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Page A14 • September 13, 2012 • Inland Empire Community Newspapers

Mt. Vernon Avenue's leg of Route 66 was turning point for many By Harvey M. Kahn Franklin Roosevelt era. Mitla en - town San Bernardino area. Over Blue Bland, Percy Mayfield, Low - Spector, John , , joyed the golden age of the vehi - the years, private groups have pro - ell Folsom, Lola Beltran and Lalo , and John Denver. he names of those who cle. moted Mt. Vernon Avenue's tie-in Guerrero, appeared at one time or once thrived on San The Rodriguez family owns to Route 66. another. We already know that "I played quite often in clubs on Bernardino's 15-mile Mitla. Vicente Montano opened it "Most of the Route 66 celebra - Sammy Davis, Jr. often frequented Mt. Vernon, so being inducted into stTretch of Route 66 and went on to in 1938 and after his death, his for - tion takes place downtown. There the area. the Route 66 Hall of Fame was tell the world about it are endless. mer wife married Salvador Ro - is nothing here. Three or four years like a cherry on a chocolate sun - The four mile Mt. Vernon Avenue driguez, whose family owns it to ago they tried but it didn't turn out It's interesting to chronicle Hal dae. I wear my Route 66 hats often leg of the Route 66 was once date. well," said Lucy Reyes, an em - Blaine's in reference to Route and with great pride.” bustling with after hour music The owners served meals to ployee at Mitla since 1951. "Mt. 66. Before he was inducted into halls, restaurants, and celebrities many traveler's on their way to Las Vernon was a very busy place until the Route 66 Rendezvous Cruisin' Blaine was also a behind the posing for locals. Bobby Troupe, Vegas or the mountains. Clark they built the freeway in the Hall of Fame in 2008, and earlier scenes in thrusting car and drag the man who wrote the song Gable and Carole Lombard, Rocky 1950's.Everything changed." into the Hall of strip music into . He “Route 66” often frequented the Marciano, and Errol Flynn were Reyes said Route 66 on Mt. Ver - Fame, Blaine said Route 66 played was 's drummer on Mt. Vernon Avenue Strip. His fu - periodically photographed on Mt. non had lively night clubs. The La an important part of his life. "I hits like “Dead Man's Curve,” ture wife, Joan London, lived with Vernon by the late Nick Kozloff. Cabana Club was attached to Mitla traveled Route 66 as a youngster, “Drag City,” and “Little Old Lady her parents as a young girl near None of Kozloff's priceless pho - because it was closed. Reyes first coming to San Bernardino From Pasadena.” He was hired by Route 66. tos have been located, and except named the Carte Blanca Club, the from the East Coast in the early Dennis Wilson to play on many Perhaps the last landmark stand - for the pictures on the walls at Pancho Villa, La Mambo and the 40's, and then on the road with var - Beach Boys hits including “Fun, ing to the glory days of Route 66 Mitla, there is little in the way that El Molino Rojo. ious traveling groups doing com - Fun, Fun.” It is Blaine's drum is Mitla Cafe, which celebrated its celebrates Mt. Vernon being the Of course, musicians played an edy and singing. I drove Route 66 work on “Ventura Highway” by 75th Anniversary on Sept. 8th, actual site of Route 66. According important part of Route 66's popu - on several occasions, crossing the America. He produced and co- meaning it opened during the to last reports, most of the Route larity. Troupe's “Route 66” was country with many fond memo - wrote his own 1963 album, 66 festivities occur in the down - recorded first by the Nat King ries.” Deuces, "T's," Roadsters & Cole Trio in 1946, then Bing Drums. Crosby, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Along with his induction into the AMR to teach life saving Lewis, Aerosmith, and John Route 66 Hall of Fame, Blaine has "I had the pleasure of playing Mayer. played been voted into many other HOF's ‘Route 66’ with Bobby Troupe on skills to public free of charge Route 66 at the Swing Auditorium and music and arts societies. He many occasions and often with in 1965. Local singers Al Wilson, says the Route 66 honor was the San Bernardino's own Julie Lon - n partnership with the Stater Bros. Route 66 Rendezvous Car Billy Larkin, Willie Hooks, and most significant because San don," said Blaine, who was pre - Show, American Medical Response will be providing life-saving Vicki Young performed in clubs Bernardino is where he started. He sented into the Route 66 Hall of “hands-only” CPR instruction to car show patrons each day at the on Mt. Vernon. lived in Waterman Gardens. Went Fame by Stater Bros.Markets CEO AIMR Booth. to SBHS. Worked at Baker's be - Jack Brown and by San “Hands-only CPR is something we can all do to make a difference. It International artists like Bobby fore he became employed by Phil Bernardino Mayor Patrick Morris. is simple, effective and proven to help save lives. Give us 2 minutes of your time, and we will teach you to help save a life!” says Robert Coster, Account Executive at American Medical Response in San Bernardino County. AMR’s goal is to encourage the entire county to rally around a very worthwhile endeavor: Saving a Life.

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