The Outlaw as American Folk Hero
Driving along Route 66 we often seem to come upon places that boast of association with one or another infamous American outlaw. Stories about Jesse James or Bonnie and Clyde get told and re-told, and it makes one wonder why so many of the folk heroes out here were outlaws.
Americans love the “ordinary guy” who [...]
Day 6: A Taste of Route 66, Oklahoma
It was getting late by the time we crossed into Oklahoma, so we decided we would keep driving even after it gets dark, then look for a hotel somewhere beyond Tulsa. This way we could continue our slow exploration of the old road. Oklahoma’s 400 miles of Route 66 contain more of the original alignments [...]
Day 6: Fifteen Minutes of Fame for Route 66, Kansas
American Pop Artist, Andy Warhol, once said, “In the future, everyone will be famous for 15 minutes.” Well, for Kansas it is more like 15 miles… Actually, there are only 13.2 miles of Route 66 that go through this state. But it is some of the best preserved stretches of the old road, and we [...]
Portfolio: Chicago Gangster Fun
Some quirky fun on the 1920s gangster theme in Chicago. Spent a day with the gang from The Untouchable Gangster Tour, followed by an evening at Tommy Gun’s Garage. It was a “blast,” and great fun was had by all. This portfolio contains a selection of imagery from the gangster prohibition-era themed attractions we visited [...]
Review: Tommy Gun’s Garage, Chicago
Tommy Gun’s Garage is a “Roaring 20’s”-themed dinner theatre venue that recreates the “speakeasy” atmosphere centered around a musical-comedy review.
It’s a brilliantly simple concept: the whole place is the “stage” and everyone is part of the show. From the moment you arrive outside, the experience begins as “Gloves,” the “gangster” at the door, demands the [...]
Review: The Untouchables Gangster Tour, Chicago
The Untouchable’s “Gangster Tour of Chicago” is a quirky 2-hour “live action” tour offering visitors an amusing take on the city’s Prohibition-era history and the gangsters that animated it. With costumed tour-guide-actors and a bit of cheesy comedy, the experience can be enjoyable — and you may even learn a thing or two…
This tour is [...]
Day 3: Chicago, having fun with history…
With only one day to visit Chicago, it would be impossible to really discover much or even get a “feel” for the character of the city (read more on planning one day visits). We decided not to try. We would explore a theme instead. Considering a multitude of choices, we settled on being a bit [...]
Click on the map to view images from the Great American Road Trip by State.