Читать книгу RVs & Campers For Dummies - Christopher Hodapp - Страница 28

In October 1960, the TV show Route 66 premiered on CBS, a loose anthology about two Beat Generation guys on the road to find out about Life. Its jazzy instrumental theme by Nelson Riddle, and its ride, a Corvette convertible, made it the definition of cool. It was shot on location across the country, unusual for its time, and dealt with all the hot-button social issues of the day, with a good deal of violence thrown in, guaranteeing a hit.

Route 66 ran from Chicago, Illinois, to Santa Monica, California, cobbled together out of three of the old auto trails. In the ‘40s and ‘50s, it became a major artery moving people from the East to the sunshine and economic opportunity of the Golden West. By 1960, Route 66 was already a legend, and it already had its own catchy tune, “Get Your Kicks on Route 66.” CBS didn’t want to pony up to actor and jazz pianist Bobby Troup to use his popular song in the show. But Nelson Riddle’s tune became one of the first TV-show themes to hit the Billboard charts, while sales of Corvettes zoomed to more than 10,000. It’s ironic that, from the day of the premier, the road they were on, Route 66, was already on its way out, and its days were numbered.

Today, the so-called Historic Route 66 is an RVer’s Holy Grail, and it’s still the mother lode of roadside attractions. But seeing it can be sort of catch as catch can. After the famed highway was decertified in 1985, efforts began to save the unique cultural heritage of Route 66. Eventually, Congress passed a bill to match funds for historical preservation projects. Restored, neon-lit motels, cafes, and gas stations began popping up or reopening all across the old route.