1 October

Tulsa Oklahoma

In the early 1900's the Coleman brothers were drilling for water near the town of Miami Ok. A dark tinge in a drill core turned out to be Lead. Good timing lads! World War I pushed the price of lead sky high and the then elderly brothers became extremely wealthy! Not averse to the high life, the older brother and his wife hit the high spots in New York, Chicago and even Paris! It was the age of Vaudeville and silent movies, but their small home town of Miami was a long way from New York and Paris in more ways than distance.

Miami had no theatre and definitely none that could attract the biggest acts of the time. So. Money being no barrier, Mr Coleman built the fantastic Coleman Theatre in downtown Miami. Bing Crosby, Doris Day, Bob Hope and hundreds of others played there.

Completed in 1929, the theatre was essentially a Silent Movie venue. Bad timing this time. “Talkies' were coming and silent movie houses were sent into decline. By the '50s it was all over for the old theatre. It fell into decay and the quality art works with which the wealth of the Coleman's decorated their theatre were sold off or looted from the, by now derelict, theatre.

By the 1970s the city was preparing to level the building and turn the site into a carpark. At that point a group of local citizens stepped in and won the right to restore the old theatre. Today it is back to its original glory – and what a glory. All the style and class of the 20's and 30's have been faithfully restored using many original materials and items.

We were outside taking pics when the managers walked by, on their way to opening up. They asked if we'd like to look inside. Oh, yes!we said, little realising the treat in store. An hour or more later, we'd been taken right through the magnificent theatre, including one of the pipe rooms for the organ, on-stage and into the star's dressing room, regaled along the way with the tales of the restoration process.

A real Route 66 highlight!

29-30 September

Miami, Oklahoma

More back-street USA has taken our time over the last couple of days. Driving through three states, we have seen little change in the landscape of rolling hills and meadows studded with cows. The corn that lined the road through Illinois has all but disappeared. We keep to country roads, way off the Interstates.

Small towns have become even sadder. Many small mining towns in this area are actual ghost towns. A Post Office, a few Lawyers offices, the odd antique shop and that is often it in a main street that was once lined with thriving businesses. The curse of the Interstates! About all that keeps some of them alive is the popularity of Route 66. In some towns, like Galena, Kansas, an old restored Gas Station – and gift shop – is all there is.

This is the first time we have travelled in the US (or Europe for that matter) in the late summer – fall. It is great to wander about in T-shirts and shorts (and thongs!). The trees are green, rather than sticks. And the sun has real heat in it.