THE ARISTON CAFE

The Ariston Cafe located in Litchfield, IL, is the longest continously operated family restaraunt along Route 66. Established by Pete Adam, a Greek immigrant who arrived here in America in 1905 at the age of 15.

Hear the whole history of The Ariston Cafe by the founders son, Nick Adam. At 85 years old, Nick tells about how his father arrived here in America with no clear vision and worked in a wide variety of occupations from managing a Boston shoe shining parlor to working in a Colorado mine.

Even before considering the restaraunt business, Pete returned back home to Greece in 1919 to help fight the Greco-Turkish War. After the war, Pete returns back to America and his life would change forever when a complete stranger offers Pete $1000 to open up a Greek diner.

Highlights from the show include:

• The arrival of 15 year old Pete Adam to America

• Decision to return back to Greece to join the war effort

• Pete tries to make it again in America a second time

• The Candy Kitchen Days

• A total stranger gives Pete an ultimatum
• 1924 Ariston opens up
  • Past guest, Phil Gordon, recalls two Ariston locations
• Growing up at The Ariston
• The dream of law school
• Earliest memory of The Ariston
• Most popular dishes
• Life with Demi Adam
• Most memorable patrons at The Ariston
• Walking away from the Ariston
• Life after The Ariston (The Litchfield Route 66 Museum)
• is The Ariston important to Route 66?
• Local appreciation of The Ariston
• 100 years of advice to any Route 66 business owner
• 100th anniversary celebration of Ariston

The Cajon Pass is probably one of the most important sites along Route 66 in southern California. Long before Route 66. was established, the pass was an important route for early settlers, who often had to disassemble thier wagons to cross over the San Gabriel Mountains.

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks wtih local hsitorian, Mark Landis about the evolution of the pass from The Spanish Trail, The John Brown Toll Road, The Old Trails Highway, and eventually Route 66.

Even more impressive is the work of William Bristol, who in 1919 saw the potential of future motorist passing through the region after journeying across the Mojave Desert. Bristol was an entrepreneuar, poet, stone mason, and artesian who established Camp Cajon at the top of the pass, a place for weiry motorist to rest after making the treterous journey across the desert.

Highlights from the show include:

• Geographic location of Cajon Pass
• Cajon Pass Rou
  • Early footpath for Native Americans
  • Old Spanish Trail
  • John Brown Toll Road
  • Old Trails National Highway
  • Route 66

• Arrival of William Bristol into southern California
  • Citrus Farmer
  • Poet
  • 1919 Dedication of Camp Cajon
• Flood of 1938
• Relocation of Route 66
• Other monuments in Cajon Pass region
• Visiting Cajon Pass today
• Bristol re-invents himself

• Acorn Lodge
• Death of Bristol
• How will Bristol be remembered?
• The Popular Summit Inn Restaurant on Route 66

Thank you to Route 66 Podcast & Scholarship supporters, including

• Rob and Cheryl Cochran - Maryland
• Reed Coles - Nebraska
• Jim Crabtree – California
• Todd Farrell - Nebraska
• Rich Havlik – Minnesota
• Mary Nicholson – Pennsylvania
• Mark Wilson - Texas

And from the United Kingdom

• Charli Beeton

BUSINESS LEVEL SPONSORS

MidPoint Cafe, Adrian, TX – Featuring both their Ugly Crust Pie and one of the most popular photo ops along Route 66, located exactly halfway between Chicago and Santa Monica in Adrian, Texas.

ROUTE 66 TOURS

Route 66 Tours led by Route 66 Podcast host, Anthony Arno

Please consider supporting both The Route 66 Podcast and Scholarship Program through Patreon.

Meet our 2024 Route 66 Scholarship Recipient, Emma Wheeler

Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno, as he talks with Joseph Baxter , a dedicated preservationist and volunteer at the Round Barn. It's the only Round Barn along Route 66, but even more impressive is the history of the barn and its builder, William Oder.

• Early history of Round Barns
• Needed skill and architectural knowledge for construction

• The genius of William Oder and his Round Barn
• Last minute construction revision to make Round Barn a focal point for area social dances

• Frank Vrana years and eventual deterioration of barn
• Vrana family donation of the Round Barn
• Luke Robinson and the Over-the-Hill Gang
• Round Barn reopens (1992)
• Planning your visit to the Round Barn
• Other area attractions

Join Route 66 Podcast host, Anthony Arno, as he talks with Emma Wheeler, the latest winner of a $1000 Route 66 College Scholarship Award.

Emma is currenlty a sophmore at Maryville University, studying secondard education.

Highlights from the show include:

• Hometown: Augusta and Washington, Missouri
  • Corn Pipe Capitol of the World
  • Notable residents - Jack Wagner
  • Closest point to Route 66 (Cuba, MO)
• Earliest memory of Route 66 and Pixar's Cars
• Nearby Route 66 sites
• Awareness of Route 66 among friends
• Family interest in classic cars
• Washington Town & Country Fair
• High School Highlights
• Personal Hobbies
• Maryville University and Career Goals
• Video Submission
  • Video Format
  • Video segments

2022 Route 66 Scholarship Program Episode

2020 Route 66 Scholarship Program Episode

Phil Gordon has a unique hobby related to Route 66. As an engineer, he’s very careful not to let even his closest acquaintances know that he is passionate about collecting historic Route 66 matchcovers. With a collection beyond 5000 matchcovers, Phil has painstakingly scanned and uploaded his collection online to share with the world and Route 66 fans.

Join The Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks with Phil about one of the most unusual hobbies as a phillumenist. Highlights include:

• Matchbook versus matchcover Collecting

• Does the absence of matches in a matchcover collection diminish the value?

• Earliest history of matches and matchbook advertising

• Most popular configurations of matchbooks

• Philuminist by definition

• Transition from collecting postcards to match covers

• The original 10 matchcovers in Phil's collection

• The most coveted Route 66 matchcover: Peach Springs Garage

• What do people think of someone who has collected over 5,000 matchcovers?

• Developing an organized system for collecting and cataloging Route 66 matchcovers

  • Motels and lodgings

  • Cafes and restaurants

  • Gas stations

  • Trading Posts

• Full length matchcovers designs

• Background knowledge needed for collecting matchcovers

• Ebay scammers selling matchcovers

• Current demand for matchbooks

• Rear striker versus front striker matchbooks design changes (1973)

• Back striker safety versus rear striker

• Discovering unknown Route 66 history through match cover collecting

• The ultimate Route 66 matchcover that Phil has spent 20+ years searching for

  • Scherer's (estimated value $50)

• The holy grail of matccovers outside of Route 66: Charles Lindbergh (estimated value several thousand)

• The very first advertising: hand written matcbook covers

• First commercial matchbook ever printed

• Initial interest in posting matchovers online: Whiting brothers

• Sharing matchcovers online with the whole world

• Step by step process for uploading matchcovers

• Popularity of matchbooks today with the decline of smoking

• National organization of matchcover collectors

The Route 66 Matchcover Collector - Search wide variety of Route 66 establishments for matchcovers

Phil’s Route 66 Website: Personal website containing both postcards and matchcovers

The Route 66 Podcast pays a special tribute to Ramona Lehman, who passed away on August 2, 2023, at the age of 85 years old.

This episode was originally released in 2021 as Ramona celebrated her 50th year operating the Munger Moss Motel. 

Join host Anthony Arno as he talks with Ramona about

• How does an Iowa farm girl wind up on Route 66?
• Honeymooning along Route 66
• Early history of The Munger Moss Motel
• Origin of the Munger Moss Name
• Remembering her late husband, Bob Lehman
• Helping businesses along Route 66 get established
• The early days when Ramona arrived at The Munger Moss
• Discovering garages that were once part of the motel
• Ramona’s room recommendation at The Munger Moss
• Long term residents at The Munger Moss
• The Munger Moss: To sell or not to sell?
• Will the children carry on the Munger Moss tradition?
• The world famous Munger Moss Neon sign
• Celebrating 50 years at The Munger Moss
• Most memorable guests to walk through the door
• Meeting the original owner many years later – Emmitt Moss
• Maintaining the Munger Moss sign
• Constant flow of picture takers along Route 66
• Most popular Munger Moss items for sale in the lobby
• Bob Lehman’s prized toy collection
• The biggest challenge in 50 years at The Munger Moss
• The very first in-ground pool in Lebanon, Missouri arrives at The Munger Moss
• Ramona’s last vacation
• Preserving Route 66 for future generations
• Is Ramona as famous locally as she is with Route 66 travelers?
• Ramona’s Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren visiting at The Munger Moss
• Sales pitch for The Munger Moss 2021
• Next item on Ramona’s Bucket list
• A Ramona Lehman Revelation: Where hasn’t she been along Route 66?  (The answer WILL surprise you!)
• Long Live Route 66

The Rancho Cucamonga Service Station in California opened for business in 1915, eleven years before the birth of Route 66.  The station itself was established prior to the westward migration of travelers and automobiles, but did play an important role in supporting the citrus growers in the region with much needed fuel to support heaters throughout the orchids.

Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno, as he talks with Anthony Gonzales, President of the Inland Empire California (IECA) and how the local community worked together to restore the only period service station along Route 66 in California.

Highlights from. the show include:

• Origin of Rancho Cucamonga name

• Early history of Service Station before Route 66 and automobiles

• Architect John Klusman and other popular buildings in the area

• Building design

• The popularity of Ridgefield Oil Company to later become part of ARCO

• Origin of Ridgefield sign atop of service station

• From peak years to eventual demise

• How a billboard company (Lamar Advertising) agrees to support a Route 66 interest with just one condition

• IECA established to preserve the station

• How Anthony Gonzales became interested

• Unexpected surprises upon turning the key to an abandoned gas station

• Service station artifacts and future plans

• Impressive awards as a result of the restoration progress

• Annual Car Show

• Other area attractions along Route 66