On this day in 1960, the first episode of the “Route 66” television show aired on CBS. Although the drama would last just four seasons and seldom took place on the Mother Road, you can chalk up “Route 66” as a big reason the real Route 66 became the legend it is today.
“Route 66” told the tale of two young men traveling across the country in a Corvette convertible, looking for jobs and finding adventure.
This “Personal Tribute to Route 66” from a few years ago is worth watching, and includes excerpts from the finale:
You can also read my 2007 chat with “Route 66” co-star George Maharis, one of the most genial interview subjects I’ve ever dealt with. Maharis was nominated for an Emmy during “Route 66’s” run; his street-tough Buz Murdock role gave him his most enduring fame.
Co-star Martin Milner, who played Tod Stiles in the show, has fallen into poor health in recent years and is no longer available for interviews. Glenn Corbett, who portrayed Linc Case when Maharis left the show, died of cancer in 1993.
As noted in the tribute, “Route 66” being shot on location provided endless script possibilities. Another reason “Route 66” earned praise was screenwriter Stirling Silliphant, who wrote interesting dialogue and tackled controversial subjects such as racism, mental illness and drugs — although it should be noted that in the clip below, the bad trip Tod Stiles took was involuntary. Silliphant didn’t write all of “Route 66’s” scripts, but he set the bar for its other screenwriters to follow.
Another key to “Route 66’s” enduring fame was the chemistry between Maharis and Milner. The two weren’t the best of buddies by a long shot, Maharis said, but they respected each other and knew their contrasting personalities provided a spark to the program.
Maharis left the program during the third season when hepatitis threatened his long-term health. He was replaced by Corbett, but the chemistry had clearly suffered. “Route 66” limped through a fourth season and was not renewed.
Also, Nelson Riddle‘s theme song for “Route 66” became a big pop hit. It still shows up on roadies’ mix tapes, CDs and iPod playlists.
Here are my key reasons Route 66 went from being a historic highway to a legend:
- Bobby Troup’s “Route 66,” one of the most-covered songs in history
- “The Grapes of Wrath” novel and film
- The “Route 66” television drama
- The publication of Michael Wallis’ best-selling “Route 66: The Mother Road”
- The Disney-Pixar movie “Cars”
The first three seasons of “Route 66” remain available on DVD. No announcement has been made on whether DVDs for Season Four will be produced.
The 50th anniversary of the “Route 66” TV show is a milestone worth noting, especially for the impact that the show had on the recognition of the highway (as you said). Thanks for the write-up here. I might also add that the timing of the show was perfect: The nation’s interstate highway system was just beginning to replace not only Route 66, but the whole concept of road travel when the TV show was launched. The small town motels, diners, gas stations, amusement parks and such were still hanging on, and much of that was chronicled as the backdrop for the TV series, thanks to the location filming. What we search for today in the relics and survivors of that era are very much “alive” in those episodes where Buz and Tod take us along on their journeys across this great country. It was truly a special show — not only a great drama, but a unique visual record of “the road” as we all prefer to remember it.
And I lived on Illinois Rt. 66 when the show aired. I was sure Todd and Buz would stop by our farm some day, but, alas, it never happened. But you can be sure I’m going to watch an episode of the show tonight in memory of those days. Thanks for the anniversary tribute.
I ALSO WANT TO THANKS FOR THIS BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE TO THE SUCCESSFUL ROUT 66. SORRY ABOUT THE BAD HEALTH OF MARTIN MILNER
I SAW THIS VIDEO AGAIN, AND I WANT TO CONGRATULATE THE PEOPLE WHO DID THIS BECAUSE THESE PARTS OF THE SERIES BRINGS TO ME AND NY GENERATION OF FANS SO WONDERFUL MOMENTS LIVED IN THOSE FAR DAYS OF OUR YOUTH THAT WE WILL NEVER FORGET THANK YOU AGAIN ALICE