Good start for “Great American Road Trip” July 9, 2009
Posted by Ron in Road trips, Television.2 comments
I finally got to watch online the first episode of NBC’s “The Great American Road Trip.” This is the reality television series in which seven families go down Route 66 for a $100,000 grand prize.
Because the families each had to pilot a large RV, it wasn’t surprising that much of the drive from Chicago to St. Louis during the first episode occurred on the interstates. Those vehicles are huge, and it would have caused a lot of problems with those novice drivers trying to navigate the often-narrow original alignments of Route 66.
Most of the sites in the first episode were familiar even to non-roadies, such as the Gateway Arch, the Sears Tower and the Abraham Lincoln Home. But I also caught glimpses of Jackrabbit Trading Post in Arizona, Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, Texas, Santa Monica Pier, the Muffler Man of Atlanta, Ill., and remnants of the now-gone Zia Motor Lodge in Albuquerque.
And it was a nice touch that the family that won the first physical challenge enjoyed a special dinner on the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, right on the the Illinois-Missouri border over the Mississippi River.
After a bit of a slow start, I was surprised how much I was caught up in the drama — especially the physical challenges each family had to undergo to remain on their Mother Road journey.
Host Reno Collier’s advice to the families at the start — “It’s not a race. This is nothing about the destination. This is journey about you and your families” — was something that most Route 66ers already take to heart.
And it seemed fitting that the Katzenberg family of Westport, Conn., which seemed too cocky and rush-rush-rush in their approach to the challenges, was the first to be sent home.
I’ll be watching “The Great American Road Trip” again next week. It’s going to be interesting to see how the families cope as the journey gets longer and the climate and terrain grow harsher. “The Great American Road Trip” will air 8 p.m. EST Monday as the remaining six families head across Missouri.
Season 3 of “Route 66″ may be out soon July 9, 2009
Posted by Ron in Television.add a comment
TVShowsonDVD.com reports that despite an announced released date of Jan. 12, 2010, “Route 66 — The Complete Season 3″ DVD set is sitting in Best Buy storerooms and will be on sale in an exclusive early release on Tuesday, July 14.
So if you’re itching to add to your collection of the classic 1960s drama, it looks like you’ll have your chance next week. The suggested retail price for the set is $49.98, although the retail chain probably will sell it at a lower price.
The Web site says the “Route 66″ set isn’t on BestBuy.com, and surmises it may be an in-store sale only.
Ken Burns plans TV series on Dust Bowl July 6, 2009
Posted by Ron in Books, History, Television.2 comments
Ken Burns, the acclaimed producer of documentaries who is most famous for his “The Civil War” series, is planning a new film about the Dust Bowl of the 1930s, according to a news release by OETA.
Here’s Burns’ message to OETA and all readers:
I’m asking Oklahomans to help me with a new public television series I’m now working on: The Dust Bowl.
Like our earlier films on World War II, Jazz, Baseball, and The Civil War, we think the Dust Bowl is an important event in all of American history.
We’re in the early stages of our research, but we know that Oklahoma will be a major part of the Dust Bowl story we want to tell.
We’re looking for first-person stories of Oklahomans who lived through those hard, hard times, especially out in the Panhandle, where the Dust Bowl was the worst.
We hope to find people who can share their experiences with us – or their photographs, diaries, or home movies from the 1930s, to help us tell this important story.
If you or someone you know can help in this research project, please contact OETA at 1-800-846-7665 Or Send a Note to:
OETA Dustbowl Stories
P.O. Box 14190
Oklahoma City, OK 73113All we need at this stage is a short, written note explaining how you could serve as a resource. Or, please call OETA with a brief description of your Dust Bowl experience. We’ll take it from there.
Thank you for helping in this important project.
Ken Burns
Florentine Films
Burns also produced “Baseball,” “Jazz,” “The War” and “Lewis & Clark: Journey of the Corps of Discovery,” all for PBS-TV. And nearly 20 years later, I’m still convinced “The Civil War” is the finest moment in the history of television. So I’m thrilled Burns is tackling one of the most fascinating and tragic eras of American history.
When farmers went bust during the Dust Bowl and were forced to move westward in search of jobs, Route 66 was described memorably as “the mother road, the road of flight” by John Steinbeck in “The Grapes of Wrath.”
If you want to learn the definitive story about the Dust Bowl now, go buy “The Worst Hard Time” by Timothy Egan. It won the National Book Award for nonfiction in 2006. It was well-deserved.
(Hat tip: Batesline.com)
“Great American Road Trip” premieres Tuesday July 2, 2009
Posted by Ron in Restaurants, Road trips, Television.3 comments
Comedian Reno Collier is the host of "The Great American Road Trip." (Courtesy of NBC)
NBC’s newest reality-television show, “The Great American Road Trip,” which reportedly takes place on Route 66, is ginning up publicity for the series that begins at 8 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday.
In case you haven’t heard, the premise is that seven families are given an RV in which to travel. During their journeys, they have to go through physical challenges. One family each week will be eliminated. Eventually, one family will win an unnamed “ultimate” prize to complement their summer vacation.
I had last checked on the show’s Web site about a month ago, when it was just bare-bones. Now, “The Great American Road Trip” site has photos, video, bios about host Reno Collier and the families, games and other goodies. Roadies probably would like the Happy Trails section — between the goofy stuff such as suggested songs to “drive parents nuts,” it contains sound advice for enhancing your dining experiences and a good list of strange roadside attractions, including Cadillac Ranch near Amarillo.
Looking over the still photographs and videos from the show, I spied the Round Barn in Arcadia, Okla.; Meramec Caverns in Stanton, Mo.; and downtown Atlanta, Ill.
Also, this Reality Wanted interview of host Collier was interesting in this exchange:
Q. Where did you stop on Route 66?
A. Reno: We’d stop at a lot of iconic landmarks, like the Great Archway in St. Louis and the Grand Canyon. We also stopped at this really cool place called the Midpoint Cafe. It was what the movie “Cars” was apparently modeled after. We met a couple people that had characters modeled after them in the movie, too, and they were really interesting. I think stopping at these places and meeting the people was just as great as seeing the landmarks themselves.
Collier also noted that the families, even when they were eliminated, wanted to continue their trip — which is a good sign.
UPDATE: This story from Zap2It has a few more details about the show. This part stuck out:
The first challenge is being deprived of iPods, portable DVD players and cell phones. For most teens, this is akin to cutting off oxygen. [...]
As magnificent as the sights are, Pollard says the trip made her realize “how much your day-to-day reaction with each other is limited because of technology. When all of that is taken away, there is so much for your family. We would lie in bed at night and tell jokes, and we would be laughing out loud in the dark in the RV. As adults, we get so wrapped up in careers and our jobs and all the things that don’t matter.”
This is becoming quite intriguing.
Season 3 of “Route 66″ coming in November June 2, 2009
Posted by Ron in Television.2 comments
TVShowsonDVD.com reports that the complete Season 3 of the original “Route 66″ television series will be released in an eight-DVD set on Nov. 10 with a $49.95 suggested retail price.
According to the report, however, Critics Choice Video might exclusively release the entire set as early as late June.
The release of “Route 66 — Season 3, Volume 1″ was slated for July 21 and “Route 66 — Season 3, Volume 2″ on Aug. 25.
Reality series takes place on Route 66 June 1, 2009
Posted by Ron in Road trips, Television.add a comment
I’d heard some inkling that a television reality series, “The Great American Road Trip,” would be shot on the Mother Road. Looks like it’s happening.
From UPI:
Produced by BBC Worldwide Productions and set to debut on NBC July 7, the show features seven families from divergent backgrounds going on “the journey of a lifetime,” a news release said.
“Collier will guide viewers and the participating families on an eight-episode journey along America’s legendary Route 66 [my emphasis],” NBC said. “Traveling through cities and towns large and small, the seven families, whose hometowns range from Montclair, Calif., to Yonkers, N.Y., will compete in a series of challenges that will ultimately lead one family to victory.”
NBC said the show would be set against “iconic American backdrops” such as the Grand Canyon and the St. Louis arch.
There is a video that plugs NBC’s new programming for the summer. The segment for “The Great American Road Trip” begins at the 2:56 mark of the video, but I saw nothing obvious that indicated Route 66.
“Route 66″ producer dies May 30, 2009
Posted by Ron in Movies, Television.add a comment
Mort Abrahams, a producer for the “Route 66″ television show during the 1960s, died of natural causes at age 93 at his home in Sherman Oaks, Calif., reported the Hollywood Reporter.
Abrahams was reportedly the show’s producer in 1962-63. According to the IMDB.com, he produced the acclaimed episode, “Lizard’s Leg and Owlet’s Wing,” in which classic horror-film stars Lon Chaney Jr., Peter Lorre and Boris Karloff made prominent appearances.
He also produced the TV shows “The Man from U.N.C.L.E.,” “Kraft Suspense Theatre” and “G.E. Theatre.” He was a producer or writer for a number of films, including “Doctor Dolittle” (1967), “Planet of the Apes” (1968), “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” (1969) and “Beneath the Planet of the Apes” (1970).
Notes from the road May 29, 2009
Posted by Ron in Books, Events, History, People, Restaurants, Television, Towns.add a comment
We learned Thursday that longtime roadie Jeff Meyer, aka the Route 66 Roadologist, is in the hospital after having health problems earlier in the week, and he is undergoing tests.
Meyer has been exploring Route 66 for more than two decades, is a founding member of the Illinois Route 66 Association, and was given the prestigious Steinbeck Award during the annual national Route 66 banquet a few years ago.
If you’d like to send him a note or get-well card, you can mail it to:
Jeff Meyer
Bed 31, ICU
Northwest Community Hospital
800 West Central Road
Arlington Heights, IL 60005
- The Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., is having its first day as a full-service restaurant Friday after it was nearly destroyed by a fire a year ago. KOTV in Tulsa is televising a live feed from the historic Route 66 restaurant that morning.
- Susan Croce Kelly, co-author of the seminal 1990 book “Route 66: The Road and Its People,” is planning to write a book about Cyrus Avery, the “Father of Route 66.” Kelly has been in contact with Tulsa resident Joy Avery, Cyrus’ granddaughter, about the project.
- Flagstaff Live! compiled an overview of that city’s barbecue restaurants, including two on Route 66 — The Smokehouse and Big John’s Texas BBQ.
- According to the Twitter account of POPS in Arcadia, Okla., an NBC television crew was at the convenience store/restaurant on Wednesday to film a segment for “The Great American Road Trip.” It will air in July.
- The Viva Cuba blog of Cuba, Mo., has a story about local fourth-graders and their Missouri history projects. One of the students, Desiree, dedicated her project to Fran Eickhoff, who was a longtime Route 66 booster and was the girl’s grandmother.
- Here’s a preview from the Joplin Globe about Galena Days in Galena, Kan., next weekend.
Hand pedal power May 23, 2009
Posted by Ron in People, Road trips, Television, bicycling.add a comment
Norberto de Angelis, the Italian man who sought to travel Route 66 on a specially equipped hand bicycle, apparently is on the Mother Road now.
KOTV in Tulsa caught up with him. The former football player was partly paralyzed in a car accident, and is using the hand bicycle as a form of physical therapy. He’s averaging 40 to 50 miles a day.
He wants to inspire people on his epic journey, inspire them to get outside and enjoy life.
“If someone, someone, someone disabled people see me maybe they improve his life because I need a sport, I want a sport, I want to do sport and I like if other people take this example to stay out of their home, no more and…” he paused, looking for the term in English.
“Just go outside and do it,” we offered.
“Exactly!” Norberto said, beaming.
Also, here’s a video of de Angelis cruising on Route 66. You’ll see him pass by the Oasis Motel in Tulsa at one point.
Where did that Ford Fairlane come from? May 23, 2009
Posted by Ron in Road trips, Television, Vehicles.add a comment
A bunch of people noticed the beautiful 1950s Ford Fairlane convertible that “Good Morning America Weekend” anchorwoman Kate Snow and her sister drove during a recent trip on Route 66.
The Claremore (Okla.) Daily Progress answers the question on the source of the automobile. Its a 1958 Ford Fairlane 500 Skyliner with retractable hardtop, owned by Bill and Shirley Flint of Claremore.
After they came to terms, Bill took the classic car on a trailer to Clinton, Okla., where Kate and her sister Barb drove a portion of Old Route 66 for a GMA segment. [...]
Bill went along with tools and all he needed to make any repairs in the event of a problem, she said.
The story contains a bunch of photos of the car and from the “GMA Weekend” segment.
Rock Cafe reopens to the public May 22, 2009
Posted by Ron in Events, Preservation, Restaurants, Television.3 comments
The Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., reopened to the public for the first time Friday morning since being heavily damaged by a fire nearly a year ago.
A couple of contractors need to finish work on the historic Route 66 restaurant, and owner Dawn Welch and her crew could offer only a very limited menu, all gratis. But nearly all of the important work on the restaurant is done, and the Rock Cafe will return to being a full-service restaurant in a week or so.
Construction work and cleanup was still being performed early Friday, before roadies started trickling in.
But longtime Rock Cafe employee Beverly was there to prepare beignets, just like old times.
Hot dogs and sweet tea were to be served later in the day.
Keith Taylor, a reporter from KTUL-TV in Tulsa, was there for a live feed to do a story about the Rock Cafe’s resurrection and reopening. Taylor is interviewing Welch and David Burke of David Burke Historic Preservation, who was the general contractor in the restaurant’s reconstruction.
The KTUL truck beamed its signal, next to the Rock Cafe’s famed neon sign.
For years, Welch allowed customers to write tasteful graffiti on the bathroom walls. The fire destroyed years of tourists’ scribblings, so Welch is allowing visitors to start anew.
Spotted that morning in the Rock Cafe were Route 66 artist and author Jerry McClanahan and Route 66 Preservation Program director Kaisa Barthuli. I also chatted with an older gentleman who recalled a very early alignment of Route 66 north of Stroud, and shared memories of raising cattle on the Mother Road in 1933. That’s what’s cool about old 66 — you never know what sort of pleasant surprises are in store.
In about a week or so, roadies will get to eat chicken-fried steak, buffalo burgers, and jagerschnitzel and spaetzle again at the Rock.
Details released about Oklahoma Pop museum May 19, 2009
Posted by Ron in Art, Books, History, Movies, Museums, Music, Television, Theaters.add a comment
A news conference on Tuesday revealed all of the details about a proposed Oklahoma Pop museum in Tulsa, devoted to the history of the state’s music and its popular culture. You can read more about it here.
It was mentioned a few days ago that Route 66 would be part of the museum. Bob Blackburn, executive director of the Oklahoma Historical Society, made it clear that the Mother Road wouldn’t be a huge focal point, but that the highway will be prominently mentioned as playing a role in Oklahoma’s culture — from Tulsan Cyrus Avery making sure the fledgling road passed through the Sooner State, to songs about Route 66, to Michael Wallis‘ best-selling book “Route 66: The Mother Road” to the Disney-Pixar movie “Cars.”
A few more notes from the news conference:
– The Oklahoma Pop museum will be in the Brady District, which is north of downtown Tulsa. Blackburn said three sites are being considered.
– Organizers envision a building containing 45,000 square feet, including 16,000 for exhibit space. The rest will be devoted to a cafe, gift shop, special events and programming, offices and the like. Blackburn said the museum’s design would change if needed.
– Included in the initial design is a 50-by-80-foot facade that’s can show LED video presentations.
– Placing the museum in Tulsa makes sense, as the city has long been considered as the cultural center of Oklahoma. Local musicians such as Leon Russell, Bob Wills, J.J. Cale, Garth Brooks, Ronnie Dunn, the GAP Band, and Hanson make that apparent.
– The museum will not only be devoted to music, but other popular culture such as film, literature, theater, radio and television.
– The museum is estimated to cost $33 million. Blackburn is seeing $25 million via a state bond issue and $8 million in private money. The George Kaiser Family Foundation already pledged $1 million on Tuesday.
– Blackburn acknowledges that getting $25 million from the state during a recession will be a challenge. However, the Historical Society raised $50 million from the state in the late 1990s to establish the Oklahoma Historical Museum in Oklahoma City. He said “we need to get momentum” when the economy recovers and that supporters need to prepare to lobby for the project in the next legislative session.
– The Oklahoma Pop museum projects an opening date of summer 2013.
(Artists’ renderings courtesy of the Oklahoma Historical Society)
Rock Cafe update May 18, 2009
Posted by Ron in Events, Restaurants, Television.1 comment so far
I guess the rebuilding of the Rock Cafe in Stroud, Okla., was going too smoothly to last.
The reconstruction of the historic Route 66 restaurant after a fire a year ago has encountered a few snags in recent days, including the previously mentioned problems with a vent hood that should be rectified by midweek and the unexpected death of an electrician.
However, owner Dawn Welch expects the Rock Cafe to be fully operational by June 1.
The Rock Cafe will have its first day of business on Friday, May 22, as previously announced. KTUL-TV’s “Good Day Tulsa” will carry a live feed from the restaurant at 8:15 a.m. that day. Welch and other employees will provide tours, and a slide show of the restaurant’s rebuilding will be shown.
However, the menu will be very limited until June 1 or so. Hours will be from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the relatively short transition phase. Beignets and coffee will be served for breakfast, and hot dogs and sweet tea and perhaps another dish during the lunch and afternoon hours.
After June 1, the Rock Cafe should revert to its usual 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. hours and a full line of dishes.
“GMA Weekend” keeps going west May 18, 2009
Posted by Ron in Road trips, Television.add a comment
Here are two co-hosts of ABC’s “Good Morning America Weekend” driving a 1959 Corvette west of Albuquerque on Route 66.
The second half of the segment can be viewed online here.
The Golden Light shines through May 12, 2009
Posted by Ron in Restaurants, Television.add a comment
Roy McCoy, a correspondent with KAMR-TV in Amarillo, checks out that city’s historic Golden Light Cafe, located on the main alignment of Route 66 through town. Click here to see the video.
Roadfood.com also lists it as a recommended restaurant in the area.
The worst “American Idol” audition May 12, 2009
Posted by Ron in Music, Television.1 comment so far
Brian Haas of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel chose his worst auditions in the history of “American Idol.” This one, where Jacqueline “Scat Girl” Roman tries to sing “Route 66,” was named numero uno.
It is genuinely painful to hear, but worth watching the reaction of the judges, in particular Randy Jackson.
“GMA Weekend” on the Mother Road, Part 2 May 11, 2009
Posted by Ron in Road trips, Television.1 comment so far
Here’s the other half of the segment that “GMA Weekend” did about Route 66 from Clinton, Okla., to Albuquerque. It takes on a more thoughtful and contemplative tone.
Link to the video is here.
Where is Rory now? May 11, 2009
Posted by Ron in People, Restaurants, Television.add a comment
Roadies and folks in the Texas Panhandle probably already know the answer to this question about chef and former reality-TV contestant Rory Schepisi.
But the Food Network decided to check back with previous “The Next Food Network Star” contestants, including Schepisi from Season 3.
ABC anchor tours Mother Road May 8, 2009
Posted by Ron in Road trips, Television.5 comments
ABC’s “GMA Weekend” anchorwoman Kate Snow and her sister traveled old Route 66 from Clinton, Okla., to Albuquerque.
A bunch of photos from the trip are here. That’s one heck of a nice Ford Fairlane they’re driving.
I appreciate the publicity the segment is generating. But something about it also rubs me the wrong way. Maybe it’s the observation about “how much is gone” is gone on old Route 66 when the Snow sisters aren’t old enough to even remember the highway during its heyday.
UPDATE: Here’s the video segment:
It came from the 1960s April 28, 2009
Posted by Ron in Music, Television.add a comment
Here’s a segment of former British pop princess Sandie Shaw performing Bobby Troup’s “Route 66.” I’m fairly certain this came from a 1960s BBC show called “The Sandie Shaw Supplement,” in which she performed music based on the subject of transportation and travel.
