(Seligman) A Main Drag Town

Getting into the 50’s groove, I began to enjoy myself. Moving on we came across a lot of funky roadside attractions best discovered by chance, as the “Dead Chicken” place.

Who am I to take away the fun of exploring the highway, looking for the perfect 50’s burger?

I should also apologize that as the intent with this publication is to peek interest in actually visiting this historic backcountry byway, that I may have mixed a few scenes from Kingman, with Seligman, at the eastern end of the longest existing segment of Route 66.

Perhaps Kingman’s “not wanted” attitude is the clue to some understanding for the association the 50’s with Route 66 — besides a popular TV series. Better to be a “greaser” than an “Okie.” Perhaps. It still is discrimination, as we were told there weren't many street dances, as they get to rowdy.

My high school class of 1957 had a number of the true “rebel without a cause,” duck butt coffered hot-rodders. I didn't totally play the role with a pack of Luckies stuck into a rolled sleeve of a white (and advertising free) T-shirt, but I did drag Broadway in my baby blue ‘50 Ford convertible, and know firsthand how the upright citizens of my local burg felt about “my kind.” Kind of curious that (even though many of my classmates achieved spectacular success in life) the “destined for failure” kid, became a nostalgic icon for my “Happy Days” generation.

Today the “Happy Days” atmosphere is used to bring in dollars through malts delivered to your window (a plastic tray instead of metal) by a carhop at an authentic drive-in restaurant! Not a machine extruded hydrogenated lard milkshake, either. Am I complaining about that too? No way. I left a tip larger than the bill for a triple date in 1955, and a complement of thanks for bringing back a bit of my past through a sense of overlooked by the Disney World, and chain outlet, builders of the world —taste.

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