A little over three decades years ago, photographer Quinta Scott was learning how to use a recently purchased but unwieldy Speed Graphic camera. After shooting a photo at the historic Eads Bridge in St. Louis for a book, she made the fateful decision to also shoot photographs along the city's Route 66 alignment of Watson … Continue reading A chat with Quinta Scott
Category: Books
A chat with Michael Wallis
I talked with Michael Wallis, author of the best-selling "Route 66: The Mother Road" and more than a dozen other books, by phone Friday night from his home in Tulsa. Wallis was in an expansive mood, and talked about a few things that probably will be of interest to roadies: --- Wallis and Jim Conkle, … Continue reading A chat with Michael Wallis
Former Club Cafe manager now an artist
Santiago Chavez, the longtime manager for the beloved but now-closed Club Cafe restaurant on Route 66 in Santa Rosa, N.M., apparently has found a second career as an artist based in Carson City, Nev. According to the Reno Gazette Journal, Chavez was the subject of an artist's reception Friday night at Fiesta La Posada in … Continue reading Former Club Cafe manager now an artist
Notes from the road
The Tulsa World reported that longtime Route 66 business McElroy Tire, at 1545 E. 11th St., will close at year's end. It had been there since the early 1930s, but company President Kent McElroy said the firm had been squeezed financially by national tire chains and discount stores. McElroy Tire is notable for its big … Continue reading Notes from the road
Out of the fire
The Tulsa World published a story about Rock Cafe owner Dawn Welch's new cookbook, "Dollars to Donuts," and a side story about how she and the restaurant rose like a phoenix from the ashes after a fire devastated the historic Route 66 restaurant in Stroud, Okla., in May 2008.
Book review: “Dollars to Donuts”
Dawn Welch's story of as a young Oklahoma woman who became the successful owner of the historic Rock Cafe, served as the inspiration for Sally in the hit Disney/Pixar animated film "Cars," and then resurrected the restaurant after a devastating fire last year, would serve as compelling material for a book. But her first book, … Continue reading Book review: “Dollars to Donuts”
Dawn Welch starts a new blog
Dawn Welch, owner of the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., has launched a new blog -- mostly to publicize her upcoming cookbook, "Dollars to Donuts." But the site also contains recipes, cooking tips and a video that I commend to your attention. "Dollars to Donuts" will be in stores on Nov. 10.
Book review: “A Visual Journey Down America’s Main Street”
Photographer Stephen Giangreco, based in Lenexa, Kan., is a fan of old vehicles, has been shooting images of Route 66 for years, and has a Web site called Route66Forever.com. Giangreco has just published a fine-art book of his choicest Mother Road images titled "A Visual Journey Down America's Main Street" (118 pages, self-published, $66 hardcover, … Continue reading Book review: “A Visual Journey Down America’s Main Street”
In the footsteps of the Joads
Chris McGreal of The Guardian newspaper in London is retracing the Route 66 path of the Joad family from John Steinbeck's seminal novel, "The Grapes of Wrath." Day Two of his journey includes a lot of material from Adrian, Texas, and the ghost town of Glenrio on the Texas-New Mexico border. Be sure to check … Continue reading In the footsteps of the Joads
Motorcycle trip raising money for fallen firefighters
A group of firefighters is riding motorcycles on Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica, Calif., to raise money for a foundation that benefits the families of firefighters who died in the line of duty, reports KSDK-TV in St. Louis. The trip concludes Aug. 5. The group was in St. Louis on Tuesday. From the … Continue reading Motorcycle trip raising money for fallen firefighters