This is Oklahoma City’s Union Bus Station in the Thirties.
Worse for wear, but surprisingly still in use, here it is today.
So many bus terminals are now architecturally dismal, lacking the flair and optimism of the Thirties. They are minimally maintained for the transient poor, hopeful students and odd Canadians.
Onto the interstate and out of town.
Onto the interstate and out of town.
To the west of Oklahoma City, old Route 66 runs next to the I-40 or, more properly, the upstart I-40 runs next to what remains of Route 66.
Clinton is said to have one of the best Route 66 museums. It’s just luck that, when I arrive, a Corvette with a couple from Rhode Island is out front.
'Route 66’ - as mentioned in this series' first posting - centered on two guys and a Corvette. Nowadays something of a cult, the TV show never had particularly high audience figures. In the third season, its best year, it only reached 27th place in the Nielsen ratings. The next season would be the last. That hasn’t stopped Corvettes, generally driven by irritatingly affluent retirees, becoming a regular sight along the old road.
The museum is a satisfying evocation of all those things that either I was too young to enjoy or just too Canadian.
Across Route 66 from the museum is the Tradewinds Inn where Elvis stayed at least four times while travelling from Memphis to the west coast. His room supposedly has much of the same furniture.
TripAdvisor ranks it at #7 of 7 hotels in Clinton. The reviews are fascinating, as in the owner ‘should feel lucky ANYONE would spend the night in this dump.’
Into the Texas Panhandle and Shamrock. It has a restored gas station and simply glorious art deco U Drop Inn (‘Steaks and Coffee Our Specialty’ in the old days).
In the tumbleweed town of McLean, I spot another Route 66 Corvette and something else. Just to the right, admittedly a reproduction, but a Burma Shave sign.
Burma Shave signs - hundreds - were once an effective advertising gimmick for shaving cream. Signs were spaced so passing motorists could easily read the corny verses with the punchline.
CATTLE CROSSING
PLEASE DRIVE SLOW
THAT OLD BULL
IS SOME COW'S BEAU
BURMA SHAVE
SHE PUT A BULLET
THRU HIS HAT
BUT HE'S HAD CLOSER
SHAVES THAN THAT
BURMA SHAVE
WITHIN THIS VALE
OF TOIL
AND SIN
YOUR HEAD GROWS BOLD
BUT NOT YOUR CHIN - USE
BURMA SHAVE
The Rattlesnakes sign in the background advertised a long defunct reptile display.
A more modern use of roadside marketing near Amarillo.
I’ve been collecting billboards and signs:
'Do some time' - Old Missouri Penitentiary tours
Bowling and Cocktails
Simple Cremation $795 Complete
A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul
(Later: I wondered if the last was a billboard sponsored by the ‘Tea Party.’ It may have been, but the quote is George Bernard Shaw’s)
