Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Wish You Were Here: Route 66 Motels In Vintage Postcards
For nearly six decades, Americans motored east to west (and west to east) on Route 66, stopping to explore roadside oddities, gobble up fries and burgers at greasy spoons, and sleep the road off in quirky motels.
It's the motels that dotted the well-traveled highway that have caught the fancy of filmmaker and producer Simon Cantlon, who is hoping to get his project, "The Motels of Route 66" motoring. To help give his dream some gas, Cantlon is running a Kickstarter campaign.
Cantlon explains the goal of his documentary:
[The] project will capture the spirit of these motels, both the thriving and the forgotten, in film, photographs and oral histories. We will document the motel owners stories, the iconic neon signs, the mid-century architecture and the travelers who stayed there then and now.
Support for LAist comes from
To help illustrate just how vivid and rich (and unsung) the history of the highway's motels, from Chicago to L.A. ("You see Amarillo/Gallup, New Mexico/Flagstaff, Arizona/Don't forget Winona/Kingman, Barstow, San Bernadino" as the song goes), Cantlon has, with the help of the Route 66 Postcards Facebook page and the site Postcards from the Road, a set of vintage postcards showing several of the old motor-courts and lodges.
We pulled out all of the ones we found that were in the Golden State for a trip down the SoCal memory lane that was Route 66.
More about Route 66 on LAist:
The Kicks Stop Here: Route 66 Decertified This Day in 1985
West Hollywood Unveils Neon Signage in Honor of Route 66
On the Mother Road: Preservation Group to Launch Study of Historic Route 66
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Children asked to waive right to see a judge in exchange for $2,500 -
There’s still a lot to be determined as the refinery, which supplies about one-fifth of Southern California's vehicle fuels, works to restore production and as data is collected. -
The FCC voted to end E-Rate discounts for library hotspot lending and school bus Wi-Fi. -
About half the Pacific Airshow’s 2025 lineup has been grounded because of the federal government shutdown. -
USC says it’s reviewing the letter also sent to eight other prestigious schools nationwide. California's governor vowed that any California universities that sign will lose state funding. -
Scientists say La Niña is likely, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a dry winter in Southern California.
Best of LAist