The awesomely ornate Coleman Theatre on Route 66 in Miami, Okla., is marking its 80th anniversary. Because of volunteers and long-running restoration efforts, it's in as good of shape as it's been since it opened in 1929. More about the theater's restoration and festivities related to the anniversary can be read in this Tulsa World … Continue reading Coleman Theatre marking 80th anniversary
Category: Theaters
Palm Springs Follies’ latest season gains rave reviews
"Get Your Kicks!" the new, Route 66-themed season of the Fabulous Palm Springs Follies of Palm Springs, Calif., received an enthusiastic review from the WeHo News of West Hollywood, Calif. There was not one lull in this fast paced, fabulous Vegas type show. The choreography by Joan Palethorpe with tap numbers by Carri Burbank Glen … Continue reading Palm Springs Follies’ latest season gains rave reviews
Rialto Square’s sign restored
Although the Rialto Square Theatre in Joliet, Ill., has been restored and operating for years, its sign was fully refurbished only this week, reports the Joliet Herald News. On Wednesday, a sign crew installed the name "Rubens" above the vertical "Rialto" on the lighted, brown marquee. "It's listed in the National Register of Historical Places … Continue reading Rialto Square’s sign restored
Historical icon returning to Miami
There was a time that an Ozark Trail obelisk once graced the Route 66 town of Miami, Okla. It's been gone for many years. But, according to the Miami News-Record, it will return: On Monday, councilmembers accepted the recommendation that a 21-foot obelisk be placed on the corner of Central Avenue and Main Street - … Continue reading Historical icon returning to Miami
Theater lauded as tourism draw
The Coleman Theatre Beautiful in Miami, Okla., was named the top tourism attraction in northeastern Oklahoma by the Grand Lake Association, reports the Joplin Globe. Smith said the Coleman, which opened in 1929 as a vaudeville palace and movie theater, continues to draw increased tourism each year. Its proximity along Route 66 attracts many visitors. … Continue reading Theater lauded as tourism draw
Holiday event returns to Route 66 landmark
The Rialto Square Theatre, a historic landmark on Route 66 in Joliet, Ill., is hosting the city's ComEd Festival of Trees for the first time in over a decade, reports the Geneva (Ill.) Sun. The event is from Nov. 24-30. The annual fundraiser typically generates $200,000 for Cornerstone Services, which assists people with disabilities. Proceeds … Continue reading Holiday event returns to Route 66 landmark
Palm Springs Follies opens Route 66-themed season
The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies opened its "Get Your Kicks!" season on Tuesday. The entire season (through mid-May) uses the music and history of Route 66 as its inspiration. The Desert Sun in Palm Springs, Calif., interviewed Route 66 advocate and Follies technical adviser Jim Conkle about the production and the Mother Road. Some excerpts: … Continue reading Palm Springs Follies opens Route 66-themed season
Preservation Conference tour heads into Kansas
The Joplin (Mo.) Globe ran into a group from the National Preservation Conference in Tulsa that was touring Oklahoma's eastern end of Route 66, plus the Mother Road in Kansas. Among the sights taken in were the Blue Whale of Catoosa, Okla.; Afton Station in Afton, Okla.; a stretch of the old 9-foot-wide highway, the … Continue reading Preservation Conference tour heads into Kansas
Notes from the Preservation Conference
I attended a couple of Route 66-related seminars and took a stroll in the exhibition hall on Wednesday during the National Preservation Conference at the Tulsa Convention Center in Tulsa. Here are a few news items that should be of interest to roadies: -- I ran into Albert Okura, owner of the Juan Pollo restaurants … Continue reading Notes from the Preservation Conference
Road report of “Rhythms of the Road”
The Joplin (Mo.) Independent filed this report of Green HD Productions' taping of "Rhythms of the Road" at the Coleman Theater in nearby Miami, Okla. It's part of a 13-part music television series; the producers have long been associated with the RFD-TV cable channel.