The trust that owns the Gillioz Theatre in downtown Springfield, Mo., filed for bankruptcy late Thursday afternoon to stave off a foreclosure sale scheduled for today, reported the Springfield News-Leader today. The historic theater, on an early alignment of Route 66, faced foreclosure over nonpayment of a $3.5 million loan with Guaranty Bank. The theater … Continue reading Bankruptcy filing prevents foreclosure of theater
Category: Theaters
Gillioz Theatre faces possible foreclosure
The historic Gillioz Theatre in Springfield, Mo., is urging supporters to dig deep into their pockets to prevent a possible New Year's Eve foreclosure, reported the Springfield News-Leader. The Gillioz was built in 1926 on Route 66 near downtown. The Springfield Landmarks Preservation Trust guided a $10 million restoration and reopened the theater in 2006. However, … Continue reading Gillioz Theatre faces possible foreclosure
Fire damages Grants theater
A malfunctioning popcorn machine is believed to be the cause of a fire that damaged the historic West Theatre in on Route 66 downtown Grants, N.M., on Friday, reported the Albuquerque Journal. Owner Roy McDowell, who also owns the city's closed Lux Theater, said no one was in the building at the time. Most of … Continue reading Fire damages Grants theater
San Bernardino considers retro streetscaping
The Route 66 town of San Bernardino, Calif., is considering "Modern Retro" and "Classic Simplicity" streetscape designs that partially take inspiration from its Route 66 past, according to the San Bernardino County Sun. The former theme would be a throwback to Route 66 and the highway travelers who came West after World War II. The … Continue reading San Bernardino considers retro streetscaping
Springfield, Mo., will renovate town square
The city of Springfield, Mo., will begin renovations on its Park Central Square in downtown after a 4 p.m. Friday ceremony to restore it to the original 1970s design by acclaimed urban architect Lawrence Halprin, according to a news release from the city. The square is where various Route 66 alignments on East St. Louis … Continue reading Springfield, Mo., will renovate town square
Latest on the Admiral Twin
Here's the gist of the latest on the effort to rebuild the Admiral Twin Drive-In in Tulsa after its double-screen structure was destroyed by a fire on Sept. 3: A big concert fundraiser at the Admiral Twin's grounds was held Saturday. I've seen no figures as of yet on how much money the event generated. … Continue reading Latest on the Admiral Twin
Admiral Twin rebuild effort raises $25,000 so far
The good news is that $25,000 in donations have been collected to rebuild the Admiral Twin Drive-In theater in Tulsa after its outdoor screen burned down Sept. 3. The bad news is that an architect estimates that building a new double screen will cost up to $250,000, according to an article today by KRMG radio … Continue reading Admiral Twin rebuild effort raises $25,000 so far
Theater to debut play about Nat King Cole
The Amun Ra Theater in Nashville, Tenn., on Friday will host the world premiere of a one-man musical, "Route 66: Finding Nat King Cole." If you don't know who Cole is or what his significance to Route 66 is, this little clip should suffice: The Amun Ra production stars jeff obafemi carr (yes, that's how his name … Continue reading Theater to debut play about Nat King Cole
Fire destroys Admiral Twin Drive-In screens
A fast-burning fire on Friday afternoon destroyed the double screen of the historic Admiral Twin Drive-In theater in Tulsa. Whether the Admiral Twin, beloved by Tulsans for nearly 60 years, will reopen remained in doubt. Blake Smith, whose family has operated the drive-in near the Admiral Place alignment of Route 66 since 1987, told the … Continue reading Fire destroys Admiral Twin Drive-In screens
Notes from the road
The documentary "Route 66: Ten Years Later" will have its debut at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at the Portage Theater in Chicago. Writer Tim Steil and photographer Jim Luning collaborated on their "Route 66" book during a Mother Road trip in 1999. A decade later, they decided to revisit the places they saw and see … Continue reading Notes from the road