In a Shalom Life story about artist and journalist Jim Farber, he revealed a few of the things that will be featured in a Route 66 exhibit staring in May 2014 at the Autry National Center in Los Angeles.
The key excerpts:
I talked with Jim recently in his backyard, which is only a few blocks from historic Route 66. His eyes lit up as he told me about a few of his favorite objects in the upcoming show. “We’ve got the original handwritten manuscript of The Grapes of Wrath, the actual sign from the El Vado Motel in Albuquerque, a 1960 Corvette that mirrors the one from the TV series, paintings by Thomas Hart Benton, and photographs by Dorothea Lange.
Disney Pixar will have a major exhibit from Cars Land and the movie Cars. Google Street View will have an interactive 360 degree view that will let the viewer to stop and take a look around anywhere they choose on the drive from Chicago to Los Angeles.” And of course, every recorded version of the song will be available for the sound system.” […]
He adds that discussions are underway for the Route 66 exhibit to move to museums in St. Louis, Tulsa, Albuquerque, and Oakland.
The El Vado sign is on temporary loan, by the way. The City of Albuquerque still is mulling plans for the motel as a museum or cultural center.
I’ve heard a lot of chatter from people “in the know” excited about the Route 66 show at the Autry. I now understand their excitement.
(Hat tip: Media Bistro)
Not everyone is excited, however, about whom is hosting the exhibit, and at what cost it may come. And these people are also “in the know” about what the name “Autry” means to Los Angeles.