A film portrait of Harley Russell

I doubt you'll find a more candid or heartbreaking film about Harley Russell, one-half of the Mediocre Music Makers in Erick, Oklahoma, than this one. A description of the film: Despite living in the small town of Erick, Oklahoma and bordering on the edge of insanity, a self-proclaimed ‘mediocre music maker’ attracts visitors from around … Continue reading A film portrait of Harley Russell

Harley Russell documentary premieres Saturday at short-film festival

Filmmaker March Mercanti will premiere his documentary about Harley Russell of the Mediocre Music Makers in Erick, Oklahoma, on Saturday at the San Jose International Short Film Festival. The nearly 14-minute film is titled simply "Harley." Here is the summary: Despite living in the small town of Erick, Oklahoma and bordering on the edge of insanity, a … Continue reading Harley Russell documentary premieres Saturday at short-film festival

Trains return to Erick for the first time in years

Residents of Erick, Oklahoma, saw a passenger train come through their town for the first time in nearly 50 years Friday as Farmrail commemorated the opening of rail service between there and the fellow Route 66 town of Sayre, Oklahoma, for a fracking-sand manufacturer, according to The Oklahoman newspaper. The passenger train was just for … Continue reading Trains return to Erick for the first time in years

A look at Route 66 in 1993

Anthony Reichardt of Santa Ana, California, drove his 1959 Cadillac down old Route 66 in the fall of 1993 has uploaded several videos from that journey. In them, you're likely to see things you never may see again. Such as this look inside -- and out -- of the West Winds Motel in Erick, Oklahoma, … Continue reading A look at Route 66 in 1993

Annabelle Russell, R.I.P.

Annabelle Russell, 68, who with her husband Harley Russell made up the irreverent Mediocre Music Makers at their Sandhills Curiosity Shop in Erick, Oklahoma, died Tuesday afternoon after a 3 1/2-year bout with cancer. The Facebook page for Harley and Annabelle posted sad but typical message Tuesday: Dear friends, my Precious Annabelle just passed away 1:10p.m. this afternoon … Continue reading Annabelle Russell, R.I.P.

Roger Miller Festival moving from downtown Erick

The annual Roger Miller Festival is moving from its longtime downtown location in his adopted hometown of Erick, Oklahoma, to the Lost Creek Arena west of town on old Route 66, according to a news release from the venue. The event -- which will feature lots of live music, including Roger Miller's son, Dean Miller … Continue reading Roger Miller Festival moving from downtown Erick

Annabelle Russell soon will move into hospice care

Annabelle Russell, one-half of the Mediocre Music Makers in the Sandhills Curiosity Shop near Route 66 in Erick, Oklahoma, soon will be moved into a hospice in Oklahoma City after a 3 1/2-year battle with ovarian cancer, according to the couple's Facebook account. Harley Russell posted this message this morning: Dear friends, I have called … Continue reading Annabelle Russell soon will move into hospice care

A section of old road in western Oklahoma

This is fun. Hunter Bachrach posted this video of driving on an older section of Route 66 in western Oklahoma. This likely is the section east of Erick, that used to be part of a four-lane highway. I suspect a local periodically takes a Brush Hog or snowplow to it. Every so often, it becomes … Continue reading A section of old road in western Oklahoma