TeePee Drive-In’s former operator resurfaces in Pennsylvania May 11, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Preservation, Theaters.add a comment
Last year, you may remember Russell Brannan, who leased the long-closed TeePee Drive-In along Route 66 in Sapulpa, Okla., but never reopened it after a Route 66 News report revealed him using several aliases, leaving several theaters after operating them for a short time, and disappointed owners in his wake.
Now it appears Brannan, now calling himself Glen Brannon, has resurfaced with the Mahoning Drive-In in Lehighton, Pa.
WNEP-TV filed this report:
He said Brannon claimed he had a record of saving other old theaters.
“He wanted to lease it, and then buy the (Mahoning) Drive-in,” said Danchak. “My only hope was that he would save the drive-in.” [...]
Brannan claims he was pointing the Mahoning Drive-in toward profitability, but said he had disagreements with manager Mike Danchak over ticket prices, fund-raising plans, and promotions.
Danchak said Brannan almost cost the Mahoning Drive-in dearly, by selling 250 season passes for $59 a car load.
“If we accepted them, we would go bankrupt,” said Danchak, “because we would have nothing but passes all summer.”
Danchak said Brannan’s money-losing offer forced the theater to buy the tickets back, leaving the Mahoning Drive-in with just $5,000, and time is running out to get the $60,000 projector.
A pattern has emerged with Brannan:
- Using aliases while conducting business as a theater operator. So far, we’re up to four names and as many as six.
- Leasing a theater instead of buying it.
- Theater owners becoming dismayed or disappointed with Brannan’s methods and cutting him loose.
Given the disillusionment with Brannan — and the lack of any documented successes by him — all theater owners should probably be very cautious with him if he comes to your town.
UPDATE: Check out the posts from the Mahoning Drive-In’s official Facebook page to get an idea about the problems Brannan allegedly caused for the theater.
“Yukon’s Best Flour” sign removed for repairs May 6, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Preservation, Signs.add a comment
The massive “Yukon’s Best Flour” sign on top of a flour mill in Yukon, Okla., was removed for repairs, according to a report Monday by KWTV in Oklahoma City.
News9.com – Oklahoma City, OK – News, Weather, Video and Sports |
The Route 66 community embarked on a successful $175,000 fundraiser to repair the sign and eventually refurbish the side of the mill. The station reported the sign will be re-installed on the mill by June.
Santa Monica Pier begins renovations May 1, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, Preservation.add a comment
The century-old Santa Monica Pier started a one-year remodeling project last week, but the Southern California landmark will stay open during the work, reported the Santa Monica Mirror.
Workers will build a new pedestrian trestle on the pier’s south side, erect new concrete columns, and remove and replace its timbers and substructure.
Work is expected to be finished in April 2014. The Mirror says the pier and its businesses will remain open during the entire project.
The Santa Monica Pier has become the traditional endpoint for westbound Route 66 travelers, although Route 66′s real terminus exists at a more mundane location about a mile away at Lincoln and Olympic in Santa Monica.
(Hat tip: Scott Piotrowski; image of the Santa Monica Pier by jimsheaffer, via Flickr)
Original sign re-installed at Boots Motel April 30, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motels, Preservation, Signs.add a comment
Workers from the Wilhite Signs delivered and installed a replica of the original Boots Court sign at the historic Boots Motel in Carthage, Mo.
Wilhite was the sign company that installed the original Boots Court sign when the Route 66 motel was built in 1939. The sign and its color scheme later was changed to Boots Motel.
According to a Facebook post from the motel:
Now, the new owners are restoring this Mother Road icon back to the 1949 era…both inside and out! The recent pitch roof is also gone and the Art Deco-Modern style of architecture that was popular in the 30′s is back again. Five rooms in the rear 1946 addition have been restored and work is beginning on the remaining eight rooms in http://route66news.com/wp-admin/post-new.php#category-allthe original structure.
The neon is next and a re-lighting event is coming soon!
More photos from the sign installation:
(Photos courtesy of Debye Harvey)
Was the wrong developer chosen for De Anza? April 30, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Motels, Preservation.add a comment
A guest column in the Monday edition of the Albuquerque Journal suggests the redevelopment of the historic De Anza Motor Lodge stalled because a city agency overruled an independent panel’s recommendation for the property.
John Bloomfield said the city should have followed the recommendation to hire NewLife Homes to rejuvenate the Route 66 property. NewLife guided the rebirth of the Luna Lodge into low-income housing and recently started renovating the Sundowner Motel for a similar reuse. Both motels are on Route 66.
Meanwhile, current De Anza developer Rob Dickson has seen multiple delays, including one that may endanger the entire project. A previous developer for De Anza bailed after several years of little activity.
Bloomfield wrote:
The De Anza would have been developed by now if the recommendation from the independent selection panel, tasked with reviewing and ranking developer proposals, had not been overturned by the Albuquerque Development Commission. [...]
The independent selection panel ranked nonprofit developer NewLife Homes first, with the highest score. The lowest score went to the developer who was recommended by the Albuquerque Development Commission. Given the issues and delays this particular developer had with prior city-funded projects, it is not surprising that the De Anza continues to sit idle.
Projects like the De Anza have had a history of for-profit developers promising, but not delivering, and going back to the city for more funds.
This begs a question: Why did the Development Commission ignore the panel’s findings and choose a lesser applicant to renovate De Anza?
Zuni trader and Indian art collector Charles G. Wallace built De Anza in 1939. The long-vacant motel, at 4301 Central NE, is on the National Register of Historic Places.
(Image of De Anza Motor Lodge by Debora Drower, via Flickr)
Geoff Ladd resigns from Logan County Tourism April 25, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Attractions, People, Preservation.add a comment
Geoff Ladd, director of the Abraham Lincoln Tourism Bureau of Logan County in Lincoln, Ill., resigned his post Wednesday so he could pursue “new employment opportunities,” according to the Lincoln Courier.
Ladd oversaw the bureau when the county saw a 30 percent increase in hotel tax revenue and helped draw the World’s Largest Covered Wagon from Divernon to Lincoln.
But what likely will be Ladd’s most lasting accomplishment is saving the long-neglected The Mill restaurant on Route 66 from the wrecking ball. The Mill has been mostly restored, and eventually will be converted into a tourism center.
Ladd said he would continue to serve on the Route 66 Heritage Foundation of Logan County, keep working on The Mill, and live in the Lincoln area.
The full text of Ladd’s resignation letter can be read here.
Tourism board member Tim Keller told the Courier he was shocked by Ladd’s departure, but acknowledged city politics may have led to it.
Keller said with the recent news of the City of Lincoln wanting to take control over the bureau it played a role in his departure.
“I think it had an affect on Geoff and I didn’t expect this to happen,” said Keller.
If Keller’s speculation why Ladd resigned is true, apparently the City of Lincoln didn’t learn an important lesson — leave effective and talented people alone.
Palms Grill Cafe will close for six days to transition to new operators April 25, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Preservation, Restaurants.1 comment so far
The Palms Grill Cafe in downtown Atlanta, Ill., will close from April 30 to May 5 to allow for a transition for the restaurant’s new operators, the Atlanta Public Library Board said in a news release.
The board recently selected J-R Culinary Partners as the restaurant’s new managers. The lease for the previous manager was not renewed, as the board was dissatisfied with the Route 66 restaurant’s hours.
From the news release:
The Grill will reopen on Monday, May 6th. Its new days and hours of operation will be expanded, so you’ll now be able to enjoy its historic atmosphere and great food seven days a week, from 7am until 9pm daily. [...]
In addition to maintaining The Grill’s traditional diner menu, including grilled Spam and fried baloney, J-R Culinary Partners will introduce a new set of daily blue plate specials, plus an array of new baked goods, including Ronda’s delicious homemade cinnamon rolls. The front of The Grill will keep its period 1935 look, while the backroom will feature a circa 1940s supper-club atmosphere, with tablecloths, candles, and an upscale menu of such items as Steaks, Stuffed Chicken Breasts, Grilled Halibut, Welsh Rarebit, and weekend dinner specials including Catfish, Prime Rib, and Oven-Fried Chicken.
The Palms Grill, which opened in 1934, closed in the late 1960s. The restaurant was restored in 2009, and quickly became a must-stop for Route 66 travelers.