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The Mother Road

Talks with people living and working along the Mother Road

Route 66 Podcast

To celebrate the centennial of Route 66 in 2026, the very first episode of the year features the life of the Father of Route 66- Cyrus Stevens Avery.
 
Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks with Susan Croce Kelly, author of Father of Route 66: Cy Avery. More than establishing Route 66, Avery was a proponent of the Good Roads Movement and advocated for paved roads at the introduction of the automobile in America.
 
Highlights from the show include:
 
 • Teaming up with Quinta Scott in 1990 to write 
Route 66: The Highway and Its People • Searching for Route 66
 • Avery's childhood
 • Avery travels west in a covered wagon at age 13
 • Awareness of road conditions as a young pioneer
 • Populariity of bicycles in establishing paved roads
 

 
 • Avery pulls America out of the mud
 • What did Avery get right?
 • Replacing named roads with numbered roads
 • Road construction and technology
 • Need for proper signage with road travel
 • Rapid growth of automobiles with Model T introduction
 • Railroad perspective regarding paved roads
 • Avery reluctantly accepts the number "66" for his road 
 • Secretary of Agriculture in charge of road construction
 • What did Route 66 get right that the other highways of the day missed out on?
 • US Highway 66 Association established to promote the road 
 • Proposing a 3400 mile coast to coast footrace along Route 66
 • The Bunion Derby puts Route 66 on the world map
 • The Great Depression years
 • Running for governor of Oklahoma
 • Providing clean drinking water to Tulsa
 • Avery's biggest achievement (not Route 66)
 • Modernizing the Tulsa airport
 • Reflection 
 • Importance of trip west for Avery in a covered wagon
 • Replacing Route 66 with the Interstate Highway 
 • 1969 Highway Beautification Act removes local billboards
 • Route 66 as a tourist attraction today
 • 
 

 
 • Centennial Plaza in Tulsa honors Avery
 Newspaper Women of the Ozarks • book

65. Cyrus Stevens Avery: Father of Route 66

At the age of 81 years old, Gene Waylan is operating the lask known Ku Ku Burger from what was one of 200 locations. How does a Kansas boy pivot from wanting to be a farmer to successfully operating an iconic Route 66 burger joint fo over 50 years?
 
 
 
Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks wth Gene about his 51 year career of flipping burgers along historic Route 66. Highlights from the show include:
 
 • Transition from farmboy to flipping burgers
 • The Griff Hamburger Years
 • The Ku Ku Burger
 • The McDonalds competition
 Don't Just Ask for a Burger, Ask for Waylans • Settling down in Miami, OK
 • Physical expansion in Miami
 • Competing with McDonalds
 • It's more than just good food...
 
 
 
 • Does Gene run the business, or does the business run Gene?
 • Final wishes for the Ku Ku Burger
 • Promotional keyrings and car shows
 • Trademark attire through the years
 • A visit from Bob Dylan
 • Secret to cooking a good burger
 • Next item on the bucket list
 • Reason for limited hours and closed seating
 • Expected sale of Waylan's Ku Ku Burger?

64. Waylan's Ku Ku Burger, Miami, OK

Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno, as he talks with probably two of the most popular authors of Route 66: Jim Ross and Shellee Graham. Together, Ross and Graham have written over ten different books featuring The Mother Road. Their latest book, Route 66:The first 100 Years, covers the complete history of the road- before, during, and after the popularity of America's Main Street.
 
Highlights from the show include:
 

 
 • How did two Route 66 advocates ever meet and eventually become a married couple?
 • Earliest memories of Route 66
 • Living in one of the most remarkable homes on Route 66
 • What makes, 
Route 66 The first 100 Years, • different from every other Route 66 book?
 • Publishing a Route 66 book with complete artistic control
 • What came first: The words or pictures?
 • Sifting through hundreds of vintage Route 66 images to include in the book
 • The Legend of Route 66 
 • Route 66 Native American influence 
 • Trading Post or Tourist Trap?
 

 
 • Two Guns 
 • The story of The Apache Death Cave 
 • Route 66 Renaissance 
 • Painted Desert Trading Post
 • Naysayers of Route 66
 • Route 66 
Fact or Fiction? • Route 66 Crossings (Route 66 bridges)
 • Deep Tracks Project (Mapping hundreds of Route 66 alignments)
 • Traits of a Route 66 traveler
 
Website: Jim Ross
 
Website: Shellee Graham

63: Jim Ross & Shellee Graham: Route 66 The first 100 Years

In 1967 American entrepreneur and land developer Robert McCulloch proposed purchasing the 136 year old London Bridge on the River Thames from the city of London as a publicity stunt. His goal was to attract potential land buyers to this remote region that today has a population of 50,000 residents and a wide range of recreational water activities. Many people thought McCulloch was a bit of an oddball to spend almost $10 million to purchase and reconstruct the historical bridge10,000 miles away from its original construction site, but his hunch paid off. The London Bridge is the second largest tourist attraction in Arizona, after the Grand Canyon, and not too far from Route 66.
 
The episode features a talk with both McCulloch's grandson and a leading Lake Havasu tour guide, providing insight into the wisdom of McCulloch who earned an Engineering degree from Princeton University and was a millionaire by the age of 30. While the Lake Havasu London Bridge stood over the River Thames for 130 years, earlier versions of the bridge date back to Roman times and one iteration housed several hundred residents and featured a display of beheaded criminals to at the tollgates.

PATREON London_Bridge.mp3

Despite being just a few miles from the end of the route, the Fair Oaks Pharmacy in South Pasadena, CA, is like walking into a time capsule. This 1910 establishment is the only operational compounding pharmacy on Route 66,combining a working pharmacy with a soda fountain bar.
 
Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks with Brenden Shaniani, partner in the Fair Oaks Soda Fountain about life in a working pharmacy that tried to distant itself from the Walgreens and Rite-Aid type pharmacies.
 
 Highlights from the show include:
 
 • Fair Oaks Pharmacy as a time capsule
 • Original 1915 proprietor,Gertrude Ozmun
 

 
 • An unusual wedding proposal that Ozmun could not resist by a hopeful US Senator
 • Various iterations of Fair Oaks Pharmacy
 • Connection between a soda fountain and a pharmacy
 • Soda fountain lingo
 • Previous owner, Michael Miller, talks about his 1500 mile trek to Missourito relocate an authentic Route 66 soda fountain shop 
 • Parents purchase of Fair Oaks after immigrating from Iran
 • Running a pharmacy as a family business
 • A walk through the pharmacy gift shop and the most popular items
 • Fair Oaks Pharmacy in pop culture
 • Most popular visitors to Fair Oaks Pharmacy
 • Proudest moments at the pharmacy
 • Celebrating 110th anniversary of Fair Oaks Pharmacy
 • Other area attractions in South Pasadena
 
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.

62. Fair Oaks Pharmacy, Pasadena, CA

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

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

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

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

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

64. Waylan's Ku Ku Burger, Miami, OK

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