Along66, July 2022: The Blues Brothers at Joliet Prison August 19 and 20

JULY 6

Dan Aykroyd and Jim Belushi to perform next month at the Old Joliet Prison in Joliet, Illinois.  The proceeds will benefit the Joliet Area Historical Museum.

It will be a two-day event, August 19 and 20.

There will be a free screening of the movie "Blues Brothers" where, of course Jake was incarcerated before his release in the opening of the movie.  (My second all-time favorite movie after "Animal House.")

There will also be other entertainment and food.

Dan Aykroyd was an original Blues Brother.  Other Blues Brother experiences which will be offered are  Maxwell Street and Bob's Country Bunker, derived from the movie.  Also a religious service at the Triple Rock Baptist Church.

Also, a Bluesmobile car show.

Organizers would like attendees to dress up Blues Brothers fashion.

$60 for a two-day pass for adults, $20 for children.

The prison's historic walls were built in 1858 and it closed in 2004.

Sounds Like a Great Time.  --RoadBrother

Some More on Jackson, Michigan: Coney Island Dogs, Autos, Corsets and a Prison

I have been wanting to take a drive on U.S. Highway 12 to its eastern terminus, which is in Detroit, Michigan, and Jackson is located a short distance north of the highway, so would be a nice detour.

I went to good old Wikipedia and found out some other interesting things about Jackson.

Besides being a possible "Birthplace of the Republican Party as mentioned in the last post, Jackson was an early center for the U.S.auto industry.  By 1910, it was Jackson's main industry.  More than 20 different brands of cars were made here.  There is a place to see them at Ye Olde Carriage Shop which has many of them.

Also, Jackson is considered the birthplace of the Coney Island Hot Dog which started in 1914.  Several area restaurants still serve them.

The first Michigan state prison is here as well as it being a major manufacturing site for women's corsets in the early 1900s. 

So, You Could Eat A Lot of Coney Dogs and Then Wear a Corset to Cover Up the Weight.  --RoadDog

Along 66, Sept. 2019: Stealing Signs and Going to Prison

SEPTEMBER 21--   The long-closed Los Alamitos Motel sign was taken down in Grants, New mexico.  The problem is though, that the city has no idea who took it.

Not nice, sign stealers.  Don't take our neon away from us.

SEPTEMBER  30--  The Old Joliet Prison has drawn 14,181 visitors since it opened in August 2018.  They have gone on tours and special events.  It was built in the 19th century and known officially as the Joliet Correctional Center.

Officials put the amount of revenue the prison has generated at $407,654.

What a great place for a Halloween spook house if it already isn't one.

--RoadHoosegow

Along 66, April 2018: Tropics Sign, Pulaski Brochure and a Prison

APRIL 6--  The relighting of that neat Tropics sign is set for June 24 in Lincoln, Illinois. The original tropics has been torn down and there is a McDonald's there now, but the sign will be in the McDonald's parking lot.

That is a neat sign so really glad it will be back.

APRIL 6--  The newly revised Explore Pulaski County, Missouri brochure has a section on additional and obscure Route 66 alignments, including 66 points of interest and 10 detours.

Of course, I would have to say Missouri Route 66 is my favorite of all eight states.

APRIL 7--  The old, 160 year old Joliet Prison may reopen by August.

That  is a neat old prison.

--RoadDog

Along 66, Dec. 2017: Joliet Correctional Center and Ron Warnick

From the Route 66 News Site.

DECEMBER 22--   Joliet, Illinois, strikes deal to rent out old Joliet Correctional Center.  There will be a five-year lease to take some responsibility for the long-closed and deteriorating structure built in 1858.

Perhaps a bed and breakfast?  Sleep where John Belushi slept?

DECEMBER 30--  Editor of the Route 66 News, Ron Warnick, is moving to Tucumcari, New Mexico.  He and his wife have long wanted to live there and she has a teaching job.

When I saw that the Blue Swallow Motel had come up for sale in Tucumcari for $165,000, I seriously thought about ir, but decided running a motel was too much work.

Of course, we all owe Ron a huge thanks for continuing with his Route 66 News blog.  If there is anything you want to know about the Mother Road, this is where you go.

--RoadDog

News From Along 66, June 2017: Repairing the Boots Court Motel's Neon

These stories come from the Route 66 News site.  I only pick the ones I am most interested in andI only write a little of what is said.  For the whole article and photos, go to the website.

JUNE 1--  Fire destroys building inside Joliet Corrections Center.  A juvenile was charged with arson.

And he should be careful about the ghost of John Belushi getting him from trying to mess up one of his most famous scenes.

JUNE 6--  Fundraising is going on to repair the Boots Court Motel's severely hail-damaged neon.  We are looking forward to staying there the next time we're in Carthage, Missouri.

JUNE 7--  The Lebanon-LaClede County Route 66 Association launched a new website.  Check it out at www.lebanonroute66.com.

One of our very favorite Route 66 counties.

--RoadDog

N.C. January 2017-- Part 12: Coulda, Shoulda, Woulda, But Didn't

JANUARY 14, 2017, SATURDAY

As I mentioned in the last entry about this trip yesterday, I would have really have loved to be down at Carolina Beach and Kure Beach today as there were big doings going on about Fort Fisher.  This is the 152nd anniversary of the 2nd Battle of Fort Fisher.

I have been wanting to go for years, but Liz's birthday is January 10 and since dad died, I have been going to North Carolina to visit Mom for Thanksgiving.  To come back from N.C. in early December and then turn around and go back six weeks later was just too much.  (It is 1050 miles to Goldsboro and another 100 to Carolina Beach.)

This morning, the Friends of Fort fisher, to which I belong, was having their annual meeting and descendants reunion at the Marriott at Carolina Beach with Chris Fonvielle, author and Fort Fisher expert speaking.

Then, there were all sorts of things going on at Fort Fisher, about four miles away.  There were re-enactors, cannon firing, kids activities and talks by Rod Gragg who wrote the first book on Fort Fisher "Confederate Goliath" and Richard Triebe who wrote a novel about blockade running, got hooked on the fort, and then wrote two books on Fort Fisher's history and garrison and captured soldiers sent to the Union's infamous Elmira Prison (referred to as "Hellmira").

As much as I wanted to go, I had lots to do at Mom's condo.  And since I inherited it, I don't think the others would appreciate it if I took off for Fort Fisher.

But, I Really Would Have Loved To Go.  Perhaps Next Year.  --RoadDog