California highway planners seriously considered the use of nearly two dozen atomic bombs to level a mountain range so a new alignment of Interstate 40 could be built through the Mojave Desert and thus bypass Route 66. Newsmen and other observers watch a cloud of dust emerge in the distance several seconds after an underground … Continue reading California nearly used atomic bombs to help bypass Route 66 in California
Category: Books
Veteran journalist bicycles length of Route 66 during pandemic for a future book
Chicago Tribune columnist Rick Kogan recently caught up with veteran journalist Michael Sean Comerford, who cycled the length of Route 66 during the COVID-19 pandemic earlier this year and talked to scores of people along the way. Comerford began his journey from Chicago in March, averaging 35 to 70 miles daily, with a sign affixed … Continue reading Veteran journalist bicycles length of Route 66 during pandemic for a future book
Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa to mark 70th year with “The Outsiders” screening
The Admiral Twin Drive-In theater in Tulsa will celebrate its 70th anniversary this weekend with special screenings of "The Outsiders," part of which was shot at the historic Route 66 theater. The 1983 movie, based on the classic novel by Tulsa-area resident S.E. Hinton, will be shown Friday, Saturday and Sunday, reported the Tulsa World. … Continue reading Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa to mark 70th year with “The Outsiders” screening
Owner of Outsiders House in Tulsa plans a second museum
The owner of The Outsiders House Museum in Tulsa is planning a second museum at an undisclosed location to hold items related to "The Outsiders" novelist S.E. Hinton. Danny Boy O'Connor, a member of the House of Pain hip-hop group who was deeply influenced by the book and film, purchased the ramshackle north Tulsa house … Continue reading Owner of Outsiders House in Tulsa plans a second museum
Did Ernest Hemingway really write “The Old Man and the Sea” at Cubero?
PBS-TV this week is airing a three-part series about famed author Ernest Hemingway that's co-directed by Lynn Novak and esteemed filmmaker Ken Burns. Thoughts by Hemingway buffs who watch the series may turn to the Route 66 village of Cubero, New Mexico, where Hemingway was reputed to have written "The Old Man and the Sea" … Continue reading Did Ernest Hemingway really write “The Old Man and the Sea” at Cubero?
Savior of “The Outsiders” House in Tulsa rescues 11th Street Cleaners neon sign
The savior of the house used in "The Outsiders" film in Tulsa recently purchased the 11th Street Cleaners neon sign that once stood along Route 66 downtown. Danny Boy O'Connor, a member of the now-defunct House of Pain rap group and owner of The Outsiders House Museum, apparently procured the sign from a store in … Continue reading Savior of “The Outsiders” House in Tulsa rescues 11th Street Cleaners neon sign
A profile of a prolific Oklahoma muralist
An Oklahoma City television station recently profiled a Sooner State muralist who's painted up to 4,000 murals during his career, including several on Route 66. Here's the profile of Bob Palmer from KFOR-TV. You can see one of his Route 66 murals in the segment: Dozens of his historic-themed murals can be seen here. You'll … Continue reading A profile of a prolific Oklahoma muralist
Lonely Planet features a Route 66 trip through Arizona and New Mexico
Lonely Planet, which publishes a bunch of travel guides and has a popular website, posted this three-minute video of an Atlanta couple who traveled Route 66 in Arizona and New Mexico. Lonely Planet said this about the video: Historic Route 66 is full of hidden gems -- towns that seem frozen in time from the … Continue reading Lonely Planet features a Route 66 trip through Arizona and New Mexico
Book review: “Promise Unfulfilled: The Brief Life and Bizarre Death of Actor Robert Morris”
A question has dogged the "Route 66" television series for decades: What the heck happened to Robert Morris, the actor once slated to co-star in the drama who died less than a year after it launched? A new, self-published book by Vernon Gravely, "Promise Unfulfilled: The Brief Life and Bizarre Death of Actor Robert Morris" … Continue reading Book review: “Promise Unfulfilled: The Brief Life and Bizarre Death of Actor Robert Morris”
“Bless Me, Ultima” author Rudolfo Anaya dies at age 82
Rudolfo Anaya, author of the acclaimed novel "Bless Me, Ultima" and the widely acknowledged founder of Chicano literature, died Sunday at age 82. He spent much of his childhood in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, and remains the Route 66 town's most famous person. Anaya was in declining health in recent years, his niece told the … Continue reading “Bless Me, Ultima” author Rudolfo Anaya dies at age 82