Creator of the Launching Pad restaurant dies July 24, 2007
Posted by Ron in Attractions, People, Restaurants.add a comment
John Korelc, the founder of what became the Launching Pad Drive-In on Route 66 in Wilmington, Ill., died at age 87 on Friday in nearby Joliet, reports the Joliet Herald-News.
The Launching Pad originally was called the Dari Delite when it opened in 1960. That change the restaurant’s name to its current moniker in 1965.
The restaurant became famous across the country after they found something to make it distinctive. That was a 28-foot tall, 500-pound fiberglass green giant with a space helmet.
“The Launching Pad was his life,” said his daughter, Sharon Gatties. She worked at the restaurant and later she and her husband, Jerry, became the owners, until they sold this spring.
Korelc retired in 1986. But an article five years later said he was still making occasional deliveries for the restaurant and helping in its kitchen.
Morey Szczecin bought the restaurant a few months ago.
Official DVD coming for “route 66″ July 24, 2007
Posted by Ron in Movies, Television.1 comment so far
The demand was there for years. Finally, on Oct. 23, the critically acclaimed “route 66″ drama that aired from 1960 to 1964 will start to be officially released on DVD.
Unofficial DVDs of “route 66″ have floated around for years, many of them of erratic quality. This upcoming release by Roxbury Entertainment, in association with Infinity Entertainment Group, will be digitally remastered for the highest quality sound and picture possible, according to a news release.
The release also says that Roxbury is producing a new movie called “Route 66,” slated to be out in 2008.
The DVD will contain just the first season, or 15 episodes, of “route 66,” plus unspecified “special features.” It retails for $29.98. You can preorder it from Amazon.com, which lists it for as low as $20.95.
