Product Description

Russell Olsen. This engaging look at the 'Mother Road' takes 75 locations along its 2,297-mile route and shows them first during their halcyon heydays through black-and-white photographs and period postcards, then on the facing page as they appear today.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #587547 in Books
• Published on: 2004-05-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

From Publishers Weekly
For half a century, Route 66 was the main thoroughfare from Chicago to Los Angeles. Built largely from portions of old wagon trails, the 2-lane highway zigzagged through eight states: south from Illinois and slicing southwest through Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and finally, into California. Going town by town, Olsen revisits the mid-century road side cafes, motels and service stations that thrived along the old route, juxtaposing his own photographs with vintage postcards or archival photos of each building in its heyday. The result is an illustrated catalogue of 75 buildings in various states of renovation, expansion, desolation and decay. For example, the Painted Desert Trading Post in Navajo, Ariz., pictured with busy motorists filling up on gas in 1942, is today windowless and surrounded by sagebrush, its painted stucco exterior scoured by decades of desert sand and wind. Meanwhile, the Riviera tavern in Gardner, Ill., still sits open, its white clapboard exterior and Schlitz beer sign remarkably unchanged. Olsen intertwines the highway’s history with the personal stories of the owners and patrons who recall vividly when the new 4-lane interstate system put the old road on the path to obsolescence. But before its decline, it served as "The Mother Road" for those fleeing the Dust Bowl, a main artery for WWII military transport and arms production and later, a sunny vacation route for hordes of post-war tourists. For those unable to get their kicks in person, this virtual road trip preserves the memory and adventure of Route 66.
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About the Author
Russ Olsen began exploring Route 66 in 1995, and on his first trip down the Mother Road he unexpectedly shot 27 rolls of film. He has returned each year, amassing the original images seen in this book and in his previous title, Route 66 Lost & Found: Ruins & Relics Revisited. Born and raised in South Chicago, Olsen today lives in North Hollywood, California. His work can be seen at www.route66lostandfound.com.

Customer Reviews

A roadtrip from your favorite chair!
I own a couple of route 66 books but I think this one is fast becoming my
favorite. It is like taking a roadtrip from the comfort of my favorite
chair. The "then and now" photos really give you an idea of how many things
have changed and strangly enough, how many things have stayed the same. A
written history accompanies each photo and gives great insight into the
motels, towns and cafes that once thrived along 66. It is hard to put down!

One Book to Have In Your Rt 66 Collection!!
I have many Rt 66 books and lots of pictures I took on my own personal road trips, but nothing compares to this particular book! I am fascinated by the "Then and Now" photo comparisons and this book has plenty to look at. This author has done his homework! Each shot is taken from the original angle of the original photograph, if at all possible. The only downside of this is, I wish there were more photos (there are LOTS of photos-I just wish this was one of those 1,000 page coffee-table books!). I was not ready for this book to end - possibly a follow-up book in the future?? I sure hope so...thanks for writing this, it's one of the best!! I would highly recommend this book be in your personal library of Rt 66 reference materials.

fascinating look back in time
I have traveled Route 66 many times in the past four years, but Russell's book has opened my eyes to the history which is not apparent when simply passing through. His extensive research shows in the historical sketches he gives for each pair of photos. Although this idea has been done for other places, I find Russell's treatment especially compelling and well done.