Thread: Route 66..

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A new tv series started here tonight..Gunna watch it all(if I can)

Billy Connolly cruisin Rt66 from Chicago..on a trike..Been through Pontiac,Normal,Atlanta,Springfield,etc so far..Very kool scenery,and music..Love watching anything like that,specially small town USA..Even with an off beat sense of humour,,am going to enjoy it,I think..! hour long episodes..

Sounds reminiscent of the old Martin Milner, George Maharis show in the early '60's, but with a bike twist. Edit - Looks like it's Billy Connolly's Route 66, but I don't find it listed on our Dish Network offerings.

The old route 66 was a good show, I watch the re - runs all the time, Lamin8r
Kurt

Looks to be more of a Documentary/History type show and not like the old one.
However, it looks daggone good and very very interesting as Bill travels and narrates.
Samples came be seen of all 4 episodes on youtube:
Here's Episode 1 Billy Connolly - Route 66 - Episode 1 of 4 - Part 1 of 4 - YouTube

Yeah,sorry guys..Meant to say it was a doco..Like those type travel/documentary type shows,,but unfortunately,a lot of English or otherwise presenters,seem to go out of their way to find the ''different''inhabitants of small towns,,whereas Billy has a deep interest in rooting out the history and background of an area without belittling,or demeaning the people..Plus,I do like his humor,bad as it is sometimes..
When he was in New Plymouth,while shooting the movie''The last Samurai'',he was wandering the streets,talking to people,usually eating an ice cream at the same time.. At one point he was dragged into the bank we deal with,and introduced to one of the bank tellers...(It was the tellers daughter who found him outside the bank)
Both he and Tom Cruise walked around and mixed with people when they were able,,and Tom was even seen going down the road in the evening,to buy the obligatory feed of NZ fish and chips for supper..
Anyway..looking forward to his trip down the mother road to LA..

There have been a number of documentary type bits done about Route 66 over the past ten years or so, most of them featuring just one segment of the highway, but a couple were of a trip the whole way; one, if I remember right, went from L. A. to Chicago, instead of the usual western trip. I will watch anything I can find on the old western migration highways, and especially Route 66 as I have a bit of history with the California section of it, mainly from Needles to San Bernardino, since I worked and/or lived in the region most of my life. I would truly enjoy seeing this one, too.

I was born in a little town on Route 66 called Shamrock, Texas. Right before I was born my Mom and Dad both worked at a landmark location on 66. Mom worked at the "You Drop In" and Dad at the "Texaco Tower Service Station". I can vaguely remember going into the Cafe when I was 5 or 6.

Originally Posted by MelloYello

I was born in a little town on Route 66 called Shamrock, Texas. Right before I was born my Mom and Dad both worked at a landmark location on 66. Mom worked at the "You Drop In" and Dad at the "Texaco Tower Service Station". I can vaguely remember going into the Cafe when I was 5 or 6.

Are there many of the old landmarks still in existence,Meller?? Some things just dont seem to change in some of those small towns,do they?? Love some of the old buildings on last nights episode..

Originally Posted by Rrumbler

There have been a number of documentary type bits done about Route 66 over the past ten years or so, most of them featuring just one segment of the highway, but a couple were of a trip the whole way; one, if I remember right, went from L. A. to Chicago, instead of the usual western trip. I will watch anything I can find on the old western migration highways, and especially Route 66 as I have a bit of history with the California section of it, mainly from Needles to San Bernardino, since I worked and/or lived in the region most of my life. I would truly enjoy seeing this one, too.

I watched a show last year,that focussed on towns/cities called Independence..in which a couple of guys bought an old station wagon,and drove from LA to all the ''Independences'' in US,right across to the east coast.. Was also kool..Would like to see more of those shows..

Originally Posted by lamin8r

Are there many of the old landmarks still in existence,Meller?? Some things just dont seem to change in some of those small towns,do they?? Love some of the old buildings on last nights episode..

Robin, I haven't been back in that country in years but I think there are lots of landmarks still standing.
It does appear that the Conoco Towers and You Drop In are still there.
Shamrock, Texas Classic Route 66 Town

All of the episodes are on Youtube,good stuff.

That's pretty cool.

In episode

Billy Connolly - Route 66 - Episode 1 of 4 - Part 2 of 4 - YouTube

around the 8 minute mark he's at the Launvhing Pad drive in in Wilmington, Il. A few years ago somebody stole the rocket out of the giants hands. A local body shop built a new one & I did the lettering on it.
He said the next town is Godley, but actually the next town on Rt. 66 is Braidwood. There's a cool 50's style Drive Inn there called the Polk-A-Dot. I've done a ton of signs there. Built a Popeye & Olive Oil stand up sign where kids can stand behind them, put their face through the sign & get their picture taken. They have a 50's style cruise nighe the first weekend in august every year that is huge. They have the Blues Brothers come in for entertainment. Pretty cool place.

Polk-a-Dot Drive In - About Us

Ya I seen that one too Rrumbler; It was a great show to and very interesting!!!
Kurt

Originally Posted by MelloYello

Robin, I haven't been back in that country in years but I think there are lots of landmarks still standing.
It does appear that the Conoco Towers and You Drop In are still there.
Shamrock, Texas Classic Route 66 Town

Went into that link and had a look at Shamrock..What a kool little town..The abandoned buildings are sad though..

When you get tired of the fragments of a highway and all the tourist traps, here's a really nice one, complete with a few elevation changes and some really fine scenery scattered across the route!!!!!

COAST to COAST on US 50. A Journey Across America on Route 50, also known as Highway 50. Travel by car from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Would sure make a nice coast to coast road trip!!!!!!