Plans for Route 66 Progress

“Plans in Motion for Route 66 Progress,” was the title of an article in the Tulsa World on March 18, 2007.”

Federal funds are available from the National Scenic Byways office to enhance and improve neighborhoods along Route 66.

One idea the state of Oklahoma is looking at, is a statue of Will rogers at a roadside park in Bethany.

Part of the plan is for a group of Oklahoma State University Landscape Architecture students to spend the spring semester coming up with ways to draw travelers to park along Route 66 in Bethany to stretch their legs and take in the scenery. There is talk about adding restaurants and entertainment venues.

The student’s plan will be presented to the Bethany City Council in May.

They are also thinking of designing a Will Rogers Memorial to be put in place near Lake Overholser bridge.

Wig Wam Motel Photos

These photos were borrowed from a yahoo group called, “Rialto 50’s and 60’s.” Since I just posted a little story from my own life regarding the wig wams, I thought it would be nice to post some photos.

The Wig Wam Motel is actually located on Foothill Blvd (Route 66) right at the borderline of Rialto and San Bernardino. I don’t really know the people in the photos, but they were having some sort of reunion called, “Memories Of The 1950’s at RJHS.” Although I went to RJH, I’m too young to go to a 50’s reunion.

Anyway, these photos will remain until someone tells me I can’t use them.

Sleep in a Wig Wam

The Red Fork Hippie Chick posted some information about photography and one the photos she included was a sign at the Wig Wam Motel on Route 66 in San Bernardino, California. Here was my response to her post:

I was surprised to see the neon sign photo taken at the Wig Wam Motel in San Bernardino. I grew up in that area and just seeing the sign brought memories flooding to my mind. I realize this post is about neon sign photography, but I would love to see a photo of the wig wams themselves.

We lived only about two miles from the Wig Wams. One year when I was about twelve or thirteen, we vacationed to various locations such as Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, and Mount Rushmore and Badlands in South Dakota.

On our way home, we took Route 66 which we called the southern route. We stopped at Carlsbad Caverns, New Mexico and Petrified Forest in Arizona.

We were almost home when my dad suddenly had an idea. As we passed by the Wig Wam Motel he decided we would stay all night there even though our house was only two miles away.

We had never seen the inside of the Wig Wams, so it was quite an adventure for me and my little sister. The inside was tiny and they weren’t really very nice, but we still had a good time. They didn’t have air conditioning, only window fans. It was mid-July so it was really hot in the tight quarters.

It was nice that we had the experience of staying in the wig wams, but we were really happy to get home the following day.

They used to have their little slogan or motto on a sign back then. It said, “Sleep in a Wig Wam.”

Thank you for sharing your photos.

Art Laboe’s Killer Oldies

Best Oldies of All Time ! ! Great Music ! !

Reviewer: Bette L. Hall MA (Oil Capital, OK United States)

Art Laobe’s “60 Killer Oldies” is a 4 CD collection of some of the greatest music of all time.One of the CD’s is entitled, “Memories of El Monte: The roots of L.A.’s Rock and Roll.” The first song on that CD is “Memories of El Monte.” Here are just a few of the words to that song:

If they only had those dances again,
I’d know where to find you and all my old friends…

Earth angel, earth angel will you be mine at El Monte…

If we could go back to
The days of the past,

I’d show you a love
A love that would last.

O I remember those wonderful
Dances in El Monte.
In El Monte.

I grew up in Rialto, California which is in the San Bernardino area and all my friends used to go to those dances at the American Legion Hall in El Monte during the 1960’s. I never did get to go to any of the dances in El Monte, but had always wanted to. I always danced at the National Guard Armory in Riverside, the VFW Hall in Rialto, or the Swing Auditorium in San Bernardino.

All of the songs on these CDs invoke emotions in me that bring both laughter and tears and they always give me a longing for the “Good Ol’ Days.” Now days it seems as though the only way to go to a dance is to go to a bar. Back then, there were dances everywhere. Bar hopping isn’t my style, but I miss those old dances including the ones in peoples garages or living rooms.

Art Laboe used to be a DJ on KRLA from Pasadena. KRLA and XPRS were my two favorite radio stations. I don’t even know if KRLA even exists any more since I no longer live in the Southern California area.

Anyway, the songs on these CDs remind me of the dances, the radio, my first boy friend, my first love, my marriage, my first child, and my youth. O to be young and in love again!

All of the songs are good and it’s difficult to choose a single favorite, but among my many favorites are “Angel Baby,” “Daddy’s Home,” “Dedicated To The One I Love,” “Together,” “Baby I’m For Real,” “Natural High,” “10 Commandments of Love,” “I’m Your Puppet,” “Confessin’ A Feeling,” “In The Still of The Night, and “Those Oldies But Goodies Remind Me of You.” But really, I like all of the songs on this CD collection.

I give this set of CDs five stars plus plus *****++.

Simply the best ! ! !

**NOTE**
This music review is included on this Mother Road blog because Route 66 goes through Rialto and San Bernardino. San Bernardino is also mentioned in the Route 66 song.

“If only they had those dances again, I’d know where to find my old friends.”