If you have some time to kill, I highly recommend you watch this well-produced and thought-provoking one-hour segment by the BBC. The program deals with the life of John Steinbeck, author of "The Grapes of Wrath." Naturally, it's got plenty of Route 66-related content. https://youtu.be/xDL5T8IuMvw
Month: February 2012
More details released on International Route 66 Festival
The National Historic Route 66 Federation released more details about the International Route 66 Festival in Victorville, Calif., scheduled for Aug. 9-12. The festival's theme is "California Dreamin'," with a nod to the Mamas and the Papas song. According to the announcement: The Festival will feature a rally, a classic car show, daily entertainment, a … Continue reading More details released on International Route 66 Festival
Tulsa photo store will host Route 66 exhibit
Apertures, a photography store in Tulsa, is hosting a "Photographing the Mother Road: A Trip Down Route 66" exhibit starting Friday. The opening reception for the event will be from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday. Apertures President Natalie Green wrote on the Apertures website: On October 15, 2011 at 7:30 a.m., 17 photographers loaded a … Continue reading Tulsa photo store will host Route 66 exhibit
Queen of the Southwest
KBAQ radio in Phoenix has been broadcasting a series titled "Hearing the Century: Voices of Arizona's Arts Past and Present" during the state's centennial. A recent broadcast focused on early 20th-century architect Mary Colter, widely recognized as one of the greatest of the Southwest. A longtime architect and designer for the Fred Harvey Company, Colter's … Continue reading Queen of the Southwest
State may provide grant for Santa Rosa warehouse
The New Mexico Legislature was set to give $325,000 to help revitalize the historic Ilfeld Warehouse in downtown Santa Rosa and create a Route 66 museum there, according to the town's newspaper. The Guadalupe County Communicator, in its print edition, reported that the legislation would "set aside the funds toward creation of a Route 66 … Continue reading State may provide grant for Santa Rosa warehouse
Litchfield getting organized for its Route 66 museum
The group that's seeking to build a Litchfield Museum and Route 66 Welcome Center in Litchfield, Ill., seems to be fairly well-organized. According to a report in The Journal-News, based in nearby Hillsboro, the group has: Landed a general contractor, who pledges to use subcontractors and supplies entirely from Litchfield, except for the neon lighting. … Continue reading Litchfield getting organized for its Route 66 museum
County plans makeover of Albuquerque’s older Route 66 section
Bernalillo County, N.M., is planning an extensive makeover of the Bridge Boulevard section of the South Valley neighborhood of Albuquerque, reported KOB-TV. Here's the video report: Bridge Boulevard was Route 66 from 1926 to 1937, when the Route went southward to Los Lunas before resuming its westward direction. The better-known Central Avenue alignment didn't become … Continue reading County plans makeover of Albuquerque’s older Route 66 section
Illinois Route 66 Hall of Famer dies
Former Illinois State Police Capt. Francis Mowery, who was inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of Fame, died at age 99 last week, reported the Bloomington Pantagraph. The Illinois Route 66 Association reported Mowery's death today on its website. Mowery was among the very first members inducted into the Illinois Route 66 Hall of … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 Hall of Famer dies
Blue Swallow Motel video
I'm not sure whether this is supposed to be some sort of advertisement for the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M. It's effective, regardless. https://youtu.be/RAHOQjllaio The video was created by Petroglyph Pictures, which proclaims to be "capturing America's stories." Petroglyph also produced this video about the Walnut Street Inn, a bed-and-breakfast just south of Route … Continue reading Blue Swallow Motel video
Kickstarter campaign begun for U.S. 40 book
Frank Brusca, a longtime researcher of U.S. 40, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help finish a book about the historic highway he's been working on for decades. This is a little off-topic, but Route 66 fans often are fans of other historic highways, including U.S. 40, aka the National Road. Brusca also has inspired … Continue reading Kickstarter campaign begun for U.S. 40 book