards and release Series ll… and then a book of all of the images.
Moses said he and his wife hope to travel again on Route 66 in March, to visit some of the people he met on the initial trip.
The postcards can be purchased for $1.25 apiece, or a set of six for $6.95, found here. Moses also has an Etsy store here for his photographs.
(Photo courtesy of Kurt Moses)
New Operation Route 66 trailer December 14, 2011
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motorcycles, People, Road trips.1 comment so far
A new trailer for Operation Route 66, which will raise funds in May 2012 for U.S. veterans of the Middle East wars, was posted a few hours ago:
More about this charity road trip can be found here.
I’m nearly 100 percent certain the narrator is “Route 66: The Mother Road” author Michael Wallis. It probably didn’t take much persuasion for Wallis to lend his talents; he’s a Marine.