Route 66

“From Chicago to L.A., get your kicks on Route 66,” some of you might remember this catchy 60s tune and the edgy TV show of the same time, “Route 66.”

The first television show filmed on location followed the adventures of the stars, Tod and Buz, as they crisscrossed the United States in their Corvette.

Corvette sales doubled after the show premiered. Some even called it a 52 minute commercial for corvettes. Musta worked.
Fifty years ago tonight, October 7, the t.v. show “Route 66” debuted along with the haunting piano theme.

You still remember it if you are a baby boomer. One episode was filmed in my hometown, Millington, Tennessee, far removed from the actual Route 66.

We stayed all day watching the actors walk the same route, repeat the same words. It was exciting and we all anticipated seeing the episode. That scene that took all day to film took maybe five minutes of the episode.

Years later I was in Albuquerque, New Mexico and made a concerted effort to stand on the famous Route 66 highway that was deteriorating alongside a modern interstate.

The highway in its heyday was glamorous, exciting to think about driving from Chicago to Los Angeles on one route, and the TV show made it even more famous.

The decaying asphalt of Route 66 has long been lost except for a few patches and the memories.

Jasper County resident, Lisa Highlan, who works at Maxie Price Chevrolet, says they sell Corvettes to people all over the United States.

Many of those buyers probably being the baby boomers that fell in love with the ‘Vet back in the ‘60s and are now fulfilling The Dream of driving their sweet baby with the top down, the radio turned up and the sun beating on their faces.

Ah, youth, no matter what age!