Route 66 Podcast

Ramona Lehman is just as iconic as The Munger Moss Motel and recently celebrated 50 years as the owner and operator of this Missouri Route 66 must see stop along The Mother Road.     Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Ramona about How does an Iowa farm girl wind up on Route 66? Honeymooning along Route 66 Early history of The Munger Moss Motel Origin of the Munger Moss Name Remembering her la...

During the early days of WWII, the Route 66 community of Miami welcomed over 2000 British Cadets as part of a training program to prepare pilots for combat over their homeland of England.   While most of these young cadets returned home to intense fighting and a country already ravaged by war, there were a few that never made it back home to their native soil. They were tragically killed while tra...

Just before the birth of Route 66, the single worst incident of racial violence in American history took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Within 24 hours, more than 35 square blocks in the Greenwood section of Tulsa were burned, causing 10,000 residents in one of the wealthiest black communities in America to instantly become homeless.  Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Dr. Scott Ellsworth, a lead...

WINSLOW: Standin' on the Corner Park   Popularized by the famous song, Take It Easy , one of the most famous street corners along Route 66 features a line from a popular song that was written by Jackson Browne.  Today, Winslow, Arizona, contains a small park on a corner of Route 66 featuring both a mural and bronze statue.  Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with both of the artists who have made...

Dan Rice operates one of the most famous Route 66 souvenir shops along Route 66, located on The Santa Monica Pier.  Dan is a past president of the California Route 66 Association and was instrumental in placing the famous End of the Trail sign on the Santa Monica Pier.   This is the final episode in a 3 part series featuring The Beginning, The Middle, and The End of Route 66. Join host Anthony Arn...

This is the second part of a three part series, featuring the beginning, middle, and end of Route 66.   Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno, as he talks with Brenda Bradley, owner of The Midpoint Cafe in Adrian, TX.  Cited as the midway point between Chicago and Santa Monica, The Midpoint Cafe sign outside is probably one of the most popular signs along the route that travelers will stop to ta...

BEGINNING OF ROUTE 66: Chicago with Windy City Road Warrior Dave Clark David Clark , operates  Windy City Road Warrior  and offers walking tours of Chicago along Route 66.  The first in a 3 part series features everything you need to know about starting (or ending) a Route 66 tour in Chicago, IL. Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Dave about: Earliest memory of Route 66 Favorite spots along '...

Bob Lile , otherwise known as "Croc" owns and operates Lile Art Gallery along 6th Avenue in historic Amarillo, Texas.  He's known for creating Cadilite jewelry using paint chips from the nearby Cadillac Ranch Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Croc about: His earliest memory of Route 66 Singing in the church choir (and Croc sings a verse for our listeners!) Lifelong scouting role Early intere...

Roamin' Rich represents the latest generation of preservationists dedicated to promote and preserve Route 66.  He is the president of the Missouri Route 66 Association, a key member in the Painted Desert Trading Post cooperative, and the person behind most of the shields you see painted on the roadway. Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Roamin' Rich about: His earliest memory of Route 66 The...

At 92 years old, Peter MacDonald is just one of five surviving Navajo Code talkers who played a vital part in World War II during the Battle of Iwo Jima, where 25,000 lives were lost over a period of 6 weeks.  Upon his return home, he was sworn to a vow of secrecy for 23 years until the Marines declassified the mission while working as a Project Engineer on the Polaris Missile Project for Howard H...

The Route 66 Podcast Scholarship winners have been announced, and they are featured on the current episode of The Route 66 Podcast. The program invited students in grades K - 12 to submit original work that promotes and preserves our beloved highway, Route 66.   The program this past year included a total of $175 in awards, and applicants were invited to submit almost any medium that would express...

Unknown to many, the Bloomington-Normal (Illinois) area along The Mother Road is the birthplace to aerial circus performance in America.  Join host Anthony Arno as he dives deep into circus life along Route 66 with three very special guests, who have committed their lives to aerial circus performance and preservation.  Wayne Wright was a human cannonball, being shot out of a cannon over 1100 times...

For more than three decades Jim Hinckley has been telling people where to go and sharing the adventure.  His passion for Route 66, the back roads of America and the automobiles he has shared through books, feature articles, blog posts, video, Facebook live programs, and presentations.   Published work includes nineteen books on topics as diverse as  The Illustrated History of the Checker Cab Manuf...

The life sized Blue Whale in Catoosa, OK, is one of the most recognized structures to be found along Route 66.  Hugh Davis built The Blue Whale as an anniversary gift to his wife Zelta back in the 1970's.  At its peak The Blue Whale was. a popular swimming. spot, drawing well over 100 locals on a hot summer day.   Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno, as he talks with Blaine Davis (78 years old...

Perhaps one of the most popular motels along Route 66, The Blue Swallow Motel has been in operation since 1941 and still provides patrons with private garages for their vehicles.  Originally received as a wedding gift from her fiance, Lillian Redman ran the motel for over 40 years before stepping back from the hospitality business in her late 80's.  Since that time, there have been other owners, b...

Long before the glory days of Route 66, the Route 66 town of Dwight, IL,  was the center of the world thanks to a Civil War surgeon who established the world's first treatment center for alcohol and drug addiction.  Dr. Keeley's method involved having patients ingest flecks of gold dust, which was very secretive at the time.  Join Dr. Timothy Hickman, from Lancaster University (United Kingdom) as...

The El Vado, a 1937 Route 66 Motel,  was recently purchased by Chadd Rennaker and not only restored the motel to its original charm,  but he also converted select rooms into a gathering space for area merchants.  The result is a Route 66 destination that allows travelers not only a place to stay, but also a place to sample the local food and crafts from the regions.   Join Route 66 host Anthony Ar...

Tom Peters is the Dean of Library Services at Missouri State University, and an oral historian.  Join Route 66 host Anthony Arno as he talks with Tom about his series of interview with twenty two individuals directly associated with the trucking industry along Route 66. Tom talks about the the importance of trucking

The final in a three part series featuring The Fred Harvey Company.  This episode features a talk with three women who worked for The Fred Harvey Company during the final days of the company, 1958.  In addition, episode features a talk with Katy Miller, great, great, great granddaughter of Fred Harvey.

Arizona based entrepreneur Allan Affeldt has successfully proven more than once that he can purchase old, abandoned railroad buildings along Route 66 that has had the Fred Harvey footprint and converted them into historically beautiful hotels in the southwest. Join Route 66 host Anthony Arno, as he talks with Allan Affeldt, who has dedicated his life to restoring Route 66 buildings successfully pr...

Stephen Fried, author of Appetite for America: Fred Harvey and the Business of Civilizing the American West , talks all about the life of Fred Harvey and how Route 66 would later emerge once the railroad was being replaced by the automobile.   A three part series, highlighting the life and work of 19th Century entrepreneur Fred Harvey.  Episodes include talks with the author of the most comprehens...

The proprietor of The Rock Cafe, Dawn Welch, is a Route 66 icon and was the inspiration for the character Sally Carrera in the  CARS  movie.  The Rock Cafe was constructed in 1936 from leftover sandstone rock that was used to construct Route 66.   Dawn talks all about her oriiginal plans to open a cafe in South America and literally rollerblading into The Rock Cafe after expressing an interest in...

The original Launching Pad Restaurant opened in 1960 by John Korelc under a different name, and while attending the National Restaurant Convention, Korelc paid $3500 for a fiberglass Muffler Man to draw attention to his restaurant. Korelc had his newly purchased fiberglass giant updated to keep in line with the 1960's space race as an astronaut with helmet and rocket, and renamed the restaurant, a...

Today, we'll be visiting one of the most popular stops along Route 66, known for its wild burros, beautiful mountains and of course Route 66. I'll be talking with Jackie Roland Murray, who wrote a book highlighting the history of Oatman and more.  

The Jack Rabbit Trading post is a famous Route 66 curio shop located in Joseph City, Arizona.  The trading post is known for its large fiberglass jackrabbit that visitors are often photographed riding out front.  In addition, The Jack Rabbit Trading Post popularized the store by placing large HERE IT IS billboards all along Route 66.  The Classic CARS film depicts the Jack Rabbit with a Model T Fo...