Joe Sonderman has written at least four books through Arcadia Publishing using his massive collection of vintage postcards from Route 66. Alas, those books come in black-and-white, preventing readers from seeing the postcards’ vivid colors.
That problem has been rectified with a beautiful new book, “Get Your Pics on Route 66” (160 pages, softcover, full color, Anniversary Publishing).
What’s unusual is this volume is being produced by an Italian publisher.
Subtitled “Postcards from America’s Mother Road,” this book contains about 400 postcards from Sonderman’s collection.
I’ve seen a great many of the postcards in this book. Even so, a few jewels stood out:
- A scene at the Peach Springs Trading Post in Peach Springs, Ariz., where American Indian swastikas are prominent. The photo obviously was taken before World War II.
- A darkly humorous cartoon from Rimmy’s tavern in Winslow, Ariz., that portrays the owner keeping a graveyard for salesmen.
- A beautiful black-and-white photograph of the neon-lit glow of the art deco Grande Courts motel at night in Amarillo.
- An apparent image of Mad magazine mascot Alfred E. Neuman (or his doppelganger) pitching the Elite Courts of Amarillo.
- The 66 Chicken & Steaks restaurant in Tulsa, which advertised chicken for “66 cents to go.”
- A charmingly rustic log cabin at Log City Camp near Carthage, Mo.
- A 1966 photo of a maze of freeways being constructed in St. Louis.
Each postcard is given a brief but informative description by Sonderman, including whether the landmark still exists today.
The author also includes histories of Route 66 nationwide and in each state it traverses. Anniversary Books editor Paolo Battaglia also writes a forward for the book, praising Route 66 as “an American legend.”
But it’s those colorful postcards that catch the eye and fire the imagination about the Mother Road’s past. You’ll enjoy simply flipping through the book and marvel how the road’s architecture was seemingly so distinctive way back when. You’ll also wonder why more modern-day postcards don’t have the saturated color that these do.
Recommended.
(The book can be ordered from Anniversary Publishing for $35, plus $5 shipping. You also can order an autographed copy for $35 direct from Sonderman; email him at stlrt66(at)aol (dot)com.)
Ran into Joe at the 66 Festival in Amarillo and just loved the book. I have many books about the Mother Road and several photo books. This one stood out instantly because of the vintage post cards. Had to add this to my collection because it was so unique and the post cards are awesome. Big thumbs up on this one.