Time for Some Summer Music-- Part 3: 'Beach Baby' and Our Retirement Baby, Bob Stroud

DO IT AGAIN--  Beach Boys

BEACH BABY--  First Class--

SUMMER--  War

SUMMER RAIN--  Johnny Rivers

STREET FIGHTING MAN--  Rolling Stones

YOU TOOK THE WORDS RIGHT OUT OF MY MOUTH (HOT SUMMER NIGHTS)--  Meatloaf

Sad that we only have two more days left before Bob Stroud retires from full time radio deejaying at Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, the Drive.  However, he will still be doing his Ten at Ten, One 45 at 1:45 and Rock and Roll Roots which he will record.  So, we won't be wholly without Bob.

Hopefully he will also do his "Beat Bob Stroud" bit with Sherman and Tingle where people try to beat his musical knowledge and that isn't very easy.

Happy Retirement Bob Stroud.

--RoadStroud

Time for Some Summer Music-- Part 2: 'In the Summertime'

Continuing with Bob Stroud's Roots Salute to Summer.

IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Mungo Jerry    My all-time favorite summer song.

PIPELINE--  Chantays

SUNSHINE SUPERMAN--  Donovan

HOT SUMMER DAY--  It's A Beautiful Day

SCHOOL'S OUT--  Alice Cooper    This was the name of out last boat.  Very appropriate since we were both teachers.  When we retired, the name was changed to "School's Out...Forever!"

SUMMERTIME BLUES--  Who

SUNNY GIRLFRIEND--  Monkees

GOOD DAY SUNSHINE--  Beatles

DAYDREAM--  Lovin' Spoonful

SUMMERTIME--  Billy Stewart

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Well We Got No Choice All The Girls And Boys."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"School's Out"

Time for Some Summer Music-- Part 1: 'Catch a Wave'

Yesterday, Bob Stroud Saluted Summer on his Rock and Roll Roots show on Chicago's WDRV, 97.1 FM, Classic Rock station, the Drive.

Always means summer to me and enjoyed listening to it.

Here are the songs he played:

DANCING IN THE STREETS--  Martha & the Vandellas

SPILL THE WINE--  Eric Burdon & War

SATURDAY IN THE PARK--  Chicago

SUNNY DAYS--  Lighthouse

HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Sly & the Family Stone

CATCH A WAVE--  Beach Boys   Well, ya gotta play something by them.

HEATWAVE--  Linda Ronstadt      My all-time favorite female singer.

SUNNY AFTERNOON--  Kinks

MR.  BLUE SKY--  ELO

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "People Dancing, People Laughing, A Man Seeling Ice Cream."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Saturday In the Park"

 

Along66, May 2022: New Motel in Lebanon and the Sunset Motel in Villa Ridge for Sale

MAY 24

The old Midwest Inn in Lebanon, Missouri's west side has been renovated and renamed the Maple Tree Inn.

It is located at 2125 W. Elm Street (Route 66).  

Rooms cost $75. 

Of course, when we're in Lebanon, Missouri, we are kind of most likely to stay with Ramona at the Munger-Moss.  We really need to get back there soon.

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MAY 25

Sunset Motel in Villa Ridge, Missouri, has been put up for sale for $1.1 million.

Theyv are noted for that wonderful neon sign.

It has 16 units, including a train caboose (I've never seen that).  Three units are currently leased for $550 a month.  It all comes on 17.5 acres.

It opened in 1945 and the sign was restored in 2009.

--RoadDog

Along66, May 2022: Updating the 'Route 66 Driving and Lodging' Guide and the Oklahoma 66 Commission

MAY 19

The revival of "Route 66 Driving and Lodging Guide" is planned for later this year.

Mark Hamilton of the Backroads 66 website plans to have an update on his popular book in November or December.  He will be updating only independently-owned properties on or just off Route 66 as well as RVparks.

The 17th and the latest edition came out in 2015.  And, as we all know, a real lot has happened since then.

It is always a better experience when you can stay or sample food in one of the lesser-known places along the road.

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MAY 23

Oklahoma is on the verge of a state Route 66 Commission.

The Oklahoma legislature has okayed the Route 66 Commission with up to $6.6 million in annual funding for preservation.

The House advanced the Bill by a 72-6 vote and the Senate by a 39-6 margin and it now goes to the governor for signature.

If he signs it, the Commission takes effect July 1 and remains in effect to mid-2027.

Just in Time for the Centennial.  --RoadDog

Along66, May 2022: Grants in Illinois

MAY 16

Illinois announced  $4 million in grants for Route 66 projects.

This is a project of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and Governor J.B. Pritzker.

Targeted projects are the visitors center in a former gas station in Edwardsville, the reopening of the Old Cannonball Jail in Carlinville and a new muffler man restaurant in Berwyn.

**  $1,170,523 to Springfield CVB to create interactive focus on Blacks traveling or living along Route 66.  Plus, there will be Route 66 signs at the Illinois State Fairgrounds in that city.

**  $919,000 to Great Rivers and Routes Tourism Bureau to retrofit the West End Service Station in Edwardsville to serve as a Route 66 visitors center and museum.

Reopen the historic Cannonball Jail in Carlinville.

Create 12 Route 66 postcard-style murals with Route 66 facts in Virden, Girard, Gillespie, Carlinville, Litchfield, Staunton, Hamel, Edwardsville, Collinsville, Livingston, Granite City and St. Louis.

**  $1,575,488 to the Heritage Corridor CVB to build electric charging stations in Wilmington and Pontiac, a Route 66 welcom center in Joliet and an integrated statewide marketing campaign focused on Route 66 destinations.

It's All Good.  --RoadDog

Along66, May 2022: Palms Cafe Reopening in Atlanta, Illinois

MAY 16

Missy's Sweet Shoppe soon will open in Palms Grill Cafe in Atlanta, Illinois. 

A new tenant has leased the Palms Cafe from them owner, Atlanta Public Library and is expected to open in early June.  However, it will not be a full-service rstaurant as it was before.

The Palms Cafe was built in 1934 and was closed for many years before being restored and reopened in 2009.  It again closed in the summer of 2020 due to you-know-what.

It was rebuilt to closely resemble what the original looked like and was a real trip nback on the real trip back road.  We ate there several times over then years.

Glad it will reopen.  Now, if the city will just do something about that water tower.

--RoadNotSmiley

Along66, May 2022: Joplin's Union Depot and Gallup's Closed Motels

MAY 9

The City of Joplin, Missouri, hires a firm to help find a developer for the Joplin Union Depot redevelopment and to renovate it.

It is a century old and has been abandoned for more than fifty years.

Located off North Main Street (AKA Bypass Route 66 from the 1930s to 1955).

That is a beautiful structure and I'm happy to see that they are going to do something with it.

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MAY 11

Six motels on Route 66 in Gallup, New Mexico, have been closed by the city, including the Blue Spruce Lodge which had a popular and often photographed sign.

The Hacienda Motel, Arrowhead Lodge, Lariat Lodge, Zia Motel and Redwood Lodge are the other ones.

I agree, either do something with eyesores or tear them down.

--RoadDog

Along66, May 2022: Illinois State Fair and Another Bridge Closed

MAY 7

The Illinois State Fair in Springfield, Illinois, paints its giant slide with a Route 66 theme.

It is 40 feet tall, 130 feet long and eractyed in 1968 near the main gate.

There will be a big ol' Route 66 shield on it.

The Fair runs from August 11 to August 21.

Sorry guys, at my age and problems with steps, I don't think I'll be sliding down it.  But, I will have another Cozy Dog.

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MAY 8

The historic Route 66 bridge near Marshfield, Missouri has been closed.

THe Route CC bridge over the Niangua Branch River east of Marshfield will be permanently closed this week to make way for a new bridge.

It was built in 1923 and is a Pratt pony truss bridge built by M.E. Gillioz.   He built a lot of bridges.  Plus, the Gillioz Theater in Springfield is there because of him.

--RoadDog

Along66, May 2022: Wildfires in New Mexico and a Tornado Does Damage to Lucille's

I take these from the excellent Route 66 News blog site.  I just take the items of most interest to me from it, but of you're looking to know what's going on along our favorite road, this is where you want to go.  There is a new post everyday along with more information, plus, I am always at least a month behind what I take from it.

MAY 3

Travelers are advised to avoid Las Vegas, New Mexico, right now because of wildfires.

MAY 4

Lucille's Service Station in Hydro, Oklahoma, sustains moderate damage from a tornado.

There was moderate damage to the roof, but the nearby office building, designed to look like the original motel at the place, was even damaged more.

Lucille, "The Mother of the Mother Road,"Hamons owned and operated her place for almost sixty years until she died in 2000.

The station was built in 1929 and is on the NRHP.

She was one person we sure would have liked to meet, but sadly, we didn't get interested in Route 66 until 2022.

--RoadDog

That's It for Hojo's

From the June 3, 2022, Chicago Tribune "Hojo's closes its last restaurant."

An American roadside icon is no more.  The Howard Johnson's restaurant near the upstate New York resort village of Lake George is closed.  It was the last of the once-pervasive eateries serving food under orange roofs with blue spires.

The rstaurant just south of Lake George in the Adirondack Mountains did not open over Memorial Day weekend and is for lease, according to the Times Union of Albany.

Hojo's was well-known to baby boomers, who grew up on the restaurants' 28 ice cream flavors and fried clam plates.

But they faded away with the rise of fast food outlets and there were only a few operating under the Howard Johnson's name by the beginning of 2015, with the next to last location clsoing in Bangor, Maine, in 2016.

There are still Howard Johnson hotels.

I have seen them, butcI don't think I ever went into one growing up.

--RoadDog

Going Back to 1970-- Part 3: 'In the Summertime'

Fifty-two years ago.  I remember it well.  A great college year.

AMOREENA--  Elton John

BIG YELLOW TAXI--  Joni Mitchell

These are from the June 4, 2022, Saturday Morning Flashback on Chicago's WXRT.

OHIO--  CSNY

IN THE SUMMERTIME--  Mungo Jerry    My all-time favorite summer song.

ROCK AND ROLL--  Velvet Underground

LUCKY MAN--  ELO   One of my all-time favoite songs.  Love that Moog Synthesizer.  

YOU BETTER THINK TWICE--  Poco   Country Rock doesn't get much netter than this.

TEACHER--  Jethro Tull  The Grammys first Heavy Metal winner.  Really?

CHESTNUT MARE--  Byrds

COUNTRY ROAD--  James Taylor

MR. SKIN--  Spirit

ACROSS THE UNIVERSE--  Beatles

ONLY YOU KNOW AND I KNOW--  Dave Mason

MIDNIGHT RIDER-- Allman Brothers

25 OR 6 TO 4--  Chicago   Probably one of gthe best intros ever.

SAMBA PA TI--  Santana

THAT'S THE WAY--  Led Zeppelin

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "He Had White Horses And Ladies By The Score."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Lucky Man"

Going Back to 1970-- Part 2: 'All Things Must Pass'

Fifty-two years ago, folks.  Really!!

DON'T LET IT BRING YOU DOWN--  Neil Young

VEHICLE--  Ides of March   That group from Chicago with Jim Peterik.

PEACE FROG/BLUE SUNDAY--  Doors

THE LETTER (LIVE)--   Joe Cocker

I HEAR YOU KNOCKIN'--  Dave Edmunds

ALL THINGS MUST PASS--  George Harrison  What is better than one Beatles, why four Beatles.

EVERYBODY IS A STAR--  Sly & the Family Stone

RIDE CAPTAIN RIDE--  Blues Image

SUGAR MAGNOLIA--  Grateful Dead

DOMINO--  Van Morrison

THE SEEKER--    Who

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Hey Well I'm The Friendly Starnger In The Black Sedan Won't You Hop  Inside My Car."  Answer below.  RoadDog

"Vehicle"

Okay, Time for Some Music, Going Back to 1970: 'Let's Work Together'

I don't know about you, but I kinda feel the need for some music every now and then, well, actually most all the time.  I can't imagine cruising down the road (if this virus thing and gas gouge ever end) without my tunes playing loud and proud over the car stereo system.  (And I sure do miss cassette and CD players on new cars.)

I have two sets of friends who hardly ever listen to music when traveling and that is just something I have a problem with.

Saturday, June 4, Chicago's WXRT, 93.1 FM went back to 1970 on its Saturday Morning Flashback Show with Richard Milne.

These were the songs they played:

FRESH AIR--  Quicksilver Messenger Service

LAYLA--  Derek & the Dominos

LITTLE QUEENIE (LIVE)--  Rolling Stones

LET'S WORK TOGETHER--  Canned Heat

NO MATTER WHAT--  Badfinger

RUN THROUGH THE JUNGLE--  Creedence Clearwater Revival

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "What Will You Do When You Get Lonely?  No One Waiting By Your Side."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Layla"

Along66, April 2022: Blue Whale Vandalism and a Google Doodle?

APRIL 26

The interior of the Blue Whale in Catoosa, Oklahoma, has been closed off due to recent vandalism.  Very crude things were spray-painted on it.  

Now, what kind of a bum would do something like that to such a neat thing?

APRIL 29

The Google Doodle today contains an artist's tribute to Route 66.  Every Google Doodle has a story and this one is that of the Mother Road. 

(And, I didn't even know what the Google Doodle was called before this.  Not saying that I am behind the times, BUT....)

Oh Great Google Doodle.  --RoadDog

Along66, April 2022: Western Motel in Santa Rosa, N.M., Torn Down, Sun 'n Sand Motel Likely Next

APRIL 25

Western Motel in Santa Rosa, New Mexico, torn down, Sun 'n Sand Motel likely next.

The long-closed Western Motel was torn down a few says ago and similarly shuttered Sun 'n Sand is likely next in line for the wrecking ball.

The Sun 'n Sand was abandoned a decade ago.  It was built in the 1950s and remodeled about 1998, but closed down in 2012 or 2013.  The historic hail storm in July 2013left up to two feet of hail and damaged the motel's roof

However, the Sun 'n Sand restaurant, located near the motel, continues to operate and is quite a favorite of locals.

There is a neat Sun 'n Sand Motel sign and I hope there is a way they can find to keep it.

It is always sad to see a motel torn down, but sometimes it is necessary.

--RoadDog

Along66, April 2022: Illinois Tourism and the Oatman Road

APRIL 22

Actress and comedian Jane Lynch stars in Illinois Tourism's "Middle of Everything" campaign to attract people to the state.  There are scenes along Route 66 in many of the different commercials.  Good for us.  Obviously the state believed that Route 66 is a big tourist attraction.  I could have told them that.

There are shout outs to several 66 landmarks.

These commercials are set to run in 20 markets across Illinois and 7 neighboring states.

Some of the 66 attractions shown in the commercials:  The Route 66 Museum and Hall of Fame in Pontiac, the Cozy Dog Inn in Springfield and Sign Museum in Springfield.

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APRIL 23

The Oatman Road (Route 66) in Arizona may see up to $2 million in road improvements.  Many are in the form of safety measures like rumble strips along the edges.

The ten-mile long road has dozens of switchbacks, 15 mph speed limits and deep ravines.  

Make it safer, but keep some of the "dangerous" appeal.

--RoadDog

Along66, April 2022: See the Original 'Route 66: The Mother Road' Film

APRIL 19

"Route 66: The Mother Road" film from 1994 in on Internet Archive.

This 88 minutes long film starring Michael and Suzanne Wallis has been out of print for a long time.  Back when it was released, it served a a really good introduction to Route 66 for newcomers, much as his book did.

You can view it at the site.

It has glimpses of many now-gone places and people.  Also, there were many places in bad shape back then that have had a rebirth to better times.

Well worth watching as your own little trip back.

Great for Whetting a 66 Appetite.  --RoadDog

Along66, April 2022: Tucumcari Tonight!-- Part 2

**  W.A. Huggins also built several other motels in Tucumcari besides the Blue Swallow.  One was the Travelers Paradise Motor Lodge on the city's west side which has now fallen into disrepair.

**  Longtime Blue Swallow owner Lillian Redman took part in a few poker games with truckers stranded at her place during a big snowstorm.

**  Two lane Route 66 between San Jon and Tucumcari was known as "Slaughter Lane" and "Suicide Road" because of traffic fatalities.

**  Tucumcari's reputation as a speed trap was well-known, but the launched "Operation Coffee" where police would give speeding out-of-town motorists a coupon good for a free cup of coffee at a local restaurant or gas station.  (Sadly, the review didn't mention if the coupon was instead of a ticket.)

--RoadDog

Along66, April 2022: Tucumcari Tonight!

APRIL 18

Book Review of 'Tucumcari Tonight!" by David H. Stratton.

This is a part history, part memoir.  The author grew up in Tucumcari and has lots of inside stories of its heyday.

**  The Blue Swallow Motel was built in 1939.  It was originally called the Blue Swallow Court, but the name later changed to motel.

**  It was built by W.A. Huggins and his wife, Mary Maud, named it.

**  George J. Lins was a key figure in the development of tourism in Tucumcari.  He built the Lins Motor Lodge and Lins Cafe.

**  His daughter, Bettie Ditto, enlarged the Lins complex into the Congress Inn and later the still-operating Pow Wow Inn.

--RoadDog

Along66, April 2022: 'The Largest Route 66 Shield in Missouri'

APRIL 16

The Route 66 Association of Missouri is planning an event to repaint a huge Route 66 road shield at Gary's Gay Parita.   

Plans are for May 28 for "The Largest Route 66 Shield in Missouri."  This shield will measure in at 12 by 15 feet and was first painted in 2018, but has since faded a lot.

Gay Parita is a recreation of a 1930s gas station owned by Fred and Gay Mason that stood until it burned down in 1955.  Gary Turner rebuilt it about 2004 and the site soon became a must-stop for 66ers for the scenery, hospitality and quirky, home-spun humor of Gary.

A "quick stop" there often turned into hours.  (Much like Ernie Edwards at the Pig-Hip in Illinois.)  Sadly, Gary Turner died in 2015.  His daughter Barbara moved there from St. Louis and opened on in 2016 and continues to run it.

We enjoyed more than a few of those extended quick stops over the years and you can still have it with daughter Barbara.

--RoadDog

Along66, April 2022: The Round Barn, Cotton Ball Motel and Miles of Possibilities Conference

APRIL  8

Acadia, Oklahoma's Round Barn is marking its 30th anniversary of it restoration.  An impressive structure.

APRIL 12

A Canute, Oklahoma, preservation group wants to restore the Cotton Ball Motel neon sign for the 2026 centennial of the Mother Road.

It opened in the 960s and closed in the 1980s when I-40 bypassed it.

APRIL 13 

The Miles of Possibilities Route 66 Conference announced the the CEO of Stuckey;s, Stephanie Stuckey, will be the keynote speaker at the October 20-23, 2022, meeting to be held in Pontiac, Illinois.

The conference will be dedicated to the late David Clark, aka The Windy City Road Warrior who died this past January..  Stephanie Stuckey will give the keynote speech on Friday, October 21.  She has been on a mission to revive Stuckey's.

I like those pecan logs.

--RoadDog

Along66 April 2022: The Lexington House on 66 and Oklahoma 66 Road Shields

APRIL 4

The Lexington House on 66 in Lexington, Illinois, is a 1960s-themed store that aims to draw Route 66 travelers.  An open house was held.  It is a 3 bedroom, one bath, two-story house place you can rent on Air bnb at $123 a night.

It's rooms are done up in 1960s themes.

APRIL 6    

Oklahoma issues guidelines for entities to paint Route 66 shields on the pavement.  ODoT is doing this for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Mother Road.

These can be painted by cities or counties, but have to be in areas with speed limits of 35 mph or less.

You can never have too much signage.

--RoadDog