Route 66 - Season 1, Vol. 1 (1960)

take me back

Just to start off,let me say,that this first addition was so good,and entertaining,that i'm buying the 2nd. edition vol. 2.

To see Todd,and Buzz again brought back so many memories of my youth,I thought I was really back in the 60's,or at least I wanted to be.

The acting, presentation,and story material are so good,that nothing in todays media even comes close.

A definate must see. I just hope ,that we can get all the years of this series?

May 22, 2008

Very Poor Video Transfer of a Landmark Series

I am old enough to have totally watched and LOVED the original broadcasts of this wonderful series. I have this product one star based on the excrable quality of the transfer. The original was in beautiful b&w and rather well photographed, which you would never know from watching this DVD set.

I've noticed some young reviewers panning the series, indicating a lack of interest in the stories. I have to say that in it's day, "Route 66" was indeed cutting edge drama. Also, it embraced and exemplified the zeitgeist of the early 60s in very many ways. It was a time of "busting out" of the old ways of the 50s and 40s; it was the New Frontier. It was a time of the "Beats" and following your dharma. Tod and Buz were looking for life's meaning, for connectedness to others. The were knights of the road; passionate, sensitive men who, ironically, were always referred to as "boys", which was a convention of the time.

Another aspect is that all the stories were shot on location with local extras and the show serves as a series snapshots of specific times and places.

The various "guest stars" were either actors who had been famous or were to become famous, and, happily, their performances are archived here. Others, such as Lois Nettleton, were wonderful tv actors of the time who did memorable things with these interesting roles and characters.

I loved the series because it attempted to reveal people's feelings and, often, their anguish in dealing with life situations. Every week "the boys" encountered, in some Zen sort of way, someone with a major life (or death) problem, some crisis and as a young adolescent each show gave me something to ponder all week until the next episode. Can anyone really say that about anything (besides "The Sopranos") on tv these days?

When I was a child I watched "Route 66" with the eyes and mind of a child of those relatively innocent times. Now, in later middle age, I see more of the sometime acting excesses and over-the-top speeches but I also see a series made with integrity and honesty that attempted to portray a time, a place and a philosophy that still resonates with me today. I can relate even more with these (fictional) people at a crossroad in their lives; these people speak to me through and beyond the sometimes melodramatic trappings of the show.

I'm sorry whoever did the tape to digital transfer didn't value the artistry of the show more and do it the justice of a careful transfer.

(P.S. Many, many years after "Route 66" ceased production I drove across the country (although on I-80) in a Miata (alas, not a vintage Corvette) with the top down every inch of 3K miles and, yes, listened to Nelson Riddle. It was my homage. It made me very happy.) May 14, 2008

Forget HD and Digital TV - Go With the Oldies!

As a kid this series took me all over the United States to places I had never seen. It was amazing -- and what a car!

As the deadline approaches for digital TV we have been rethinking how much we want our television to be a part (more likely an intrusion) of our lives. Growing up in the 50's and 60's the television had doors on it so it looked like a piece of furniture until your favorite weekly show like Route 66 was on, then everyone gathered around the TV as a family to watch some serious entertainment. In those days TV was not the idiot box that it is today. This DVD and series is an example of the quality that was delivered into your home once a week by excellent writers, producers and actors. Perhaps it is time that all of us purchase classics and forget about the digital garbage that is recycled daily on the networks and cable systems.

When you purchase this DVD set, consider watching it as it was intended: One show per week over a several week period. Consider the message in each show. This series was completed during a time when television really did have a message and could be considered a quality art form.

I don't want to provide any spoilers, but this DVD is a bargain and I hope all seasons are eventually released by the production company. May 4, 2008

Route 66, Season 1

It was great and just what I asked for. Keep in mind that some of the episodes are not on Route 66...but the story lines are still great. You must be appreciative of black & white TV to really enjoy this. April 25, 2008

The show was always 5 stars, but the DVD production...

It's hard to write a review for this because the show has always been a 5 star show. The production values of the DVDs...not so much. Since for me it's a given the show is wonderful this review is, like so many others here, going to rant about the physical quality of the DVDs. Though the picture is clear and crisp the sound is appalling. I'm hesitant to do a full blown screaming rant because I don't know what sort of quality tapes the company were working with. The sound is so muffled that I have to wonder if they spent any time at all with a competent sound person cleaning it up. Because of this lack of concern for the buyer I doubt I'll ever buy the second part of season 1 since I've read what they did to the physical framing of the picture with faux letterboxing. This production company hasn't quite learned how to get it right. So the show gets 5 stars ***** but this production gets only three. I only hope that some tv channel once again shows the full series. March 28, 2008

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