125th Anniversary: Route 66 Celebration with Live Music at the Library

On Friday, March 1 at 7 p.m. a celebration of Route 66 will be presented at the South Pasadena Public Library featuring authors Jim Gallo and Dan Rice, as well as Cottage Industry, a local band. The free program, presented by the South Pasadena Public Library, the Friends of the South Pasadena Public Library, is part of South Pasadena’s 125th Anniversary Celebration. The City’s actual birthday is onMarch 2nd and other events are being held around that time in the
Library and elsewhere around town.

Dubbed “The Mother Road” and “America’s Main Street,” U.S. Highway 66 was originally established in 1926 as the first road to California that was open year-round. From its inception, Route 66 ran right through the middle of South Pasadena, down Fair Oaks Avenue to Huntington Drive, then to downtown Los Angeles. Ten years later, the highway went all the way to Santa Monica where it concluded its 350 mile California stretch near the Pacific Ocean. From Route 66’s starting point in Chicago it also ran through St, Louis, Tulsa, Santa Fe and near the Grand Canyon. From South Pasadena’s earliest days Fair Oaks Avenue has been its major transportation artery.

Jim Gallo who graduated from South Pasadena High School in 1958, has written a novel called “How Plans Can Change: Pasadena to Brooklyn Via Route 66” which was published in 2012. Dan Rice is the Past President of the California Historic Route 66 Association and the author of “End of the Trail.” The vivid narrative is told from the vantage point of Route 66, intertwining Dan’s horrific car accident, in which he became the victim of Traumatic Brain Injury, to his journey to recovery aided by his lifelong passion for the Mother Road which, by the way, has also struggled to survive. “End of the Trail recounts Dan’s challenges and ultimate triumph. It’s a thrilling story of healing and redemption.

The program will open with a live set of car and road songs performed by Cottage Industry, a four-piece band featuring three South Pasadenans. For this special appearance they will be playing “Route 66,” “Mercury Blues,” Hit the Road, Jack,” “Take It Easy” and severalothers, The free, fun event for all ages will be presented in the Library Community Room at 1115 El Centro Street (doors open at 6:30 p.m.).  No tickets or reservations are necessary. Refreshments will be provided by the Friends and the Woman’s Club. The Community Room is located at 1115 El Centro Street. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and no tickets or reservations are necessary. Special thanks to Glen Duncan, the California Route 66 Preservation Foundation, the California Historic Route 66 Association, and  Scott Gandell/South Pasadena Mercantile.