California Route 66 advocate Vivian Davies dies April 17, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Books, People, Route 66 Associations.add a comment
Vivian Davies, a founder of the California Historic Route 66 Association and an author of a vital Route 66 guidebook to California, died on April 5 at age 95 in Sedona, Ariz., reported her daughter.
Davies “didn’t want anything extra done about her” her daughter said in an email, so there was no funeral service.
A 2011 story in the San Bernardino County Sun published these memories from Davies, who was living in La Verne, Calif., at the time:
One day in March 1943, she and her husband were in a car they were delivering to the West Coast when it began to rain, and rain.
Reaching Miami, Okla., they and everyone else on U.S. 66 were halted by a six-foot-deep creek that flooded the road. They waited, and waited.
“We were stopped by the water in the morning, and by 4 p.m. the line of cars waiting for the creek to fall was five miles long,” she said. “A farmer with a tractor offered to pull anyone across for $5, but few were willing because $5 was a lot of money then.
“Finally, when the water fell a little, we said the `Lord’s Prayer,’ plowed through the water and made it, even though the creek was above the car door.”
Davies and Darinn Kuna co-wrote “Guide to Route 66 in California” in 1994, a slim, spiral-bound book in black-and-white that still contains valuable information for travelers wishing to trace the Mother Road in the Golden State.
Several of Davies’ old stories for the association’s newsletter can be found on its website.
New “Route 66 Dining & Lodging Guide” is available January 27, 2013
Posted by Ron Warnick in Books, Motels, Restaurants, Route 66 Associations.1 comment so far
The updated 16th edition of “The Route 66 Dining & Lodging Guide,” published by the National Historic Route 66 Federation, is now available to order.
The federation didn’t have the book listed on its 0nline store as of Saturday. However, it can be ordered from Amazon for $15.95 — although it’s “temporarily” out of stock. In early January, federation director David Knudson said in an email that copies of the book would be available in a few weeks. So, its arrival seems imminent.
For years, this has been one of the best guides to motels and restaurants along the Mother Road. Several dozen Adopt-A-Hundred volunteers check these establishments in over 100-mile increments of Route 66. (Disclosure: I was one of the volunteers on portions of Oklahoma and Kansas.)
Even so, deadlines and changes on the road keep this edition from being perfect. Shortly after the guide was printed, Cafe on the Route in Baxter Springs, Kan., closed around New Year’s, along with its Little Brick Inn B&B. And had Green Chile Kitchen on Route 66 in Yukon, Okla., opened a few months earlier, it likely would have been included in the book. Keep those things in mind when planning your travels.
The guide contains 188 pages in a spiral-bound form, with more than 500 restaurants or motels listed. Information includes hours of operation, physical addresses, phone numbers, websites, specialties, price ranges, amenities, thumbnail ratings, and other notes of distinction.
“The Route 66 Dining & Lodging Guide” includes old favorites, such as Barney’s Beanery in West Hollywood, Calif., and Lou Mitchell’s Restaurant in Chicago. But it also includes a few new favorites, such as Burn Co Barbecue and The Campbell Hotel, both in Tulsa.
We always keep a copy of this guide in our car. You’d better get one, too.
The Angel interviews December 17, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in History, People, Route 66 Associations.add a comment
A series of video interviews with Angel Delgadillo of Seligman, Ariz., recently were posted on YouTube.
Here, Delgadillo talks about the first meeting of the Historic Route 66 Association of Arizona more than 25 years ago. It started with a core of five members and $10 in its treasury:
The YouTube account, called ANGELANDGOKINGMAN, has posted 13 videos so far, so you may want to watch them. I contacted the owner of the account more than a week ago, but have received no response. So I’m not sure who the account’s owner is, or whether he will post more videos in the future.
Jim Ross wins top award at Victorville Route 66 festival August 12, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Art, Books, Events, Motels, People, Restaurants, Route 66 Associations, Web sites.6 comments
Jim Ross accepts his Will Rogers Award as presenters Dan Rice, Rick Freeland, and Michael Wallis listen.
Story and photos by Elrond Lawrence
Jim Ross, the accomplished Route 66 writer, cartographer, speaker and photographer, was honored with the 2012 Will Rogers Award at the International Route 66 Festival awards dinner Saturday at the Green Tree Inn in Victorville, Calif.
Ross, who has been exploring, mapping, photographing and writing about the Mother Road since 1990, most recently co-wrote the book “Route 66 Sightings” as well as a second, updated edition of the guidebook “Oklahoma Route 66.” He accepted the prestigious award from famed Route 66 author and actor Michael Wallis and Dan Rice, president of the California Historic Route 66 Association and owner of 66-to-Cali, on behalf of the Route 66 Alliance.
Rice explained that Ross embodies the values displayed on the Will Rogers monument near the highway’s western terminus in Santa Monica, Calif.: humorist, world traveler, and good neighbor.
“It’s easy to have two of these three qualities, but Jim personifies all three. Above all, he is a great neighbor to everyone on the road … he marches to the beat of his own drum, and he’s an ambassador who has spread the goodness of Route 66 across the globe.”
Jim Ross also received the prestigious John Steinbeck Award during the 2001 Route 66 awards banquet.
Shellee Graham and Jerry McClanahan ham it up after winning the Wallis Award with “Route 66 Sightings” co-author Jim Ross.
Ross also took the stage with “Route 66 Sightings” co-authors Jerry McClanahan and Shellee Graham as all three were presented with the Wallis Award by its namesake.
Wallis praised the individual and collective achievements of McClanahan, Graham and Ross, and said when their names were suggested for consideration, the choice was immediately clear.
McClanahan is respected and admired for his timeless Mother Road paintings as well as his “EZ66 Guide for Travelers”; he’s also a 2009 Will Rogers Award recipient.
Graham is a widely recognized Route 66 photographers — she has published two books about Route 66, and her work appears in national and international exhibits. Graham and Ross also launched the Route 66 Photographs website in 2006. Graham also won a Steinbeck Award in 2005.
Zdenek Jurasek, founder of the Czech Republic Route 66 Association, received the National Historic Route 66 Federation’s Award of Excellence.
David Knudsen, executive director and founder of the National Historic Route 66 Federation, announced the winner of the federation’s Award of Excellence: Zdenek Jurasek, president and founder of the Czech Republic Route 66 Association and a driving force behind the wave of Route 66 enthusiasm sweeping his homeland.
Zdenek was a featured speaker at the “California 50′s Dreamin’ Celebration” dinner held the previous night.
The Bobby Troup Award was presented to Kevin and Nancy Mueller, owners of the historic Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, N.M., who took over operations in July 2011. While the Muellers were unable to attend, the award recognizes their collaborative success in the spirit of Bobby and Cynthia Troup, who together wrote the lyrics to the famed song “Get Your Kicks on Route 66.” Rice cited the Muellers’ success in continuing the Blue Swallow’s restoration, started by previous owners Bill Kinder and Terri Anderson, describing it as a “team effort in making Route 66 the best that it can be.”
The Andy Payne Award was given to John Delgadillo, who continues to run the landmark Snow Cap Drive-In in Seligman, Ariz. Delgadillo was unable to attend, but presenter Rice praised his work in preserving the playful spirit of the restaurant, despite the death of his father Juan in 2004 and the sudden death of his brother Robert in 2007.
“A lot of people take the Snow Cap for granted,” Rice said. “John makes it look easy, but it’s not: Just like Andy Payne kept running and went the extra mile, John has gone the extra mile in keeping alive the SnowCap’s tradition of fun.”
“I love running my dad’s shop,” said Delgadillo, when called by Rice to announce the news. “I take it very seriously” — a statement that will undoubtedly trigger an ironic smile from anyone who’s been on the receiving end of a mustard bottle that squirts yellow string and offers of used straws and napkins.
Michael Wallis gave his annual State of the Road address at the banquet.
Wallis’ “State of the Road” address also proved to be an equally memorable highlight of the evening. Speaking on the 48th anniversary of the day he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp., he spoke about the highway’s bright future and the emerging contributions of younger Route 66 roadies while urging the Mother Road community to look beyond “their corner of the road” and reach across state lines to do what’s best for the entire highway. “What’s good for Illinois is good for Texas is good for California,” said Wallis, aiming his message at the “citizens of a linear village.”
Wallis’ address fueled an inspiring wave of optimism, spurred by a Route 66 Alliance summit that he described as “the best I’ve ever attended,” and preservation success stories taking place from Chicago to L.A.
“Tonight I feel better about Route 66 than I ever have,” the author announced in his rich baritone voice. Thinking back on the spirit of community and family that filled the Green Tree banquet room Saturday evening, it’s easy to be a believer.
A site and date for the next International Route 66 Festival remain uncertain; an announcement will be made later.
More details released on International Route 66 Festival February 22, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Events, Route 66 Associations.add a comment
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 California-themed dinner, the Taste of 66 fair, a car cruise to a drive-in theatre, 66-themed vendors and other special events.
The National Historic Route 66 Federation will be presenting a Friday evening celebration entitled, “California 50s Dreamin”. Events including a poker run are also planned in the towns along California Route 66 both before and after the Festival.
The historic Green Tree Inn in Victorville is the host hotel and have special 3-night packages (limited availability) for our 66 travelers. Located on historic Route 66, the Green Tree incorporates a Route 66 theme and is a popular stop for travelers along the Mother Road. We suggest you make hotel reservations now to assure a room – 800-877-3644.
A tentative schedule of events also has been posted here.
It’s notable that the federation is a co-sponsor of the annual festival again after a hiatus of several years. Other co-sponsors include the California Historic Route 66 Association (with the support of the California Route 66 Museum), Route 66 Alliance, Victorville Chamber of Commerce, and “numerous corporations.”
Tulsa photo store will host Route 66 exhibit February 22, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in Art, Events, Photographs, Route 66 Associations.add a comment
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 bus with camera gear at Tulsa Community College, for a day trip down Route 66. Our guide was Brad Nickson, an accomplished photographer and Vice President of the Oklahoma Chapter of the Route 66 Association. I was the Photography Instructor for this fun excursion. After viewing the incredible work of these photo enthusiasts, I concluded we needed to show the community what accomplished photographers we have in continuing education programs.
These photographs are an expression of what we individually saw ñ how we pre-visualized – We only had 20 minutes at each stop and we all tried hard not to point & shoot, but to SEE the art in everything we viewed through our camera. When I decided to ask the group if they would like to put together a photography exhibit, only 2 declined. [...]
This exhibit means a lot to me. When Brad suggested the class to me and I suggested it to Barbara Slagle, Director of Continuing Education, little did I know how this route would start me daydreaming. I swear, with all the sightseeing on this spectacular road, I can understand why we pass so many people riding motorcycles. As I looked through the windows from our bus, I found myself becoming jealous of the bikers. Itís really a breathtaking ride and it would be great to stop anywhere you wanted to ìmakeî a picture. It was sad for all when we had to turn around and drive back to Tulsa. You want to keep going and going and going down Route 66. Someday.
A portion of the proceeds of photograph sales will go to the Oklahoma Route 66 Association. The exhibit runs through March 31.
In the future, the exhibit also will be displayed at the Route 66 Interpretive Center in Chandler, the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton, and the J.M. Davis Arms & Historical Museum in Claremore.
(Image courtesy of Brad Nickson)
Nominations sought for Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame February 13, 2012
Posted by Ron Warnick in History, Museums, People, Route 66 Associations.4 comments
Every two years, one living and one deceased person are chosen for the Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame. It is that time again.
The Oklahoma Route 66 Association is seeking nominations for 2012. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be May 26 at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum in Clinton.
Here’s what’s need for a nomination:
- Full name of nominee (state whether the person is living or deceased)
- Biography of nominee (he or she must live or have lived in Oklahoma)
- Nominee’s contribution(s) to Route 66
- Reason the nominee deserves this award
- Your name, address, and phone number if judges need clarification on any information
The Hall of Fame committee also would like a portrait-style photo of the nominee. And you can nominate more than one person.
Deadline for nominations is March 30. Please mail the nomination to: Oklahoma Route 66 Association, P.O. Box 446 Chandler, OK 74834.
Current Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame members include Michael Wallis, Don Mullenix, Jack and Gladys Cutberth, Lucille Hamons, Kent Ruth, Jim Ross, Cyrus Avery, Dr. Walter Mason, Wanda Queenan, Lyle Overman, Kathy Anderson, Luther Robison, Marion Davidson, and Lucy Stansberry.