Route 66 Centennial: New Documentary Traces Highway's Cultural Resilience
Director John Paget returns to the historic route to document local businesses and individuals preserving authentic communities three decades after his first film.
By Peter Graham ·
Filmmaker John Paget is currently touring the country to screen "Route 66: The Main Street of America," a new documentary released in conjunction with the historic highway's 100th anniversary. The project serves as a sequel to his 1994 film, "Route 66: An American Odyssey," which was shot using a camera mounted on the hood of a 1969 white Cadillac convertible. That earlier work focused on the economic devastation caused by interstate freeways, which reduced traffic in small downtowns from 1,000 cars per hour to near zero.
Three decades later, Paget sought to determine what happened to the towns that survived the interstate era. He observed that many small businesses, including gas stations and motels, had been run by independent proprietors who fought to remain viable. The new film examines how these locations have evolved and argues that the route remains a counterpoint to the homogenization of the American landscape by large corporate chains.
The documentary features specific examples of local preservation and innovation. In Luther, Oklahoma, a family is restoring one of the state's earliest Black-owned gas stations. In Bourbon, Kentucky, a couple began producing bourbon after realizing no one in their town was making the spirit. Other featured subjects include deep-sea diver explorers in a desert oasis and a sake brewer in Holbrook, Arizona. The brewer, originally from Japan, won an award for the best sake made outside of Japan in a major competition in Tokyo.
Paget highlights the culinary heritage of the route, specifically the fried onion burger invented in El Reno, Oklahoma, during the Great Depression. To stretch scarce meat, chefs Ross Davis and his father added clumps of onion to hamburger patties. The tradition continues today under Adam Hall of Sid's Diner, a third-generation owner. Paget stated that the burger remains the best he has ever eaten and that he and his wife frequently search for real estate in El Reno to be closer to the food.
The film also explores generational shifts in how younger Americans view work and community. Paget noted that while taking over a family business once carried a negative stigma, it is now seen as a path to authenticity in a digital world. He cited a couple who left corporate tech jobs to buy the Blue Swallow Motel in Tucumcari, New Mexico. They now manage the property, repair vintage neon signs, and welcome guests, finding satisfaction in the tangible work.
Paget said many of the individuals in the film took financial risks to save historic sites that banks would not finance and that others considered lost causes. These entrepreneurs often poured their own money into revitalization projects. He described the resulting locations as celebrated places that frequently become financially successful, though Paget emphasized that profit was rarely the primary motivation. The filmmakers met many people who viewed the preservation of these sites as a connection to history and ancestors.
During screenings, Paget has observed strong emotional reactions from audiences, including viewers moved to tears by the featured stories. He said the film aims to restore faith in the country by showcasing common ground and tangible connections. The tour continues as Paget shares the stories of those who maintained the unique character of the route against the tide of corporate development.
