Sunday, January 30, 2011

Take a Word - Vintage

I grew up near a sleepy little town in Illinois called Pontiac.  It's only claim to fame is that it sits beside the famed Route 66.   From the 1930's to the 1980's, before it was replaced by interstate highways, Route 66 was a heavily-traveled highway from Chicago to Los Angeles.  Along the way, there were quaint little Mom and Pop motels, and it wound its way through small towns that were the fabric of America.   Many a young man in the midwest, like the one above, dreamed of having his own car, and driving all the way to the Pacific ocean!  It seemed a world away in those days.   Portions of old Route 66 are still in use, and called Scenic Byways.   A portion of it still runs by Pontiac, and a couple of years ago a traveling group of muralists painted murals on a few of the downtown buildings.   One of those murals is a part of the collage above.   Thanks for sharing this bit of nostalgia!   If you'd like to see more of the murals, you can find them here:
http://visitpontiac.org/webpages/index.php?art=401

29 comments:

  1. Apparently we are both on a nostalgic car thing ths week. I love road trips around the US. And the best day of my life was getting my drivers license...seriously! Love your collage.

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  2. Bev, I loved reading your story of Route 66 and its history. Even on the other side of the world people of my (ahem) vintage are familiar with old 66 from the TV series and the song. Do you know that I have never heard the full story about how a gal living in Pontiac Illinois ended up living in Indiana.
    I love your collage, especially the rather shy fellow with his jaunty hat and tie. Those murals must be something to see in full size and colour.
    Fantastic artwork and story as always!

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  3. Wow Bev- what a wonderful collage of Americana and nostalgia. When I was a kid I remember a TV show called Route 66 (I was pretty young but I think I had a crush on George Maharis- one of the stars). I also remember the theme song too. Things were simpler then weren't they. Thanks for this lovely stroll down memory lane!

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  4. Wow, what a fantastic collage, Bev! We have portions of Route 66 near Glen Carbon and Edwardsville, and I love reading stories about the history of the old road - so much history there. I love your choice of images and colors for this piece ~ it is brilliantly composed =)

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  5. Awesome! Love it! You constantly bring back old memories. TFS, Bev.

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  6. wonderful!! this polka dotted bow is just tooooo cooool!!

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  7. I just love this collage, and your story. Of course we all watched Route 66 years ago. Thank you.xx

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  8. Art and a history lesson all rolled into one! Thanks Bev :)

    I thought Route 66 was still in 'proper' use. Shows how much us Limeys know about you Yanks! Thanks for the education.

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  9. Love your fantastic collage.
    De plus il évoque pour moi l'imagerie typiquement américaine que j'adore.
    Bravo
    Pat

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  10. Love your handsome gent, Bev, and the bits of Americana are precious. What a lovely, memory-invoking piece.

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  11. What great color and details this has Bev...I love that bow tie...Great job!!

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  12. Bev, this is a fantastic vintage piece, one that took me down memory lane. I don't live near Route 66, but I traveled across the country on that famous road more than once. My dad took us to see the Pacific Ocean and lots of the trip took place on Route 66. Later on, my newly acquired husband and I headed west on Route 66 to begin our life together in California. One of the features of that route was the Burma Shave signs.

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  13. Dear Bev, I love so much your little piece of nostalgia that I dare to ask to tell us a little more in the upcoming posts. I love as well your collage and thanks for the tip about Pontiac Murals. I visited them here:http://pontiacmurals.com/

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  14. Your super dapper gent SHOULD succeed--your art certainly does!

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  15. A lovely nostalgic piece, Bev - it is so much nicer when a piece has a special meaning to it. Love the striking yellows!

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  16. Bev, your story is a treasure! I loved to read it and look at your collage and think about everything that happened along the Route 66. Your collage is a wonderful illustration for a piece of history.

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  17. I love your collage, it's so special with the story. I can not speak English very well, but I'll to translate the story later.

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  18. Bev I loved reading your story and if I ever do get to America for a visit I would love to visit what remains of Route 66 and what a gorgeous advertising poster this would make.

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  19. Bev, your trip down memory lane bought back memories of passing through Pontiac in 2004, whilst I was on a terachiong gig in the States... remember it well.
    Great piece and lovely story!
    Glenys

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  20. I think that word should be 'teaching'!! oops too many fingers in the way!

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  21. Such a great collage, love the dotted bow.

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  22. Fantastic collage creation. LOve design and all details.
    Hugs Anja

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  23. Oh wow Bev this is stunning. superb colour and design and great face
    also i just wanted to let you know i have a free shabby chic collage sheet for today only, please feel free to pop by and grab it while its there.
    have a lovely day
    hugs June x

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  24. I simply love your vintage collage, Bev! I've had the pleasure of traveling on Rte. 66 in Oklahoma while visiting my son and seeing that famous round barn. Lovely memory...thanks!

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  25. I like your collage very much and I loved it to read the memories about Route 66

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  26. Amazing collage and enjoyed reading your story. Lynne M

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