Book review: “Ghost Towns of the Southwest”

Route 66 aficionados who like straying off the beaten path will find dozens of ideas for day trips with "Ghost Towns of the Southwest" (soft cover, 256 pages, Voyageur Press, $21.99). Subtitled "Your Guide to the Historic Mining Camps & Ghost Towns of Arizona and New Mexico," the book by Jim Hinckley and photographer Kerrick … Continue reading Book review: “Ghost Towns of the Southwest”

Book review: “Route 66 in New Mexico”

Joe Sonderman is primarily known for two things -- as a radio announcer in the St. Louis area, and as a huge collector of Route 66 postcards. But while reading his latest book, "Route 66 in New Mexico" (soft cover, 128 pages, Arcadia Publishing, $21.99), it occurred to me that Sonderman may have met his … Continue reading Book review: “Route 66 in New Mexico”

Illinois Route 66 advocate Lenore Weiss dies

Lenore Weiss, a co-winner of the prestigious Steinbeck Award and other preservation honors for work that she and her husband John Weiss did for Route 66 in Illinois, died today after a battle with cancer. She was 63. Lenore had told me some months ago that she had been diagnosed with a serious form of … Continue reading Illinois Route 66 advocate Lenore Weiss dies

An interview with Joe Sonderman

Longtime St. Louis-area roadie Joe Sonderman is interviewed by phone regarding his new book from Arcadia Publishing, "Route 66 in New Mexico," and talks about the Mother Road in general. Sonderman's comments about New Mexico itself are especially knowledgeable ... spoken like a person who's been there many times. Sonderman's 66 Postcards site is here, … Continue reading An interview with Joe Sonderman

Director’s cuts

Jim Luning, an accomplished photographer, has delved into filmmaking as well in the past few years. This clip below contains samples of his recent film work, including clips from "Route 66: Ten Years Later" with cohort Tim Steil. The two decided to revisit the Mother Road 10 years after they first began research for their … Continue reading Director’s cuts

Book about U.S. 89 published

We at Route 66 News concentrate on news concerning the Mother Road, but occasionally pay attention to developments about other historic two-lane highways. So it is with interest that we take note of a new photo-and-essay book by Ann Torrence titled "U.S. Highway 89: The Scenic Route to Seven Western National Parks" (Sagebrush Press, 160 … Continue reading Book about U.S. 89 published

Notes from the road

If you're traveling the Mother Road this week, you may have to make other plans for the midsection. As this map from the National Weather Service shows, the Route 66 corridor is under a winter storm warning all the way from about Springfield, Mo., to Gallup, N.M. -- much of it freezing rain. Authorities closed … Continue reading Notes from the road

Rock Cafe owner will be on “Today” show

Dawn Welch, owner of the Rock Cafe on Route 66 in Stroud, Okla., will make an appearance on NBC-TV's "Today" show at 8:49 a.m. Central on Thursday. According to her "Dollars to Donuts" blog, Welch will be making her three-cheese white lasagna on the show. Welch is there to plug her new book, "Dollars to … Continue reading Rock Cafe owner will be on “Today” show

A new old view

Here's a new twist on an old toy -- Wurlington Bros. Press has created three new reels for the old View-Master devices, including one for Route 66 in Chicago. The View-Master device, which looked like some sort of portable gizmo an eye doctor would use, created a three-dimensional effect on photographs, and were popular children's … Continue reading A new old view

New novel takes place on Route 66

Michael S. Anderson has published a novel that is partially based on his reminiscences of traveling the Mother Road five decades ago, according to the Quincy (Ill.) Herald-Whig. Driving cross country in a red convertible on Route 66 was an adventure for a young man in the late 1950s. Add a pretty girl, and themes … Continue reading New novel takes place on Route 66