This video landed in my email inbox this week. It aims to promote travel on Route 66:
And this message:
This project has been in the planning stages by the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce for over two years, and this is the first of several PSAs that will target the U.S., but will also be made available to overseas Route 66 Associations without narration, so narration in their language may be added. […]
This was truly a ‘grassroots’ effort that included Route 66 Roadies with Joe Loesch doing the voice-over and Jim Hinckley assisting with the script. Locals also provided the Model A Ford truck and the special edition Mustang convertible. Former Carthage Mayor Jim Woestman provided the authentic Missouri U.S. 66 metal sign and Red Oak II near Carthage was the background for most of the video, while other scenes were shot on old 66 in Kellogg Lake Park and on a segment just East of Carterville, MO. The 30-second ad is heavy on Americana, Friendly Folks and Nostalgia, and clearly shows that even today, visitors on the Mother Road are still “Getting their Kicks on Route 66”!
Ron Hart, Director of the Route 66 Chamber of Commerce, was the producer, cameraman and editor of the high-definition commercial which will be made available to state Route 66 associations to have aired on local and regional broadcast TV and cable systems, while additional copies will be sent to national networks. According to Mr. Hart, “I am not aware of any PSAs ever being aired specifically to promote travel on the Mother Road, and the Chamber will track hits to its website and note increased traffic once the commercial begins airing. I believe it’s time to utilize every form of media to promote Route 66, including social media, billboards, television, travel publication ads and newspaper submissions. I encourage every Roadie to share the YouTube link with their friends and also with their local TV stations, and I will be happy to mail them the broadcast-quality ads, or they may download the ad from our ‘dropbox.'”
(Screenshot from the Visit66.com PSA)