I confirmed today that the grand opening celebration for the Route 66 Transportation Museum in Elk City, Okla., set for Saturday has been postponed because of a scheduling conflict.

It will be rescheduled, but no date has been set.

The Rolla (Mo.) Daily News has details about the Route 66 Association of Missouri’s annual Motor Tour on Sept. 8-10, which will go from Litchfield, Ill., to St. Robert, Mo.

The association’s Web site is here, and the registration form is here.

More fun from YouTube:

If you’re traveling into Pasadena, Calif., anytime soon, you’re advised to go to the Theatre@Boston Court and see Carlos Murillo’s new play, “Unfinished American Highwayscape #9 & 32 or The Broken Tractor Graveyard.”

Janja J. Monji of Pasadena Weekly describes why it would be of interest to roadies:

In the summer of 2003, Murillo traveled to the roadside attractions on the secondary roads romanticized by songs like “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66″ as part of a project funded by a Rockefeller Foundation grant.

In a time before interstate highways made travel more efficient, people drove through these small towns and Americans met other Americans. Yet now these small towns are rarely seen by travelers, a theme echoed in the recent animation feature, “Cars.”

The play runs through Sept. 3. Tickets are $25 to $30. For more information, call (626) 683-6883, or visit www.BostonCourt.com.

There’s not much good news to report about the historic Green Parrot tavern’s almost-certain demise because of a collapsing underground mine, except that the town’s police chief rescued a pet bird from the building.

The Joplin (Mo.) Globe reports that Galena, Kan., Police Chief Larry Delmont took the risk of entering the 114-year-old, crumbling building that sits in front of old Route 66 so that he could remove a lovebird from the premises.

Delmont said the bird’s cage was along a wall in Morang’s upstairs apartment. He said he was in communication with other officers during the rescue, but that would have done him little good if the building had collapsed while he was inside.

He said he was motivated by a concern for the animal, and he didn’t want it to die.

Delmont’s mission was accomplished. In the meantime, large chunks of the building’s rear continued to fall into the pit below.

Ron Hart of Route66TVOnline shot photos at the scene. Judging by one image of a crack running up the side of a wall, the building probably is doomed. Hart wrote:

Even though the rear wall is the only part to give way, stress cracks are numerous, and it is expected that this piece of Route 66 history, like an aging family pet, will have to be put down.

The good news is that once the ground is ruled stable, the owners should be able to remove all the interior fixtures that gave the bar “character,” and perhaps a new Green Parrot will once again be open on the Mother Road.