The historic Coliseum Ballroom, located on the 1926-34 alignment of Route 66 in Benld, Ill., is for sale, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. The asking price: $210,000. 

And maybe, just maybe, the Coliseum will be returned to its original incarnation — a live-music venue.

And both of two prospective buyers would like to see the 82-year-old landmark returned to its original use, said Esther Kacer of Landmark Realty in Edwardsville, which lists the property.

In its heyday, the Coliseum had the biggest dance floor (10,000 square feet) between Chicago and St. Louis and featured the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Kay Kyser, Count Basie and most of the other big-name big bands - the megastars of popular music from the 1920s into the 1940s.

Situated along old Route 66 (now Illinois Route 4), the Coliseum is said to have attracted crowds that sometimes topped 2,000, from all over central Illinois and metropolitan St. Louis.

The popularity of the big bands faded, but the Coliseum continued to draw crowds for nationally known acts such as the Everly Brothers, Fats Domino, Johnny Rivers and Ray Charles. In its later years, the ballroom mostly featured local rock bands before closing about a decade ago.

Current owners Dave and Cheryl Hammond operated an antiques mall in the building before they bought the old high school in nearby Livingston and moved their business there several months ago. The old ballroom continued to lure visitors, Cheryl Hammond said.

"People came because it was the Coliseum," she said. "It never stopped until the day we closed."

The article also includes stories about Benld's more lawless days, including a connection to Chicago crime kingpin Al Capone.

It's recommended reading.

It looks like State Farm Insurance has become a major sponsor of Pixar's "Cars" movie, according to the Auto Channel. This makes some sense, as State Farm is based in the Route 66 town of Bloomington, Ill.

State Farm's CARS promotion is underway with this week's launch of the "State Farm Countdown to CARS" Giveaway, which runs through June 19. Twenty-five lucky grand prize winners will each be awarded a 2007 Red Ford Mustang 2-door Coupe Deluxe car. Complete rules and the entry form can be accessed through statefarm.com.

In the coming weeks, State Farm will also present Disney-Pixar's "CARS Road Trip '06." The tour will bring live versions of the film's animated stars to several cities across the United States and make a special stop at the World Premiere of Disney-Pixar's CARS on May 26 in Charlotte, N.C., at the Lowe's Motor Speedway.

On the advertising front, a new State Farm commercial called "Big Stars," featuring the characters portrayed in CARS, will start airing nationally the week of May 22. …

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State Farm is also creating a limited-edition CARS North American road atlas, available through participating State Farm agents starting in May. Go to statefarm.com for official rules and to enter the "State Farm Countdown to CARS" Giveaway. To see the latest CARS trailer and more, visit http://www.carsthemovie.com/.

State Farm's "Cars" site is here. (Screen capture is shown above.) I like the drive-in theater look, and I see that there's a "Cruisin' Route 66" link and other goodies. However, most of the links aren't ready yet.

This is great news. The Bloomington Pantagraph is reporting that the long-closed general store near the railroad tracks in the Route 66 settlement of Funks Grove, Ill., will reopen this weekend as Anna Rey's at Funks Grove Country Store.

The store, which opened in 1913, had been shuttered for about 30 years. It will be be a combination of an arts, crafts and an antique store.

Above is a photo of the store from about three years ago. A clarification: The article makes it sound like the general store is in Shirley. But Glaida Funk, whose family runs the famed Funks Grove Maple Sirup operation nearby, assures me it's in Funks Grove.

ComingSoon.net has an exclusive look at a countdown poster for Pixar's "Cars" movie, which roars into theaters on June 9.

In related news, "Cars" will be a sponsor for the Toyota Grand Prix of Long Beach, Calif., this weekend, according to ILikeRacing.com.  

The Bloomington Pantagraph is reporting that funding delays may put two major bicycle trail projects in Illinois on hold — including the Route 66 Bikeway.

I've excerpted a chunk of the story here, but it looks like you can blame the state and Washington for the problems. 

Officials expected IDOT to announce grants by late last year. In December, IDOT’s Web site warned of a delay until January.

Four months later, there’s still no word.

“We haven’t heard anything,” said Jeff Tracy, project manager with the McLean County Highway Department, who is involved in the Route 66 project.

IDOT spokesman Matt Vanover said Wednesday no decisions have made.

“It’s still going through the normal process,” Vanover said.

He declined to speculate when grants may be awarded.

About 40 percent to 50 percent of adults in Illinois say they ride bicycles, according to the Department of Natural Resources. Illinois boasts about 2,500 miles of bike paths.

Barsotti said the funding pinch results from a domino effect that begins in Washington, D.C. Congress passes a transportation bill to authorize the Federal Highway Administration to send a certain amount of money to the states each year.

When pressed to save money later, Congress cuts funding. As a result, the Federal Highway Administration must ask the states to return some cash, he said.

Illinois receives about $1 billion from the federal agency annually. Of that, 2.5 percent, or about $25 million, is earmarked for enhancements, such as bike paths and street beautification, Barsotti said.

In the past two years, IDOT has cut enhancement funds at a rate far higher than other programs, he said citing federal figures. Of $70 million returned in fiscal 2006, $11.6 million was taken enhancements, he said.

Barsotti noted that amount equaled a 45 percent cut, compared to reductions of 4.5 percent in other areas at IDOT. His statewide bike advocacy group fears bike paths will receive the same treatment this year when Illinois must return $40 million.

Barsotti thinks the enhancement fund becomes vulnerable because IDOT has been slow to dole out the money. As a result, the fund appears flush.

Our good friend Jack Patel, who runs the well-preserved Desert Hills Motel on Route 66 in Tulsa, is looking for part-time office help (answering phones, checking in guests, etc.) for evenings. Apply in person; make an appointment by calling 918-834-3311.

Kent Sanderson sent photos of the former 66 Liquors sign in Pacific, Mo., after it was heavily damaged by the severe storms that wreaked havoc in the Midwest last week. Damage to the sign was initially reported here.

Here's a "before" shot of the sign:

Here are the "after" shots:

The Route 66 Association of Missouri and Friends of the Mother Road are making contacts in an effort to repair the sign.