All Lit Up: Tulsa's Stretch of Route 66 Now Features Over 50 Neon Signs

From the January 26, 2023 Tulsa People by Ethan  Veenker.

I have been following these neon signs in Tulsa on the Route 66 News site.

Route 66 has attracted travelers from around the world in its near  century of existence.  Lately, those cruising  through Tulsa's 28-mile stretch  of the Mother Road will notice a fresh glow of neon lights adorning local businesses.

Like Ken Busby,  executive director and CEI of the Route 66 Alliance said, "Oh, neon signs!  We have some, but we could sure use more."  As I have often said, "You can never have too much neon."

The Route 66 Neon  Sign Grant, the brainchild of the City of Tulsa's  Route 66 Commission, began granting funds in 2019 for businesses along the road to to install or refurbish their own neon  storefront signs.

Tulsa, a Town That Knows Its Heritage.  --RoadDog

Along66, Dec. 2022: 'Well, I'm Running Down the Road Trying To Loosen My Load'

DECEMBER 16

The backstory to the Eagles' "Take It Easy."  It was written in 1972 by co-writers Glenn Frey and Jackson Browne.

In 1999 the "Standing On the Corner Park" opened, on the corner in Winslow, Arizona.  The statue was put up after the death of Glenn Frey in 2016.

It is one of the most photographed places along Route 66.

In 2006, when we were driving end-to-end on Route 66 for our retirement from teaching, Liz and I were there for the "Standing On the Corner" Festival.  Nothing like standing there and hearing a band playing this song.

I don't know about anyone else, but whenever Liz and I heard this song, we would yell out:  "Standing on the corner in Winslow, Arizona (Right On Route 66!!) And such a fine sight to see.  It's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at me."

"Come On Baby, Don't Say Maybe, I Gotta Know If Your Sweet Love Is Gonna Save Me."  --RoadFrey

Along66, Dec. 2022: The Cozy, a Medal of Honor and an Elephant

DECEMBER 11

The Cozy Dog in Springfield, Illinois, is getting a new sign.  Well, new old sign.  Those great guys over at Ace Sign Company have designed it as a throw-back kind of sign to an earlier one used at the place.

Bob Waldmire started it in 1946.

DECEMBER 13

Medal of Honor recipient Hiroshi Miyamura will be interred in his hometown of Gallup, New Mexico.  He was 97 when he died recently in Phoenix.  He received his medal during the Korean War.

DECEMBER 15

If you're driving through Lexington, Illinois, you may have notived an 11-foot tall scrap metal elephant sculpture called "American Standard."  It is located by the Freedom gas station.

The artist is Kasey Wells, who has several other sculptures around Lexington, ran as a write-in candidate for President of the United States in 2020.  I always like folk art.

Love That Cozy.  --RoadPhant

Along66, Dec. 2022: Route 66 National Historic Trail and LaClede County Wall of Fame

DECEMBER 5

U.S. senators introduce bill to designate Route 66 as a National Historic Trail.

Glad to hear this, but not sure why it is taking so long to do what is very obvious.

DECEMBER 6

Three will be inducted next month at LaClede County, Missouri Wall of Fame.

Plaques will be hung at the Lebanon/LaClede County Library on January 28.  Those honored will be:

1.  Direct Route delegates who lobbied for and got Route 66 yo go through the county and town.

2.  William and Ethel Lenz who ran the Lenz Tourist House which later became the Lenz Homotel from 1932 to the 1970s.

3.  The group that ran Speaker's Mobil gas station from 1921.  It is still standing, but not operating.

--RoadDog

Route 66's Quirkiest By State-- Part 5: California

CALIFORNIA

Oro Grande  (Elmer Long's Bottle Tree Ranch)

Victorville  (Emma Jean's  Holland Burger Cafe)

Victorville  (Route 66 Museum)

San Bernardino  (Original McDonald's)

Rancho  Cucamonga  (Cucamonga Service Station)

Amboy  (Roy's Motel and Cafe)

Santa Monica  (Santa Monica Pier)

--RoadDog

Route 66's Quirkiest By State-- Part 4: New Mexico and Arizona

Pictures and text accompany each place. Check out the site.

NEW MEXICO

Tucumcari  (Blue Swallow Motel, Tee Pee Curios)

Clines Corner  (Clines Corner.  Travel Center since 1934)

Albuquerque  (66 Diner)

Gallup  (El Rancho Hotel)

Santa Rosa  (Blue Hole)

*******************************

ARIZONA

Hackberry  (Hackberry General Store)

Winslow (Standing on the Corner Corner)

Seligman  (Angel and Vilma's Original Route 66 Gift Shop, Delgadillo's Snow Cap Drive-In)

Oatman  (The whole town and Burros)

Holbrook  (Wigwam Village #6)

(Grand Canyon National Park)

Meteor City  (Meteor Crater)

--RoadDog

Route 66's Quirkiest By State-- Part 3: Oklahoma and Texas

OKLAHOMA

Commerce (Allen's Conoco Fillin' Station)

Catoosa  (Blue Whale)

Foyil  ((Totem Pole Park)

Oklahoma City  (Milk Bottle Grocery)

Hydro  (Lucille's Service Station and Road House)

********************************

TEXAS

Shamrock  (Tower Station and U-Drop Inn Cafe)

Amarillo  (Cadillac Ranch, Big Texan Steak Ranch)

Conway  (VW Slug Bug Ranch)

Adrian  (Midpoint Cafe)

Groom  (Leaning Tower of Texas)

Cadillacs and Steak.  --RoadDog

'Gigantar' Cruised Thru Central Illinois Route 66 Towns

From the January 16, 2023, Bloomington, Illinois, Pantagraph by Allison  Petty.

A giant guitar made its way through  several Illinois communities  on its way to the  under-construction  Illinois Rock & Roll Museum in Joliet.

It is aptly named "Gigantar" and created by artist Shannon MacDonald and is 24 feet high and weighs 1,600 pounds according to Ron Romero, founder and  executive director of the  Joliet Museum which is slated to open later this year.

This gargantuan instrument has been making its way from where it was made in New Jersey and along the way made stops in Illinois Route 66 communities, including  Lincoln, Atlanta,  Bloomington, Normal, Lexington and Pontiac.

A celebratory "Gigantar" lighting ceremony is planned for  5 pm, Friday, January 20, at the museum located at 9 Cass Street, in Joliet.  Rick Nielsen of Cheap Trick is among the musicians expected to be there.

I'm sure looking forward to this museum as it brings together two of my big loves, music and Route 66.

--RoadGantar

Route 66's Quirkiest By State-- Part 2: MIssouri and Kansas

MISSOURI

Eureka  (Route 66 State Park)

Stanton  (Meramec Caverns)

Cuba  (Former World's Largest Rocking Chair, Wagon Wheel Motel)

Carthage  (66 Drive-In Theatre)

*********************************

KANSAS

Galena  (Cars on the Route, Galena Mining & Historical Museum)

(Bush Creek   Bridge)

Riverton  (Williams' Store)

Baxter  (Baxter Springs Independent Oil and Gas Station)

What About the Munger-Moss Motel?   --RoadMoKan

Route 66's Quirkiest and Most Wonderful Attractions State by State: Illinois

From Stacker.

ILLINOIS

Grant Park (Chicago)

Pontiac (Mural City)  (Old Log Cabin)

Springfield  (Lauterbach Giant)

Staunton  (Henry's Rabbit Ranch)

Collinsville  (World's Largest Catsup Bottle)

Madison  (Chain of Rocks Bridge)

Who Says There Is Nothing to See in Illinois?  --RoadIll

Ten Small Towns in Illinois Worth a Visit

Q 98.5 FM, Rockford, Illinois.  Johnny V.

The site has pictures and information as to why it was chosen.  I'm just listing.

1.  Galena

2.  Alton

3.  Quincy

4.  Effingham

5.  Woodstock

6.  St. Charles

7.  Metropolis

8.  Byron

9.  Grafton

10.  Carbondale

--RoadNois

Along66, Dec. 2022: Route 66 Open Between Barstow and Ludlow. A Memorial to Joplin's Tornado Victims

I take these from the Route 66 News blog which posts every day and in greater detail and pictures.  I only take the posts of most interest to me.  So, if you want the best coverage of our road, I strongly recommend that site.

DECEMBER 1

Old Route 66 is now open  between Barstow and Ludlow, California.  It had been closed for several years because of bridge washouts.  So, now you can drive it.

DECEMBER 2

A memorial was dedicated in Joplin, Missouri for the 2011 tornado victims.

It is 17 feet tall with the date May 22, 2011 on it and bears the names of the 161 who died when the EF 5 tornado hit.

It is located at the Harry McCornell Arts & Entertainment Complex at Joplin Avenue and 7th Street (Route 66).

Liz and I drove through the area hit by the tornado several months later and the devastation was still indescribable.

--RoadDog

Along66, Nov. 2022: More Neon!! Gearhead Curios

NOVEMBER 25

The Neon Museum of St. Louis has opened on a Route 66 alignment.  (And there sure are a lot of 66 alignments through that city, good luck.)

It is at 3537 Choteau Street (Route 66)

It is owned and operated by artist Deborah Katon.  It is located in a former garage.  They also have vintage signs from St. Louis businesses.  They make new pieces and acquire old ones.  One interesting one is "My Schnucks Brings It Home."  Schnucks is a supermarket chain that started in St. Louis.

Like I say, you can never have too much neon.

NOVEMBER 27

Gearhead Curios in Galena, Kansas, is to hold an official ribbon-cutting ceremony on June 17, 2023.  

It is in a former Texaco station.

Galena is one town really pursuing its Route 66 heritage.  The Four Women on the Route really got things rolling.  Thanks ladies.

--RoadDog

Fifty Songs About States-- Part 5: 'All My Exes Live in Texas'

SOUTH DAKOTA:  "South Dakota Morning"--  Bee Gees

TENNESSEE:  "Tennessee Whiskey"--  Chris Stapleton

TEXAS:  "All My Exes Live in Texas"--  George Strait

UTAH:  "Beehive State"--  Randy Newman

VERMONT:  "Moonlight in Vermont"--  Frank Sinatra

VIRGINIA:  "Sweet Virginia"--  Rolling Stones

WASHINGTON--  "Posse on Broadway"--  Sir Mix-a-Lot

WEST VIRGINIA:  "Green Rolling Hills"--  Emmylou Harris   What?  No "Take Me Home Country Roads?"

WISCONSIN:  "Wisconsin"--  Bon Iver

WYOMING:  "Song of Wyoming:--  John Denver

All My Exes.  --RoadDog

Fifty Songs About States-- Part 4: 'Allentown'

NEW MEXICO:  *"South of Santa Fe"--  Brooks & Dunn*

NEW YORK:  *"Empire State of Mind"--  Jay-Z (featuring Alicia Keys)*

NORTH CAROLINA:  "Carolina in My Mind"--  James Taylor  Great song, but I'd also like to nominate "North Carolina" by Dallas Frazier or "Carolina Girls" by Chairman of the Board.

NORTH DAKOTA:  *"I've Got a Gal I Love in North and South Dakota"--  Frank Sinatra*

OHIO:  *"Bloodbuzz Ohio"--  The National*

OKLAHOMA:  *"Oklahoma Sky"--  Miranda Lambert*  (I would have chosen "You're the Reason God Made Oklahoma" by David Frizzell & Shelly West.)

OREGON:  *"Lumberjack"--  Johnny Cash*

PENNSYLVANIA:  "Allentown:--  Billy Joel

RHODE ISLAND:  *"Rhode Island Is Famous for You"--  Blossom Dearie*

SOUTH CAROLINA:  *"South Carolina Low Country"--  Josh Turner*

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "Can't You See The Sunshine, Can't You Just Feel The Moonshine."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Carolina On My Mind"

Fifty Songs About States-- Part 3: 'Viva Las Vegas'

*  Means I hadn't heard it before.

MASSACHUSETTS:  "I'm Shipping Up to Boston"--  Dropkick Murphys

MICHIGAN:  "Lose Yourself"--  Eminem*

MINNESOTA:  "Say Shh"--  Atmosphere*

MISSISSIPPI--  "Mississippi Girl"--  Faith Hill*

MISSOURI:  "Missouri Waltz"--  Glenn Miller

MONTANA:  "Montana Song"--  Hank Williams, Jr.*

NEBRASKA:  "You and I"--  Lady Gaga*   (Her cool Nebarska guy.)

NEVADA:  "Viva Las Vegas"--  Elvis Presley

NEW HAMPSHIRE:  "New Hampshire"--  Sonic Youth*

NEW JERSEY:  "Jersey Girl"--  Bruce Springsteen

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I'm A Sailor Peg And I Lost My Leg."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Shipping Up to Boston"

Those Two Oldest Route 66 Fast Food Places (By State): The Cozy and the Frozen

From MSN:  "Your state's oldest fast food place."

ILLINOIS:  COZY DOG DRIVE-IN, Springfield

Founded in 1946, this retro restaurant on historic Route 66 has a lengthy fast food-oriented menu, but, their main attraction is its signature Cozy Dog, which is essentially an early version of the now familiar  corn dog.

Ed Waldmire started toying with the recipes of corn batter-coated deep-fried hot dogs on a stick back in the 1940s and they've continued to be a favorite in Illinois.

Just don't order a "corn dog" there.  You'll be corrected.

******************************

MISSOURI:  TED DREWES FROZEN CUSTARD, St. Louis

Tennis pro Ted Drewes actually opened his  his first frozen custard stand in Florida in 1929, but he soon brought the concept to his home state of Missouri.

While the  frozen custard custard business floundered at first, it began flourishing by the eighties.

In the winetr months, the shop sells Christmas trees that are grown on the Drewes' family Christmas tree farm in Nova Scotia.

Did You Guess Them?   --RoadYum

One More Oldest Route 66 Fast Food Places Clue

Yesterday, I said that I had found a list showing the oldest fast food  place in every U.S, state.  And, two of them were in Route 66 states.

Both of them are really well known to 66ers.  One is in Missouri and the other in Illinois.

So, what are they?

I Mean Really Well Known.  --RoadClue

Two of the Oldest National State Fast-Food Sites on Route 66. Guess What They Are?

I was looking at a list of the oldest fast food places in every state.  Interesting list.

But, two of them are on Route 66.  Can you guess which two?

I'll give the answers next post.

Dem Dogs and Cream.  --RoadFood

Fifty Songs About States-- Part 2: 'Iowa Crazy'

*Means I had not heard it before.  I listened to these on Youn Tube.

HAWAII:  "Happy Hawaii"--  Abba*

IDAHO:  "Private Idaho"--  B-52s*

ILLINOIS:  "Casimir Pulaski Day"--  Sufjan Stevens*  He doesn't mention the name, but it comes from his "Illinoise" album.

INDIANA:  "Indiana"--  Jon McLaughlin

IOWA:  "Iowa Stubborn" from the musical "Music Man"

KANSAS:  "Hood Go Crazy"--  Tech N9ne    Not Dorothy's Kansas for sure.  A Rap state song?

KENTUCKY:  "Kentucky Woman"--  Neil Diamond  (Or also the Deep Purple version)

LOUISIANA:  "Down Louisiana Way"--  George Strait*

MAINE:  "Portland, Maine"--  Tim McGraw

MARYLAND:  "Good Morning Baltimore"--  Original Cast of "Hairspray"

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "She Shines With Her Own Kind Of Light."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Kentucky Woman"

Fifty Songs About U.S. States-- Part 1: 'What Did Della Wear?'

From the January 2, 2023, Stacker by Annalise Manz.

Pop these in the ol' CD Player/cassette player while driving through these states.  *Means I had not heard the song before.  I listened to all these on You Tube.

ALABAMA:  "Sweet Home Alabama"--  Lynyrd Skynyrd

ALASKA:    "Road to Alaska"--  Bee Gees*

ARIZONA:   "Take It Easy"--  Eagles

ARKANSAS:  "Mary Queen of Arkansas"--  Bruce Springsteen*

CALIFORNIA:  "California Gurls"--  Katie Perry*  Of course, I would have chosen "California Girls"by the Beach Boys.

COLORADO--  "Rocky Mountain High"--  John Denver

CONNECTICUT:  "Connecticut"--  Judy Garland*

DELAWARE:  "Delaware"--  Perry Como*  Lots of states in this song like "She went to pay her Taxes."  A really cool song.  Give it a listen.

FLORIDA:  "Floridays"--  Jimmy Buffett

GEORGIA:  "The Devil Went Down to Georgia"--  Charlie Daniels Band

Name That Tune (from the above songs):  "I Was Standing On The Corner."  Answer below.  --RoadDog

"Take It Easy"

Chicago's Pullman National Monument-- Part 8: 'Grandfathers of the Civil Rights Movement'

The Brotherhood of Sleepong Car Porters was led by A. Philip Randolph, who had not been a Pullman Porter, but had made a name for himself as a journalist and a figure in the Harlem Rennaissance.

In 1941, Randolph threatened a march on Washington, D.C., successfully pressuring President Frankon D. Roosevelt into desegregating the war industries.

"They were the grandfathers of the civil rights movement,"  Peterson said.  "A lot of the things that the porters were fighting for are still issues that we as African Americans are still fighting for today.

"Labor Day," he added "for me running this museum represents a call to action."

--RoadDog

Chicago's Pullman National Monument-- Part 7

Still, the porters' working conditions were in many ways, untenable.  They were tip workers.  Porters hardly ever slept, and when they did, it was sometimes sitting up, in smoking cars.

And passengers often didn't call the porters by their names.  They called them George, after George Pullman.  "It was just a fancy way of calling you a boy," according to David A. Peterson, executive director of the National A. Philip Pullman Porter Museum.

When this happened to him,Gaines told the Tribune he would reply, "My name is Benjamin Franklin Gaines.  There's no George anywhere."

Having been excluded from the American Railway Union, the porters formed their own union, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, in 1925, about three decades after the factory workers' strike.  A dozen years later, they would become the first black union to receive a collective bargaining agreement with a major U.S. corporation -- the Pullman Company.

--RoadDog