We get our kicks on Route 66. Not “kicks’, exactly, but Kix Cereal. You see, about a mile or so from the Cutoff, sitting on old Route 66, is a store where we buy groceries. Another mile or so east sits one of the many Historic Route 66 signs that dot the United States. As we hit a slight rise in the pavement, the magnificent skyline of Chicago comes into view. Some twenty miles away sits Buckingham Fountain, the gateway to Lake Michigan and the symbolic beginning of Route 66.
This now historic two lane highway once took travelers from Chicago, Illinois to Los Angeles, California, ending in Santa Monica. Route 66 was the 2,451 mile Mother Road to a better life for many and the great migration west; those escaping the Dust Bowl of the Great Depression, seeking jobs in the fertile fields of Southern California, looking for wartime employment, or the glamour and excitement of Hollywood.
Route 66 wound around and through small towns and large, from the midwest to the southwest and the Pacific Coast, It brought tourists to their diners and motels, offered a place to settle down and start a family, or provided the opportunity to see local attractions as more and more people began to own cars. This long stretch of highway and the cars that rode on it helped support the economy of many towns. When the interstate highway system was completed and Route 66 was decommissioned as a highway, many towns and villages suffered economically, changing the way of life for many.
Many of us remember Dinah Shore as she blew us all a kiss each week from her television show and encouraged us all to “see the USA in your Chevrolet”.
Then there were these two fellows on the television series, Route 66. They made young girls’ hearts go pit-a-pat each week as they drove the cars that all the fellows longed for – and still do.
When I first left home for college, we drove Route 66 to Normal, Illinois. I will always remember that first trip to school, my dad behind the wheel, my mom trying to keep a stiff upper-lip, my own mixed emotions at leaving home for the first time. We drove out of the Chicago suburbs, past cornfields, Joliet, more cornfields, on and on. It seemed forever, until we approached Dwight and the first stop light from Chicago. There was a diner at the light were we often stopped for coffee and a piece of pie.
As long as I’m riding along on the memory lane of Route 66, I should mention the Dixie Truck Stop near Funk’s Grove. Heading toward Springfield, they had some mighty tasty hamburgers and interesting people to watch. I believe it is still in operation, though with new owners. More “kicks on Route 66” through part of Illinois. The phrase was first made popular by Nat King Cole. It is fun to listen to as he sings about all the places the Mother Road passes.
Do you have any memories of Route 66?
How fascinating; now I know what Highway 66 refers to, and I’ve got a good sense of where you are located – the big picture. Nat King Cole makes singing and playing look so easy. I love the bit where he plays with just one hand, without skipping a beat.
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I wish I could have written more, Juliet, but I didn’t want to put you all to sleep. Route 66 was travelled by many, many Americans and helped to keep the small towns alive. There are still portions of it used and groups in all states involved rally to protect it historical significance. I’m up there at the top. Nat King Cole was wonderful and we are lucky to now have these clips to watch, aren’t we? I loved that bit as well.
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I had a big crush on Buzz Murdoch/George Maharis and loved that show. Even then, I had a yen to hit the road. 🙂 I’ve traveled bits and pieces of Route 66. I love the old motel signs and such. I like your description of how the skyline of Chicago comes into view….
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We live in this little semi-rural triangle, Teresa, and once we drive out of it we then get this spectacular view of the skyline, which has its own beauty. Thank you.
I imagine you traveling “bits and pieces” in New Mexico, maybe Arizona, songs and poetry on your mind (and maybe Buzz – he was crush-worthy for sure).
Oh, the Wishing Well Motel was still here when we moved into the house. Sadly, it was soon after torn down.
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No one sings that song like Nat.
We visited the Grand Canyon for my 40th birthday and stayed along Route 66 in Williams, Arizona. I ran up and down the road, trying to touch everything.
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Oh, how exciting that must have been, Andra, both the Grand Canyon and the joyful glee you expressed. Did you write about it and I missed it?
He was pretty wonderful, wasn’t he?
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Penny, I probably wrote about the GC somewhere on my blog, but I will go back and look. If I haven’t, it might make a great series. 🙂
I have loved NKC since I was a toddler. 🙂
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That would be a great series, Andra. I would look forward to it for sure.
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Dear Penny, your writing always inspires me to try for more apt phrasing and words in my own writing. You are just a master at finding what I call the “telling” word that reveals the core/essence of something.
As to Route 66. Well that song of Nat King Cole’s brought it all back. I so loved his voice and still do. And I can remember singing that song and snapping my fingers to ” . . . you go through St. Louis, Joplin, Missouri, and Oklahoma city looks mighty purty!”
I lived in Independence, Missouri, and we drove through Joplin on the way to see my Grandma O’Mara who lived in Anderson, Missouri.
Oh, Penny, thank you for the video and the memoir of Route 66. I do so wish you’d write more about it. In one of your comments you said you didn’t want to put us to sleep. Believe me your writing would never, ever, do that. Peace.
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That is one of the nicest things ever said to me, Dee. I am blushing and smiling at the reading, and appreciative as well. Thank you.
Nat King Cole was so gifted, stylish, clear and is still a pleasure to listen to. Singing and snapping fingers went well together with this song. I hadn’t thought of that and now will.
What a memory that would be, going to Grandma O’Mara through Joplin and thinking of Nat King Cole.
You are very welcome, Dee, and I may just do that. There are so many fun adventures on Route 66 near me and not to far along the road either and they are all part of our collective history of much of the 20th Century. Thank you, Dee.
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Oh Penny, this has stirred some wonderful memories. I drove from Milwaukee to Big Sur, and then back again…..and the route back involved finding as many bits of the original route 66 as possible. This was in 1985, and I dont think there had been much interest in signposting the old road at that time. People just wanted to use the quickest, highway routes. I had an amzing time…. Tucamcari ( not sure about the spelling) stands out as a fabulous spot. I travelled with another English woman, and apart from the ending…. we were Thelma and Louise ! Jx
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I would love to take such a road trip, Janice, and all the things you saw. You are right. By 1985 Route 66 was either decommissioned or close to being so and there were no signs. Eventually, there were movements to designates points of interest and mark the highway and that continues still. I think you have it spelled correctly (maybe a k instead of a c – I’ll look it up) and am smiling at your Thelma and Louise. What a fabulous time that must have been for you. Thank you for sharing it.
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Fun post Penny! I’m very familiar with the western end of Route 66 .. it’s good to learn about the other end. (Nat sings that song a whole lot better than we used to do whenever we got on the Route!)
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You wouldn’t want to hear me sing it, Sallie. We’ll just stick with Nat. I imagine you have seen a great deal of what is on Route 66. This end was a lot different when the route was in its heydey. I think I’ll be trying to locate some of the attractions as time goes on.
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Oh, Penny, as you traveled South on Route 66, I was traveling north. My belongings and parents were stuffed into a Volkswagon Beetle. Both of us ended up in Normal, Illinois in Hamilton Hall. So in a way, Rt. 66 was partly responsible for our friendship. You are correct, the Dixie truck stop is still there, but I 55 runs near it and only a piece or two of Rt. 66 in the area. The Dixie is no longer the quaint iconic truck stop that it once was. Now it is a huge convenience/ restaurant/ truck stop/ gas station. It looks like many others you will find along the Interstate. If you come to Springfield you may want to take the 6th Street exit which was once part of Rt. 66. Stop at the Cozy Drive in which is the home of the Cozy Dog. Yep, the original dog on a stick. They have the patent on the batter recipe and multi-pronged cooking apparatus that first allowed them to cook a battered hot dog. The diner looks much as it did in the 50’s. At one time Dairy Queen was attached but it is now gone. It is a “must see” for Route 66 fans.
I am so glad that the “Mother Road” brought you and I together.
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P. S. I love the video.
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I’m glad. So do I.
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I was hoping you would have something to say, Janet. Isn’t it fun to think of that, you with your parents, me with mine, ending up on sixth floor Hamilton by way of Route 66? I guess we could say it led us to each other. I’m so glad it did. That’s too bad about the Dixie truck stop. When we moved Jennifer down to Springfield we stopped at Funk’s Grove. It was probably a pit stop and it was about nine years ago. Anyways, we were impressed with how it has been maintained. That’s interesting about the Cozy Drive in with the Cozy Dog. That would be fun to do.
I’m so glad that the “Mother Road” did as well. This was more fun to write about than I imagined.
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Now I’m starstruck, Penny: because for us here, Route 66 is rather like a fairy tale with all the folklore which surrounds it. I loved hearing your experiences – especially the road to college. My was the prosaic old M3. I feel like digging out some more info about 66 now!
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Route 66 was such a part of the fabric of much of the United States though a good part of the twentieth century, Kate, and there are stories and sites that abound with all this road crossed. So many of the villages and towns along it have suffered with the faster interstate highways. More folks are seeking the slower pace of the mid-century years and I think that will help to revive some of this. Enjoy your digging around.
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I’ve been saying that I need to post some photos of Route 66 from our end, Penny. I work on Rt. 66 and travel it daily along different lengths. The signage is beginning to reappear making sure we are aware that we are on the “old” highway and that’s always fun to see. Then Disney California did a whole section paying “homage” to the famous Route. It just fascinates me to think about how it all connects! I love your personal stories! I’ll add to them at some point and link back to your blog…that’s a lot of miles in between! 🙂
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I hope you will post some photos at your end of Route 66, Debra, and your perspective. I was thinking about you as I wrote this, knowing you were the bookend to this historic route. It is fascinating. There is so much history in this highway. I’ll look forward to exploring more of it with you.
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A great song! Coffee and a slice of pie in a diner – now THAT is Americana!
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Whether sung in French, English, Italian – it is one of the best songs ever.
Ha! It is a slice of American life, isn’t it? I don’t know why, but it always tastes good in a diner.
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Route 66…oh what memories! IN 1965, Dick and I drove to California on incompleted Int 40 and Rte 66. When we had to detour from 40 to 66 we would see all the small towns with their main street, stores and motels. I remember staying in Tucumari,NM at motel where your car was parked outside of your room. We also stopped at some rest areas along the way that were built by the CCC workers of the 30s.
Today, when I have out of town visitors I show them the sign of the beginning of Route 66 at Adams and Michigan Avenue. So many people mistakeningly think that the route begins in NY.
Thanks for arousing memories.
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All that is Americana was out the car window for you and Dick, Marilyn. I’m so thrilled that you shared your memory here. I wonder if those rest areas still exist. I’m sure they do in what are now little out-of-the-way places.
That’s a wonderful spot to show out-of-towners! I had fun writing this post, Marilyn, and even more fun reading the responses and all experiences of everyone – and that includes yours!
You are so very welcome.
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[…] Mannheim a little further north and Route 45 throughout. La Grange Road also hooks up to historic Route 66). It is a most perfect location for such a store, nestled in among other independent shops, the La […]
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Now I remember it! And see I said the same thing as I did on your new post (I may have a poor memory, but at least I’m consistent). This was fun and definitely worth a revisit even had I remembered it well.
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