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The Mother Road

Talks with people living and working along the Mother Road

Route 66 Podcast

Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno, as he talks with Joseph Baxter , a dedicated preservationist and volunteer at the Round Barn. It's the only Round Barn along Route 66, but even more impressive is the history of the barn and its builder, William Oder.
 
 
 
 
 

 
 • Early history of Round Barns
 • Needed skill and architectural knowledge for construction
 

 
 • The genius of William Oder and his Round Barn
 • Last minute construction revision to make Round Barn a focal point for area social dances
 

 
 • Frank Vrana years and eventual deterioration of barn
 • Vrana family donation of the Round Barn
 • Luke Robinson and the Over-the-Hill Gang
 • Round Barn reopens (1992)
 • Planning your visit to the Round Barn
 • Other area attractions

58. The Round Barn, Arcadia, OK

Join Route 66 Podcast host, Anthony Arno, as he talks with Emma Wheeler, the latest winner of a $1000 Route 66 College Scholarship Award. 
 
 
 
Emma is currenlty a sophmore at Maryville University, studying secondard education. 
 

 
 
 
Highlights from the show include:
 
 • Hometown: Augusta and Washington, Missouri 
 • Corn Pipe Capitol of the World
 • Notable residents - Jack Wagner
 • Closest point to Route 66 (Cuba, MO)
 • 
 • Earliest memory of Route 66 and Pixar's 
Cars • 
 Nearby Route 66 sites Awareness of Route 66 among friends Family interest in classic cars Washington Town & Country Fair High School Highlights Personal Hobbies Maryville University and Career Goals Video Submission Video Format Video segments 
2022 Route 66 Scholarship Program Episode
 
2020 Route 66 Scholarship Program Episode

57. The 2024 Route 66 Scholarship Episode

The Cajon Pass is probably one of the most important sites along Route 66 in southern California. Long before Route 66. was established, the pass was an important route for early settlers, who often had to disassemble thier wagons to cross over the San Gabriel Mountains.
 
Join host Anthony Arno as he talks wtih local hsitorian, Mark Landis about the evolution of the pass from The Spanish Trail, The John Brown Toll Road, The Old Trails Highway, and eventually Route 66.
 
Even more impressive is the work of William Bristol, who in 1919 saw the potential of future motorist passing through the region after journeying across the Mojave Desert. Bristol was an entrepreneuar, poet, stone mason, and artesian who established Camp Cajon at the top of the pass, a place for weiry motorist to rest after making the treterous journey across the desert. 
 
Highlights from the show include:
 

 
 • Geographic location of Cajon Pass
 • Cajon Pass Rou
 Early footpath for Native Americans Old Spanish Trail John Brown Toll Road Old Trails National Highway Route 66 

 
 
 

 
 Arrival of William Bristol into southern California Citrus Farmer Poet 1919 Dedication of Camp Cajon Flood of 1938 Relocation of Route 66 Other monuments in Cajon Pass region Visiting Cajon Pass today Bristol re-invents himself 

 

 

 
 Acorn Lodge Death of Bristol How will Bristol be remembered? The Popular Summit Inn Restaurant on Route 66 

 

 
 
 
 Thank you to Route 66 Podcast & Scholarship supporters, including
 
 
 
 Rob and Cheryl Cochran - Maryland Reed Coles - Nebraska Jim Crabtree – California Todd Farrell - Nebraska Rich Havlik – Minnesota Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania Mark Wilson - Texas 
 
 
And from the United Kingdom
 
 
 
 Charli Beeton 
 
 
BUSINESS LEVEL SPONSORS
 
 
 
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.
 
ROUTE 66 TOURS
 

 

 
Route 66 Tours led by Route 66 Podcast host, Anthony Arno
 
Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program through Patreon.
 

 
 
 
Meet our 2024 Route 66 Scholarship Recipient, Emma Wheeler

59. Camp Cajon Mountain Pass, California

THE ARISTON CAFE
 

 
The Ariston Cafe located in Litchfield, IL, is the longest continously operated family restaraunt along Route 66. Established by Pete Adam, a Greek immigrant who arrived here in America in 1905 at the age of 15.
 
Hear the whole history of The Ariston Cafe by the founders son, Nick Adam. At 85 years old, Nick tells about how his father arrived here in America with no clear vision and worked in a wide variety of occupations from managing a Boston shoe shining parlor to working in a Colorado mine. 
 
Even before considering the restaraunt business, Pete returned back home to Greece in 1919 to help fight the Greco-Turkish War. After the war, Pete returns back to America and his life would change forever when a complete stranger offers Pete $1000 to open up a Greek diner.
 
Highlights from the show include:
 
 • 

The arrival of 15 year old Pete Adam to America
 • 
 • 

Decision to return back to Greece to join the war effort
 • 
 • 

Pete tries to make it again in America a second time
 • 
 • 

The Candy Kitchen Days
 • 
 • A total stranger gives Pete an ultimatum
 • 1924 Ariston opens up 
 • Past guest, Phil Gordon, recalls two Ariston locations
 • 
 • Growing up at The Ariston
 • The dream of law school
 • Earliest memory of The Ariston
 • Most popular dishes
 • Life with Demi Adam
 • Most memorable patrons at The Ariston
 • Walking away from the Ariston
 • Life after The Ariston (The Litchfield Route 66 Museum)
 • is The Ariston important to Route 66?
 • Local appreciation of The Ariston
 • 100 years of advice to any Route 66 business owner
 • 100th anniversary celebration of Ariston

60. The Ariston Cafe, Litchfield, IL

There are many Route 66 museums, but probably one of the most comprehensive and largest museums is the Route 66 Oklahoma Museum. Route 66 Podcast talks with Pat Smith, curator of the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum. The displays are all professionally laid out and are part of the Oklahoma Historical Society.
 
Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Pat Smith about the following:
 
 • Introducing the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum 
 • Where is Clinton, OK?
 • 
 • The Oklahoma Historical Society
 • Comparason to other Route 66 museums
 • Pat Smith - Curator 
 • Earliest memory of Route 66
 • 
 • The 1995 opening of the museum
 • Staff and Volunteers
 • Annual visitors
 

 
 • Origin of artifacts for Route 66 Museum 
 • Authentic Valentine Diner
 • Typical donation inquiries
 • 
 • Layout of Museum 
 • Classic car collection
 • The museum decade by decade
 • 
 • The Gift Shop
 • Past museum milestones
 • Oklahoma Route 66 Hall of Fame
 • Centennial celebration planning
 • Pat's favorite gallery
 • Famous (and not so famous) museum visitors
 • Planning your visit to the museum
 
Thank you to Route 66 Podcast & Scholarship supporters, including
 
 • 
Rob and Cheryl Cochran - Maryland • 
 • 
Reed Coles - Nebraska • 
 • 
Jim Crabtree – California • 
 • 
Todd Farrell - Nebraska • 
 • 
Rich Havlik – Minnesota • 
 • 
Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania • 
 • 
Mark Wilson - Texas • 
 
And from the United Kingdom
 
 • 
 
Charli Beeton
 
 
 • 
 

 
Route 66 Tours led by Route 66 Podcast host, Anthony Arno
 
Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program through Patreon.

61. The Oklahoma Route 66 Museum

Author, Route 66 historian, and the voice of Sheriff or Radiator Springs in the Pixar movie Cars. The very first episode of The Route 66 Podcast features an interview with the biggest advocate of The Mother Road.
 
 
 
Michael talks about his earliest memories of Route 66, the many changes that the road has endured, his work with helping Pixar create a movie about Route 66, and many of the other books that he's written about western life.

2. Michael Wallis

3. Angel Delgadillo: The Guardian of Route 66

Dylan Wallace just graduated high school in Wilmington, IL, and he’s literally made a mark along Route 66 by painting a shield on the side of Two Hounds Antique Shop along Route 66.

4. Dylan Wallace Mural Artist

As a high school teenager in 1958, he entered a talent show and played Jerry Lee Lewis' Great Balls of Fire. The unexpected happened.... he won and didn't know how to play any other songs.
 
 
 
One year later, he would call Buddy Holly's manager and ask for an audition without even having an original song to play. The unexpected happened, he got the audition and wrote the song in the back of the car on his way to the audition.
 
 
 
Join host Anthony Arno talk with Route 66 legend George Tomsco, founder of the Fireballs. According to Dick Clark, the Fireballs created the Surf Sound, a term that Tomsco never had even heard of. 
 
 
 
George talks about his earliest memories along Route 66, letting fate guide his musical career, his reaction to Buddy Holly unknowingly play his guitar, having the number one song in America just before the Beatles arrived, and his latest musical pursuits.

2. Michael Wallis

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