Artificial intelligence program brings deceased Route 66 figures seemingly to life

A few weeks ago, the MyHeritage genealogy website released an artificial intelligence program called Deep Nostalgia. It takes still photographs of people, analyzes them and animates their faces in a lifelike way by making them seemingly blink their eyes, move their heads and make subtle movements with their lips. The effect often proves amazing, unsettling … Continue reading Artificial intelligence program brings deceased Route 66 figures seemingly to life

Improvements coming to Andy Payne Park in Foyil

The town of Foyil, Oklahoma, soon will embark on improvements to Andy Payne Park -- best-known for its statue of Payne running -- off old Route 66 in the village. According to the Claremore Daily Progress newspaper in nearby Claremore: The improvements, budgeted at $11,000, will include three new picnic tables covered by a large … Continue reading Improvements coming to Andy Payne Park in Foyil

An update on the Texaco gas station in Foyil

When we'd last heard almost three years ago, a local man bought a 1920s Texaco station along old Route 66 in Foyil, Oklahoma, and shortly had it added to the National Register of Historic Places. The station's owner, Kean Isaacs, pledged to restore it to as close as its original look as possible. Last week, … Continue reading An update on the Texaco gas station in Foyil

Claremore museum plans new statue of Andy Payne

The Claremore Museum of History in Claremore, Oklahoma, plans to place a life-size statue of local athlete Andy Payne at Lynn Riggs Park, also known as Gazebo Park, a few blocks east of Route 66. The Claremore Daily Progress reported a new exhibit, "The Andy Payne Family Collection," donated by Payne’s daughter, will be shown in the … Continue reading Claremore museum plans new statue of Andy Payne

Oklahoma marks 90th anniversary of Bunion Derby

The Oklahoma Route 66 Association last weekend marked the 90th anniversary of the transcontinental Bunion Derby footrace, with several descendants of winner Andy Payne at the commemoration. The association marked the 1928 footrace that traversed Los Angeles to New York City, including a fledgling U.S. 66, by carrying a commemorative plaque during a motorized relay … Continue reading Oklahoma marks 90th anniversary of Bunion Derby

Seven minutes about the Bunion Derby

I missed this when it was uploaded a few weeks ago, but this seven-minute film about the 1928 Trans-American Footrace, aka Bunion Derby, encapsulates the amazing Route 66 sports event as well as anything you'll likely see. The film was produced by Osiyo TV, which is owned by the Cherokee Nation. The key link to the tribe … Continue reading Seven minutes about the Bunion Derby

Foyil gas station added to National Register of Historic Places

A 1920s gas station along an old alignment of Route 66 in Foyil, Oklahoma, officially was designated to the National Register of Historic Places this month. The designation, effective Dec. 8, came listed in an email Thursday from the National Park Service. We reported in April the long-closed gas station's owner, Kean Isaacs, wished to restore it to “its … Continue reading Foyil gas station added to National Register of Historic Places

Man restoring old gas station in Foyil

A resident of Foyil, Oklahoma, is restoring a late 1920s filling station along an original alignment of Route 66 through the town. Nathan Williams informed me his brother-in-law, Kean Isaacs, aims to restore the station to "its original condition or as close as possible." According to an email: He hopes to turn it into an information … Continue reading Man restoring old gas station in Foyil

Japanese man plans to retrace Andy Payne’s Bunion Derby trek

A Japanese ultramarathon runner later this month plans to retrace Andy Payne's steps during the 1928 International Transcontinental Foot Race, better known as the Bunion Derby. Atsuyuki Katsuyama, a native of Japan who lives in Thailand, will begin the 3,400-mile trek from Los Angeles to New York City on April 25 and hopes to finish it in … Continue reading Japanese man plans to retrace Andy Payne’s Bunion Derby trek