Wake Up With Jim: Recent Episodes
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It made quite a stir when introduced in October 2014. Soon the musical road near Tijeras, New Mexico, a Route 66 community, that played a portion of "America The Beautiful" when driven over at a certain speed became quite an attraction.
But did you know that the idea of creating a musical highway is linked to the creative genius of Walt Disney? Surprisingly the concept is even older as the polyphon, a popular type of 19th-century disc-playing music box, used the same concept.
On today's episode we visit with Chris Hill and Pete Thompson, the visionaries behind the Route 66 musical road. And they have big plans for celebrating the Route 66 centennial.
Officially recognized as a centennial project by the Route 66 Centennial Commission, the ”Musical Road” project will add a new dimension to the Route 66 celebration and create an attraction that will enhance the Route 66 adventure for years to come. Curious? Join us for a lively and fascinating conversation that is sure to inspire a road trip or two.
Today's program is sponsored by the bespoke road trip holiday specialists for an adventure in the US or Canada, RouteTrip USA. It is also made possible with listener support through Patreon, and by Roadrunner Lodge Motel, a 1960s gem, the Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas, Two Lane America - We're making the great American road trip easier than ever, the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel, the legendary Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, and Gilligan's Route 66 Tours - if Route 66 is on your bucket list. you've come to the right place.
If you are old enough to remember Route 66 before the interstate highway you probably have fond memories of S & H Green Stamps. And if you use an app or Google instead of paper maps, chances are that you will soon be making your own memories with this American classic that was launched in 1896. Did you know that S & H Green Stamps is making a comeback, but with a modern twist?
On today’s program we talked with Carl Norloff who is on a quest to make this community building, memory making classic relevant for a new generation. Carl joined the S & H company in 2000, helped launch S&H greenpoints, and rode out the bankruptcy of the company, and is now working to revive the iconic brand.
This program is a healthy dose of inspiration for entrepreneurs and community organizers, and a smile inducing stroll down Memory Lane for those us still remember Saturday mornings spent licking stamps.
WOW! Thank you, Bianca Encinas of South Valley Main Street for a delightful, fascinating, road trip insiring, smile inducing, and thought provoking conversation.
On this mornings episode of Coffee With Jim the spotlight is on Albuquerque and the south valley, an area rich with centuries of history, vibrant cultural heritage, and one of a kind restaurants. As a bonus this area is bisected by an early, and often overlooked, alignment of Route 66. In this wide ranging conversation with Bianca we talked about the 2025 La Familia Farmers Market, a free outdoor concert series, the Chile Ristra Harvest Festival, building a sense of community, cultural diversity, and a new historic district walking tour.
A few technical difficulties on Bianca's end left me with a few minutes to fill at the beginning of the program. So, the program kicks off with me beating my gums about a new Route 66 anthology, my 23rd book, that was written in partnership with some very talented friends.
Jim Hinckley’s America is a shared adventure! Join us, come along for the ride, and invite your friends.
The AAA Route 66 Road Fest in Tulsa, Oklahoma is more than just another Route 66 themed event. It is a fun filled, interactive, multifaceted, smile inducing, adventure inspiring, immersive celebration of the great American road trip, its past, its present, and its future. On today's episode we visit with Wade Bray, event organizer, and discuss Road Fest development, plans for the Route 66 centennial and why this is an event that shouldn't be missed.
We have two questions for you. One, after listening to today's program were you inspired to plan a road trip adventure? Two, will we see you in Tulsa?
Next week on Coffee With Jim, the spotlight is on Albuquerque as we visit with Bianca Encinias of South Valley Main Street. We promise lots of road trip inspiring conversation as we talk about the 2025 La Familia Farmers Market, Free Outdoor Concert Series, Chile Ristra Harvest Festival, and Historic District Walking Tour. And we will also be inspiring community development with discussions about innovative South Valley Main Street initiatives.
Jim Hinckley’s America is a shared adventure! Become a subscriber, join us and invite your friends.
On today’s program we take a detour from road trip inspiration to talk about internet and cybersecurity for small businesses, the threats that they face today, and protective options with security experts Jim Featherstone and Olivia Golaszewski of Internet Transformed - www.facebook.com/groups/internettransformed. If you use email, have a small business, order online or make use of on online banking this a program that shouldn’t be missed.
Today's program is sponsored in part by Patreon. It is also sponsored by Roadrunner Lodge, RouteTrip USA, Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, Two Lane America, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas, and Gilligan's Route 66 Tours.
Dream big. Then dream bigger. Add a healthy dose of passion, vision, tenacity, infectious enthusiasm, and ambition. That is the recipe used by Lenore Knudtson and Tim Webb. The result is the transformation of an entire block along Route 66 in Kingman, Arizona, and a major contribution to the renaissance of that community's historic business district.
On today's program we talk with this dynamic duo about Tin Can Alley, Mudd on 66, Scoops on 66 and a bicycle rental company housed in a refurbished 1940s gas station. Weed and trash strewn vacant lots, a long shuttered 1930s cafe and 1950s roadhouse, and a decrepit old garage and gas station have been given a new lease on life. And the Route 66 traveler now has a new place to lay a weary head, enjoy some gourmet ice cream, savor delicious coffee and fresh baked pastries, and an opportunity to explore Kingman on two wheels.
Today's program is sure to inspire a road trip or two. And, perhaps, it will inspire you to chase that dream, and to make a difference in your community.
Today's episode of Coffee With Jim, the weekly podcast from Jim HInckley's America, is sponsored in part by fans that keep the wheels rolling through Patreon. It is also sponsored by our friends at RouteTrip USA, Wagon Wheel Motel, Two Lane America, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, and the Cactus Inn Motel.
Next week we take a road trip detour and visit with Jim Featherstone and Olivia Golaszewski of Internet Transformed to discuss the changing face of internet security, and its importance to small business owners.
If today's visit with photographer David Schwartz of Pics on 66 had a common theme it would be inspiration. Inspiration to chase the dream. Inspiration for epic road trips. Inspiration for living life.
For legions of Route 66 enthusiasts David Schwartz is known for his visual storytelling in Route magazine that captures the infectious magic that is the Route 66 experience. That, however, is only one facet of David's artistry.
On today's program author, humorist, and historian Jim Hinckley and David Schwartz talk road trips, the difference between photography and taking pictures, evolving technology, the power of the Route 66 community, and the importance of chasing dreams. It's another shared adventure from Jim Hinckley's America!
As our theme song by The Road Crew says, come along for the ride!
Today's program is sponsored in part by the magic of crowdfunding through Patreon. It is also sponsored by the Cactus Inn Motel, Two Lane America, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Wagon Wheel Motel, Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, and RouteTrip USA.
The Route 66 centennial, the Native American role in Route 66 history, the trials and tribulations of being a writer, the international nature of Route 66 and the future of that storied highway, and tales of preservation battles lost and won, are just a few of the subjects discussed in today's conversation with Jim Ross and Shellee Graham. Pioneers in the Route 66 renaissance movement, Ross and Graham are accomplished authors and historians that have a new book, Route 66: The First 100 Hundred Years due for release in June 2025.
Next week on Coffee With Jim, the weekly podcast from Jim HInckley's America, we visit with photographer David Schwartz of Pic's on 66.
Jim Hinckley's America is a shared adventure. Invite your friends and join us for another road trip inspiring and smile inducing conversation.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could share the magic of a Route 66 odyssey with friends? Well, that is exactly what Linda Ly makes possible with The Route 66 Cookbook, a delightful blending of history, trivia, and the special recipes that have transformed some Route 66 gems into must stop destinations for the Route 66 traveler. This is no mere cook book. It is the ultimate souvenir for the enthusiast that wants to bring a bit of the Route 66 magic into their kitchen.
On this episode of Coffee With Jim from Jim Hinckley's America it's a fast paced, road trip inspiring conversation about Route 66, road trips, recipes, diners and cafes, and introducing a new generation to the allure of the great American road trip.
Linda Ly is well known as Garden Betty and the author of several unique cook books including The National Parks Cookbook, Backyard Fire Cookbook and The No Waste Vegetable Cookbook. Her acclaimed website and books have been recognized by Martha Stewart, HGTV, and The Wall Street Journal.
For centuries the raw beauty, the silence, and the vast landscapes of the desert have provided inspiration to philosophers and dreamers. What happens when you add the allure and magic of Route 66 to the mix? On this epsiode of Coffee With Jim we visit with Professor Nolan Stolz to talk about his moving Route 66 Suite compostion, and the inspiration that came from traveling this storied highway across Arizona.
Next week (April 20, 2025) on Coffee With Jim - Wouldn’t it be wonderful if you could share the magic of a Route 66 odyssey with friends? Well, that is exactly what Linda Ly Taylor makes possible with The Route 66 Cookbook, a delightful blending of history, trivia, and the special recipes that have transformed some Route 66 gems into must stop destinations for the Route 66 traveler. This is no mere cook book. It is the ultimate souvenir for the enthusiast that wants to bring a bit of the Route 66 magic into their kitchen.
Dreaming of a great American road trip adventure? Let us help you make those dreams a reality. Coffee With Jim is just one facet of the Jim Hinckley's America network that tells people where to go and that shares the adventure. Check out our website for road trip inspiring blog posts and for Jim Hinckley approved businesses from tour companies to restaurants and motels.
What is the connection between Route 66 and mead, an ancient drink of the Vikings that filled poets and scholars with inspiration and was the drink of the gods? On this episode of Coffee With Jim, the weekly podcast from Jim Hinckley's America, we talk with Matt Young who has found a unique use for a 1940s service station and garage - a meadery!
Matt Young and his wife Shawndy of Hive Five Meadery, also owners of Laughlin Tours, represent a new generation of ambitious young entrepreneurs with vision that are transforming Route 66. They are also writing a new chapter in the history of Kingman, Arizona, and fueling the historic district renaissance.
If you need a bit of inspiration for a road trip, for pursuing a dream, or be part of an historic district renaissance this program is for you!
Coffee With Jim is supported by listeners through Patreon. It is also sponsored by Enchanted Trails Trading Post & RV Park, Wagon Wheel Motel, RouteTrip USA, Two Lane America, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Cactus Inn Motel, and Gilligans's Route 66 Tours.
On today's program it's a wide ranging conversation with Austin Coop of Two Lane America about Fred Harvey, automotive museums and unique museums, Route 66 and the Route 66 centennial, the stories of fascinating people, and the allure of the great American road trip. It's another shared adventure from Jim Hinckley's America and a road trip inspiring episode of Coffee With Jim.
The only thing better than setting out on a great American road trip is taking to the road with a knowledgeable and passionate guide. Whether you want to cruise Route 66 or the shade dappled roads of the deep south, discover the wonders of the southwest, explore New England, or visit some of the best car museums in the midwest, Austin Coop of Two Lane America is that guide.
What do the London Bridge, Route 66 (the highway and the classic television program), casinos, an historic Harvey House and railroad depot, lively Mojave Desert ghost towns, kayaking the Topock Gorge on the Colorado River, and a town where the mayor is a burro have in common? They are all the focus of the exciting new Tri State Podcast and today's conversation with podcaster Chris Tuttle.
It's another smile inducing, road trip inspiring shared adventure from Jim Hinckley's America. Pull up a chair, grab a cup of coffee and let Jim Hinckley, and today's guest Chris Tuttle, tell you where to go.
On the next episode of Coffee With Jim - March 30, 2025 - it's another road trip inspiring adventure as we visit with Austin Coop of Two Lane America. "There's nothing better than hitting the road, and we make it stress-free with our multiple guided tour options."
At Jim Hinckley's America we tell you where to go. Austin Coop shows you where to go. Invite your friends an join the conversation!
A Texas Panhandle ghost town with a Route 66 connection. A murder mystery. Passionate people with an eye on building a sense of community. Writing a new chapter in Route 66 history. That is just a hint of what to expect from today's inspirational and fascinating conversation with Blair and Blanca Schaffer on Coffee With Jim, the weekly podcast from Jim Hinckley's America.
Jericho is more than just an old ghost town. It is a tangible link to Texas and Route 66 history. It is a high plains time capsule with a storied history that is being uncovered, and shared, one layer at a time by Blair and Blanca Schaffer. Together this dynamic husband-and-wife duo are blending entrepreneurship and leadership that builds a network of cooperative partnerships with a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program that is Schaffer Farms.
Today's program is sponsored in part by Two Lane America. "We make it stress-free with our multiple guided tour options. Whether you want to hit the road in your own car as part of our car caravans or sit back and let us do the driving on one of our motorcoach tours, we have you covered."
It is also sponsored by Gilligan's Route 66 Tours. "Outstanding 18-day tour from Minneapolis to New Orleans via some ‘roads less travelled’ Like our Route 66 tour, our tour down the Mississippi is a driving tour for the adventuresome, but unlike Route 66 – this tour has more than one common theme."
I have looked forward to this conversation with Ryan Thibeault, the owner of Tebo Barn LLC in Milton, New Hampshire, for a long time and wasn't disappointed. Inspiration to live the dream, inspiration to embrace the adventure that is the great American road trip and inspiration to life life to the fullest.
Ryan took his driving test in his grandfather’s 1929 Ford Model A Phaeton. In high school and college he repaired and restored antique cars, and his daily driver was often a 1930 Ford Model A Town Sedan. In 2022 Ryan, decided to chase the dream, walked away from the day job, and began transforming his hobby and passion into a business. Then, to inspire a new generation of vintage car owners he began sharing epic adventures such as driving a 1929 Ford across America, covering 8,011 miles in 4 weeks! And to this he is now adding adventures in a Stanley steamer.
On today's program Ryan and author Jim Hinckley talk about road trips, barn finds, Route 66 adventures, the Route 66 centennial, chasing the dream, and the timeless allure of the Model A and Model T Ford. It's another shared adventure from Jim Hinckley's America.
Today's program kicks off with tales of Buster Keaton, Charles Lindbergh, Will Rogers, Clark Gable, Edsel Ford and their surprising connection to landmarks in Kingman, Arizona. And in the second half of the program we visit with Sarah Elizabeth of Kingman Main Street to discuss the exciting Hotel Beale facade renovation project, the city's historic district renaissance, and community building initiatives such as Kingman Tours.
Join us for a thought provoking, inspirational, road trip enticing conversation. And next week, March 9, it's a bit of time travel.
Our guest will be Ryan Thibeault, the owner of Tebo Barn LLC in Milton, New Hampshire. He took his driving test in his grandfather’s 1929 Ford Model A Phaeton. In high school and college he drove a 1930 Ford Model Town Sedan, and repaired and restored antique cars. And to inspire a new generation of vintage car owners he set out on epic adventures such as driving a 1929 Ford across America, covering 8,011 miles in 4 weeks!
Sharing America's story. Inspiring road trips. It's what we do at Jim Hinckley's America.
It's a smile inducing episode of epic proportions! What happens when you get two natural born storytellers with an off center sense of humor and an insatiable curiosity about everything on one program?
Today’s guest on Coffee With Jim is Marlo Anderson, a futurist and serial entrepreneur that is dedicated to turning bright ideas into transformative ventures and to bringing people together with banana bread, margaritas and road trips. Anderson is co-host of The Absurdists podcast, produces a daily one-minute tech-and-lifestyle segment for national morning shows and with the official National Day Calendar encourages people to “Celebrate Every Day.”
On this episode of Coffee With Jim, the weekly podcast from Jim Hinckley's America, host and author Jim Hinckley talks with Marlo Anderson about quirky restaurants, National Road Trip Day, the Route 66 centennial, the importance of finding commonalities, fun events and festivals, and discovering humor in the absurdities of life.
On today’s program we visit the land of the giants. Our special guest is Joel Baker of the American Giants Museum in Atlanta, Illinois. He is also the host of the fascinating American Giants YouTube channel where he documents fascinating giant stories, his search for giants, and their resotration.
These larger than life spacemen, cowboys, lumberjacks, and gas station attendants were once found all along the American roadside. They cast long shadows at gas stations, restaurants, tire stores and trading posts. Generically known as Muffler Men they are icons with a fascinating story. And now they are being given a new lease on life all along Route 66.
Join author and host Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley's America for another smile inducing, road trip inspiring shared adventure.
We have something very special (and inspiring) for you with this program. Our special guest is Liz Vincent, Director of Community Enrichment, City of Pontiac in Illinois. Often referred to as the quintessential Route 66 community Pontiac is a vibrant destination for visitors, the land of opportunity for entrepreneurs, and a well spring of inspiration for community organizers.
This is more than another smile inducing, road trip inspiring shared adventure from Jim Hinckley’s America! This is opportunity knocking, and a community changing conversation.
On this thought provoking and road trip inspiring episode, with Gary Sosniecki of the Lebanon-Laclede County Route 66 Society as our guide, we journey to Lebanon, Missouri and discover where to find great pie, catfish, and barbecue. And we learn a bit about how a community can be transformed with vision, passionate people, and leadership that can inspire a community, build a network of cooperative partnerships, and embrace new ideas.
As a bonus Gary shared some fascinating Route 66 history, provided an update about the future of a Route 66 icon, and invited the world to a delightful Route 66 festival. We even squeezed in some talk about the Route 66 centennial, and a book about a murder that hit close to home written by Gary.
As our theme song by The Road Crew says, come along for the ride!
On today’s program we visit with Steve LeSueur of Talisman Magic Marketing, developer of the innovative Kingman Tours initiative that is transforming the concept of experiential tourism. This innovative multifaceted project launched by Kingman Main Street has transformed the historic heart of Kingman, Arizona into an attraction. We will also be talking about the changing face of marketing, the building of a modern news media outlet, website development, and how AI is transforming everything.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists. It is also sponsored by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Tucumcari, New Mexico, Wagon Wheel Motel, Cuba, Missouri, and Cactus Inn Motel, McLean, Texas.
We are on the road for the annual fall tour. So, we have enlisted the help of a couple guest hosts to share America's story, and to inspire a road trip or two. But their focus seems to be on singing my praises and on telling the story of Jim Hinckley's America.
I appreciate the compliments and am quite humbled. BUt as our guests aren't real, I will have to accept their praise with a grain of salt.
Today's program is a glimpse of the future. Today's program is a deep dive into the exciting and unnerving world of AI. It is a manifestation of tinkering with NotebookLM from Google.
Thoughts?
AI and the future of podcasting. New books by Roger Naylor and Denny Gibson. Fall reading recommendations including a haunting book by Filip Muller. Road trips, Route 66 centennial projects, and electric vehicles. Updates from Jim Hinckley's America and the annual fall tour. News about the Kingman Tours project. The Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference. This could very well be our most diverse episode of Coffee With Jim!Today's program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, RouteTrip USA, Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas, the Route 66 Navigation app, and the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri.
Touring the country with one night stands as a stand up comic, hosting a Telly Award winning Route 66 program, and work as an Emmy Award winning producer and writer has given Tom Gregory an intimate knowledge of small town America. But that is only part of the story. On today's program Tom shares a twisted path that includes growing up in Chicago, and launching his career with radio programs in the Cajun country of Louisiana. This conversation with Tom, Executive Producer at New Orleans based tGo Productions, is a road trip inspiring deep dive into the magic of small town America and two lane adventures. What happens when two storytellers sit down for a Sunday morning conversation? Grab a cup of coffee, pull up a chair, and take a listen.
Our visit with acclaimed documentary film producer John Paget was not just inspirational. It was a refreshing view of America as seen though the lens of his camera. As a bonus, we were provided with a tantalizing look behind the curtain at his exciting Route 66 centennial project.
Join us for a shared adventure on this episode of Coffee With Jim, the podcast from Jim Hinckley's America, and rediscover the magic of the American experience.
Today's program is sponsored by the magical Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Time travel is possible! And at the Roadrunner Lodge Motel you can enjoy a night in the 1960s without sacrificing the modern amenities.
It is the most famous ghost town on Route 66. The story of Two Guns, Arizona perched on the edge of picturesque Canyon Diablo is a tale of murder, colorful characters, grifters, and pioneers. And it is a microcosm of the hard scrabble life lived in the desert southwest during the early 20th century.
On today's program we visit with archivist Sean Evans, a leading expert on the history of Two Guns. Join us for a fun filled, lively, smile inducing and road trip inspiring conversation. And for good measure we even slip in a bit of Hollywood history that includes Route 66, classic roadside attractions and Kirk Douglas.
Join us on this episode of Coffee With Jim, the podcast from Jim Hinckley’s America, as we welcome special guests Carla Holmes, Associate Director of Professional Graduate Programs, and Sherry Kast, Instructor, at Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication. Together, we delve into the fascinating multi-year project between Gaylord students and Oklahoma's Route 66 Centennial Commission. Discover how this collaboration is preserving and celebrating the history and future of America's iconic, and how it is providing students with a multifaceted real world educational opportunity. Don't miss this insightful and inspiring discussion!
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialist for an adventure in the United Staes of Canada.
When it comes to Route 66 the state of Kansas is short on miles (less than 15 miles between Missouri and Oklahoma) but it is long on smiles. Folks that listen to today's program and our visit with Pamela Mitchell of the Baxter Springs Chamber of Commerce will be surprised to learn of all the things to see, do, and experience along this storied old highway in the Sunflower State.
But today's program is more than mere road trip inspiration. It is encouragement, business opportunities, stories about fascinating people, and tips on how to build a sense of community as well as commmunity purpose.
The best adventures are the adventures shared with friends. So, come along for the ride!
Imagine a pine forested oasis in a sea of desert, a Route 66 time capsule transformed into a portal where the line between past and present is blurred, and adventures in any season await just outside the door. If that sounds like a road trip inspiring destination listen to today's episode of Coffee With Jim, the podcast from Jim Hinckley's America, and set your sites on the Americana Motor Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona.
On today's program we visit with Lisa Kissinger, Director of Sales, at this delightful motel resort complex that first opened it's doors in 1962. Fully renovated in 2023 with attention to detail that presents the illusion of stepping back to the 1960s, this motel offers the guest an array of unique amenities from bicycles to explore Flagstaff to telescopes for enjoying an evening in the world's First International Dark Sky City. Listen to this program and make plans for a road trip!
A great visit with artist, muralist, and illustrator Joyce Harbin Cole who is also the owner of Home Again on Route 66 in Pontiac, Illinois. In our wide ranging conversation we talk about the life of the artist, Route 66, the transformation of Pontiac's historic business district, a fascinating museum, building a sense of community, folk artists, Bod Waldmire, and road trips. It's another road trip inspiring, smile inducing, and thought provoking podcast from America's storyteller, author Jim Hinckley.
A 1953 UFO incident in Kingman, Arizona. Route 66 centennial projects. Escape rooms. Road trips. Aviation history in the southwest. Classic films. Educational programs. And direct from the European Route 66 Festival in Prague, a quick call in from Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Associaiton, Marian Pavel, developer of the Route 66 Navigation app, Kerry Barrick, Oklahoma Department of Commerce, and Dries Bessels, founding member of the Dutch Route 66 Association. What a wide ranging conversation with Joey Madia, Creative Director at Live It Experiences, host of the Into the Outer Realms program, freelance writer, actor, director, and immersive experience designer
This is probably the most diverse program in the history of Coffee With Jim, the audio podcast from Jim Hinckley's America!
On today's program it is a far ranging conversation about Route 66 events and developments as well as upcoming centennial celebrations with Cheryl Eichar Jett, author and organizer of the annual Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference, and Dries Bessels, author and founding member of the Dutch Route 66 Association. In this fast paced, smile inducing, road trip inspiring conversation we talk about the upcoming Route 66 Miles of Possibility Conference and European Route 66 Festival, restoration of the Painted Desert Trading Post, developments along Route 66 in the Land of Lincoln, and plans for the highways centennia as well as pay homage to a Route 66 personality.
Next on Coffee With Jim, September 1, 2024 - Dare to imagine! The Route 66 centennial is fast approaching and what better way to ensure that it remains a destination for years to come than to bring the history to life for a new generation. Joey Madia is the creative director at innovative Live It Experiences,. But he is also host of Into The Outer Realms and an escape room designer. This is going to be a very interesting conversation!
Anne Slanina, author and creator of the delightful Annie Mouse series, joined us for a fun filled, road trip inspiring, and thought provoking conversation. We talked about the myths and the realities of traveling Route 66 as a single female. Then we talked about the Annie Mouse series, using Route 66 as a means of getting children interested in history, and how to travel even on a tight budget. But first we had the opporutnity to illustrate the importance of being flexible when dealing with technology.
What do the book The Luckiest Man: Life With John McCain, a self guided walking tour in Kingman, Arizona, and a Route 66 festival in Missouri have in common? On today's episode of Coffee With Jim, a Jim Hinckley's America program, we talk about unsung heroes (besides my dearest friend), inspirational people, and the people that work tirelessly behind the scenes to transform communities large and small.
Due to technical difficulties I had to carry the conversation along for a bit. That was followed by a live report from the Birthplace of Route 66 Festival in Springfield, Missouri, and conversation with an inspirational member of Kingman Main Street in KIngman, Arizona.
Take a listen and see if you are not inspired to make a difference in your home town!
- The Route 66 centennial. The semiquincentennial of the United States. A year of opportunity. That is the subject of today's informative and thought provoking program that includes an open forum with guests, and sharing lots of Route 66 centennial information about websites, initiatives, events, tours, road trips, preservation, grants, the building of cooperative partnerships, and economic development.
This is the first in a new series of programs. Each month the first episode of Coffee With Jim will be dedicated to the Route 66 centennial, and America's 250th anniversary, and how these events can be used as a catalyst for historic district revitalization as well as economic development.
You heard it here first! Will Mesalands Community College in Tucumcari, New Mexico have a course on neon sign repair and creation in time for the Route 66 centennial?
On today's episode of Coffee With Jim, a conversation between David Brenner of the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico and Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley's America we talked about chasing dreams, the rewards and challenges of vintage motel ownership on Route 66, mid life career changes, and what makes Route 66 unique. And we talked about a future in which neon glows bright along Route 66 in Tucucmari.
And we also talked with some fascinating people that see Route 66 as the road of dreams that leads to Tucumcari, land of opportunity.
If today's program had a theme it would be inspiration. Inspiration to chase dreams. Inspiration to build a sense of community and community purpose. Inspiration to change careers. And inspiration to embrace life.
Horneytown, North Carolina. Yes, it's a real place. On this episode of Coffee With Jim the conversation with Professor Nolan Stolz about road trips, Route 66, U.S. 6, Amboy, California, time capsule villages, and the joy of adventures on the open road definitely had some interesting detours. That includes delving into a bit of juvenile humor.
Stolz is well known in the Route 66 community for interesting adventures, and for uncovering the sotries of forgotten places. These road trip inspiring journeys are shared on his YouTube channel named for Route 66 Suite, a musical composition he is developing to commemorate the storied old highway. Videos and stories also shared with supporters of his projects on Patreon.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists for adventures in the United Staes or Canada. It is also sponsored by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, the mid century gem that is the Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas. and Uranus Fudge Company & General Store. The list of additional sponsors of Jim Hinckley's America projects and programs include Gilligan's Route 66 Tours and Route 66 Navigation.
On today's program it's a free range, smile inducing, road trip inspiring discussion with Chris Tuttle about the changing face of broadcasting, road trips, the allure of Route 66, podcasting, and how to engage a younger generation. Chris is the developer of the acclaimed Arizona Podcast, and the fascinating Mother Road Minute.
After a 30 year career in southern California broadcasting Chris and his wife Mary relocated to Arizona. They became enamored with the state as well as Route 66, and that was the inspiration for his road trip inspiring podcast and programs.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists for an adventure in the United States of Canada. It is also sponsored by the iconc Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, and the living time capsules that are the Roadrunenr Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico and the Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas. Also counted among the sponsors of Jim Hinckley's America is the Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, and Route 66 Navigation.
Arizona 9 Motor Hotel, the vintage motel along Route 66 in Williams, Arizona with the unusual name, has quite a story. The first chapter was written in the late 1920s. And now Antonio and Paulina Rico are writing a new chapter with preservation, renovation, hospitality, and a passion for Route 66.
Inspiring road trips by telling people where to go. Sharing America's story. It's what we do at Jim Hinckley's America. And on today's episode of Coffee With Jim we do both during a lively conversation about the motels fascinating history, Route 66, delicious pie, chasing the dream, road trips, and historic property preservation.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists for an adventure in the United States or Canada. It is also sponsored by Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas, and Route 66 Navigation.
Driving an automobile from New York City to Guthrie, Oklahoma in 1910 was not an easy task. But undoubtedly it was even more challenging if you were ten and six years of age, and were traveling alone!
But this was only one of the exploits that made the Abernathy brothers celebrities in the early 20th century. And it was just one story in a program about epic road trips - yours, mine, and theirs.
Sharing America's story and adventures. Inspiring America's story. It's what we do at Jim Hinckley's America.
Our sponsors all have the Jim Hinckley's America seal of approval. So, you are assured a first rate Route 66 tour, a restful nights sleep, or a hearty meal with our sponsors.
Built in 1929, Rockwood Motor Court in Springfield, Missouri is a true time capsule. As a bonus it has been lovingly restored with the tasteful addition of modern amenities and it is located on Route 66. On today's fast paced and inspirational program we talk with Phyliis Ferguson who gave this unique property a new lease on life.
It's another shared adventure from Jim Hinckley's America. And it's another free range conversation about Route 66 history, historic preservation, events, road trips, adventure, changing times, and the Route 66 centennial.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucucmari, New Mexico. It is also sponsored by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip specialists, the Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, and the Cactus Inn Motel in Mclean, Texas.
Destination Tulsa! This episode was a great road trip inspiring visit with Wade Bray, developer of the AAA Route 66 Road Fest scheduled for June 22 and 23 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Imagine being able to experience the history, the magic, the food, the culture, the colorful characters, and the magic of the Route 66 experience in one air conditioned location!
In our free range conversation we also discussed the dynamic transformation of the Route 66 corridor in Tulsa, plans for the upcoming Route 66 centennial, Wade's first trip west on this storied highway, the international nature of the Route 66 community, and what might be in store for this American icons second century.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists, and the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. It is also sponsored by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, Route 66 Navigation, Gilligan's Route 66 Tours, and Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas.
Oklahoma's ghost towns, vanishing towns, and towns persisting against the odds was the topic of conversation on today's episode of Coffee With Jim. In his new book, Here Today, Jeffrey Schmidt tells the story of 100 faded and nearly forgotten ghost towns, and the people that once called them home. Needless to say, this makes for some very interesting reading. And it provided ample fodder for a fascinating program.
Highlights of our conversation include:
- A town built on the slippery economic slope of a vaseline well
- The story of forgotten all black communities in Oklahoma
- A ghost town with a Route 66 connection
- Time capsule cafes
Sharing America's story, and inspiring road trips by telling people where to go. It's what we do at Jim Hinckley's America. And that is what Jeffrey Schmidt did with this fascinating book.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialist. It is also sponsored by the Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, the delightful Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico, AAA Route 66 Road Fest, Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas, Route 66 Navigation, and Gilligan's Route 66 Tours.
I couldn't think of a better way to broaden my knowledge, and dispel myths, about EV's than to talk with John Martinson, President DRIVE Electric Arizona, an EV adventurer that recently completed an 11,000 mile trip to Newfoundland in his Tesla. Then there was the epic road trip to visit all 22 federally recognized Indian tribes in Arizona with a Native American friend.
In this fast paced episode John and I talk range anxiety, EV history, infrastructure issues, battery evolution, road trips, and EV education. We also talked about two fascinating Facebook groups, EV Road Trippers and EV Off-Road Trippers. Prepare to be surprised!
Today's program is sponsored in part by Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico. It is also sponsored by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists, the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, and the Uranus Fudge Company & General Store.
On this episode it's an adventure on Route 66 in Texas that blurs the line between the past, the present, and even the future. Brady Wilson is our guide for this road trip inspiring odyssey.
An hour seemed to zip by in the blink of an eye as we talked about ghost towns, festivals, pie, vintage motels, metal detecting, developments in Amarillo, and obscure museums that are often overlooked. Take a listen. See if you are not innspired to take a trip on Route 66 in the Lone Star State.
Do you have travel tips to share?
The theme of today's program is inspiration. Inspiration for a road trip. Inspiration to discover the magic of Route 66. Inspiration to step out of the comfort zone and chase a dream. Inspiration to transform a community.
Our guest on today's program is Angela Moreland, owner of the Cactus Inn Motel and Cactus Rose Taphouse in McLean, Texas. In our wide ranging converstation we talk about a Texas Panhandle town that has a rich Route 66 hsistory, a connection to the sinking of the Titanic, a brassiere factory turned barbed wire museum, the rewards that come with pursuing a dream, and the challenges that come with renovating an historic property.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the time capsule roadside gem that is the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico. It is also sponsored by the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, a Route 66 landmark, RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists, and Uranus Fudge Company & General Store.
Route 66, a century old chilli house, Route 66 tourism and economic development, the Route 66 centennial, road trips, historic preservation, and innovative community development initiatives were just a few topics discussed on this fascinating program. Our guest was Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association , and creator of Cloudless Lens Photography.
In this fast paced hour long program we also talked about the endangered"ribbon highway", the upcoming AAA Route 66 Road Fest, the European Route 66 Festival, the changing face of Route 66, how to build a sense of community as well as a network of cooperative partnerships, and looked toward the future of Route 66 after the centennial.
This program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip Usa, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists. It is also sponsored by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, Route 66 Navigation, the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas, and Uranus Fudge Company & General Store. A special shout out to Gilligan's Route 66 Tours.
He lied about his age, joined the Texas Rangers in 1878, and was assigned the most lawless district in the state. His law enforcement career came to an end in 1932 when he was forced into retirement. During that long, diverse and colorful career, Jefferson Davis Milton worked 32 years with one arm. He had lost use of his left arm in a gunfight in Fairbank, Arizona Territory.
On today's program historian Ron Stewart shares the amazing story of this legendary lawman. And we talk about the ghost town of Fairbank, the San Pedro Rver country, and the Coronado expedition of 1540. This program is a shared adventure of epic proportions.
Today's program is sponsored in part by Cactus Inn Motel and RV Park in McLean, Texas. It is also sponsored by the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists, Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and Uranus Fudge Company & General Store.
On the next episode of Coffee With Jim, we visit with Rhys Martin, President of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association.
What a great conversation with Bobby Hockaday, vice president on the board of directors for the Tucumcari/Quay County Chamber of Commerce and the Executive director of Film Tucumcari It was a free range conversation about the Clint Eastwood-Tucumcari connection, the upcoming Tucumcari film festival, Tucumcari as a filming location, relocation, Route 66 and the Route 66 centennial, and AI in film production on this episode of Coffee With Jim, the Jim Hinckley's America podcast.
And this was just in the first half hour! We also talked about frontier era gunfighters, upcoming events, innovative programs at Mesalands Community College and much, much more.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico that has once again been nominated in the USA Today top ten roadside motel contest. It is also sponsored by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists, and Uranus Fudge Company & General Store.
In Kansas, on Route 66 it is less than 15 miles from the Missouri to Oklahoma state line. When it comes to iconic Route 66, the Sunflower State may be short on miles but as we learned in our conversation with Pamela Mitchell, it is long on smiles.
Mitchell is the chairperson for the tourism board at the Baxter Springs chamber of commerce. So, in our road trip inspiring, smile inducing discussion we talked about history, attractions, detours, time capsule lodging, sports trivia (Mickey Mantle launched his career in Baxter Springs), and of course, venerable old cafes that serve up great pie.
Coming soon, a blog post on the Jim Hinckley's America website will provide more information about the places we talked about today.
Vickie Ashcraft, owner of the Enchanted Trading Post & RV Park in Albuquerque and president of the Route 66 Association of New Mexico, shares the magic of Route 66 in the Land of Enchantment on today's episode of Coffee With Jim. It's a smile inducing, road trip inspiring conversation about her historic 1940s trading post, the Route 66 centennial, ancient villages, green chili burgers, great restaurants, repurposing roadside landmarks, the Route 66 Association of New Mexico, and Hudson automobiles.
Vickie, thank you for sharing the adventure, and for telling me where to go. It looks like I will be trying a Laguna burger on the next raod trip along Route 66 in New Mexico!
On today's program it is a colorful conversation with legendary mural artist Ray Harvey (rayharveyart.com). Ray has transformed dozens of communities in Missouri, and now he is taking the show on the road, literally. In April he will be creating two new murals in Kingman, Arizona.
Join us for another shared adventure from Jim Hinckley's America. It's a lively conversation about the artistic life, road trips, Route 66, small town America, and the power of partnerships. If you need a bit of inspiration for a road trip, or to unleash the inner artist, this program is for you!
When it comes to Route 66, Texas is short on miles but long on smiles. On today's road trip inspiring episode we visit with Penny Clark of the Texas Route 66 Visitor Center. Her enthusiasm for Amarillo and Route 66 in the Lone Star State is infectious.
It's a free range conversation about ghost towns, classic diners, good pie, Route 66 side trips, Amarillo, and what makes this storied highway special. Come along for another shared adventure from Jim HInckley's America.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, and the Uranus Fudge Company & General Store.
How do you explore, and survive, the Route 66 corridor in the Los Angeles metropolitan area? Will Route 66 in the Mojave Desert ever reopen? On today's program we answer these questions and talk with Scott Piotrowski, President of the California Historic Route 66 Association, about a neon sign museum, exploring Route 66 via use of the light rail, ghost towns, the National Old Trails Road, and much, much more.
This is another shared road trip inspiring adventure from Jim Hinckley's America. Come along for the ride!
A fascinating conversation about the Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66 with Ron Romero, the founder, director and CEO, kicked off today's program. But it soon evolved into an inspirational program about the magic of Route 66, how tourism can be used to build a sense of community and community purpose, the Joliet renaissance, and the opportunities represented by the fast approaching Route 66 centennial.
Illinois Rock & Roll Museum on Route 66, 9 W Cass St, Joliet, IL
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke holiday road trip specialists for a worry free adventure in the US or Canada. It is also sponsored by Roadrunner Lodge Motel, Tucumcari, New Mexico, Cactus Inn Motel & RV Park, McLean, Texas, Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, and the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri.
Today's program is a road trip inspiring conversation with Roy Pickerell, owner of the quirky and delightful Pink Elephant Antique Mall along Route 66 in Livingston, Illinois, and author Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley's America. Housed in a repurposed school built in 1926, this roadside gem has it all - great burgers and ice cream, antique toys, a candy store with old fashioned favorites such as Stuckey's pecan logs, one of a kind photo opps, and delicious fresh fudge.
More road trip inspiration is provided with a conversation about regional restaurant chains of the past, upcoming events along Route 66, and recommendations for lodging, dining and travel planning. Join us for another shared adventure in Jim Hinckley's America.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists. It is also sponsored by Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri and Route 66 Navigation, the ultimate turn by turn navigation and travel planning guide for historic Route 66.
This mornings wide ranging conversation with Professor Nick Gerlich will definitely inspire a road trip or two. Cut from the cloth of Indiana Jones, Gerlich has traveled thousands of miles to photograph vintage neon signs, historic theatres, and the intriguing aviation navigation arrows from the 1920s.
Through photography he has documented the history of more than 150 forgotten Texas Panhandle towns, the sites along lost highways such as U.S. 64, the fast vanishing wooden grain elevators in the prairie provinces of Canada, and of course, legendary Route 66.
Join author, historian and humorist Jim Hinckley, and Professor Nick Gerlich for a rod trip inspiring audio adventure.
Cool Springs in the Black Mountains of western Arizona is a landmark where the entire evolution of Route 66 is made manifest against a backdrop of stunning natural beauty. On today's epsiode we visit with Ned Leuchtner, owner of this revered roadside time capsule and talk about its history, its resurrection, its Hollywood connection, and its future.
This shared adventure is sponsored in part by the delightful Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico. It is also sponsored by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists, and the Cactus Inn Motel, another roadside time capsule in McLean, Texas.
On today's program Angie Paterek of Route 66 Information Station joins author Jim Hinckley of Jim Hinckley's America for a wide ranging conversation about the allure of Route 66, that highways forthcoming centennial, festivals, the business of Route 66, and great American road trips. Paterek also shares the story of how she was influenced by the animated film Cars, travel tips for the single female, and thoughts on what makes Route 66 different from other historic roads such as the Lincoln Highway.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip specialists for a grand adventure in the US or Canada. It is also sponsored by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, the living time capsule that is Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and the mid 1950s Cactus Inn Motel and RV park in McLean, Texas.
Join us for an inspiring and exciting adventure along Route 66 in Oklahoma. On today's episode we visit with Kerry Wiseman Barrick of the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Oklahoma Route 66 Association.
Possessed with an infectious enthusiasm and palpable excitement Barrick joins author Jim Hinckley for a free range conversation about the Route 66 centennial, Route 66, and how that highway can be used for building a sense of community and community purpose as well as economic development and historic district revitalization.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, Cactus Inn Motel in McLean, Texas, and the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri.
Jericho. A ghost town along Route 66 in the Texas Panhandle. An empty place with only a tumble down farmhouse and derelict auto court standing in mute testimony to better times. But it is also a town with a bright and promising future thanks to the passion, the dedication, and the dreams of Blair and Blanca Schaffer.
In this morning's program Blanca Schaffer shares their passion and vision for the forgotten town of Jericho. But this is more than a dreamers tale. It is an inspirational story as Blanca also talks of building a sense of community, of feeding people with hearty home grown produce as well as a healthy dose of encouragement, and sharing America's story with a new generation.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, and the Cactus Inn Motel and RV Park in McLean, Texas.
On today's program it's a wide ranging, road trip inspiring, thought provoking conversation with Casey Claypool, owner of Docs Just off 66 in Girard, Illinois, and Executive Director at Illinois Route 66 Scenic Byway. Join us for a discussion about community development, the challenges of small business ownership, the magic that is Route 66, the Route 66 centennial and much, much more.
Jim Hinckley's America, it's where adventure begins. Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialist for an adventure in the US or Canada. It is also sponsored through the magic of corwdfunding on Patreon, and by Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri.
On this very special extended program we talk with Chris Tuttle of Arizona Podcast about the magic of road trips, Arizona exploration, the allure of iconic Route 66, the forthcoming Route 66 centennial, and how adventures on the open road add some zest to life. This is road trip inspiration at its finest!
Today's program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico, Route Trip USA, the bespoke holiday specialist for an adventure in the US or Canada, and Uranus Fudge Comppany & General Store. It is also sponsored by the magic of crowdfunding on Patreon, the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, and Cactus Inn Motel and RV Park in McLean, Texas.
On today's program we visit with Connie Loveland, director of Tucumcari Main Street in Tucumcari, New Mexico. Her infectious enthusiasm, and passion for making a difference in her home town, is inspiring.
In this conversation we discussed the Route 66 centennial as an opportunity for community development. And we talked about building a sense of community as well as a network of cooperative partnerships, a century old railroad depot as a catalyst for historic district revitalization, theatre renovation, upcoming events, and why Tucumcari is fast becoming a destination.
The vintage advertising campaign "Tucumcari Tonight" is now "Tucumcari Two Nights." Discover Tucumcari on this episode of Coffee With Jim sponsored in part by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missour.
It is also sponsored by Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialist for an adventure in the United States or Canada and the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari.
It's a special holiday episode with America's storyteller, author Jim Hinckley. Trivia, tradition, and a few surprises are shared in this fast paced half hour.
The history of Christmas, Michigan and Santa Claus, Arizona. The story of an iconic American automobile manufacturer, and its connection to Christmas in 1878. The origins of candy canes, the department store Santa Claus, egg nog, electric Christmas tree lights, and much, much more!
Today's program is sponsored in part by Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico. It is also sponsored by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialist, Uranus Fudge Company and General Stores, and Cactus Inn Motel and RV Park in McLean, Texas.
Oklahoma is becoming a template for how to successfully use the international fascination with iconic Route 66 and interest in the highways upcoming centennial as a catalyst for economic development and revitalization, for building a network of cooperative partnerships, and for fostering development of a linear sense of community. Our guest on today's program is Rhys Martin, president of the Oklahoma Route 66 Association.
Rhys, an author and acclaimed photographer, also represents the Association as a member of the Route 66 Road Ahead Partnership, the Route 66 Alliance, the Tulsa Route 66 Commission, and the Oklahoma Route 66 Centennial Commission.
If you need ideas and inspiration to transform your community, on or off Route 66, this program is for you!
Today's program is sponsored in part by Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, and RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialist for an adventure in the US or Canada. It is also sponsored by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, and the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico.
A great visit with fans of road trips, urban exploration, and epic adventures. We visited with people about Scotland and talked about UK road trips, and Midsomer Murders. We talked with an author about the Jefferson Highway, Winnepeg to New Orleans, and with several folks about the Lincoln Highway. And we talked about the Route 66 centennial, good pie, great restaurants, Jay Leno and ...
Well, you get the idea. On today's program, a shared adventure, we did what we do best at Jim Hinckley's America. We shared America's story, and we inspired road trips by telling people where to go.
Today's program was sponsored in part by Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico. It was also sponsored by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, and the delightfully quirky Uranus Fudge Company & General Store.
It was the original capital of the Illinois territory and the state of Illinois. It was established almost 75 years before the Declarationo of Independence was signed. It had a population numbered in the thousands in the early 19th century. Today, with a population of less than 30, it is a ghost town. And it is the only Illinois town that is located in Missouri.
On today's program America's storyteller talks Illinois (and Missouri) history, road trips, podcasts, Route 66 festivals and events, and grand adventure. As the theme song by the Road Crew says, come along for the ride.
Today's program is sponsored in part by delightful, fun, magical, surprising Tucumcari, New Mexico. It is also sponsored in part by Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, Kingman Route 66 Fest, and the Roadrunner Lodge.
They were the boom towns of the Black Range. Today they are quiet, picturesque ghost towns with rich and fascinating histories.
The haunting ruins of the courthouse in Hillsboro was the site of one of the most sensational murder trials in New Mexico history. Kingston was well known for a rugged, rough woman from England that drove stage coaches during the Apache Wars. Lake Valley was the site of the richest silver discovery in history. And it is linked to the missing treasure of Black Jack Ketchum.
It's another adventure in Jim HInckley's America. Telling people where to go, and sharing America's story. It's what we do.
This program is sponsored in part by Kingman Route 66 Fest and Visit Tucumcari NM.
So, what do we have for yoou today? Let's see. On today's program we have road trip inspiration, a back country Arizona adventures, tails of murder, mayhem, and the construction of an engineering marvel, and a bit of Route 66.
Need more? Well America's story author Jim Hinckley provides information about an exciting new contest. Think "Where's Waldo" on the backroads of America's heartland.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the City of Tucumcari, an adventurers paradise, and Kingman Route 66 Fest.
On Highway 89, half way down the hill into the historic district of Prescott, Arizona there is a cross street sign that reads Senator Highway. A word of warning, this is a very loose use of the word highway. But for those with an adventurers spirit, an odyssey on this "highway" is an increasingly rare opportunity to experience the Arizona of the territorial era. At the height of the mining boom in the Bradshaw Mountains, millions of dollars in gold and silver flowed from area mines and colorful communities such as Crown King, Big Bug, Bradshaw City, and Oro Belle sprang from the hillsides. On this mornings episode of Coffee With Jim, America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley takes the listener along for a ride through time, and through a scenic wonderland. Today's program is sponsored in part by the City of Tucumcari, Historic Wagon Wheel Motel featuring Connie's Shoppe, Uranus Fudge Factory and General Store in Missouri, Roadrunner Lodge Motel, and 2nd Annual Kingman Route 66 Fest
When it comes to Arizona history, these two towns are bookends. Chloride, dating to the 1860s, is a link to the dawn of mining boom towns in the territory of Arizona. Oatman, also a territorial town, dates to the first years of the 20th century. It was born of the last major gold rush in Arizona.
Neither one is technically a ghost town. But they are mere shadows of what they once were. One has survived and thrived by creating a romanticized image of the western frontier and capitalizing on its association with Route 66. The other is more retirement community than tourism Mecca.
Join America's storyteller for another road trip inspiring adventure through time.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the living time capsules that are the Roadrunner Lodge and Wagon Wheel Motel. It is also sponsored by the City of Tucumcari, Uranus Fudge factory & General Store, RouteTrip USA and Kingman Route 66 Fest scheduled for October 14-15.
Is there really a cemetery under the high school? Did you know that one of the most famous diners on Route 66 has a Harvey House connection? Do you know the story of the Travel Lodge motel chain? Did you know that there is an ultra rare pre war auto court that was listed in the Negro Motorist Green Book in Kingman, Arizona?
On this fun filled, fast paced episode of Coffee With Jim, America's storyteller shares a few of the discoveries made during development of the innovative narrated, self guided historic district walking tour in Kingman. Spearheaded by Kingman Main Street, this project has shed light on urban legend, uncovered historic treasures and brought history to life.
This program is sponsored in part by the City of Tucumcari, the living time capsule that is the Roadrunner Lodge, the one and only Uranus Fudge factory & General Store, RouteTrip USA and Kingman Route 66 Fest scheduled for October 14-15.
What do you call a road trip adventure that includes cliff dwellings, the Painted Desert, real ghost towns that have links to Billy the Kid and Butch Cassidy, time capsule towns with log cabin general stores, miles of scenic wilderness laced with hiking trails, historic saloons and hotels, microbreweries and a thriving arts community? Epic!
Join America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley for a road trip inspiring odyssey to Silver City, New Mexico. It's another shared adventure from Jim Hinckley's America.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the City of Tucumcari and Kingman Route 66 Fest.
Whimsy made manifest in mimetic roadside architecture. Quirky road side attractions. Politically incorrect and even offensive roadside attractions. This and more is the topic of this mornings road trip inspiring episode of Coffee With Jim.
More than seventy years ago along the highway south of Natchez, Mississippi stood a towering stereotypical "black mammy" like portrayed in Gone With The Wind. Mammy's Cupboard, a red brick edifice towering thirty feet high, was a restaurant and gas station.
The Thing in southern Arizona has profited mightly from people's curiosity. In 1950, Alan Shaeffer began expanding his roadside beer and bait stand just south of the North Carolina border. Materials were shipped to Shaeffer Project: South of the Border. And that sparked an idea that morphed into a full blown resort complete with a 97-foot "Pedro", Sombrero Room Restaurant, and 200 foot high tower where visitors can walk the rim of a sombrero shaped observation deck.
As the theme song says, come along the ride. It's another Jim Hinckley's America journey through time, and along the back roads .
Today's program is sponsored in part by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. This living time capsule blurs the line between past and present, and provides the traveler with an opportunity to experience the very best of the Route 66 experience.
Ghost towns, scenic wonders, a territorial era saloon, links to Hollywood history and some first rate barbecue. In part two of the series about 160 magical miles of smiles, iconic Route 66 in western Arizona, America's storyteller takes the listener on an unforgettable adventure, and inspires a road trip or two.
And for the travel writer (podcaster, blogger, etc.), a little something special. Have we got a deal for you!
Today's program is sponsored in part by the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, the oldest continously operated motel on Route 66, the fascinating, neon lit city of Tucumcari, New Mexico, the Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, a living time capsule, and zany, fun, memorable Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store near St. Robert, Missouri.
In western Arizona there is an almost magical highway. The past, the present, and even the future blend seamlessly. Scenic attractions, historic sites, ghost towns, and unique dinining and lodging options ensure that this is a memorable road trip.
But there is more. Much more. This highway is a portal to some of the most amazing places on earth - the land of the Havasupai with towering waterfalls and turquoise blue lagoons, the pine forested desert oasis of Hualapai Mountain Park, and an array of other gems.
This magical highway is iconic Route 66. And this is 160 miles of smiles.
Today's program is sponsored in part by Tucumcari, New Mexico. More than just a stop on the way to, this is a destination. This is the gateway to adventure.
Fort William Historic Park in Thunder Bay, Ontario. Colonial Williamsburg and historic Jamestown. Greenfield Village in Dearborn, Michigan. These and other living time capsule destinations enhance a road trip adventure. And these and other historic parks dispel the myth that history is dead and dry.
Join America's storyteller for an adventure to places that blur the line between past and present, and even the future, and a bit of road trip inspiration. Disneyland may put a smile on your face but can you enjoy bubble and squeak for dinner? Can your children receive military conscription papers written on parchment with a quill pen? Can you take a trip through town along a shade dappled lane in a 1920 Ford?
On this fun filled, past paced program we talk about the trials, tribulations and rewards of travel writing. We talk blogs, photography, road trips, the changing nature of publishing, and inspire a road trip or two.
As the theme song by the Road Crew says, come along for the ride!
Today's program is sponsored in part by delightful, magical, neon lit Tucumcari on legendary Route 66. It's Tucumcari tonight.
Alberta Ellis. Victor Green. They lived in an era of prejudices. Opportunity was resricted. And yet they propspered, they were successful and they provided a valuable service. They transformed their corner of the world. They are inspirational people. They were independent thinkers.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the one and only Wagon Wheel Motel in charming Cuba, Missouri. At the oldest continuously operated motel on Route 66, the past and present blend seamlessly.
All aboard! On today's adventure we we embark on a rail road trip. It's railroad museums in Tucumcari and Green Bay, California and Kentucky. It's Amtrak and bicycling old rail beds. It's a great American odyssey through time as we explore our rich railroading history.
Today's program is sponsored in part by delightful Tucumcari, New Mexico, a Route 66 gem at the heart of great southwestern adventures. It is also sponsored by the Roadrunner Lodge Motel in Tucumcari, a living mid 1960s time capsule where the past and present blend seamlessly.
Like Studebaker, Deal and dozens of other pioneering automobile companies Patterson-Greenfield headquartered in Greenfield, Ohio was a manufacturer of carriages before diversifying with automobile production. But this was the only automobile company whose owner and founder had been born a slave.
This morning as we continue sharing tales of inspiration, America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley tells the story of America's most unique, and perhaps most overlooked, automobile company.
Today's program is sponsored in part by Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store, a one stop shop for memory making fun and good fudge.
On this special Independence Day program we do a bit of time travel, and talk about this holiday, its origins, and its history. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…” These ideals enshrined in the Declaration of Independence have been our national focus for nearly 250 years. Those words have given courage and inspiration to suffragettes, civil rights marchers, immigrants, and abolitionists as we evolved as a nation, and moved toward transforming those words into a reality.
For many presidents and national leaders the Fourth of July was an opportunity to inspire the nation to live up to the ideals in that declaration, and to unify the country in the pursuit of that common goal. On occasion the speeches slid into the realm of political. And there were speeches laced with brutal honesty about our failure to live up to those ideals.
But the most memorable, the most inspiring speeches were those that quoted the words of the Declaration of Independence as a reminder of our national goals, invoked the passionate spirit of America’s founding fathers, extoled the virtue of liberty, and bridged chasms of division to unite the people in a common goal.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico and the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri.
Charles Nash was an abandoned orpahn. His childhood was lived in abject poverty, abuse, and hard work. And yet he was ambitious and was possessed with an unquenchable thirst for education. He transformed Buick, pulled General Motors from the brink of bankruptcy, developed one of the first factory sponsored racinig teams, and gave Walter Chrysler his start in the auto industry.
Our series about inspirational and independent thinking people continues with the tale of Charles Nash, a forgotten pioneer that transformed the American auto industry.
Today's program is sponsored in part by Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store, your one stop shop for good food, family fun, and a memory making experience.
Road trip inspiring books, that is our discussion on today's epsiode. Obscure books, new books, old books, tales of adventure and time capsules from an era when a road trip was truly an epic odyssey. Come along for the ride and find some inspiration for a great adventure on the backroads of America.
This mornings program is sponsored in part by delightful, wonderful, magical Tucumcari, New Mexico. At the heart of an adventurers paradise this charming community where Route 66 is the main drag, is more than an overnight stop, it is a destination.
She was a child prodigy. Her instrumental and vocal skills are without equal. And she is our inspirational profile of the day.
Her stage name is Mean Mary. Her life story is nothing short of amazing. Adventure. Tragedy. Success. And overcoming daunting obstacles. This is her story.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. No mere motel, this is the very essence of the Route 66 experience made manifest. It is a living time capsule that blurs the line between past and present. It is a destination.
On today's program we talk small town America by visiting a few very special communities along Route 66. Diminutive Atlanta, Illinois is big on ideas and hospitality. This charming historic town is on the fast track to becoming a destination with weekend events, new bsuinesses, an arcade museum and so much more.
Pontiac, Illinois is THE poster child for historic district revitalization. One of the states top destinations, Pontiac has a diverse array of museums and restaurants, and an infectious passion that ensures smile inducing visits.
Also featured on today's program, Cuba, Missouri and Gallup, New Mexico. Charming communities with a rich and diverse culture that exemplify the very essence of small town America.
And, of course, we have another clue in our Route 66 personality contest. Okay, this fellow played in the World Series.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke holiday specialists for a grand adventure in the US or Canada.
Our new series on independent thinkers and inspirational people kicks off with the story of Julian Brown. His idea of what an automobile should be manifested in some rather unusual creations. Even though each endeavor ended badly with a tremendous financial loss, his automotive endeavors had a surprising affect on the aircraft industry.
And to kick off the new series, a contest with the grand prize being an autographed copy of my latest book, Here We Are .... On Route 66.
Today's program is sponsored in part by Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store. Quirky, fun and memorable, Uranus is a roadside attraction on Route 66 near Lebanon, Missouri that will enahnace any road trip adventure.
On this mornings episode we travel to dynamic, culturally diverse, vibrant Albuquerque, New Mexico. Join us for a gastronomical adventure through time and discover a destination for you next road trip (or train trip) odyssey.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke holiday specialists for a memorable adventure in the US or Canada.
Exactly why the Aluminum Company of America decided to diversify and initiate plans for the development of an automobile is a mystery. The timing is equally curious as in late 1919 the world was gripped by an intense post war economic recession. Another fascinating aspect of the project is the fact that the company retained the services of Laurence H. Pomeroy to oversee development.
Today's program is the kick off for a new series on Wake Up With Jim that we are calling the Independent Thinker. Each week we will be introducing listeners to people that transformed the world, and yet are nearly forgotten today.
This mornings program is sponsored in part by the magical Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico.
On August 20, 1923, the gang made the last train robbery in Oklahoma. But this was just a small part of their multistate crime spree. Together they set records for the number of banks robbed and prison escapes, and they left bodies along the way during a crime spree that stretched along Route 66 from Joplin, Missouri to the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
This morning on Wake Up With Jim, America's storyteller shares the tale of Jim Clark, Ray Terrill, and in the infamous Kimes brothers, Matthew and George. It's another walk on the dark side of Route 66 in our series of true crime podcasts.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, and the living time capsule that is the Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico
When it comes to exploring Route 66, many adventurers skip some of the best that the highway has to offer. On today's program America's storyteller shares a few of his favorite places in St. Louis, and a bit of the story about a gangster dynasty. It's another gand adventure in Jim Hinckley's America.
Today's program is sponsored in part by Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store, a roadside attraction of epic proportions. Miniature golf, escape rooms, delicious fudge, and of course, juvenile humor at its best.
In part one of our series about Great Depression era gangsters, we share a few stories form the infamous Central Park district of Tulsa. Ma Barker and her vicious sons, Volney Davis, and other outlaws of the era started their criminal careers in Tulsa. Some became prolific bank robbers, others became hired guns for Al Capone, Detroit's Purple Gang, and Egan's Rats in St. Louis.
Today's adventure on the dark side of Route 66 is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists for amemorable adventure in the US or Canada.
On this mornings fun filled, fast paced episode we explore Route 66 in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. Along this 100 mile drive are an endless string of stoplights, a restaurant that dates to 1848, unique museums, a stunning historic theatre district and lots of surprises.
If you enjoy obscure celebrity trivia, are planning a trip along Route 66 in Los Angeles, needs tips on budget lodging and great dining, and are intrigued by the stories behind historic locations, this program is for you.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists for a grand advenure in the US or Canada. Take the hassle and worry out of travel planning. Just like the folks at Jim Hinckley's America, they test the pillows, sample the beer, and taste the enchilladas to ensure you enjoy a memorable worry free holiday.
On September 10, 2013, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol was testing new sonar equipment at Foss Lake near Foss, Oklahoma. The officers never expected to solve the disappearance of six people. But the investigation raised more questions than it answered.
This is another tale of murder and mayhem on the Main Street of America. This is another walk on the dark side of Route 66 with America's storyteller author Jim Hnckley as your guide.
Today's program is sponsored by Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store near St. Robert, Missouri. Great fudge, juvenile humor and memory making fun - miniature golf, escape rooms, and much, much more.
On this mornings episode we get our kicks under Route 66. Did you know that Mitchell Caverns in the Mojave Desert of California is just a few miles off Route 66?
Beat the heat with an underground adventure at legendary Meramec Caverns steeped in legends about Jesse James and lost treasure. In Springfield, Missouri you can enjoy the entrancing natural wonders of an underground world on a drive thru tour. And at Grand Canyon Caverns in Arizona, the entire evolution of Route 66 is mirrored.
It's another road trip inspiring adventure along the most famous highway in the world with America's story teller, author Jim Hinckley, as your guide.
This program is sponsored by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. The oldest continously operated motel on Route 66 is a living time capsule and a destination for a legion of international Route 66 enthusiasts.
He was a west coast superstar. He pioneered the television variety show, and featured crooners such as Frank Sinatra and Frankie Lane. When he launched a business venture along Route 66, Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable and Jack Benny happily invested. And he was the only convicted murderer to have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
On today's program America's storyteller shares the story of Spade Cooley, a man of many talents with a violent temper and a passion for alcohol. It's a story about the dark side of fame and fortune.
Today's program is sponsored in part by Uranus Fudge Company & General Store. This fun filled, quirky roadside attraction blurs the line between the past and present, between the era of generic travel on the interstate highway and the colorful adventures of road trips on legendary Route 66.
In my book there are three things that make a Route 66 adventure memorable - the people you meet, the good food that is discovered along the way, and special places for a walkabout to stretch the legs after a day on the road. On this episode America's storyteller shares the adventure and tells people where to go if they are looking to add a walk to the drive.
From Amboy Crater to Abraham Lincoln's neighborhood and points in between, it's another adventure in Jim Hinckley's America.
This program is sponsored in part by delightful, wonderful, magical Tucumcari, New Mexico.
In the first of our new weekly true crime series, America's storyteller shares an unsolved mystery from 1935. The disappearance of George Lorius, his wife Laura, and their friends Albert and Tillie Heberer, was the catalyst for the largest man hunt in New Mexico history. Even the National Guard was involved.
The vacationing couples were having a grand time traveling west along Route 66. They made a detour to Vaughn, New Mexico and simply vanished. Clues led to Albuquerque and Quemado, New Mexico, and El Paso, Texas. Then the trail went cold.
Today's haunting tale is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday specialists for an adventure in the US or Canada.
Planning a Route 66 adventure? Is it your first trip? Is it your 100th trip? Well, America's storyteller shares tips, tricks and ideas for getting the very most from a Route 66 odyssey on today's program.
Need budget lodging in the Los Angeles area? How do you find Route 66 in St. Louis or Tulsa? Where are the best authentic Route 66 restaurants? Looking for a great Route 66 museum? Author Jim Hinckley does what he does best, tell people where to go, in a new audio podcast.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip specialists for grand adventures in the US or Canada.
Route 66 has become the ulimate bucket list road trip. There are Route 66 associations in a number of countries, and companies in Australia, New Zealand, and Europe specialize in Route 66 tours. So, how do you improved on perfection? You add an event to your travel plans!
On today's program America's storyteller talks about festivals and events that magnify the Route 66 experience. It's road trip inspiration at its finest.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in charming Cuba, Missouri. This is the oldest continously operated motel on Route 66, and it is a must stop destination.
It has a connection to the World Series of 1925 and 1927, and to the writing of the Arizona state consitution. Today it houses a church, a wine bar, a barbecue restaurant and a wood fired pizza eatery. This is the expansive and stylish Central Commerical Building in Kingman, Arizona tha opened in 1917.
And this is just one of the fascinating stories shared on this program by America's storyteller. It is a tale of discovery, of community development and of fascinating Arizona history.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the quirky fun capital of Route 66 - the smile inducing, memory making Uranus Fudge Company & General Store
On today's program America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley talks about some of the gems hidden in plain sight that make Gallup, New Mexico a treasure. From great restaurants to time capsule motels, and a wonderful Route 66 side trip, it's a shared adventure in Jim Hinckley's America. And it's road trip inspiration at its finest.
Today's program is sponsored in part by magical, delightful, surprising, charming Tucumcari, New Mexico.
On this program America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley talks detours and side trips that add some zest to the magic of a Route 66 adventure. Did you know that the oldest continously inhabited community in the United States is located a few miles south of Route 66 in New mexico? Did you know that the most remote community in the country, a place so remote that they still deliver the mail by mule train, is located just north of Route 66 in Arizona? Did you know that just a dozen miles south of Kingman, Arizona there is pine forested oasis with picturesque lodge?
Today's program is sponsored in part by the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri where the past, the present and even the future blend seamlessly.
It is often referenced as one of the states top beauty spots. But Maramec Spring Park is also the site of an interesting ghost town. The park is 1,860 acres of pristine forest, historic sites and two fascinating museums. As a bonus, it is just a few miles off historic Route 66.
On this mornings adventure America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley shares the story of this delightful Missouri gem. And, of course, he does what he does best - tell people where to go.
There are also important program updates, another clue in the Route 66 contest, and a bit of music from the Road Crew.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. This is no mere motel. It is the essence of the Route 66 experience made manifest.
It is billed as 160 Miles of Smiles. It is a remnant of legendary Route 66 that stretches from the 1920s Partidge Creek Bridge to the Colorado River at Topock, Arizona. It is a string of living time capsules, scenic wonder without equal, and a palpable sense of history. It is a grand advenutre.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the bespoke road trip specialists at RouteTrip USA and magical, delightful, wonderful Tucumcari, New Mexico.
On today's adventure we visist the amazing Gilmore museum complex near Kalamazoo, Michigan. More than a museum, this is a journey through time with an opportunity to enjoy some wonderful pie.
And, of course, there is a bit of Klamazoo history, and other museum recommendations added for good measure. Did you know that there was a tow truck museum in Chattanooga, Tennessee?
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip specialists for a grand adventure in the US and Canada. It is also sponsored by Uranus Fudge Factory & General Store where juvenile humor reigns supreme, and the fudge is without equal.
Located along Route 66, Fort Reno has a long, colorful and controversial history. Dating to 1874 it continued to serve as a military facility into the late 1940s.
There is a connection to the legendary Buffalo Soldiers, Amelia Earhart, Will Rogers, General Sheridan and General Custer, and even WWI and WWII. The chapel built by German POWs during WWII is another tangible link to the forts fascinating history. But, perhaps, one of the most intriguing things to see at the fort is its one of a kind cemetery.
Join America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley for another road trip inspiring adventure.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip specialists for a grand adventure in the US or Canada.
On today's program America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley shares the story of an amazing Los Angeles restaurant renowned for good food and its whimisical interior. It was so amaziong that according to legend even Walt Disney was inspired.
And since we were in the neighborhood, there is discussion about the historic theater district, and the century old Grand Central Market. Sensory overload is reward for seeking out this urban gem.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the bespoke road trip specialists at RouteTrip USA. For a grand adventure in the US or Canada, these are the folks you need to call.
It's true! The high school football in Kingman, Arizona is built over a cemetery. The first in our series of programs about urban legends along Route 66 delves into the fascinating and macabre story of the towns cemeteries - not one, not two but four.
This program is sponsored in part by delightful, magical, wonderful Tucumcari, New Mexico and the Route 66 treasure that is the Roadrunner Lodge where the past and present blend seamlessly.
On this episode of Coffee With Jim, author Jim Hinckley and his audience discuss road trips, automotive history, podcasts, and upcoming events on Route 66. It's a fun filled, fast paced half hour that you don't want to miss.
And another clue in hte Route 66 contest is given. On each program since March 25, a clue has been shared. Be the first to name the business and in what Route 66 community it is located to receive an autographed copy of Jim's latest book - Here We Are ... On Route 66.
This program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA the bespoke road trip specialists for a grand adventure in the US or Canada.
We wrap up our series on road side attractions with stories of a motel with the ultimate view, an empire built on pecan logs, and curb side service at sonic speeds. Its another road trip inspiring, trivia filled adventure from Jim Hinckley's America.
Take a listen. Join America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley for a another shared adventure through time on the two lane highways.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip specialists for a grand adventure in the US or Canada.
Our shout out to classic roadside attractions continues with a stop at Uranus Fudge Company & General Store near St. Robert, Missouri. A throwback to the era of neon lit nights, tail fins, and I Like Ike buttons, this is the very essence of the great American road side attractions made manifest.
With miniature golf, escape rooms and an expansive gift shop and general store, Uranus is a fun filled stop for the entire family. It is the type of roadside attraction that will inspire a life long passion for road trip adventures.
Quirky and fun roadside attractions where childhood memories are made. These are the cornerstone of a life long passion for the great American road trip.
On today's program America's storyteller, author Jim Hinckley, shares the story of two classic road side attractions - Wall Drug and Rock City. Dating to the 1930s these gems are still going strong, and are still providing a new generation with memories that will last a lifetime.
Today's program is sponsored in part by a roadside attraction of the modern era - Uranus Fudge Company & General Store
It's a special Route 66 travel planning program. Author Jim Hinckley talks travel guides, navigation apps, festivals and events, motels, and provides an array of tips for getting the most from your Route 66 adventure. Grab a paper and pencil, take notes, and make plans to discover why Route 66 is the most famous highway in America.
They are three uniquely American automobile. One is still remembered as the ultimate luxury performance car. One was plagued with issues but overcame them all to become known as America's sports car. And one has become forever associated with automotive lemons.
On today's program America's storyteller shares the story of the mighty Duesenberg, the Corvette, and the lowly Edsel. And the first clue is provided for a new contest with the grand prize being a copy of Jim Hinckley's latest book, Here We Are ... On Route 66.
Today's program is sponsored by Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, the ultimate Route 66 atraction and a landmark for a new generation of road trip enthusiasts.
His name was Cadwallader Washburn Kelsey, Carl to friends. He was a tinkerer fascinated by automobiles. And he was a marketing genius that as the sales manager for Maxwell transformed the company into an industry leader. He developed the first filmed automobile commercial and pioneered automotive marketing geared toward women.
His Motorette was unique. It could have transformed the auto industry. But sabotage ended the endeavor just as the company was begining to soar.
Todays program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip professionals for a grand adventure in the US or Canada.
Tesla represents more than an evolutionary milestone in the history of the automobile. It is a tangible link to the dawning of the auto industry when independent auto manufacturers survived and thrived through innovation.
On this mornings program America's storyteller shares the tale of two manifestations of that independent thinking from the 1970s - the Gremlin and Pacer manufactured by AMC. Rarely seen today, both cars were hot sellers. And they set new industry standards.
Today's program is sponsored in part by magical, delightful, wonderful Tucumcari, New Mexico.
Road trips and food, that is the topic of discussion this morning. Presidential breakfasts in Fort Wayne, Indiana. A sauerkraut and corned beek skillet for breakfast or Greek stuffed potato. A superb hickory smoked beef brisket in Arizona. Great Mexican food in Albuquerque. Route 66 favorites.
On this episode America's storyteller inspires a road trip or two, and stirs the appetite.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the bespoke road trip specialists for a grand holiday in the US or Canada at RouteTrip USA.
On this episode America's storyteller wraps up a series of true crime stories selected from his book Murder and Mayhem on The Main Street of America: Tales From Bloody 66.
Arthur Eggers was an average Joe. He was just a face in the crowd. And he was a cold blooded murderer that used Cajon Pass as his dumping ground.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke roadtrip specialists for a grand aventure in the US or Canada.
Our walk on the dark side of Route 66 continues with the tale of William Cook and his murder spree through Oklahoma, Texas and California. It is the tragic story of a young man who never had a chance.
From infancy he had been driven to rage and violence, and turned to crime at an early age. Then he headed west from Joplin along US 66 and left a trail of death in his wake.
On today's program America's storyteller shares another story of Murder and Mayhem On The Main Street of America: Tales From Bloody 66.
This program is sponsored in part by the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. No mere motel, this is a living time capsule and the very essence of Route 66 made manifest.
In an era when murderous gangsters such as Bonnie and Clyde dominated headlines almost daily, a particulary tragic incident on Saturday, January 2, 1932, stunned the nation. Until the horrors of September 11, 2001, in New York City, and Washington D.C., the incident now known as the Young Brothers Massacre held the record for the largest number of law enforcement officers killed in a single incident.
Today, except in Jim Hinckley's America, the tragic gunfight is largely a forgotten historic footnote. On this program America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley shares this story of murder and mystery.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri, and RouteTrip USA, the bespoke travel specialists for a grand road trip holiday in the US or Canada.
The premiere of our popular Sunday morning interactive program Coffee With Jim that is now hosted on Podbean kicks off with a discussion about road trips - yours, mine and theirs. Alexander Winton and his valiant attempt to become the first person to drive from coast coast. Edsel Ford. And I share some of my history as an explanation for why I am so passionate about the road trip.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the Wagon Wheel Motel, the City of Tucumcari, the Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, and RouteTrip USA.
Ash Fork, Arizona. Overshadowed by Seligman, its neighbor to west, Ash Fork is a Route 66 community with a rich and colorful history that is chock full of surprises.
On today's program America's storyteller shares a bit of the towns colorful history, provides some road trip inspiration, and puts the spotlight on a great stop for barbecue.
This program was sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip specialist for a grand holiday and road trip adventure in hte US or Canada.
Tucumcari tonight! Route 66, neon, and time capsules that blur the line between the past and present such as the iconic Blue Swallow Motel have made this high desert town a destination for legions of travelers.
But Tucumcari is a town full of surprises, colorful history, and passionate people that share an infectious enthusiasm. In this episode of Wake Up With Jim, author Jim Hinckley shares the fascinating story of Tucumcari and shines the spotlight on often overlooked attractions.
This program is sponsored by the Roadrunner Lodge, an oasis for the weary traveler and a living time capsule wrapped in modern amenities.
In this, the first in a series of programs profiling Route 66 communities, we shine the spotlight on Carlinville, Illinois. From its time capsule square dominated by the 1870s Loomis House to the 1860s Macoupin county corthouse, a towerinig monument to political corruption, this fascinating old town has a multitude of secrets to share.
Join author Jim Hinckley as he shares the story of a Route 66 community suspended in time. In this series he reads from his latest book, Here We Are ... On Route 66, a series of short stories about fascinating Route 66 communities where the line between past and present is blurred.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, where juvenile humor reigns supreme and the worl's best fudge is jmust one of the surprises.
Lucy the elephant in New Jersey. The Long Island Duck House. Mammy's Cupboard in Mississippi. On today's episode America's story teller inspires road trips with tales of larger than life roadside attractions, each with an interesting story. Come along for the ride!
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip specialists for a memorable holiday in the US or Canada.
It started with roadside camping and free public campgrounds. And then an innovative visionary in California developed an entirely new type of roadside lodging that he called a motor hotel or motel for short. Then came auto courts such as the White Rock Court in Kingman, Arizona, and finally, chain motels like Holiday Inn.
On today's program author Jim Hinckley shares the story of motel evolution, and profiles a couple of unique examples that have survived into the modern era.
Fittingly, this mornings program was sponsored in part by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. The oldest continously operated motel on Route 66 is a magical place where the past and present blend seamlessly, and the essence of the Route 66 experience is made manifest.
Lloyd Rounds. John Tillotson. Dave Peterson. John Hnason. Wallace Byam. The names may not be familiar but you know some of the products they manufactured. They made it possible to take to the open road and never leave home. They made it possible to rough it in comfort. This is the story of Airstream and Winnebago, the Nomad and the amazing Ultra Van.
Today's program is sponsored in part by magical, delightful, wonderful Tucumcari, New Mexico. More than a name on the map or a stop on the way to someplace else, Tucumcari is a neon lit destination that is full of surprises.
The burros roam free in the streets. Staged gunfights provide visitors with a romanticised vision of life on the western frontier. And Route 66 is literally main street. This is is Oatman, Arizona, one of the most famous and liveliest ghost towns on Route 66. But Oatman, and Goldroad to the north, are mining towns with a rich and colorful history.
On this episode of Wake Up With Jim, America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley shares a tale of two cities.
This mornings program is sponsored in part by magical, delightful, wonderful Tucumcari, New Mexico, and the living time capsule that is the Roadrunner Lodge, a Route 66 gem.
Jeff Davis Milton was a legend on the frontier. Before the shootout in Fairbank, Arizona that cost him the use of an arm, Milton had served as a Texas Ranger, patrolled the Mexican border alone, and served as a deputy sheriff in some pretty rough and tumble towns in Arizona as well as New Mexico.
On this mornings program author Jim Hinckley, America's storyteller, shares the amazing true story of a frontier era lawamn with a larger than life reputation. It is a tale of adventure, of daring, and of inspiration.
Today's prgram is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday professionals. Road trip adventures in the US or Canada begin here!
Have you ever wondered how Total Wreck, Vulture City or Dissapointment Creek, Arizona got their names? On this mornings program America’s storyteller author Jim Hinckley delves into Arizona history. It’s another journey through time from Jim Hinckley’s America. This program is sponsored in part by the delightful, magical, wonderful Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico.
The Jade restaurant that opened in 1951 quickly became a Kingman landmark. Its location on Route 66 next to the Arcadia Lodge ensured that business was brisk.
The 1954 edition of the Western Accommodations Directory published by AAA noted, “Jade restaurant, air conditioned. Open daily 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM. Well prepared food with Chinese dishes, prime rib, steaks, southern style fried chicken, and sea food the specialties. Breakfast 65 cents up, luncheon $1 up, dinners $1.50 to $3.50; also, a la carte. Counter and booth service.”
But its popularity and its success are owed to the amazing Charlie Lum. This is his story.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip holiday professionals for an adventure in the United States or Canada.
Needles, California. Its fascinating past, its place at the crossroads, and what looks to be a very exciting future. That is the topic of discussion on the February 14 episode of Wake Up With Jim.
On this program America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley shares a bit about this desert towns fascinating and colorful history, and prvides some insight as to why he feels Needles is on the cusp of emulating the legenday Phoenix as it rises from the ashes of neglect and abandonment.
Today's program was sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the memory making, grand adventure planning, holiday road trip experts for an odyssey in the US or Canada.
Mail Call! On our program for February 4, America's storyteller answers questions about book stores, Route 66, road trips, restaurants ....
Did you know that there is a book store that has been in business since 1953 and every Saturday morning is a cruise in? Did you know that there is a café in Oklahoma that has been open since the 1920s? Do you know where the best place to stay is if you are visiting Forest Park in St. Louis? Take a listen for some road trip inspiration.
This morning program was sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the bespoke road trip specialists for an adventure in the US or Canada.
Curious about the ghost town of Glenrio, Texas astride the state line along Route 66? Today on our program for February 3, 2022, America's storyteller, author Jim Hinckley, shares the story of this forlorn roadside relic. It's a tale of boom, bust and murder from his latest book, Here We Are ... On Route 66: A Journey Down America's Main Street.
This mornings program is sponsored by Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, your one stop shop for memory making fun, superb fudge, and smile inducing surprises.
Their home in Kingman, Arizona seems suspended in time. By all appearances it is 1925 and the family will soon be returning from the store, from church or from the ranch.
The Bonelli House is an engineering marvel. It is also a time capsule that transports the visitor back to the closing years of the Arizona territory, the dawning of statehood, and the formative years of Route 66.
The Bonelli family story is a tale of immigration, of ranching, of overcoming adversity and of building an empire on the western frontier.
Our program of February 2, 2022, is sponsored in part by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. At this Route treasure the past and present blend seamlessly.
It is a frontier era time capsule. It is a tangible link to the early days of the Arizona territory. It is a photographers paradise. And it was the scene of shootouts and disasters. This is the story of the Johnson Canyon Railroad Tunnel.
Easily accessed from Route 66 east of Ash Fork, Arizona, this delightful little gem is just one of the hidden treasures awaiting discovery on your next adventure in northwestern Arizona.
Today's program is sponsored in part by Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, your one stop shop for great fudge, tasty treats, fun, and memory making adventure. Located along Route 66 near St. Robert, Missouri, and soon a second location at Anderson, Indiana, Uranus Fudge Company & General Store brings the magic of the great American road trip to life.
To close out January 2022, we have a prerecorded electrifying program.
First a little EV history and a couple of updates from Jim Hinckley's America as we deal with a couple of technicalities. And with those resolved our guest Mike May joins in to discuss electric vehicles, Route 66, Tesla ownership, and to provide a bit of insight about the future of electric vehicles. It's another adventure with America's storyteller, author Jim Hinckley.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the bespoke road trip specialists for adventures in the US or Canada, RouteTrip USA.
It's Friday, January 28, 2022 and that means it's mail bag time. America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley answers your questions about road trips, restaurants, Route 66, Route 66 travel planning and much, much more!
This program is sponsored in part by the bespoke road trip specialists at RouteTrip USA. These fine folk test the pillows, sample the enchiladas, and ride the tramway to ensure that you are provided the most memorable and trouble free holiday.
It is also sponsored in part through the magic of crowdfunding.
If you are a community organizer, an event planner, an author, an artist, a photographer, or have an interesting story to share, and would like to be a guest, drop us a note to jimhinckley@jimhinckleysamerica.com
Mud College, Oklahoma? Parkersburg, Oklahoma? Green Ridge, Illinois? Curious? On this mornings program we talk Route 66 ghost towns and the music of Route 66, literally, with Dr. Nolan Stolz, Associate Professor of Music, Department of Fine Arts and Communication Studies, University of South Carolina Upstate. In anticipation of the forthcoming Route 66 Centennial, Stolz is creating a suite that brings the story of this iconic highway to life. And in his search for inspiration, and to develop an intimacy with this highway, he is also unraveling the secrets of literal ghost towns.
This program is sponsored in part by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. At this magical roadside treasure the past and present blend seamlessly, and the very essence of the Route 66 experience is made manifest.
Coming attractions. There are lots of exciting developments along Route 66 scheduled for this spring and fall. On this mornings episode author Jim Hinckley shares a bit of road trip inspiration for folks looking to discover, or rediscover, the magic of Route 66.
You live in a community along the Route 66 corridor. Even in the era of COVID 19 induced travel restrictions you see the flow of traffic, the people taking pictures, and the social media posts about Route 66 adventures. You see the potential for transforming your community, for breathing new life into historic business districts and blighted neighborhoods. And you see that, at best, the city makes an anemic effort to capitalize on the opportunities that Route 66 offers.
So, what can you do? On this mornings program author Jim Hinckley, America's storyteller, shares ideas with demonstrable results, provides some inspiration, and encourages people to take the bull by the horn.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the road trip specialists at RouteTrip USA. A grand adventure on the two lane highways of America or Canada begins by contacting these fine folk. They test the pillows and taste the enchiladas. They ensure your odyssey is memorable and trouble free.
What a delight! On today's program we have road trip inspiring music from the Road Crew, and a conversation with the creator of High's Roadside, one of my favorite Facebook pages. The discussion was wide ranging - a Chicken in The Rough restaurant in Port Huron, Michigan, a mysterious discovery on the Gettysburg battlefield, a barbed wire museum, the world's oldest traffic light and much, much more!
Today's program is sponsored in part by the road trip experts at RouteTrip USA. If you want to experience the very best of the US or Canada with a grand adventure road trip, your first stop is to contact RouteTrip USA.
On this mornings program we talk small town America, special places where the line between past and present is blurred. It's travel tips, road trip inspiration, and shared adventures on this episode of Wake Up With Jim.
Featured towns on this program include Kingman, Arizona, Prescott, Arizona and Cuba, Missouri.
This program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, road trip experts that ensure worry free, memory making adventures in the US or Canada.
On today's program it is a fun filled, inspirational visit with Jim Livingston of Jim Livingston Art in Amarillo, Texas. We talk storm chasing, Route 66, the brave new world of NFT art, photography, and the meaning of a life well lived.
Today's program is sponsored by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. The oldest continuously operated motel on Route 66 is a destination. It is the essence of the Route 66 experience made manifest.
This morning we will be talking Route 66, the Great American road trip, and tourism in the post COVID world with Austin Coop of 2 Lane America. (www.2laneamerica.com/) Today’s program is sponsored in part by the delightful Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico. This roadside gem is a living time capsule wrapped in modern amenities.
It's a new week with new opportunities for inspiration and adventure. On this mornings program author Jim Hinckley shares a preview of coming attractions, provides updates on some exciting projects, and starts your week with some road trip inspiration.
This program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge, a 1964 time capsule wrapped in modern amenities, and the delightful, magical, wonderful City of Tucumcari.
It's Friday! And that means author Jim Hinckley answers your questions about Route 66, road trips, backroad adventures, ghost towns ...
This mornings program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the road trip specialists for a memorable holiday adventure in the US or Canada.
This morning we wrap we up our week of automotive programs with a doozy of a story. Have you ever given thought to the phrase “It’s a doozy?” It’s a simple phrase. A superlative. It is also a testimonial to an astounding automobile and the genius of two brothers named Duesenberg. A standard against which all automobiles are measured. The mighty, the stylish Duesenberg.
To Louie Keen and his team at Uranus Fudge Company & General Store along Route 66 near St. Robert, Missouri, and at their new store near Anderson, Indiana, thank you for sponsoring tis mornings program. Superb fudge, memory making fun with endless displays of juvenile humor, escape rooms, a circus side show museum and miniature golf, and a smile inducing gift shop make Uranus a must stop location for any fan of the great American road trip.
His is a true rags to riches story. His rise from a brutal, stark, poverty stricken childhood to the presidency of General Motors is an inspirational story. And his life makes for an excellent study in what constitutes leadership. This is the story of Charles Nash.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the zany, memory making, smile inducing, juvenile humor capital that is Uranus Fudge Company & General Store.
Visionaries such as Elon Musk and Byron Carter see the world as it could be, not as it is. And Carter, like Musk, worked tirelessly to make the envisioned future a reality.
He wasn't quite as successful as Musk, but he did play a role in transforming a small Michigan city into an industrial powerhouse. And as a result, for a brief moment in time, Detroit faced a competitor for the title Motor City.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. More than just a place to rest a weary head, this is a destination where the past and present blend seamlessly.
And what is the best way to discover gems like this on a Route 66 odyssey? By booking a holiday with the road trip professionals at RouteTrip USA, your one stop shop for an road trip adventure in the US or Canada.
This week on Wake With Jim, we step back to the dawn of the auto industry with tales chock full of surprises, trivia and the information that you need to amaze your friends or spark some interesting conversation at the party. On today's program America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley shares the story of the legendary Stanley steamer, and the men who built that car.
Did you know that there is a connection between the Stanley steamer and Kodak?
This mornings program is sponsored in part by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in charming Cuba, Missouri. And it is also sponsored by the fine folk at RouteTrip USA, your one stop shop for a memorable road trip holiday in the US or Canada.
Mail Call! It's Friday morning and so we dig into the mail bag (and the email) to answer your questions about Route 66, road trips, festival, museums, travel guides ...
On this mornings episode of wake up with Jim, America's storyteller answers questions about restaurants along Route 66 in California, automobile museums, St. Louis attractions, Route 66 guides, festivals, and more!
This mornings program is sponsored in part by the magic of crowdfunding - www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
This 1950s style diner has come to symbolize the Route 66 renaissance. It has appeared in advertisements for German based Condor Airlines, in Nissan Canada photo shoots and National Geographic Calendars. It is a destination for legions of Route 66 enthusiasts from throughout the world.
But did you know that Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner in Kingman, Arizona is a link to nearly a century of Route 66 history? Do you know the story behind this legendary restaurant?
On this mornings episode of Wake Up With Jim, America's storyteller, author Jim Hinckley shares the story Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner, and its connection to Route 66 history in western Arizona.
This program is sponsored in part by magical, delightful, wonderful, Tucumcari, New Mexico. More than just a stop it is a destination. Classic Route 66 motels such as the Roadrunner Lodge where the past and present blend seamlessly. A fascinating railroad museum. A vintage theater. And the heart of exciting day trips. This is Tucumcari.
Overshadowed by the fame of Mr. D'z Route 66 Diner, Dunton Motors Dream machines in Kingman, Arizona is a tangible link to Route 66 from its inception to the era of renaissance. It's history includes tragedy, Edsel's, politics and of course, Route 66.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. The oldest continuously operated motel on Route 66 is more than a landmark. It is the magic of the Route 66 experience made manifest.
The desperate need for a new Mohave County Jail was not the only crime related news that put the media spotlight on Kingman, Arizona in the first decade of the new century. At 2:00 in the afternoon of January 19, 1907, C.C. Leigh was hung in the yard of the Mohave County Jail. This was the culmination of a two-year legal battle that had often been the subject of national headlines.
On September 8, 1905, Leigh had murdered Jennie Bauters, his mistress, in Goldroad. When appeals had been exhausted and the date of execution was set, his mother sent a wire to President Theodore Roosevelt and Territorial Governor Kibbey seeking clemency or a stay of execution. Neither one responded.
Today's program is sponsored in part by Uranus Fudge Company & General Store along Route 66 east to St. Robert, Missouri. This is a destination. This is an experience. This is where memories are made. This is where fun reigns supreme. This is home to some of the best fudge on earth. And soon, you can experience all the fun of Uranus in Anderson, Indiana at their new location. Can you imagine a road with a stop at not one but at two Uranus Fudge Company & General Store locations?
The Brunswick Hotel in Kingman is a tangible link to Arizona's territorial history. It has a celebrity association that includes Edsel Ford and Clark Gable. And now it is about to become another manifestation of the Route 66 renaissance, and the rebirth of the city's historic district.
This mornings program is sponsored in part by the Uranus Fudge Company & General Store along Route 66 that is now just east to St. Robert, Missouri. This is a destination. This is an experience. This is where memories are made. This is where fun reigns supreme. This is home to some of the best fudge on earth. And soon, you can experience all the fun of Uranus at their new second store in Anderson, Indiana. Did you know that you can order their delicious fudge, zany souvenirs, or a copy of the Uranus Examiner newspaper at www.uranusgeneralstore.com
In the Crow language his name was High Bird. The world knew him, and will remember him, as Joe Medicine Crow. His exploits in WWII were legendary.
But he was more than a warrior. After the war he became a prolific author and speaker. He won numerous accolades for his work to document firsthand accounts of reservation life. The National Park Service also credited Medicine Crow as the last surviving person to have heard oral accounts of the 1876 Battle of Little Bighorn. He was named tribal historian by the Crow Tribal Council. And he was awarded honorary doctoral degrees from his alma mater and Rocky Mountain College in Montana.
Joe Medicine Crow lived a life of inspiration, of valor, and of leadership.
Today's program is sponsored in part RouteTrip USA. If you have been dreaming of a road trip holiday in the US or Canada, perhaps it's time to make the dream a reality. Perhaps it's time to contact the road trip experts, and make some memories that last a lifetime.
Sarah Winnemucca was fearless. She was tenacious. She tirelessly worked to get better treatment for the Paiute and other tribes, and to get tribes to embrace the education needed for them to adapt to the new world and survive.
Her exploits were legendary. As an example, in 1878, she worked as a messenger, scout and interpreter for General O. O. Howard during the Bannock War. She later said, quote, “This was the hardest work I ever did for the government in all my life … having been in the saddle night and day; distance, about two hundred and twenty-three miles. Yes, I went for the government when the officers could not get an Indian man or a white man to go for love or money. I, only an Indian woman, went and saved my people.” Her courageous actions landed her on the front page of The New York Times and made her the subject of dime novels.
This mornings program is brought to you in part by the one and only Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. The oldest continuously operated motel on Route 66, the Wagon Wheel Motel is a living time capsule where the line between past and present blur seamlessly.
Good morning, everyone! This morning’s inspirational story about Phineas Gage is so amazing that it was featured in Ripley’s Believe It or Not. But just as with many tales of inspiration, the story of Phineas Gage is also a tale of tragedy.
In 1852, 29-year-old Phineas Gage was working in Chile as a stagecoach driver. Four years earlier he had been employed as a powder man for a railroad construction project when an accident transformed his life and made medical history.
This mornings program is sponsored in part by Uranus Fudge Company & General Store, a Route 66 destination where fun is the name of the game and memories that last a life time are made.
War is a horrid affair. No one involved walks away unscarred. No one walks away without a story. But rarely is a story more amazing than that of Jacob Miller.
Miller served in Company K of the 9th Indiana Infantry during the Civil War. He valiantly fought in the battles of Greenbriar, West Virginia; the siege of Corinth; Perryville, Kentucky; and Stones River. On September 19, 1863, during the bloody battle of Chickamauga, it looked like his luck had run out.
This mornings program is sponsored in part by the wonderful Roadrunner Lodge in magical Tucumcari, New Mexico. Looking for a special getaway? Well, look no further.
We are wrapping up the year with a week of stories that will inspire and amaze you. On today's program it's the story of Ralph Teetor, a man who overcame a debilitating disability, inspired everyone he met, and transformed the way that we drive.
Join America's story teller, author Jim Hinckley, for a week of stories that we give you a new outlook for a new year.
This programs is sponsored in part by the living time capsule that is the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri. It is also sponsored in part by the road trip specialists at RouteTrip USA. If you are thinking of a road trip holiday in the US or Canada, give a holler to my amigos and RouteTrip USA.
This morning, on the last of our Christmas programs for 2021, author Jim Hinckley shares two inspirational but tragic and somber stories about a shared Christmas in the midst of war. The first story is from the trenches in WWI. And the second is the tale of a family of impoverished refugees who risked treason to give American and German soldiers a taster of Christmas during the Battle of the Bulge.
This mornings program is sponsored in part by the memory making road trip specialists at RouteTrip USA, the delightful and almost magical town of Tucumcari, New Mexico, and the wonderful time capsule that is Roadrunner Lodge.
Christmas cards, gifts, family, mall Santa's, reindeer, and childhood memories. It is a wonderful time of year. It is a a time of tradition. But did you know that many American Christmas traditions are a recent phenomena? Did you know that the war on Christmas was actually fought in the 1650s? Did you know that Santa Claus had children? Did you know that many of our holiday traditions have Dutch and German origins?
Join author Jim Hinckley for a look at Christmas in America through the centuries on this episode of Coffee With Jim.
Today's program is sponsored by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri.
Our countdown to Christmas continues with some road trip inspiration. This morning author Jim Hinckley shares his wish list for places to visit during the holiday season.
This mornings program is sponsored in part by the charming and delightful city of Tucumcari.
It is the story of an American icon that begins on Christmas day, 1878. As was the case with many automotive pioneers and even the Wright Brothers, he began his career with bicycle repair and racing. But for a time he took it a step further and manufactured bicycles under the Frontenac name.
His career included work as a mechanic for Fiat, a founding member of Buick's factory racing team, and the manufacturer of high performance parts for the Model T Ford. He was Louis Chevrolet.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, road trip specialists that ensure a memorable holiday in the US as well as Canada. It is also sponsored in part by the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri.
It's Friday morning! That means it is time to delve into the mail (or email) bag and answer your questions about road trips, Route 66, travel, good pie, ghost towns, rental cars, hotels, ....
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the holiday road trip specialists.
Route 66. The Main Street of America. Long ago the old double 6 morphed into something more than a mere highway. It has a dedicated international fan club. It is the stage used for the introduction of an array of products from electric Harley Davidson motorcycles to insurance in Australian.
How did this happen? How did this highway come to symbolize the quintessential American road trip? Will the highways popularity continue into its centennial and beyond?
Join author Jim Hinckley for a fun filled, fast paced look at the most famous highway in America.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri.
On this mornings episode America's storyteller shares the tale of an Arizona pioneer, and a territorial era hotel that still stands in spite of a bitter breakup of partners, changing times, and premature attempts to use it for the launching of an historic district renaissance.
And there is a diverse celebrity connection to the story. Edsel Ford. Clark Gable and Carol Lombard. Senator Barry Goldwater.
Also on this mornings program, updates on the innovative program that is bringing Kingman's rich and colorful history to life.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, your one stop shop for a memorable road trip holiday in the USA or Canada. It is also sponsored by the magic of crowdfunding on the Patreon platform.
Budville a few miles west of Laguna, New Mexico was never much more than a wide spot in the road. There was a garage and service station, store, and across the highway a roadhouse, the Dixie Tavern & Cafe.
But on two separate occasions Budville made national headlines. Once in 1967 when the owner H.N. "Bud" Rice was murdered. And also in early 1956 with the discovery of Ralph Rainey's body along Route 66 just west of Budville, and the linking of his death to a string of murders along Route 66.
On this mornings episode of Wake Up With Jim, author Jim Hinckley, America's storyteller, shares another dark tale from his book, Murder & Mayhem on The Main Street of America: Tales From Bloody 66.
Today's program is sponsored in part by magical, surprising, delightful, memory making Tucumcari, New Mexico. It is also sponsored by the one and only Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari where the past and present blend seamlessly. And these programs are also made possible through the magic of crowdfunding.
It was never more than a remote desert railroad siding in northwestern Arizona. Today few even remember that it existed. Only a few concrete slabs, scattered trash piles and a scattering of graves marked with weathered wooden cross or rocks mark the site.
It is a haunting place. And it is the site of not one, but two epic disasters. In November of 1901 two trains collided head on just west of Franconia, Arizona. The Santa Fe railroad said it was the most horrendous disaster in the company's history. And then in 1945, an express train collided with a passenger train at the siding.
On this mornings program America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley shares the story of these disasters, and of the remote desert outpost that was Franconia.
This program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA the road trip holiday professionals.
It's Friday and that means it is time to dig into the mail bag (or email) and answer your questions about Route 66, road trips, enchiladas, festivals, … Where is the best Mexican food on Route 66? Most interesting auto museum? What is the best Route 66 festival?
The answer to these questions on this mornings episode of Wake Up With Jim. Today's program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico, and the road trip specialists at RouteTrip USA.
On this mornings program we take a Route 66 trip with Jack Rittenhouse. Did I forget to mention that our odyssey takes place in 1946?
Rittenhouse's A Guide Book to Highway 66 didn't sell as well as expected when it was first published. But the rerelease in 1988 hit at the dawning of the Route 66 renaissance. And so for legions of Route 66enthusiasts it has become a popular guide to the old highway. But it is also a time capsule.
Join author Jim Hinckley as he pulls back the curtain, and transports the traveler to 1946.
Today's program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, your one stop shop for a grand road trip adventure in the USA or Canada, the Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico, where the line between past and present is delightfully blurred, and through the magic of crowdfunding.
Welcome to Needles - Arizona. This morning America's storyteller shares the odd stories of two frontier era communities named Needles, both with a Route 66 connection. Remember, it is better to fill the head with useless knowledge than no knowledge at all!
On this program we roll western history, railroad history, Route 66 trivia, and an invitation into one package. As the song by The Road Crew says, come along for the ride.
Todays program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA , road trip specialists for a holiday in the US or Canada, magical and fascinating Tucumcari, New Mexico, and through the magic of crowdfunding.
Published in the fall of 1907 was a particularly comedic story about the deplorable state of the Mohave County Jail in Kingman, Arizona. “Because all the prisoners in the Mohave County Jail, grown tired of the sameness of the menu, and their surroundings, walked away a short time ago. All of the fugitives face additional charges for the jail break. None of the escapees have yet been caught.”
On this mornings program we step back to the territorial era in Arizona, and share the story of a fascinating historic landmark. It is a tale of jail breaks, a hanging, and a look into life in the last years of the western frontier.
This program is sponsored in part by magical, delightful, fascinating Tucumcari, New Mexico, the holiday road trip specialists at RouteTrip USA, and through the magic of crowdfunding.
The countdown to a new year is underway! You are cordially invited to a Christmas Party, a couple of interesting walking tours, a neon lighting party, a fun filled Route 66 get together in Needles, California, and some shared adventures with America's story teller Jim Hinckley.
On this mornings program we talk upcoming events, provide a bit of road trip inspiration, and in general tell people where to go.
This mornings program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, the road trip holiday specialists and through the magic of crowdfunding.
On this mornings program author Jim Hinckley shares a bit of the history behind Vauxhall and the first use of aluminum in automobiles, and he introduces listeners to Laurence H. Pomeroy, an automotive visionary. And of course, there are a few updates from Jim Hinckley's America, some road trip inspiration courtesy our friends at the City of Tucumcari (https://visittucumcarinm.com/) and RouteTrip USA (https://www.routetripusa.co.uk/), and a preview of upcoming episodes of Wake Up With Jim.
On this mornings episode we visit with Professor Nick Gerlich for a wide ranging conversation about his forthcoming book, the Route 66 experience, the fast approaching Route 66 centennial, historic neon signage and the great American road trip. It's thought provoking, road trip inspiring, smile inducing conversation. As the song says, come along for the ride. This is Jim Hinckley's America. This program is sponsored in part by RouteTrip USA, road trip specialists for adventures in the USA and Canada (www.routetripusa.co.uk/), Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico (https://roadrunnerlodge.com/) and the iconic Wagon Wheel Motel (www.wagonwheel66cuba.com/) in Cuba, Missouri.
It's a morning filled with inspiration! Our guest this morning is Whitney Ortiz, the dynamic tourism director in Atlanta, Illinois. But there is more to Ortiz than transforming this charming Route 66 community into a destination. Through her fascinating Where in The World Is Whitney Instagram posts she inspires adventures, stepping from the comfort zone, and embracing life with passion.
Join author Jim Hinckley and find a bit of inspiration to live life to its fullest.
Adapt or die. That was the challenge faced by a countless number of blacksmith shops and companies that produced wagons, surreys, and harnesses in 1900. Many companies made a valiant effort to adapt to changing times. A few companies denied the obvious. And one company successfully made the transition.
Do you remember the adage that is better to fill the head with useless knowledge than no knowledge at all? The subject of this episode is flying cars. Did you know that a company offered flying cars in the 1950s? Did you know that subdivisions were designed with runways and special garages to accommodate flying cars? Did you know that the first flying car made its debut more than 100 years ago?
On this week’s episode I am sharing the story of a nearly forgotten visionary. Glenn Curtiss was possessed with an insatiable curiosity that led him to pioneer motorcycle development, make a fortune in real estate development, transform automotive design, and make incalculable aeronautical contributions.
The history of the American auto industries infancy is littered with stories of manufacturers that showed great promise, that were innovative in many areas, and that vanished with little to mark their passing. Their obscurity in the modern era is even more surprising when one considers longevity, contributions made to the industry and volume of production. As an example, consider the Mitchell manufactured in Racine, Wisconsin.
Much has been written on the early technological development of the automobile, the visionaries who moved it from circus sideshow curiosity to necessity, and the dramatic societal changes wrought by abandonment of the horse and buggy. Curiously, a key component in this transition and the publics acceptance of the automobile has received little more than cursory examination.
Cadwallader Kelsey was a promotional master worthy the legacy of P.T. Barnum. Before reaching the age of twenty-five Kelsey had established a profitable garage, talked his way into being appointed the only dealer of Maxwell-Briscoe’s in the city of Philadelphia, and became the largest volume seller of those automobiles in the United. And as a result, he was given the position of national sales manager for Maxwell Briscoe.
For a brief moment in time, after WWII the eccentric visionary, the innovator and the quick buck artist found a place in the American auto industry. For a few short years, just as in the infancy of the industry, independent manufacturers could challenge the monolithic corporation.
Preston Tucker was ambitious. Preston Tucker was imaginative. Preston Tucker was a man who cut corners to reach a goal. Hayward and Channing Powell started their business endeavors with the manufacturing of radios in Compton, California during the mid-1920s. In the early 1930s they abandoned radios and began manufacturing scooters and scooter sidecars.
The story of Tucker and the Powell brothers is a story of independent thinking.
Bicycles. Bicycle touring. Bicycle racing. An international obsession with bicycling. An argument could easily be made that the cornerstone of the auto industry, the modern highway system in America, and even iconic Route 66 is the bicycle. The first successful modern chain-drive bicycle, known at the time as the safety bicycle, was produced under the "Rover" name with pneumatic tires in 1885 by John Kemp Starley. In the blink of an eye hundreds of thousands of ordinary people were enjoying a new kind of fun and experiencing unprecedented mobility. By 1895 more than 300 manufacturers were producing bicycles in the United States, and almost that many were in operation in Europe. There were also countless assembly and repair shops, including one in Dayton, Ohio, operated by Wilbur and Orville Wright. Albert Pope, owner of Pope manufacturing Company had five factories running day and night turning out bicycles at the rate of about one every minute to meet the ever-growing demand. At the dawning of the new century, Pope diversified by adding engines to bicycles and manufacturing motorcycles, and then automobiles.
This program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico, a near perfect blending of the past and present, a living time capsule where the traveler is assured a restful night’s sleep after an adventuresome day on Route 66.
The period between 1890 and 1930 has long been of interest to me. It was an era of amazing transition fueled by visionaries, intellectual giants, and eccentrics. Many are forgotten today but we still benefit from their contributions.
Charles F. Kettering forever changed the world when he devised the first practical key ignition and electric starter system. It debuted on the 1912 Cadillac. For better or for worse he was also the pioneer behind the creation of leaded gasoline and Freon gas, automotive safety glass and an incubator for premature babies. He also established a cancer research facility, an engineering school, introduced the electric cash register and developed an electric diesel/dynamo that would replace steam as the power for locomotives.
Harold Wills was possessed with an insatiable curiosity and a sharp mind. He had developed an abiding passion for automobiles in the mid-1890s. He apprenticed as a machinist at the Boyer Machine Company in Detroit. In 1899 he began moonlighting, for free, for another visionary genius with a natural mechanical inclination - Henry Ford.
This program is sponsored in part by the amazing Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico and through the magic of crowdfunding on the Patreon platform - www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
On August 21, 1915, Roland Conklin of the Roland Gas Electric Motor Bus Company, his family, a chauffeur, mechanic, maid and cook family departed Huntington, New York for a two-month, 5,000-mile cross-country camping trip. Conklin, one of the wealthiest men in America, had commissioned construction of a 25-foot, 8-ton summer cottage on wheels that he dubbed the “Gypsy Van.”
On today's episode America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley shares the story of Conklin's amazing adventure, a tale about Edsel Ford and Lt. Dwight David Eisenhower's amazing adventure.
This program is sponsored in part by the magical time capsule that is the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri and through the magic of crowdfunding on the Patreon platform - www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
Welcome to another episode of 5 Minutes with Jim. Before Evel Knievel there was Joie Chitwood, Kitty O’Neil, Cannon Ball Baker and a legion of stunt and endurance drivers that thrilled audiences and set records. They were celebrities to a car obsessed nation and a few overcame tremendous obstacles to serve as an inspiration.
Multi-talented daredevil Kitty O’Neil was a stunt-woman on TV shows like Wonder Woman. Additionally, she performed a variety of driving stunts for shows and broke land speed records, exceeding 512 mph in her 1976 attempt. But this was only a small part of this amazing woman’s story.
On this weeks program it's a high speed adventure.
It's a doozy! Did you know that this phrase is an honorarium for a company that built some of the most astounding automobiles ever produced. It was a car with futuristic features and unparalleled luxury. And it was powerful and fast - tested speeds of 119 mph in 1929. Tested to 94 mph in second gear.
In the formative years of the American auto industry, speed sold cars. Speed and performance made headlines. Speed, performance and luxury created brand loyalty with the rich and the famous.
It's another adventure through time with America's storyteller, author Jim Hinckley. This program is made possible in part through the magic of crowdfunding. www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
In 1911, Washington Augustus Roebling II, and his friend Stephen Blackwell, son of the former U.S. Senator Jonathon Blackwell, began making plans to promote the Mercer, a sportscar with an enviable reputation for speed and performance with a European tour. The young men toured Italy and France with the final stop being Southampton, England, in April of 1912. Passage for their return trip was aboard a newly constructed ship, the Titanic.
Illness, natural and man-made disasters, auto accidents, and sudden death brought an abrupt end to many an endeavor during the formative years of the American auto industry. In each instance we are left with questions of what might have been.
On this weeks episode of 5 Minutes With Jim, America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley shares a few stories of tragedy that transformed the American auto industry.
This weeks program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico, a bit of 1960s swank. A time capsule wrapped in modern amenities. It is also made possible by supporters of our crowdfunding initiative on the Patreon platform. www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
Alexander Winton pioneered the race on Sunday sell on Monday marketing strategy. Hudson built a reputation for reliability and performance through racing. In the 1950s the legendary Hudson Hornet was driven to racing records that would stand for decades.
On this weeks fast paced episode of 5 Minutes With Jim, America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley shares stories about pioneering companies that transformed racing wins into sales.
This program is made possible in part through the magic of crowdfunding - www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
One of the most fascinating aspects of the American auto industry before WWII was its rich diversity. Dozens of manufacturers carved a profitable niche from a highly competitive market, were innovative, and survived for decades before the willowing winds of the post WWI economic recession and the Great depression decimated the industry.
This program is sponsored in part by the magical Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico and through the magic of crowdfunding - www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
IT was an interesting concept, a vehicle that bridged the gap between the automobile and the motorcycle.
For a time during the early to mid-teens, it was an international fad that launched hundreds of manufacturing endeavors.
And then in an instant the entire movement became less than an historical footnote. Yet in a way it was a glimpse of the future, the post WWII years when microcars would enjoy popularity, especially in Europe.
This program is sponsored in part through the magic of crowdfunding - www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
For American auto enthusiasts, the V8 engine has almost mythical status. It powered the chrome bedecked tail finned behemoths of the 1950s, and the Ford flathead 8 was the engine of choice for pioneering hotrodders. Few. however, know that the V8 engine is almost as old as the automobile itself. And fewer know that as with Chevrolet, the V8 engine was an import.
On this fun filled program its another opportunity to fill the head with useless knowledge as America's storyteller, author Jim Hinckley, shares a bit of obscure history about the legendary V8 engine.
This program is sponsored in part by the iconic Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico and through the magic of crowdfunding on the Patreon platform.
It was an era of unprecedented opportunity, for those with vision, with passion, and with ambition. The world’s largest manufacturer of household items such as birdcages and ice boxes transformed into the manufacturer of luxury automobiles. Twin brothers manufactured violins and launched a photographic empire before turning their attention to steam cars. Opportunity and innovation were the order of the day when the world stood poised between the stirrup and the throttle.
This weeks program is sponsored in part by Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico, a near perfect blending of the past and present, a living time capsule where the traveler is assured a restful night’s sleep after an adventuresome day on Route 66 and through the magic of crowdfunding - www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
Welcome to another episode of 5 Minutes with Jim. In 1901, Alexander Winton of the Winton Motor Carriage Company made a valiant effort to drive across the United States and made a grueling drive from San Francisco to Nevada. In 1903, Dr. Horatio Jackson succeeded where Winton had failed. In 1911, AAA hired A. L. Westgard to map automobile roads in the west. Four years later Edsel Ford and several thousand people drove to the Panama Pacific Exposition in California.
It's another bit of time travel back to the dawning of the great American road trip with America's storyteller, author Jim Hinckley
This program is sponsored in part by the Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico, a touch of 1960s swank on Route 66. It is also sponsored thought the magic of crowdfunding -www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
In the beginning the automobile was literally a horseless carriage. Then it morphed into a box on wheels. But Walter Chrysler and Hans Ledwinka had a streamlined vision of the future, and the auto industry was forever changed.
Even though the Airflow was deemed radical in its engineering and even bizarre in its styling, it paled in comparison to the new Ledwinka designed Tatra’s. The large Tatra 77 was introduced mere weeks before the Airflow and as a result claimed the title of being the world’s first production aerodynamic car.
Welcome to another episode of 5 Minutes with Jim. There were motorized bicycles and vehicles with four, six and even eight wheels. They were powered by steam, gasoline, kerosene, electricity, oversize clock springs and even compressed air. They began as a manifestation of eccentricity and scientific curiosity but soon morphed into circus side show curiosity and promotional gimmick.
Then in the blink of an eye the automobile was a multimillion-dollar industry. Names became brands. Streetscapes were transformed with gas stations, garages, electric vehicle charging stations, billboards, and dealerships. Society was transformed. The world of transportation was transformed. Our lexicon was transformed with the addition of words like motel. Generational businesses were decimated. Time honored careers were transformed into historic footnotes. It was a time of transition.
This program is sponsored in part by the historic Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico (www.roadrunnerlodge.com/)the magic of crowdfunding (www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica)
It never ceases to amaze me that in less than ten years the automobile went from circus side show curiosity to necessity. In ten short years the automobile went from eccentric’s project in a back-alley workshop to multimillion-dollar industry. How? Underlying the tsunami of interest that fueled the transformation of the automobile from novelty to daily transportation was the excitement, the allure of racing and motoring sports.
This fun filled episode of 5 Minutes With Jim is sponsored in part by Roadrunner Lodge in Tucucmari, New Mexico (https://www.roadrunnerlodge.com/ ).
It is also made possible through the magic of crowdfunding on Patreon (https://www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica)
Before Nissan and Toyota challenged the dominance of Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler in the United States auto industry, it was a legion of smaller manufactures that vied for a share of the market. A few such as Peerless, Willys Overland and Auburn were never able to be counted as serious contenders. Others, however, claimed a serious market share and pushed the envelope for technological innovation.
On this episode of 5 Minutes With Jim, author Jim Hinckley takes a quick and surprising look at the contributions of the independent auto manufacturers.
This program is made possible in part through the magic of crowdfunding - www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
From its inception in 1909 the company continued to set standards for quality, for performance and for durability. It weathered the Great Depression and became a cornerstone for the creation of American Motors. It was rooted in the infancy of Oldsmobile. It was the brainchild of swashbuckling, passionate young visionaries. And in the modern era, the legendary Hudson Hornet was introduced to a new generation in the animated film Cars.
On this episode America's story teller, author Jim Hinckley, shares some highlights from the legendary automobile manufacturer, Hudson.
Welcome to another episode of 5 Minutes with Jim. With the luxury of hindsight, we can look back and see with clarity periods of time that dramatically transformed the world. 1939 to 1945, WWII. 1929 to 1940, the Great Depression. 2020. 1900 to 1930 when the world went from horse drawn to horsepower. Curious? Let me explain.
Welcome to another episode of 5 Minutes with Jim. My fascination with automobile marketing and promotion spans decades. I am unsure when catchy tunes such as See The USA in your Chevrolet began catching my attention but do know that the first acquisition in what has evolved into a vast collection of promotional materials was an advertisement for the 1917 GMC truck. I framed that piece at age 16. It is a time capsule. It is a comparative of savings that a GMC offers over a four horse team. On this mornings episode author Jim Hinckley delves into the history of "selling the sizzle, not the steak" marketing that transformed the auto industry.
This mornings program is sponsored in part by the magic of crowdfunding - https://www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
If you were asked to compose a list of the ten men most responsible for the development of the American automobile industry, who would you include? Would it include Henry Ford and David Buick? Perhaps Walter Chrysler, Ransom Olds, John Dodge, Benjamin Briscoe, Louis Chevrolet, and Charles Nash would also make that list? Would it include A.W. Tobin and Ross Judson? For every pioneer that gained a dubious immortality with their name being emblazoned in chrome on a century of automobiles, there were hundreds that were condemned to obscurity. On this week’s program we give these forgotten pioneers a brief moment in the spotlight.
This programs is sponsored in part through the magic of crowdfunding - www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
If it weren’t for the dreamers, the eccentrics and the visionaries we would most likely still be traveling the ocean on ships powered by the wind and running the roads in a carriage pulled by old Dobbins. In the modern era it is men like Elon Musk that are pushing the auto industry to keep up with their dream. In the past it was men like Ralph Teetor, J. Walter Christie, E.L. Cord and C. Harold Wills that challenged the pioneering automobile manufacturers to step into the future. On this week’s episode I will introduce you to a few visionaries that changed the automotive world.
This weeks program is made possible through the magic of crowdfunding (https://www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica) and by the City of Cuba, Missouri's Mural City (visitcubamo.com)
Here is an interesting point to ponder. Consider what it would have been like to sell an automobile in, say, 1905. Many automobiles sold for as much as a house. There were few roads suitable for driving on and purchasing gasoline occasionally required a wait of days. To further test your sales skills, automobiles often required repairs after being driven a few hundred miles and financing options were little to nonexistent. On today’s program we are going to have a bit of fun as we look back on memorable, and best forgotten automotive marketing campaigns, slogans, and jingles.
This program is sponsored in part by the historic Wagon Wheel Motel, the City of Cuba and through the magic of crowdfunding - www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica - .
Good morning, mi amigos. Welcome to another episode of 5 Minutes with Jim. Before the willowing winds of the Great Depression decimated the world’s economy, a 1929 study noted that GM, Ford and Chrysler dominated a full 75% of the market even though there were dozens of automobile manufacturers in the United States. On today’s episode I will introduce you to a few of the competitors.
This program is sponsored in part by Gilligan's Route 66 Tours (https://www.gilligansroute66.com/) and the magic of crowdfunding (https://www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica)
On this weeks episode of 5 Minutes With Jim, it's high speed adventures of the off road kind. On February 12, 1908, a contest was launched that pitted man and machine against the wilderness. It was an epic auto race from New York City to Paris across the United States, and the trackless wilderness of Mongolia and Siberia.
This epic was but one of many events that proved the automobile was more than a side show curiosity. In 1912 a Brush Runabout was the first automobile driven across Australia. From 1908 to 1914 a series of races across the desert from Los Angeles to Phoenix grabbed the worlds attention.
This week on 5 Minutes With Jim, it's motoring adventures in an era when the horse was still king, and a road trip was a true adventure.
This week author Jim Hinckley, America's storyteller, talk immortality of a dubious kind. It's automotive pioneers that have been forgotten with only their last names remembered. Who today remembers Louis Chevrolet as a race car driver, an inventor or bicycle manufacturer? What about the contributions made to the development of Ford or Olds by Horace or John Dodge?
On this morning's episode we talk electric vehicles and steam cars. When do you think the first electric car took to the streets? Here is a hint. Henry Bliss was the first pedestrian struck and killed by an automobile. This was in 1899, and the vehicle was an electric taxi cab.
What was the first automobile to set a speed record of 150 miles per hour? A 1906 Stanley, a steam car.
Be prepared to be surprised on this special episode of 5 Minutes With Jim
Milton Reeves was a dreamer. Milton Reeves was a bit of an eccentric and actually believed that a car with eight or six wheels would be the wave of the future. De Soto offered a cigarette dispenser - in the center of the steering wheel. On this mornings episode of 5 Minutes With Jim we talk eccentrics and automotive oddities. This morning it's an adventure of the unusual and the strange.
5 Minutes with Jim is sponsored in part by the Wagon Wheel Motel in Cuba, Missouri and the magic of crowdfunding.
https://www.wagonwheel66cuba.com/
https://www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
Pa always suggested that it was best to fill the head with useless knowledge than no knowledge at all. This program is filled with useless knowledge, unless you are a trivia buff, have dreams of appearing on Jeopardy or are just a very curious person.
Here is a teaser. Di you know that Henry Ford played a role in the founding of Cadillac? On this weeks episode of 5 Minutes With Jim we step back to the dawning of the auto industry and share some the stories behind some familiar names.
This show is sponsored part by the historic Wagon Wheel Motel (https://www.wagonwheel66cuba.com/) in Cuba, Missouri and through the magic of crowdfunding (https://www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica)
Cadwallader Kelsey was a marketing and promotional genius. He had been instrumental in propelling Maxwell-Briscoe to the position of third largest automobile manufacturer. Alice Ramsey was a most unusual young lady in the society of the first decade of the 20th century. She learned to to drive and to make minor repairs to her Maxwell. And she learned to race. Together Kelsey and Ramsey became a powerful promotional team with the result being a road trip of epic proportions.
This program is sponsored in part by Cuba, Missouri's Mural City. Check out visitcubamo.com for more information about this magic, wonderful, delightful fun Route 66 village in the scenic Ozark Mountains.
On today's episode of 5 Minutes With Jim it's a bit of automotive trivia and a visit to a private time capsule where a forgotten chapter in automotive history, and radio and television development is preserved. It's a journey through time and to a magical place where time stands still. It's another adventure with America's storyteller, author Jim Hinckley
This program and Jim Hinckley's America is made possible in part through the magic of crowdfunding.
Some people march to the tune of a different drummer. Julian Brown galloped. He was an eccentric extraordinaire. His automotive endeavors were never profitable but they were unique. They culminated with the Julian, a radial engine powered aluminum car that was as unconventional outside as it was under the hood.
Don't forget, this storyteller accepts tips through the magic of PayPal.
This morning on 5 Minutes With Jim we introduce to a few forgotten automotive pioneers. Did you know that there were powerful front-wheel drive cars as early as 1906? Did you know that there were aluminum bodied cars being produced in the 1920s? Did you know that the legendary Ford script was the creation of a man who perfected the V8 engine?
Join America's storyteller author Jim Hinckley for an adventure of the automotive kind.
Okay, if you’re a fan of obscure trivia and automotive history, you are going to really enjoy this mornings episode of 5 Minutes With Jim. Here is a peak. Did you know that the first patent for an automobile windshield wiper was issued in 1903? Did you know that the inventor was, are you ready for this, a woman? Did you know that beginning in 1904 this amazing lady spent two years trying to sell the idea to Canadian and American manufacturers but was rejected every single time?
Okay, let’s see a show of hands. Are you unnerved by how fast the world seems to be changing? If the answer is yes, I can imagine how high your stress level is during the current crisis because I am in the same boat. So, this morning I decided to share the fascinating and inspirational story of a fellow that followed the Oregon Trail west with an oxcart and later drove across the United States in an automobile. He assisted his son in building the first service station on the National Old Trails Road in the Cajon Pass and survived the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic. He also experienced a bit of cross-country air travel.
Sponsored in part through the magic of crowdfunding. https://www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
Holbrook, Arizona suffered badly with the interstate highway’s bypass of Route 66 in 1981, and it has never fully recovered. Within twelve months of rerouting traffic along I-40 rather than through town, forty-five businesses closed. But this is an old town, and hard times are a part of its history. This is evidenced by a dusty lane, lined with long-closed businesses, signed as Bucket of Blood Street, and the story of an incredible frontier era shootout.
Today's program is sponsored in part by tips, support of our crowdfunding initiative (https://www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica) and by the City of Cuba (visitcubamo.com)
Okay, what is the link between Route 66, Barney Oldfield, and Louis Chevrolet? Give up? Well, to make a short answer out of a long story, we step back to the spring of 1908 and a gathering of leading businessmen in Phoenix, Arizona that would end with a motoring spectacle of epic proportions. Now, I am willing to bet that there was a bit of drinking involved as a story of adventure like this never begins with, they were talking and having a salad.
During the current crisis as many businesses are closed and tours are suspended, we are increasingly dependent on tips through PayPal - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/JamesHinckley - and support of our crowdfunding initiative - https://www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
Thank you for the support
In the old forlorn ghost town of Glenrio astride the Texas/New Mexico state line there is a non-descript cinder block-fronted building with broken windows and no door. Even though the town is a favored photo stop for Route 66 enthusiasts, this building is often overlooked even though it is one of the most famous buildings in Glenrio. It was here on July 10, 1973, that Dessie Leach was senselessly murdered.
In this weeks episode of 5 Minutes With Jim it's a walk on the dark side in the ghost town of Glenrio, Texas.
For more stories from the shadows along Route 66, check out my latest book - Murder and Mayhem on The Main Street of America: Tales From Bloody 66.
Copies available though our website, jimhinckleysamerica.com or from the publisher - https://rionuevo.com/product-category/all-books/
This program is sponsored in part through the magic of crowdfunding - https://www.patreon.com/jimhinckleysamerica
Life is full of surprises. In the blink of the eye everything can change. Just a couple of weeks ago I was planning for a banner year of travel, of presentations, of meeting with tour groups and of visiting with friends. Then this bug known as the Coronavirus popped up on the radar screen in a very big way and the plans were transformed into one great big question mark. So, with that in mind it seemed an opportune time to discuss reading materials, books that should be added to every adventurer’s library. These are books that can inspire a road trip, or if you are stuck in the house for a while, make the time spent in exile bearable.
Sponsored in part by delightful, magical, wonderful Cuba, Missouri - visitcubamo.com
Fans of Jim Hinckley’s America and followers of the Five Minutes with Jim audio podcast hear me talk of Cuba often. This delightful little village nestled along Route 66 in the Ozark Mountains of Missouri is more than a major promotional partner of Jim Hinckley’s America. It is our adopted hometown, a very special place that is worthy more than a cursory stop. This morning I would like to share a few of the places that make it special, and that keep us coming back for visits time after time.
This morning on Five Minutes with Jim it’s an adventure of the gastronomical kind. Every week I field dozens of requests for travel tips and one of the most often asked questions is for information about my favorite restaurants. I should note that when we are on the road unless starvation is imminent chain restaurants are avoided and fast food is a no no. Instead of McDonalds or Arby’s we choose to buy the fixins for sandwiches at a market. On today’s program I am going to share a few of my favorite places for grabbing a snack, a savory dinner, or a hearty breakfast.
For a few visionary geniuses in the late 19th century the automobile was not a laughing matter, it was the future. In an interview published in Scientific American on May 21, 1892, Ransom E. Olds was quoted as saying about the automobile that, “…it never kicks or bite, never tires on long runs, and never sweats in hot weather. It does not require care in the stable and only eats while on the road.”
By 1900 automobile mania was sweeping Wall Street and the world of high finance. It was an industrial gold rush that led owners of established and profitable businesses to abandon everything in the quest to become an automotive tycoon. It also fueled a new breed of unscrupulous hucksters and unleashed the imagination of countless dreamers.
Today's program is sponsored in part by the magical roadside gem that is the Roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari, New Mexico. This charming roadside oasis is a near perfect time capsule circa 1964 wrapped in modern amenities. Make your reservation today at roadrunnerlodge.com.
"Against this backdrop of prejudice Victor H Green saw an opportunity, and a need. In the early 19330s Green was employed as a postal carrier in Harlem and as a service for friends collected information on hotels, restaurants, and other businesses in the New York City area that accepted or catered to African Americans. In 1936 he published this information in a small pamphlet entitled The Negro Motorist Green Book.
It proved so popular that for the 1937 edition he expanded coverage to include businesses throughout the United States. In the introduction, Green wrote, “There will be a day sometime in the future when this guide will not have to be published. That is when we as a race will have equal rights and privileges in the United States.”
In the 1920s Tulsa was a modern, growing community. It was also a city with a bloody history, a city that served as a spawning ground for some of the most vicious criminal gangs in the United States. And as with many American communities in this era it was a simmering cauldron of prejudices that was one spark away from exploding.
Near midnight on August 28, 1920, masked men barged into the Tulsa County Courthouse and held Sheriff James Woolley and his deputies at gunpoint while removing prisoner Roy Belton, aka Tom Owens, from the jail. The crowd outside the courthouse grew in number as the vigilantes drove Belton to a rural location on Southwest Boulevard—Route 66 after 1926—and hanged him from a billboard.
In this episode of 5 Minutes With Jim, we share the story of one of the most violent racial incidents in American history.
He was a legend. His exploits in mapping automobile roads in the west and southwest were nothing short of extraordinary. He was also a promoter and chronicled his adventures with articles, presentations and even motion pictures. And he helped lay the foundation for what would become an American icon; Route 66. He was A L Westgard.
On this episode of 5 Minutes With Jim we meet daring pioneers and take a road trip through time.
5 Minutes With Jim is sponsored in part by the City of Cuba, Grand Canyon Caverns & Inn and support our crowdfunding initiative on the Patreon platform.
"The best commentary on the road between Santa Fe and Albuquerque is that it took us less than three hours to make the sixty-six miles, whereas the seventy-three miles from Las Vegas to Santa Fe took us nearly six." Emily Post, By Motor to The Golden Gate, 1916.
The National Old Trails Highway became the gateway to the wonders of the southwest. In 1915 more than 20,000 people arrived at the Panama Pacific Exposition by automobile from outside the state of California. Many of these folk, including Edsel Ford had followed the National Old Trails Road.
The story of the roads creation, development, and evolution is a tale of politics, of changing times, and of epic road trips.
Before the Lincoln Highway, Dixie Highway and National Old Trails Road there was a national obsession with the bicycle.This was the dawning of the great American road trip and the good roads movement.
It was the dawning of a new era. AAA was formed in Chicago, automobile manufacturers were funding road development, visionaries were competing to build a coast to coast highway, and there was a looming political battle over the creation of a US highway system.
Today's program is sponsored in part through the magic of crowdfunding on the Patroen platform.
He was a dreamer and adventurer. He transformed travel in the desert southwest. His exploits were the stuff of legend. Route 66 in the southwest was built on his work. He was Francois Xavier Aubry, the Skimmer of the Plains.
In this episode of Five Minutes With Jim, sponsored in part by Grand Canyon Caverns and the magic of crowdfunding, we introduce you to a colorful adventurer, an explorer that has been largely forgotten even though valley's, mountains and streams along the Route 66 corridor carry his name.