Product Details

• Format: Color, DTS Surround Sound, Full Screen, NTSC
• Number of tapes: 1
• VHS Release Date: December 5, 1998
• Run Time: 80 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 0967748100
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #405,794 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

From the Director

The idea for "Bones of the Old Road" came from an off-hand comment made by a producer/director of several Route 66-themed videos. He said that he wouldn't be doing any more 66 videos because there wasn't any more story left to tell. In a sense, he was correct. Many videos have been done that take viewers along the entire route. But what Jim Ross, Jerry McClanahan, and myself realized was that there were stretches of old 66 few people knew even existed and that Route 66 fans would enjoy learning about these unique, off the beaten path sections. And so our plans were made.

I first met Jim and Jerry while producing, directing and shooting my first Route 66 video in 1993. Entitled "Cruisin' Oklahoma 66," it was one of the first Mother Road videos to be released. As someone who has been involved in video and broadcast production since 1975, once I had the opportunity to study the history of Route 66 and understand the importance of Oklahoma and her people to the national story of this legendary road, it didn't take long for me to decide to put this story on tape.

As the three of us began work on Bones of the Old Road, the biggest challenge was in trying to explain the puzzle-solving process behind determining just where these lost old sections of road lay without confusing the audience. As a result, the use of on-screen maps as well as providing a separate companion map that viewers could actually consult was envisioned early on. The other major challenge lay in how to capture Jim and Jerry's adventures in a relatively short period of time. This project had to be sandwiched in-between other individual projects we all had, so shooting at each location was usually accomplished in just one or two days. The title, incidentally, comes from a series of articles that Jerry had written about some of these little known stretches of Route 66.

My commitment to Route 66 remains strong. I am secretary of the all-volunteer Oklahoma Route 66 Association. I also update the Association's 100+ page "Trip Guide" each year to make sure the maps and sightseeing information are the most accurate available.

Route 66 is fascinating, visually exciting, and lots of fun. I hope you enjoy the five adventures we present and then take the initiative to do your own explorations.

Product Description

At last, a Route 66 video that is different! Join highway historians Jim Ross and Jerry McClanahan (creators of the acclaimed Route 66 Map Series) as they strike out in search of the Mother Road's forgotten pathways in "Bones of the Old Road".

From the tangle of alignments at Arlington, Missouri, to a wild and jolting ride up New Mexico's La Bajada Hill, this is the trip you have waited to take. Flavored with plenty of history, "Bones of the Old Road" ventures into territory previously untouched by filmmakers, resulting in a Route 66 adventure that will leave you eager to hit the road. Special companion maps are included.

"This video adventure on stretches of vintage Mother Road is essential for all those wayfarers who shun the predictable in favor of the road less traveled. Buy it, watch it, and then go do it," says Michael Wallis, Pulitzer Prize nominated author of "Route 66, The Mother Road."

According to David Knudson, Executive Director of the National Historic Route 66 Federation, "Ross, McClanahan, and Anderson open up a hidden world of '66' that brings the past alive with a wonderful combination of information, humor, and breath-taking cinematography. Takes you where few have ever gone."

Recognized as authorities on America's legendary highway, author Jim Ross and artist Jerry McClanahan have each had extensive experience researching, mapping and writing about Route 66. Both are widely published.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The GRANDMother Road, November 8, 2000

By 

raisyn (TN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: U.S. 66: Bones of the Old Road [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This video allowed me to see areas of the Mother Road that I will probably never visit in person. I have several other Route 66 videos and the places covered here are on none of them. It is truly for the SERIOUS deciple. The only problem I have is with the production quality. It looks like it was taken with MY video camera. It has the "feel" of home movies, which may appeal to some, but to my personal preferences it does not. It could have been edited a little "tighter". 2-3 minutes of driving down a dirt road bouncing around in a back seat gets old very quickly. The 5 minutes of "bloopers" at the end could have been replaced by more feature footage. But don't let my nit-picking above stop you from buying this video. I only mention them to explain my reason for withholding the 5th star in my rating. It will take you to the earliest alignments of Route 66 and their condition as of 1998.

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT ROUTE 66 VIDEO - "Bones of the Old Road", September 12, 2003

By 

Shellee Graham "coral court gal" (St. Louis, Missouri, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: U.S. 66: Bones of the Old Road [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This is a terrific video about 5 hidden treasures of Route 66. Jim and Jerry (well-known 66ers) take a fun and colorful look at five of the Mother Road's forgotten pathways. The video was shot on location and is flavored with plenty of road scenes, history, period photos. My favorite part: the out-takes at the end of the show. hehe. It is too funny. Besides great cinematography (by Kathy Anderson), you'll enjoy interesting Rt. 66 information that you won't find anywhere else. You'll love it.

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fresh View of Route 66, January 28, 2000

By 

Pat Bremer (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: U.S. 66: Bones of the Old Road [VHS] (VHS Tape)

While there are numerous videos on the market that tell the story of old Route 66, Jim & Jerry tell us the story of old, OLD Route 66.....sections of this beloved highway that time forgot even before the "official" demise of Route 66. This video solidifies their position as the two leading authorities of Route 66 history. I watched the video and went out to hunt some of these places myself. A great buy for any serious road warrior!