Route 66 Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Phil Gordon has a unique hobby related to Route 66.  As an engineer, he’s very careful not to let even his closest acquaintances know that he is passionate about collecting historic Route 66 matchcovers.  With a collection beyond 5000 matchcovers, Phil has painstakingly scanned and uploaded his collection online to share with the world and Route 66 fans.  

Join The Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks with Phil about one of the most unusual hobbies as a phillumenist.  Highlights include:

• Matchbook versus matchcover Collecting

• Does the absence of matches in a matchcover collection diminish the value?

• Earliest history of matches and matchbook advertising

• Most popular configurations of matchbooks

• Philuminist by definition

• Transition from collecting postcards to match covers

• The original 10 matchcovers in Phil's collection 

• The most coveted Route 66 matchcover: Peach Springs Garage

• What do people think of someone who has collected over 5,000 matchcovers?

• Developing an organized system for collecting and cataloging Route 66 matchcovers

  • Motels and lodgings

  • Cafes and restaurants

  • Gas stations

  • Trading Posts 

• Full length matchcovers designs

• Background knowledge needed for collecting matchcovers

• Ebay scammers selling matchcovers

• Current demand for matchbooks

• Rear striker versus front striker matchbooks design changes (1973)

• Back striker safety versus rear striker

• Discovering unknown Route 66 history through match cover collecting

• The ultimate Route 66 matchcover that Phil has spent 20+ years searching for

  • Scherer's (estimated value $50)

• The holy grail of matccovers outside of Route 66: Charles Lindbergh (estimated value several thousand)

• The very first advertising: hand written matcbook covers

• First commercial matchbook ever printed

• Initial interest in posting matchovers online: Whiting brothers 

• Sharing matchcovers online with the whole world

• Step by step process for uploading matchcovers 

• Popularity of matchbooks today with the decline of smoking

• National organization of matchcover collectors

The Route 66 Matchcover Collector - Search wide variety of Route 66 establishments for matchcovers

Phil’s Route 66 Website:  Personal website containing both postcards and matchcovers

The Devil's Rope (Barbed Wire) Museum along Route 66 in Mclean, TX, is probably one of the most unusual museums along The Mother Road.

Join host Anthony Arno, as he talks with 90 year old curator Delbert Trew all about his museum and collection of over 800 different types of barbed wire.  Cited as one of the most important inventions during the Industrial Revolution, the museum features anything and everything related to barbed wire, including art, tools, medicines, books, and use during warfare.

There are many interesting museums along Route 66, but perhaps one of the most interesting is the Devil’s Rope Museum with its collection of over 800 examples of barbed wire. 

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Delbert Trew, the 90 year old curator of the Devil’s Rope Museum in McLean, TX. Highlights from the show include: 

• Why visit a barbed wire museum? 

• McClean’s “other” fame to claim- Alfred Rowe 

• McClean’s Mayor Passenger # XXX on the Titanic 

• McLain’s once popular Brassiere Factory 

• History of the American cowboy 

• What problem does barbed wire solve? 

• Origin of Devil’s Rope name for barbed wire 

• Barbed Wire- Rancher or Farmer’s best friend? 

• The most popular wire all visitors must see! 

• Barbed Wire: Tools, Medicine, Books, Art, Poetry, Wartime 

• Barbed Wire in song

• Modern versions of Barbed Wire 

• Delbert’s initial interest in Barbed Wire 

• Books published by Delbert on Ranching, Barbed Wire, and other interests  

• Devil’s Rope Museum featuring Route 66 memorabilia 

• Visiting Devil’s Rope Museum 

• Other Route 66 attractions in McLean, TX 

In 1967 American entrepreneur and land developer Robert McCulloch proposed purchasing the 136 year old London Bridge on the River Thames from the city of London as a publicity stunt.  His goal was to attract potential land buyers to this remote region that today has a population of 50,000 residents and a wide range of recreational water activities.  Many people thought McCulloch was a bit of an oddball to spend almost $10 million to purchase and reconstruct the historical bridge10,000 miles away from its original construction site, but his hunch paid off.   The London Bridge is the second largest tourist attraction in Arizona, after the Grand Canyon, and not too far from Route 66.

Robert McCulloch 

The episode features a talk with both McCulloch's grandson and a leading Lake Havasu tour guide, providing insight into the wisdom of McCulloch who earned an Engineering degree from Princeton University and was a millionaire by the age of 30. While the Lake Havasu London Bridge stood over the River Thames for 130 years, earlier versions of the bridge date back to Roman times and one iteration housed several hundred residents and featured a display of beheaded criminals to at the tollgates. 

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 late husband, Bob Lehman
• Helping businesses along Route 66 get established
• The early days when Ramona arrived at The Munger Moss
• Discovering garages that were once part of the motel
• Ramona’s room recommendation at The Munger Moss
• Long term residents at The Munger Moss
• The Munger Moss: To sell or not to sell?
• Will the children carry on the Munger Moss tradition?
• The world famous Munger Moss Neon sign
• Celebrating 50 years at The Munger Moss
• Most memorable guests to walk through the door
• Meeting the original owner many years later – Emmitt Moss
• Maintaining the Munger Moss sign
• Constant flow of picture takers along Route 66
• Most popular Munger Moss items for sale in the lobby
• Bob Lehman’s prized toy collection
• The biggest challenge in 50 years at The Munger Moss
• The very first in-ground pool in Lebanon, Missouri arrives at The Munger Moss
• Ramona’s last vacation
• Preserving Route 66 for future generations
• Is Ramona as famous locally as she is with Route 66 travelers?
• Ramona’s Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren visiting at The Munger Moss
• Sales pitch for The Munger Moss 2021
• Next item on Ramona’s Bucket list
• A Ramona Lehman Revelation: Where hasn’t she been along Route 66?  (The answer WILL surprise you!)
• Long Live Route 66

LINKS

Article: Ramona celebrates 50 years on Route 66 (2021)

Article: Bob and Ramona celebrate 45 years on Route 66  (2016)

Website: Munger Moss Motel

Facebook Page: Munger Moss Motel

Video: Munger Moss featured on KYW News (2019)

• MidPoint Cafe, Adrian, TX – Featuring both their Ugly Crust Pie and one of the most popular photo ops along Route 66, located exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica in Adrian, Texas.
• Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast.
• Jack Rabbit Trading Post, Joseph City, AZ – Probably one of the most iconic curio shops along Route 66, the famous Here It Is billboard and fiberglass jackrabbit in front of the store is reason enough to stop…. and say hello to Cindy and Antonio.

• Jon B – Rhode Island
• Mary Beth Busutil – Florida
• Jim Crabtree – California
• Mike Fort 
• Route 66 author and photographer – Shellee Graham and also my guest on   Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.
• Kristin Haakenson – Washington  
• Rich Havlik – Minnesota
• Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania
• Wendy Raschke – Texas
• Brian Sawyer – Indiana
• Evan Stern – New York

United Kingdom

• Charli Beeton

The Netherlands

• Jim Rensen

Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program through Patreon.   Patreon members receive access to an additional 10 minutes of this episode, featuring the following content:

• Long term residents and restrictions staying at The Munger Moss
• Joining the Rotary Club and Ramona’s lucky streak
• Ramona takes up cactus growing
• Has the average guest heard of The Munger Moss?
• Norwegian Route 66 Members must travel the route in person to join their Association

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 training in the states and have been forever laid to rest along Route 66 in the community of Miami, Oklahoma.  

Laying these young men to rest on foreign soil attracted the attention of a local, Francis Mae Hill, who would over the next 40 years provide both flowers and prayers for these young men.  Mrs. Hill knew the family members would not be able to visit their loved ones, so she voluntarily tended to their graves and promised family members back home that they would not be forgotten.  She often considered the young men her boys, and her last wish was to be buried alongside her boys.  King George VI would later award Mrs. Hill The King's Award for Service.

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Nancy Bro, office manager at the GAR Cemetery in Miami, OK, about the life of these cadets and other notables buried in Miami.  Highlights of the conversation include:

SHOW NOTES

• Origin and network of GAR Cemeteries
• Cemetery Tourism as an upcoming industry
• The US agrees to a proposed program to train British in the US
• The Spartan Flying School
• Keeping the operation top secret in the early days
• A sudden influx of British men with funny accents gathering in Miami- what’s going on?
• How a Route 66 community welcomes 2000 men with open arms
• British adjusting to American life while the war is raging back home
• The final count laid to rest: 15 Cadets and a local woman
• Kenneth Raisbeck: recreating the final flight of for the 70 year old son who he never met
• Annual Remembrance Ceremonies at GAR
• Origin of fatal accidents
• Col Gale Halverson
  • The Candy Bomber
• Frantie "Francis" Mae Hill
  • Mother of the boys buried in Oklahoma
• Why should we care for British soldiers laid to rest in the US?
• Honoring the British war dead in the states - justification and reasoning
• Everlasting relationships cadets formed with locals 
• Local museums honoring the RAF cadets
  • Dobson Museum
  • NE OK College, Oklahoma
• Other notables buried at GAR Cemetery
  • Richard Kelton
  • George Coleman
  • Elvin and Lovell Mantle
  • John Beaver
  • Atha Cardin
  • Charles Banks Wilson
  • William Campbell
  • Booger Red

LINKS

Website: GAR Cemetery, Miami, OK

Dobson Museum

Raisbeck Story and Flight  

THE CANDY BOMBER: Colonel Gail “Hal” Halvorsen

CHARLES BANKS WILSON: Documentary (Notable artist buried at GAR Cemetery)

From the Ozarks and Beyond" Part 1

From the Ozarks and Beyond" Part 2

From the Ozarks and Beyond" Part 3

From the Ozarks and Beyond" Part 4

THE STEM CLASS PODCAST

with Anthony Arno

Dr. Frances Carter, a real life Rosie the Riveter

• MidPoint Cafe, Adrian, TX - Featuring both their Ugly Crust Pie and one of the most popular photo ops along Route 66, located exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica in Adrian, Texas.
• Gilligan's Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast.

• Jon B - Rhode Island
• Mary Beth Busutil - Florida
• Jim Crabtree - California
• Mike Fort 
• Route 66 author and photographer - Shellee Graham and also my guest on Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.
• Kristin Haakenson - Washington 
• Rich Havlik - Minnesota
• Mary Nicholson - Pennsylvania
• Brian Sawyer - Indiana

United Kingdom

• Charli Beeton

The Netherlands

• Jim Rensen

Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program through Patreon.  Patreon members receive access to an additional 10 minutes of this episode, featuring the following content:

• Miami City takes over GAR Cemetery
• Miami Municipal Airport
• Bugles across America
• Additional fatalities at other Spartan Flying School locations
• Logistics for visiting the GAR Cemetery
• Personal Background for Nancy
• Child Remembrance Ceremony

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 leading expert on the Tulsa Race Massacre. 

Topics include:

• Earliest knowledge of the Tulsa Race Massacre
• Urban legends and myths about the riots with stories about the 1921 riots
• Discovering a rare photograph that would spark an interest in further researching the riot
• A talk with a survivor who was 16 years at the time
• WD Williams provides a first hand account
• Origin of the Greenwood neighborhood
• Timeline of events beginning at the Drexel Building
• The Tulsa Tribune reports on the incident
• Lynch mob assembles outside the courthouse
• The one spark that caused the attack on Greenwood
• Race Riot or Race Massacre?
• Extreme lengths to cover up the events for years later
• The 3 remaining survivors today
• Search for mass graves
• Importance of President visiting Tulsa in 2021 to remember race riots
• Connecting with President Biden

UM Website: Scott Ellsworth

Article: How a Historian Helped Tulsa Confront the Horror of Its Past

Tulsa Memorial Park: Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation

Documentary: Blood on Black Wall Street (The Legacy of the Tulsa Race Massacre)

• MidPoint Cafe, Adrian, TX - Featuring both their Ugly Crust Pie and one of the most popular photo ops along Route 66, located exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica in Adrian, Texas.
• Gilligan's Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast.

• Jon B - Rhode Island
• Mary Beth Busutil - Florida
• Jim Crabtree - California
• Mike Fort 
• Route 66 author and photographer - Shellee Graham and also my guest on Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.
• Kristin Haakenson - Washington 
• Rich Havlik - Minnesota
• Mary Nicholson - Pennsylvania
• Brian Sawyer - Indiana

United Kingdom

• Charli Beeton

The Netherlands

• Jim Rensen

Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program through Patreon.  

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 the Winslow corner one of the most popular stops along Route 66.

JOHN PUGH

• Early interest in art
• The art of Trompe-l'oeil (Trick the eye)
• Chico State Mural: Breaking through the
• Does an opitcal illusion always work
• Earliest memory of Route 66
• The Winslow mural contest
• Basis of mural design competition
• 2004 fire
• Importance of research prior to planning a mural
• Life expectancy of murals
• What happens when a mural just ins't working?
• Murals that have really played trick on people
• Hermosa Beach mural honoring The Biltmore Hotel Era
• Bucket list items
• Standin on the Corner hints

Website: Art of John Pugh

RON ADAMSON

• Earliest interest in art
• Working at Montana lumber mills
• Making a living as an artist
• The Charlie Russell Art show entry sells for $1K
• Creating art Quick Draw
• First Bronze work: Indian bust
• Winslow calls for a statue
• Parameters for Winslow statue
• The final decision to award Ron the project
• A last minute adjustment to the prototype in front of the committee
• Earlier photograph of grandfather holding a guitar along Route 66 some 60 years earlier
• Does the statue represent anyone in particular?
• Constructing a homemade foundry to create the statue
• Last ditch efforts getting the statue to fit the foundation in Winslow
• Last minute setup in Winslow the day of the dedication ceremony
• Being an unknown artist with a really famous statue along Route 66
• The day Don Henley showed up in Winslow
• Other work by Don Adamson
• Chain saw carving
• Earliest memories of Route 66

Historic Photo of Ron's Grandfather along Route 66 with Guitar

Website: Ron Adamson

YouTube: Home Footage of statue being created

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 Arno as he talks with Dan about:

• Earliest memory of Route 66
• Background in Family Therapy
• Surviving a traumatic brain injury
• Selling American made Route 66 t-shirts
• Origin of End of the Trail sign
• Convincing Santa Monica Pier to erect a historical Route 66 sign
• Does Route 66 officially end on the Santa Monica Pier?
• Transitioning from a shop on wheels to a permanent shop on the Pier
• Early history of the Santa Monica Pier
• The 1939 Battle for Santa Monica Bay with mobster Tony Cornero
• Suggested sights for travelers arriving into Santa Monica Pier
• The Georgian Hotel
• Where is the original mobile vendor cart that Dan started his business with?
• The day Bobby Troup’s daughter Cindy stopped at the shop
• President of California Route 66 Association
• Traveling the road today
• Similarities between Route 66 and Dan’s life

Website: 66 to Cali

Facebook: 66 to Cali

• MidPoint Cafe, Adrian, TX – Featuring both their Ugly Crust Pie and one of the most popular photo ops along Route 66, located exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica in Adrian, Texas.
• Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast.

• Jon B – Rhode Island
• Mary Beth Busutil – Florida
• Jim Crabtree – California
• Mike Fort 
• Route 66 author and photographer – Shellee Graham and also my guest on Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.
• Kristin Haakenson – Washington 
• Rich Havlik – Minnesota
• Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania
• Brian Sawyer – Indiana

And from the United Kingdom

• Charli Beeton

Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program through Patreon.  This episodes Patreon supporters will have access to an additional 25 minutes of conversation with Dan, including Dan discussing:

• First road trip on Route 66
• Publishing End of the Trail, an autobiography featuring the recovery from a near fatal car crash
• Business lessons learned while driving around Los Angeles
• International News covers the placing of the famous Route 66 sign on the Pier
• Suggestions for famous Route 66 attractions in California
• Suggestion for nearby budget accommodations
• Original hints of Route 66 in Los Angeles and current resurgence taking place in LA
• Celebrity customers visiting the shop
• Memorable everyday people to visit the shop
• Potential business opportunities along Route 66
• Details about the progression of the California Route 66 Association
• Other popular stops along Route 66 in California

Congratulations to this months Patreon winner, Kristin Haackenson,  from Washington, who has won a bag of Route 66 brand Santa Monica flavored snack mix.

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 take a picture of during their journey along Route 66.

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Brenda about:

• Earliest memory of Route 66
• Working as a waitress at The Midpoint Cafe and later purchasing the cafe
• One thing that Brenda wishes she knew before purchasing The Midpoint Cafe
• Welcome to Adrian, TX and nearby towns along Route 66
• Early history of The Midpoint Cafe (Zellas’ 1928)
• References in Cars movie (V-8 Cafe) and previous owners Fran Houser, Dan Purschwitz
• Origin of Ugly Crust Pies
• Annual output of updated Ugly Crust Pies (Midpoint Ugly Pie)
• Most popular flavors of pie that Route 66 customers want
• The Midpoint Cafe Gift Shop and popular souvenir items
• A typical day at the cafe at the height of tourism season
• Most memorable visitors and repeat customers
• The moment of panic: when a tour bus pulls into the parking lot
• Seasonal Hours
• Most popular gift shop items that Route 66 travelers are purchasing
• The most popular sign outside the cafe window
• The lure of Route 66
• Next on Brenda’s Bucket list

Facebook: The Midpoint Cafe

BUSINESS LEVEL

• MidPoint Cafe, Adrian, TX – Featuring both their Ugly Crust Pie and one of the most popular photo ops along Route 66, located exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica in Adrian, Texas.
• Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast.
• Mary Beth Busutil – Florida
• Jim Crabtree – California
• Mike Fort 
• Route 66 author and photographer – Shellee Graham and also my guest on Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.
• Kristin Haakenson – Washington 
• Rich Havlik – Minnesota
• Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania
• Brian Sawyer – Indiana

And from the United Kingdom

• Charli Beeton

Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program.

Congratulations to this months Patreon winner, Mary Nicholson,  from Pennsylvania, who has won a bag of Route 66 brand snack Sweet & Salty flavored snack mix.

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 ’66
• Importance of urban stretches along the road
• Early entry into tourism
• Where does the road begin in Chicago?  Tracking down the official beginning point
• Is there an end sign in Chicago?
• Must See Stops in Chicago
• Restaurants :
  • The Berghoff
  • Lou Mitchells
• The Castle Gas Station
• Buckingham Fountain
• Logistics of starting a Route 66 tour in Chicago
• Authentic Route 66 Hotels in Chicago
  • The W-Hotel (formerly The Midland Hotel)
  • The Club Quarters Hotel
  • JW Marriott (former bank building)
  • Hyatt Hotel (former Cook County Hospital building)
• Getting Chicagoans to embrace The Mother Road
• Traveling original alignments of 66 as you leave Chicago
• Alternate highways in Chicago
• Planning your first stops along Route 66 after departing Chicago
  • Wilmington (Gemini Giant)
  • Joliet
  • Dwight
  • Pontiac
  • Lincoln
  • Springfield
• Windy City Road Warrior Tours
  • Website
  • Monthly Zoom meetings
  • Walking tours
  • Published books
• Traveling by train along Route 66 in Illinois
• Value of repeat customers
• Importance of Route 66

WEBSITE: Windy City Road Warrior

Facebook: Windy City Road Warrior

BUSINESS LEVEL

• Mid Point Cafe, Adrian, TX – Featuring both their Ugly Crust Pie and one of the most popular photo ops along Route 66, located exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica in Adrian, Texas.
• Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast.
• Mary Beth Busutil – Florida
• Jim Crabtree – California
• Mike Fort 
• Route 66 author and photographer – Shellee Graham and also my guest on Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.
• Kristin Haakenson – Washington 
• Rich Havlik – Minnesota
• Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania
• Brian Sawyer – Indiana

And from the United Kingdom

• Charli Beeton

Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program.  All supporters will receive an additional 15 minutes of conversation with David, where he talks about:

• Additional Chicago restaurants:
  • Millers Pub
  • Henry’s Drive In
  • The best menu deals
• Additional Sites
  • Castle Gas Station (Car Wash)
  • Chicago Board of Trade Building
• Visiting non-Route 66 sites in Chicago
• Budget friendly Chicago Motels
  • Ohio House
  • Airport region hotels
• Early days of traveling and interest in Chicago
• Where are the vintage motels in Illinois?
• Past monthly Zoom Meetings featuring Route 66
• Published book featuring Abraham Lincoln sites in Illinois
• Most interesting travelers along Route 66

Congratulations to this months Patreon winner, Charli Beeton,  from the United Kingdom, who has won a copy of The Road Crews Songs from The Mother Road CD.   For next month, one lucky Patreon winner will win a bag of Route 66 Chicago Sweet & Salty flavored snack mix.