Route 66 Podcast

Just before the birth of Route 66, the single worst incident of racial violence in American history took place in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Within 24 hours, more than 35 square blocks in the Greenwood section of Tulsa were burned, causing 10,000 residents in one of the wealthiest black communities in America to instantly become homeless. Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Dr. Scott Ellsworth, a leading expert on the Tulsa Race Massacre.

Topics include:

• Earliest knowledge of the Tulsa Race Massacre
• Urban legends and myths about the riots with stories about the 1921 riots
• Discovering a rare photograph that would spark an interest in further researching the riot
• A talk with a survivor who was 16 years at the time
• WD Williams provides a first hand account
• Origin of the Greenwood neighborhood
• Timeline of events beginning at the Drexel Building
• The Tulsa Tribune reports on the incident
• Lynch mob assembles outside the courthouse
• The one spark that caused the attack on Greenwood
• Race Riot or Race Massacre?
• Extreme lengths to cover up the events for years later
• The 3 remaining survivors today
• Search for mass graves
• Importance of President visiting Tulsa in 2021 to remember race riots
• Connecting with President Biden

UM Website: Scott Ellsworth

Article: How a Historian Helped Tulsa Confront the Horror of Its Past

Tulsa Memorial Park: Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation

Documentary: Blood on Black Wall Street (The Legacy of the Tulsa Race Massacre)

• 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.
• Gilligan's Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast.
• Jon B - Rhode Island
• Mary Beth Busutil - Florida
• Jim Crabtree - California
• Mike Fort
• Route 66 author and photographer - Shellee Graham and also my guest on Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.
• Kristin Haakenson - Washington
• Rich Havlik - Minnesota
• Mary Nicholson - Pennsylvania
• Brian Sawyer - Indiana

United Kingdom

• Charli Beeton

The Netherlands

• Jim Rensen

Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program through Patreon.

Popularized by the famous song, Take It Easy, one of the most famous street corners along Route 66 features a line from a popular song that was written by Jackson Browne. Today, Winslow, Arizona, contains a small park on a corner of Route 66 featuring both a mural and bronze statue. Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with both of the artists who have made the Winslow corner one of the most popular stops along Route 66.

JOHN PUGH

• Early interest in art
• The art of Trompe-l'oeil (Trick the eye)
• Chico State Mural: Breaking through the
• Does an opitcal illusion always work
• Earliest memory of Route 66
• The Winslow mural contest
• Basis of mural design competition
• 2004 fire
• Importance of research prior to planning a mural
• Life expectancy of murals
• What happens when a mural just ins't working?
• Murals that have really played trick on people
• Hermosa Beach mural honoring The Biltmore Hotel Era
• Bucket list items
• Standin on the Corner hints

Website: Art of John Pugh

RON ADAMSON

• Earliest interest in art
• Working at Montana lumber mills
• Making a living as an artist
• The Charlie Russell Art show entry sells for $1K
• Creating art Quick Draw
• First Bronze work: Indian bust
• Winslow calls for a statue
• Parameters for Winslow statue
• The final decision to award Ron the project
• A last minute adjustment to the prototype in front of the committee
• Earlier photograph of grandfather holding a guitar along Route 66 some 60 years earlier
• Does the statue represent anyone in particular?
• Constructing a homemade foundry to create the statue
• Last ditch efforts getting the statue to fit the foundation in Winslow
• Last minute setup in Winslow the day of the dedication ceremony
• Being an unknown artist with a really famous statue along Route 66
• The day Don Henley showed up in Winslow
• Other work by Don Adamson
• Chain saw carving
• Earliest memories of Route 66

Historic Photo of Ron's Grandfather along Route 66 with Guitar

Website: Ron Adamson

YouTube: Home Footage of statue being created

Ramona Lehman is just as iconic as The Munger Moss Motel and recently celebrated 50 years as the owner and operator of this Missouri Route 66 must see stop along The Mother Road.

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Ramona about

• How does an Iowa farm girl wind up on Route 66?
• Honeymooning along Route 66
• Early history of The Munger Moss Motel
• Origin of the Munger Moss Name
• Remembering her late husband, Bob Lehman
• Helping businesses along Route 66 get established
• The early days when Ramona arrived at The Munger Moss
• Discovering garages that were once part of the motel
• Ramona’s room recommendation at The Munger Moss
• Long term residents at The Munger Moss
• The Munger Moss: To sell or not to sell?
• Will the children carry on the Munger Moss tradition?
• The world famous Munger Moss Neon sign
• Celebrating 50 years at The Munger Moss
• Most memorable guests to walk through the door
• Meeting the original owner many years later – Emmitt Moss
• Maintaining the Munger Moss sign
• Constant flow of picture takers along Route 66
• Most popular Munger Moss items for sale in the lobby
• Bob Lehman’s prized toy collection
• The biggest challenge in 50 years at The Munger Moss
• The very first in-ground pool in Lebanon, Missouri arrives at The Munger Moss
• Ramona’s last vacation
• Preserving Route 66 for future generations
• Is Ramona as famous locally as she is with Route 66 travelers?
• Ramona’s Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren visiting at The Munger Moss
• Sales pitch for The Munger Moss 2021
• Next item on Ramona’s Bucket list
• A Ramona Lehman Revelation: Where hasn’t she been along Route 66? (The answer WILL surprise you!)
• Long Live Route 66

LINKS

Article: Ramona celebrates 50 years on Route 66 (2021)

Article: Bob and Ramona celebrate 45 years on Route 66 (2016)

Website: Munger Moss Motel

Facebook Page: Munger Moss Motel

Video: Munger Moss featured on KYW News (2019)

• 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.
• Gilligan’s Route 66 Tours featuring tours of Route 66 in Ford Mustang convertibles, stays at historic Route 66 motels, and daily breakfast.
• Jack Rabbit Trading Post, Joseph City, AZ – Probably one of the most iconic curio shops along Route 66, the famous Here It Is billboard and fiberglass jackrabbit in front of the store is reason enough to stop.... and say hello to Cindy and Antonio.
• Jon B – Rhode Island
• Mary Beth Busutil – Florida
• Jim Crabtree – California
• Mike Fort
• Route 66 author and photographer – Shellee Graham and also my guest on Episode # 10 where she talks about her book, Tales from the Coral Court Motel.
• Kristin Haakenson – Washington
• Rich Havlik – Minnesota
• Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania
• Wendy Raschke – Texas
• Brian Sawyer – Indiana
• Evan Stern – New York

United Kingdom

• Charli Beeton

The Netherlands

• Jim Rensen

Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program through Patreon. Patreon members receive access to an additional 10 minutes of this episode, featuring the following content:

• Long term residents and restrictions staying at The Munger Moss
• Joining the Rotary Club and Ramona’s lucky streak
• Ramona takes up cactus growing
• Has the average guest heard of The Mung...

The final in a three part series featuring The Fred Harvey Company. This episode features a talk with three women who worked for The Fred Harvey Company during the final days of the company, 1958. In addition, episode features a talk with Katy Miller, great, great, great granddaughter of Fred Harvey.