Route 66, 2014, Page 3
2014 Rockabilly on the Route SCHEDULE OF EVENTS Pickup/purchase tickets/festival passes Friday and Saturday at the Tumucumari Convention Center.
June 5 Rockin' Bowl and Kick-off Party 7 to 11pm (Mountain View Bowling, 515 S. Lake St.) $5 or Festival Pass “Rebel Without A Cause” Screening 9:30 p.m (Odeon Theatre, 123 S. Second St.) $5 Donation or Festival Pass
June 6 Blue Suede Breakfast 9a.m.to11p.m (KIX ON 66, 1102 E. Route 66) Jerry Lee Lunch Noon to 2 p.m. (Rockin' Y's Roadhouse, 1806 E. Route 66) Tucumcari Today Noon to 6 p.m. (Tucumcari Convention Center, 1500 E. Route 66) Free Event • Vendors • Classic Cars “Park and Show” • Beer Garden • 2 to 6 p.m.: Live Music by DJ Lucky CRUISE 66 5 to 6 p.m. (Classic car cruise down Route 66) Free Event Happy Hour Hullabaloo 6 to 8 p.m. (Convention Center Beer
Garden) Free Live: • The Sandbox Bullies (Calif.) “GREASE” Screening 9:30 p.m. (Odeon Theatre, 123 S. Second St.) $5 Donation or Festival Pass Rumble on the Route I 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Convention Center Ballroom,1500 E. Route 66) $25 or Ticket/Festival Pass Live: • Voodoo Swing (Ariz.) • Mad Max and The Wild Ones (Utah) • Eddie Clendening (Colo.) Midnight Madness I 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Lizard Lounge, 801 W Rt. 66) *$5 or Festival Pass Live: • Gilded Cage Burlesk & Variete (NM) • Mr. Right and The Leftovers (NM) • Hellbilly Homicide (Okla.)
June 7 Wheels on 66 Parade 9 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. (Begins: Kmart parking lot, 2100 E Rt. 66. Ends: Tucumcari Convention Center) Free (Participants gather at Kmart by 8:30 a.m., starts at 9 a.m. sharp) Wheels on 66 Classic Car Show: Presented by Voodoo Creeps & Straightrazors Car Clubs 9:30a.m. to 4 p.m.
(Tucumcari Convention Center,1500 E. Route 66) Free • Live Music by DJ Lucky • Car Show Awards • Pin-Up Contest • Vendors Live at the car show: • D.K. and The Affordables (NM) • The Loaded Dice (Okla.) • Cowboys and Indian (NM)
Rumble on the Route II 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. (Convention Center Ballroom) $25 or Ticket/Festival Pass Live: • Dorados Rockabilly Trio (Medellin, Colombia!) • The Lucky Bullets (Oslo, Norway) • Justin Shandor: The Ultimate Elvis! (Las Vegas)
Pin-up Pageant: Presented by La Loca Magazine 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Outdoor Stage) Register day of at La Loca Magazine booth.
Midnight Madness II 11 p.m. to 2 a.m. (Tri-Star Bar, 1302 E Route 66 Blvd) $5 or Festival Pass Live: • S.O.L. (Navajo Nation) • Fabulous Minx (Okla.)
Car show awards 3 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (Outdoor Stage) Old-School Burn Out 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. (ALCO Parking Lot, 901 W Rt. 66) Free Event Open to all cars Daisy-Duke Dinner 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. (DEL'S Restaurant, 1202 E. Rt. 66) Happy Hour Hullabaloo 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. (Convention Center Beer Garden) *Free Event Live: • Emily Herring and The Farm to Market Band “Some Like It Hot” Screening 9:30 p.m. (Odeon Theatre, 123 S. Second St.) $5 Donation or Festival Pass
June 8 Rockin' Gospel Brunch 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Joe's Back N the Day Diner, 321 E. Rt. 66) *Free Event • Classic Diner Fare • Park and Show: MiniCar Show Live: • Nat and Flo's Gutter Gospel (NM) “Jail House Rock” Matinee Screening Noon (Odeon Theatre, 123 S. Second St.) $5 Donation or Festival Pass Tiki-A-Go-Go Pool Party 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Tri-Star Bar, 1302 E Route 66 Blvd) Free Event • Live Music by DJ Lucky • Bar will be open
Page 4, Route 66, 2014
QCS Photo: Thomas Garcia
The inaugural Rockabilly was such a success with live performances by bands like Whiskey Kiss that event coordinators added a fourth day.
Second Rockabilly festival expanded By Thomas Garcia and Steve Hansen QCS Staff
The explosion of culture from the first Rockabilly on the Route that sparked the shared interest and enthusiasm of over 1,000 visitors and local residents for classic cars, music and pop culture of the 1950s and early 1960s will return to Tucumcari on June 5 with an extended day of festivities. “Rockabilly on the Route is so unique there is no other festival like it today,” said Ungie Davila, publisher of La Loca magazine, an Albuquerquebased rockabilly publication and co-event organizer. Davila said one of the
interesting things about Rockabilly is its allure to all ages and demographics The event offers something for everyone and is family-friendly. She said this year, Rockabilly planners have increased the number of live music performances and events enough to add an extra day to the festival. “We are anticipating a much larger crowd this year,” Davila said. Last year’s Rockabilly main events took place at the Tucumcari Convention Center, but there were other events at local businesses, including parties at the Tri Star Bar and the Pow Wow Lizard lounge, a tire-smoking burn-out contest at the ALCO retail store and a brunch at Joe’s
Back In the Day restaurant. Those events and locations will be included in this year’s Rockabilly festival,along with new events, like June 4’s kickoff event, called the Rockin’ Bowl: Rockabilly on the Route Kick-off and La Loca Magazine release party at Mountain View Bowling. Two other new events are scheduled for June 8, including a retro matinee at Tucumcari’s historic Odeon Theater and a tiki pool party at the Tri Star Bar. Last year Rockabilly’s headline act was Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Wanda Jackson, who gained rockabilly fame even before Elvis came along, Simon Cantlon, a
South Carolina-based coevent coordinator, said. Cantlon said this year Rockabilly organizers are hoping to double the attendance with the new events, more music acts and increased awareness of the success and fun people had attending last year’s festival. “It was above and beyond what we expected,” Cantlon said. He talked with local restaurateurs and other businesses, he said, and reported that owners were “excited” about the business the event brought their way. One such business owner was Richard Talley, owner of the Motel Safari in Tucumcari, and an event organizer, who said his motel, the Blue
Route 66, 2014, Page 5 Swallow Motel and the Historic Route 66 motel sold out during last year’s event. Talley even named a suite at the Motel Safari for Wanda Jackson, who was the headlining music act for last year’s Rockabilly on the Route. This kind of event has a huge following and having it in Tucumcari is a great way to bring them to Tucumcari, said Doug Powers, Tucumcari city manager. Powers said events like Rockabilly can have a huge impact on the economy through the tourist QCS Photo: Steve Hansen spending money not only Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Wanda Jackson was the headliner for the inaugural in Tucumcari but through- Rockabilly on the Route event at the Tucumcari Convention Center. out the state as they travel to and from the event. There were large crowds ing to play, including the Saturday concerts includ“This year we are Dorados Rockabilly Trio ing Justin Shandor: The on hand last year to hear expecting a much larger from Medellin, Colombia, Ultimate Elvis. rockabilly bands and crowd with 11 live music and The Luck Bullets from “It’s really exciting to attend the burlesque show bands,” Talley said see such an interest in at the Lizard Lounge at the Oslo, Norway. Bands from across the Davila said she is excit- classic American rock and Pow-Wow Inn and other country and even from ed about all of the head- roll around the world,” events at the Tri-Star. around the world are com- liner acts for Friday and Davila said. “ Senior citizen fans of
QCS Photo: Thomas Garcia
Ashley Wagner of Albuquerque posed for photos after winning the La Loca Magazine pin-up girl contest at the first Rockabilly on the Route music festival. Wagner would be featured as the cover girl for the AugustSeptember edition of Albuquerque-based La Loca magazine.
Page 6, Route 66, 2014 rockabilly, which gained much popularity right after World War II in the late 1940s, joined young adults adorned in body jewelry and tattoos and wearing 1950s clothing among last year’s attendees. Among the younger crowd, women wore 1950s dresses, hats and even head scarves. The guys sported black T-shirts and black jeans adorned with watch chains and studs. They came from as far as Oregon and Michigan to relive good old days or to evoke a time before they were born. Along with the rockabilly music revival, the car culture of the 1960s was in QCS Photo: Thomas Garcia full bloom. A classic car Tucumcari residents Rita and Joey Martinez dance to the show sponsored by two swing music by Mr. Right and the Leftover’s at the Tri Albuquerque car clubs, Star Bar during the inaugural Rockabilly. the Voodoo Creeps and the Center. abilly of old. Straight Razors, both led Convention Rockabilly on the Route by adults in their 30s, Jackson and Whiskey Kiss filled the Tucumcari played traditional rocka- nestled comfortably in Convention Center's park- billy, as remembered from Tucumcari, where relics of ing lot with finned relics the years after World War the old Route 66 days still from the 1950s, muscle II when the term “rocka- thrive almost completely cars from the 1960s and a billy” was coined to uninterrupted by newer host of “rat rods,” cars describe a combination of construction styles, just music with the right atmosphere to and trucks from the 1950s country and blues. combine memories with a and before that have been rhythm customized to show mod- Others, like the Chop new generation's nostalified powerhouse engines, Tops, the Santa Cruz, gia for a time of relative and then painted, or not. Calif., based trio that peace and innocence. Davila said the new Rockabilly music, old warmed up for Jackson, and new, filled the air. and the Fabulous Minx, a interest in rockabilly Along with Jackson, last young duet, played a among young adults “punk year’s performers includ- supercharged brand of demonstrates ed Whiskey Kiss, a rockabilly that owes as grown up.” These are the Phoenix rockabilly quin- much stylistically to punk same young adults who tet, at the Tucumcari rock as it does to the rock- rebelled against the estab-
lishment with deathimage tattoos, black, recycled clothing festooned with metal studs, and piercings in the 2000s. They listened to punk bands that played at murderous tempos, as they slam-danced, basically bumping each other at random, in the “mosh pit.” Those extremes have now mellowed into a revival of the rockabilly culture, Davila said. After World War II, she said, there was, for many, “disillusionment, a depressed economy, and a war,” which parallel today's scenario for young adults. Although the 1950s are known as a generally prosperous era, there were recessions in 1948, 1952 and 1958. Rockabilly and the car culture of the post-World War II era, she said, were “community-based, team oriented, wholesome, fun and young.” Today, the innocence of that time is something that today's young adults are trying to get back, she said. Rockabilly on the Route was peaceful, too. Tucumcari Deputy Chief Pete Rivera said that the event “did not make our jobs any harder” over the weekend. “It was good bunch of people.”
Route 66, 2014, Page 7
The musical side of historic Route 66 on the tighter focus. If you’d like to sing along, the lyrics go like this:
And now for the musical portion of our show: the “Route 66” song.
Did you know ... • The Mother Road’s anthem was written by Bobby Troup in 1946. He said he was inspired by driving west, from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles. • The song’s been recorded by Nat King Cole, Chuck Berry, The Rolling Stones, John Mayer, Glenn Frey and dozens of others. • ITunes offers more
than 200 versions of the pop/rock/country classic. • The hit 1960s television show “Route 66” did not include the obvious theme song because CBS reportedly did not want to pay royalties to Troup. • The animated 2006 “Cars” movie included the Berry and Mayer versions. That film’s creators thought about calling it “Route 66” before settling
If you ever plan to motor west, travel my way, take the highway that is best. Get your kicks on Route 66. It winds from Chicago to LA, more than two thousand miles all the way. Get your kicks on Route 66. Now you go through Saint Looey Joplin, Missouri, and Oklahoma City is mighty pretty. You see Amarillo, Gallup, New Mexico,
Flagstaff, Arizona. Don’t forget Winona, Kingman, Barstow, San Bernardino. Won’t you get hip to this timely tip: when you make that California trip Get your kicks on Route 66. Won’t you get hip to this timely tip: when you make that California trip Get your kicks on Route 66. Get your kicks on Route 66. Get your kicks on Route 66. — Compiled by David Stevens
More songs featuring Route 66 “Will Rogers Highway” by Woody Guthrie - Best known for his signature “This Land Is Your Land,” Guthrie is remembered as one of the hallmark folk singers who told the story of an America coming of age in the 20th Century. “Will Rogers Highway” highlights the plight of Depression-era migrants traveling “My 66 highway, this Will Rogers road. It’s lined with jalopies as far as I can see.” Guthrie calls out the famous cowboy poet and jokester in the song, asking “Can you grin up a tale that'll feed my folks stranded, ‘twist New
Yorker town and Los Angeles?” “Highway 66 Blues” by Woody Guthrie - This Route 66 song also highlights some of the darker times faced by traveling folks headed west on Route 66 to find work as they escaped the devastation of the Dust Bowl and economic downturn. “Every old town that I ramble round, down that lonesome road, the police in your town, they shove me around, I got them 66 Highway Blues,” Guthrie laments. “Tucumcari, Here I Come” by Dale Watson “278, 104, 54, 40, 209 but
66 is much more fun,” Dale Watson croons in this trucker’s anthem, listing possible routes by which to arrive at the Gateway to the West. The Austin-based country stalwart seems eager to get in his rig and “fly by
Amarillo into Wildorado. Adriana, Glenrio gonna see my dust,” and “get the load I carry to Tucumcari, here I come.” –Compiled by QCS Thomas Garcia
Page 8, Route 66, 2014
Local eats, treats for all tastes QCS Staff
There are many sites for travelers to enjoy while touring Route 66 in Tucumcari as well as restaurants with cuisine to satisfy their appetites and a sweet tooth. The locally owned eateries have featured plates such as smothered burritos, chile rellenos, homemade sandwiches and custard, home cooking including chicken-fried steak, prime rib, buffets and cupcakes and turnovers.
A list of locally owned restaurants located along Route 66 in Tucumcari. Branding Iron (Quality Inn Motel) 3716 East Route 66 Monday-Sunday 5 p.m.- 9 p.m. (575) 461-3780 Rockin’ Y’s 1924 East Route 66 Monday-Sunday 10:30 a.m.- 9 p.m. (575) 461-9947
La Cita Restaurant 100 East Route 66 Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.- 8 p.m. Sunday 11 a.m.-2 p.m. (575) 461-7866 Rubee’s To Go 714 West Route 66 Monday- Friday 7 a.m.-2 p.m. (575) 461-1463
Del’s Restaurant 1202 East Route 66 Monday-Saturday 11 a.m.- 9 p.m. (575)461-1740
Pow Wow Restaurant 801 West Route 66 Monday-Sunday 7 a.m.- 10 p.m. (575) 461-2587
Golden Dragon Chinese Restaurant 1006 East Route 66 Monday -Friday 11 a.m.- 9 p.m., Saturday 11:30 - 9 p.m., Sunday 11:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Sunday (575)461-2853
Joe’s Back in the Day 321 East Route 66 Rstaurant Monday-Friday 7 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5 p.m.-8 p.m., (575) 461-8729
Off the Route El Herrado 112 West Main Street Monday-Saturday 8 a.m.-6:30 p.m. (575) 461-9634
Kix on 66 1102 East Route 66 Monday-Sunday 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. (575)461-1966 Cornerstone Deli and Frozen Custard 711 East Route 66 Monday-Friday 11 a.m.- 4 p.m. (575) 461-3326
K-Bobs 200 East Estrella Avenue Sunday-Thursday 11a.m.-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday 11 a.m.-10 p.m., (575) 282-5262
QCS Photo: Thomas Garcia
A combination plate at Del’s Restaurant ready to serve.
Route 66, 2014, Page 9
Route 66 home to business new, old QCS Staff
Part of the allure of the Route 66 stretch through Tucumcari is the availability of streetfront business spaces along the Mother Road. There are many businesses, motels, restaurants and lounges that call Route 66 home, including Contemporary Design, Circa Espresso Bar, Del’s Restaurant, Kix on 66, Joe’s Back in the Day Restaurant, Safari Motel, Blue Swallow Motel, Kiva RV Park, Pow-Wow Lizard Lounge and Tri-Star Bar. Within the past year, two new businesses have opened their doors along Route 66. Rhys and Leigh Williams own Mother Road Old Time Photos, offering an opportunity to dress like a 19th Century cowboy or western lady, and pose for an old-time sepia-tone photo. The cowboy or western lady can choose to carry a period weapon of choice in a Wild West setting— the saloon or around the poker table. The couple plan to relocate to Tucumcari eventually, but currently still call Nashville, Tenn., their home, where they are ending long careers in management with Southwest Airlines. Both claim New Mexico roots. Rhys has lived in Albuqerque and Leigh has family ties there. Rhys Williams said they choose Tucumcari because the city retains much of its Route 66 history from the 1950s and 1960s when Route 66 was the Mother Road.
Hendren said that while will also see renovations she has a strong local cus- being done at the tomer base, she also has Arrowhead Motel and customers who are Royal Inn. Both are being tourists traveling along remodeled and plan to Route 66 who drop in to reopen along Route 66. The Royal Inn will be eat and visit. “While we offer our renamed the Roadrunner Mexican food, we also Lodge. create some unique dishes for the customers to enjoy,” Hendren said. One of the most recent creations Rubee’s To Go is Courtesy Photo offering is the Route 66 Rhys and Leigh Williams Rat Rod Burger, a cheesepose in an old time western burger topped with a photo grilled hot dog and trimmings. The store will also offer “We are looking forholiday merchandise for ward to serving the peothe Christmas season, ple who come to Williams said. Rockabilly in June and The shop’s location is will be coming up with QCS Photo: Thomas Garcia 824 E. Route 66 Blvd., in new dishes and specials Tucumcari. Its phone for that event,” Hendren Annie Martinez prepares a number is (575) 461-0066, said. combination burrito at and its e-mail address is While on Route 66 durMotherRoadPics@gmail.c ing Rockabilly, visitors Rubee’s To Go. om. For Rubee Hendren, opening Rubee’s To Go on Route 66 is a return to the Mother Road, a return to being her own boss while offering locals and tourists a taste of traditional Mexican food and unique food creations. “I have lived here all my life and Route 66 has been special to me. It was popular then and is still popular today,” Hendren said. Hendren operated Rubee’s Diner, also located on Route 66, for 10 years before its doors closed in 2011. “It is good to be back on Route 66,” Hendren said. “I like being my own boss and want to thank all those who were supportive when I had Rubee’s Diner and those who continue to support me at my new location. “
Page 10, Route 66, 2014
Murals and gas stations offer glimpses
The map above marks the murals and gas stations that have been restored in Tucumcari. The murals were painted by local artist Doug Quarles who has since moved to Arizona.
QCS Photo: Thomas Garcia
Painted as part of a program to help beautify Tucumcari, this gas station now is the home of Mac’s Four Seasons Pest Control.
Route 66, 2014, Page 11
into historic and artistic sides of town
QCS Photo: Thomas Garcia
This is one of many nature-themed murals painted by Doug Quarles in Tucumcari. This mural is on the side of a building located at South Third Street and West Main Street.
QCS Photo: Thomas Garcia
QCS PhotoThomas Garcia
This station features retro gas pumps that are lit during This station features restored logos from the Route 66 the night. It is located next to the Blue Swallow Hotel. heyday.
Page 12, Route 66, 2014
Iowa couple keeping landmark open QCS Staff
The history and life of the Tee Pee Curios Shop in Tucumcari has been passed on to new owners proud to be a part of Route 66 lore. Traveling along Tucumcari's stretch of Route 66 one can see many landmarks that have etched their way into history and the hearts of Mother Road enthusiast. One such landmark is the Tee Pee Curios shop that has been a part of Route 66 since 1944, starting off as a Gulf gas station, grocery, and souvenir shop. The trademark Tee Pee entrance was not added until 1959 when Route 66 was widened and the neon sign, which features QCS Photo:Thomas Garcia a curios quirk with the spelling “Te Pee,” was not Heidi and Gar Engman plan to leave the neon lights at the Tee Pee Curios shop in Tucumcari lit every night to let tourists and locals know the business is still open and added until the 1960's. Like many of Tucumcari a part of the community. Route 66 landmarks, that business along the includes the Blue Swallow who bought the store Engman. Engman said she and famous highway. She Hotel, the Tee Pee Curios' about 1985. The Callens neon signs and unique kept the doors of the Tee Gar took over ownership said they returned in design has attracted the Pee open for nearly three of the Tee Pee effective June 2013, for the when they Aug. 1, of this year. She Rockabilly on the Route wonder and admiration of decades passed the torch onto Gar said the initial seed that festival in Tucumcari and countless tourists travelgrew into the idea to buy once again found themand Heidi Engman of Fort ing along the Mother the Tee Pee began in selves pulled to Route 66 Dodge, Iowa. Road. 2012, when her and Gar and began discussing the “We fell in love with The Tee Pee had been owned and operated by Route 66 and are here for were married and spent purchase of the Tee Pee Mike and Betty Callens the long haul,” said Heidi their honeymoon at the with Mike Callens. Heidi Engman said Blue Swallow Motel. “We went into the Tee their commitment to the Pee and my first pur- idea was strong, knowing chase was a Route 66 bag full well there would be and metal beer sign for difficult and hard times Gar,” Engman said. ahead of them as they “Even then we saw there took this step. “I left a long time was potential with that administrative job with business.” Engman said as she the city of Fort Dodge and her husband contin- and my husband is givued their honeymoon ing up his painting busialong Route 66 their love ness to make our lives in Engman of the Mother Road grew Tucumcari,” and they began to con- said. Engman said her hustemplate purchasing a
Route 66, 2014, Page 13 band is still in Iowa attending to the sale of his business and their home. Engman said the transition from Iowa to here has been interesting. In Iowa there are several rural communities and wide open spaces. She said on their farm the family raised chickens and miniature donkeys that they will not be able to bring with them to Tucumcari. “We have not found a farm/ranch to buy yet and since we live in town, we couldn't bring our animals,” Engman said. Engman said the sadness of not being able to QCS Photo:Thomas Garcia bring their animals to live with them was The Tee Pee Curios offers a variety of souvenirs and curios for Route 66 enthusiasts. slightly lightened when Heidi Engman runs the register as Kevin “the shop dog” takes a nap. her son Riley returned home one day with a name Kevin and has from 40 states and 30 the Tee Pee and increase become known as “the countries come into the business is to leave the stray dog. shop and some travelers neon sign on every night “He was at a nearby shop dog.” Along with the new simply stand out in front to let the tourist and park when he saw this dog and it began to fol- addition to the family, of the building and take community know they are open. She said they since taking over opera- pictures. low him,” Engman said. “We know it is going to are not simply looking to Engman said the dog tions at the Tee Pee was a stray and had no Curios Engman said take a lot of work to get make the Tee Pee Curios owners and after talking there has been a steady the business back to the a successful business it once was” attraction for the tourist; about it they decided to inflow of customers from way they want to earn the Engman said. “Business August-October. She said adopt the animal and he trust of the residents and does slow down in the they have had travelers has since been given the winter months, though become part of the comnow that summer is com- munity. “This is our home and ing we are expecting tour buses and motorcycle we want to do what we can to make it prosper• In 1926 only 800 miles groups.” Did you know? ous and lively again,” Engman said one idea of Route 66 were paved. to increase awareness of Engman said. Only in 1937 did Route 66 Route 66 is: get paved end-to-end. •2,448 miles long • Entitled "America On • also known as “The the Move," a piece of the Mother Road,” "The Main Mother Road is at the Street of America" and Smithsonian's National "The Will Rogers Museum in Washington Highway". • The numerical desig- D.C. • The last original Route nation 66 was officialy assigned to the Chicago-to- 66 road sign was taken Los Angeles route in the down in Chicago on Jan. 17, 1977. summer of 1926.
Fun Route 66 facts
Page 14, Route 66, 2014
Attractions off Route 66 include museums By Thomas Garcia
QCS Senior Writer
While many travelers enjoy the many attractions along Route 66 their are =hidden gems off route for them to enjoy. Travelers venturing off of Route 66 can enjoy two of Tucumcari’s feature museums. The Tucumcari Historical Museum at 416 S. Adams St., features many historical relics from the region and early pioneer life in eastern New Mexico. Recently, the museum’s main room was renovated. Walls were painted, and displays were cleaned and rearranged ,giving the museum a new, vibrant look. The museum is open 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For information call 575- 461-4201. For those with an urge to learn more about the earlier QCS Photo: Thomas Garcia inhabitants of New Mexico and various regions of the The front room of the Tucumcari Historical Museum recently underwent renovations United States you can visit that included new paint on the walls. There is now a static display of Lynn Moncus’ the Mesalands Community Comments from the Canyons Column featured in the Quay County Sun. College’s Dinosaur Hungerbuehler said, but hidden gems, including the Second St., has exhibits feaMuseum and Natural the only mollusk with a Tucumcari Train Depot turing local painters and Science Laboratory at 222 shell today is the cham- located at Railroad Avenue bronze sculptors. The E. Laughlin St. museum’s works include and North Second Street. bered nautilus. The museum features The depot has been the paintings by Doug Quarles, Hungerbuehler said in many bronze exhibits and the museum there is also a Tucumcari MainStreet’s pri- whose murals are among fossils, including its newest window where visitors can mary restoration project for the main attractions along exhibit that showcases the see the staff working on fos- the past six years. Mark Route 66. Geisonoceras, a 425-mil- sil samples, including one Lake, director of Tucumcari For gallery hours call lion-year-old nautilid, a in which the college’s pale- MainStreet, has worked (575) 461-9908. mollusk with a snail-like ontology class discovered with multiple city, county The Tapestry of Sound at shell, from the ancient sea an eastern New Mexico dig and state agencies in an 207 S. Second St., features of Morocco. site. He said the fossil could effort to restore and reopen musical instruments and Axel Hungerbuehler, pro- be of a new form of the depot. The depot was services such as lessons, fessor of paleontology at aetosaur, a Triassic-era rep- one of the kickoff points for digital conversions of audio New Mexico’s and video media, as well as the college, said the tile. He said the aetosaur, or the celebration, partnering with Art Space Moroccan sea creature, eagle lizard, was among Centennial now preserved in black numerous fossils excavated which featured Union for Criss Cross Applesauce limestone, was most likely at a site in the Redonda for- Pacific’s Steam Locomotive events that feature different styles of live music and 844s. a predator with a sharp mation in Quay County. For those with artistic poetry readings. For museum hours call beak for crunching into For information call tastes, the Eastern New 575-461-3466. scorpions on the sea (575) 461-3198. Mexico Art Space and The downtown/Main floor. Mollusks include the squid and octopus, Street district features some Cultural Center at 201 S.
Route 66, 2014, Page 15
QCS Photo: Thomas Garcia
The depot has been the Tucumcari MainStreet’s primary restoration project for the past six years. Mark Lake, director of Tucumcari MainStreet, has since announced retirement in 2014 though he continues to be an advocate for further restoration of the depot.
QCS Photo: Thomas Garcia
QCS Photo: Steve Hansen
Attendees gather to share ideas during a poetry workAxel Hungerbuehler, professor of paleontology at shop at Mesalands. Fil Peach, right, president of the Mesalands Community College, points to a fosil that New Mexico State Poetry Society, led the workshop was found by a student during a paleontology field helping the artists develop poetic ideas. class. The students not only find the fossils, they extract, clean, catolog and prepare the samples, many of which are put on display in the museum for the public’s viewing
Page 16, Route 66, 2014
Nat King Cole’s song a road map to 66 By Emily Crowe Staff Writer
As Nat King Cole sang in the 1946 classic “Route 66,” if you’re going to motor west, take the highway that is best and get your kicks on Route 66. Winding from Chicago to Los Angeles, there’s an attraction for everyone along the storied highway. Some of the stops cited in the song include:
St. Louis, Missouri Perhaps the most prominent piece of architecture in St. Louis, the Gateway Arch stands tall along the Mississippi River and is visible from Route 66. The Arch Experience includes the Journey to the Top, Museum of Westward Expansion, Old Courthouse, movies and the Gateway Arch Riverboats.
Joplin, Missouri Founded in 1873 as a zinc mining community, Joplin offers museums, parks and activities for kids of all ages along the Mother Road. Visit the Joplin Museum Complex, which is home to the Everett J. Ritchie
Tri-State Mineral Museum, the Dorothea B. Hoover Historical Museum, Historic Route 66 displays and the National Cookie Cutter Museum.
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma While driving through the capital city of Oklahoma and making your way further into the American West, check out the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum. The museum includes a collection of classic and contemporary western art, as well as interactive history galleries focusing on cowboys, rodeos, Native American culture and the frontier military.
Amarillo, Texas Hanging on to its Route 66 roots, Amarillo offers a historic district along six miles of the highway full of restaurants, shops, galleries and bars. Boasting 15 eateries, 10 bars and 25 antique shops, the city’s only historic district offers something for everyone.
Gallup Nestled on the western
edge of New Mexico, Gallup offers archaeological sites and hiking opportunities for the adventurous traveler. The area’s red cliffs began formation 205 million years ago, but today are open for hiking and sightseeing. Pyramid Rock and Churchrock offer a 360 degree view of the Four Corners.
Flagstaff, Arizona Flagstaff became a booming town of railroad, lumber and ranching industries in the 1880s and is home to a vast national forest that surrounds the city. The Lowell Observatory, founded in 1894, offers guided tours and lets visitors view the starry skies through a variety of telescopes and interactive live presentations.
Winona, Arizona When Cole sings “Don’t forget Winona,” he means it. The small, unincorporated community was made famous by the song, and became part of Flagstaff in the 1950s.
Kingman, Arizona Arizona’s last big stop along Route 66, Kingman offers a taste of the old West with rodeos, old wagon trails and a Route 66 museum.
The Kingman Railroad Museum is located in the city’s iconic train depot and houses artifacts from retired Santa Fe Railroad employees and train displays.
Barstow, California Located in central California, Barstow offers creative murals, entertainment and museums in the heart of the Mojave Desert. The Route 66 Mother Road Museum was opened in 2000 and displays a collection of historic photographs and artifacts related to Route 66 and early pioneer trails, railroads and automotive history.
San Bernardino, California Toward the end of the Mother Road, San Bernardino boasts San Manuel Amphitheater, the largest outdoor amphitheater in the United States, as well as California State University, San Bernardino. The city also boasts the site of the original McDonald’s, though the building itself no longer stands. The McDonald’s Museum sits on the grounds for those looking for their Double Arches fix. This illustration shows the eight states that Route 66 ran through.
Courtesy Photo
Route 66, 2014, Page 17
Route 66 word search
Page 18, Route 66, 2014
Rockabilly retrospective: Viva Rock ‘n’ Roll By Ungelbah Davila
La Loca Magazine editor and publisher
On behalf of La Loca Magazine and Vive Le Rock productions, welcome to the Second Annual Rockabilly on the Route. Vive Le Rock’s Simon Cantlon and I met in 2012 through a mutual love for Route 66 and Americana. We were both charmed by the preservation of midcentury architecture in Tucumcari, its history and the down-home folks we met along the way, and a discussion was born about putting on an event in June. Myself a current Albuquerque and life-long New Mexico resident and Simon something of a gypsy migrating from Ohio, to L.A. to Charleston and everywhere in between, a more unlikely yet perfect
text and inspire a new generation of Americans to take an interest in what this time period contributed to the world. From the automobile to Elvis Presley, the years between 1940 and 1960 were truly a renaissance for America, and one that, in my opinion, goes underappreciated. Today, Courtesy Photo: Ungelbah Davila Pin-ups Samantha Bencomo, Candie Cosmos, Amber the rockabilly genera and Fuentes, Abigail Ortiz and Ami Montes pose on Route 66 subculture are but one way to pay homage to this time in Tucumcari. period and breath fresh life into communities such as partnership was never twice the bands! But, “Why Tucumcari?” Tucumcari, using the made. With both of us having a penchant for the dra- Boy, if we had a nickel for resources already available. matic, it wasn’t long before every time we’ve heard that Being the daughter of a our small festival on Route over the last year and a 66 had taken on a life of its half. Call me a poet, but rancher, it’s extremely own, developing into a Tucumcari represents the important to me to find crethree-day festival with the lingering spirit of the ative ways to preserve and Rockabilly Queen herself, American dream that after enrich our small New Wanda Jackson, headlining World War II defined Mexico communities withour inaugural year. And this America and American cul- out compromising what year we’re back at it with ture for the rest of the makes them unique and more days, more action and world. Route 66 symbolizes special in the first place. the post-war modernism Cultural preservation and development and mobility that allowed economic for the cultural shift that weren’t my objective or inevitably gave birth to rock even in my vocabulary ‘n’ roll, cinema and even when I got involved in civil rights. Because Rockabilly on the Route – Tucumcari’s history is so we all just wanted to do interconnected with the something cool and have route, it can’t help but carry some fun -- but it has the ghosts of these ideals in become the overarching its old neon signs, worn motivation for me the blacktop highway, ancient longer I work on the festival swaying trees. But what and the better I get to know does this history mean in Tucumcari and its people. 2014? It’s been close to a centuNot being residents of ry since Route 66 was com- Quay County, all of us on pleted, long enough for it to the Rockabilly on the Route finally gain the historical team are constantly humrespect it’s always bled by the openness and deserved. In other words, hospitality of the local resithe second wave of Route dents. We’ve made life-long 66 culture is on the horizon, friends in Tucumcari and and in places such as we are so grateful for the Tucumcari ripe for the plun- community’s willingness to dering. We think that aside put their trust and faith in from being a heck of a good us. We wont let you down! time, Rockabilly on the Now go polish your dancin’ Route is doing its part to shoes and get your boogiebring this era of American woogie on, it’s rockabilly history into a modern con- time!