In the 1880s, a gentleman by the name of Fred Harvey, who was working as a freight agent, saw an opportunity to start a new venture. At the time, the only food that was available to railroad passengers was questionable food at roadhouses near the tracks. He approached the AT&SF Railroad about opening a chain of restaurants, at depots along its route. Soon, he would start to advertise in newspapers throughout the Midwest, and along thee east coast, recruiting young, single women to work in his restaurants. The Harvey House chain was born. Along with the restaurants, were also hotels for patrons to stay in, along their journey west.
The wild west was about to become somewhat civilized. It didn’t stop there. Eventually, he started offering chauffeured tours in New Mexico and Arizona, to Native American reservations, so travelers could experience what their culture was like. He even employed locals to demonstrate hand-made crafts from Native Americans. Tourism was on its way to becoming part of America, little did he know what kind of impact he would have.
Not long after Harvey, a man in Tulsa, Oklahoma would declare there was a need for a national road, that would allow people to travel west. Cyrus Avery. The Father of Route 66. After several years of debate, and a lot of headaches, Route 66 was born. The year is 1926. The Mother Road is being put together. Starting in Chicago, and would eventually end in Santa Monica, California. It was mainly comprised of roads already in existence, and pieced together. There were roads before Route 66 came to being, but this was something new. Motor courts, diners and gas stations already existed, but what was about to happen would change America forever.
The Mother Road….Main Street of America would shape, and transform the landscape, like nothing else in history. The neon lights of Broadway would soon expand across the land….beckoning like fireflies on a summer night….calling to weary and hungry travelers. Soon, the motor courts would start popping up everywhere, along with more roadside diners, more gas stations…..and curiosity shops. Cold drinks, snacks, souvenirs, and other crappy gifts would take their place inside of these shops. God Bless America! Tourism from Hades is starting to come into full swing.
Bobby Troupe wrote a musical travelogue, while on a road trip with his girlfriend, whom came up with the key to that song: Get Your Kicks, On Route 66. It has since been recorded by dozens of other singers, including Nat King Cole, Chuck Berry, and Asleep At The Wheel. This is part of the soundtrack of America. And America is about to take it all in. Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, it seems the Dust Bowl days of travel were behind, and happy days were here. Every year, hundreds of thousand of people hit the road. Family vacations were the norm, and everyone was out to have fun…..go on new adventure, and explore new places. Howard Johnson’s started as a small ice cream shop and soda fountain in Massachusetts, and had started opening a chain of motels across the country. Long before those, were the Mom & Pop motels. Holiday Inn was started in Memphis, Tennessee…inspired by the movie, which starred Bing Crosby.
Surf City USA wasn’t just a song, in the 1960s, it was a state of mind. “See The USA, in your Chevrolet” television commercials, “Texaco, Star Of The American Road”, which featured the legendary Bob Hope, helped fuel the American public’s thirst for travel. “Woodies” and station wagons, were the preferred method of travel. The station wagon, another invention that would allow families to pack just about everything from kids, to luggage in them, were synonymous with road trips (have you ever been in a station wagon?). Gasoline was dirt cheap, mom and pop diners had the best food, and at least one Dairy Queen I remember being at in Arizona, back in 1975, had every window covered in bugs….inside. Fun fun fun….NOT!
If you were lucky enough to have an 8-track tape player in your car, that usually meant you weren’t forced to listen to static on the radio, in the middle of nowhere…but it also meant your tapes would probably warp beyond all recognition, in the desert heat. Nobody knows the funky things I’ve seen….and smelled, over the years! If you think the road trips today uncover some nasty things, I’m guessing you have never seen a condom vending machine in a gas station restroom….in the 1970s….when you were around 8 years old. Okay, enough on that subject.
Road trips in the late 1970s through early 1980s, brought forth a whole new set of challenges. Fast food, junk food, and the “Magic Fingers” beds. Put a quarter in, turn the handle…..and the whole dang bed would shake worse than the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. The old Vagabond Inn was located in Laredo, Texas, just off of Interstate Highway 35 (yes, the Pizza Hut is still right across the street from the crappy motel, that no longer exists). There is a grocery store, just on the other side of the interstate, that used to sell hollowed-out pigs heads in the meat department (I’ll never forget seeing them). I have to admit, I miss those days.
1985. Without any warning, it happened. Route 66 was decommissioned. Seligman, Arizona was bypassed by Interstate 40. Angel Delgadillo, whom would later be dubbed “The Angel Of Route 66”, would start a one-man campaign to keep The Mother Road alive. He started making phone calls, reaching out to others….in an effort to keep it alive. Long before social media, and email, something had to be done. He wasn’t just going to sit around, and let his section of Main Street be bypassed by some super highway. Hell no! There was no way on Earth he was going to let his town die…..along with the rest of it. This one-man crusade turned into a movement….of gigantic proportions.
What the Federal Highway Commission did, was unthinkable…and unacceptable. Taking away a part of history. The Eisenhower Highway System was killing small town America. I can only imagine what Mr. Delgadillo was thinking “Not on my watch!”. The crusade has begun. It would only be a matter of time until a full-scale revival, would be underway. No mas, por favor! We want Route 66! Angel Delgadillo, now in his 90s, is still fighting to keep the Mother Road alive. Without him, the entire road culture wouldn’t be what it is, now. On that note, I want to salute Mr. Delgadillo, and his efforts, of keeping the American road trip spirit alive. God Bless you, sir!
Route 66 USA 