Route 66

Route 66 is a captivating American television drama series that aired on CBS from 1960 until 1964. This enduring classic was created by Herbert B. Leonard and Stirling Silliphant and featured actors Martin Milner, George Maharis, Glenn Corbett, and Jean Muir.

The narrative structure of Route 66 is unique compared to typical television shows of its era. Instead of a fixed setting with recurring characters, this series is distinguished by being filmed and set on location in various places across the United States. This inventive format allows the series to explore the rich tapestry of the American geographic, social, and cultural landscape. The title refers to U.S. Route 66, a historic highway running from Chicago to Los Angeles, serving as a symbol for travel, freedom, and the pursuit of the American Dream.

The story revolves around the lives and adventures of two young men: Tod Stiles, played by Martin Milner, and Buz Murdock, played by George Maharis, who later in the series is replaced by Lincoln Case, played by Glenn Corbett. Inheriting a shiny Chevrolet Corvette convertible but little money from his deceased father, Tod convinces Buz, a boyhood friend and former employee of his father's, to join him on a cross-country drive. In each episode, these men endeavor to maintain their own moral compasses amid an ever-changing panorama of locations and characters.

Tod is often portrayed as more cultured and refined, having benefited from his father's albeit fleeting wealth, whereas Buz, who grew up in "Hell's Kitchen" and worked on the docks, is street-wise and tough with a soft heart. Lincoln Case, a Vietnam War veteran who joins Tod after Buz departs, comes with his own set of personal dilemmas and trauma.

What sets Route 66 apart is not just its constantly changing milieu, but its deep character-driven narratives. Essentially a series of self-contained short stories, the show regularly injects elements of drama, romance, action, and even the supernatural into its episodes. It presents an interesting mix of guest stars whose characters wrestle with moral dilemmas and personal crises that Tod and Buz or Linc help them to resolve.

Beyond the drama and the thrilling escapades are the strikingly evocative monologues penned by Silliphant, which are themselves reflections on life's oddities, adventures, and quandaries. These philosophical musings interspersed throughout the series give Route 66 its signature emotional depth and thought-provoking context, making it much more than merely a television show.

The series also benefits from its purposely atmospheric cinematography, echoing the thematic and touchingly human stories played out in each episode. Its frequent utilization of real, often stark locations across the country lends an air of authenticity and resonance to the storylines, ensuring that the landscapes become characters in their own right.

In addition, the show is further bolstered by its stirring and hauntingly melancholic theme tune composed by Nelson Riddle. It's a piece of music that beautifully encapsulates the sense of the open road and the promise of new sights and experiences.

Route 66 is far more than a standard episodic drama; it's a poignant and evocative exploration of the human spirit tested in the crucible of changing landscapes and new faces. It paints a broad moving portrait of life on the open road and the challenges and rewards of freedom, making it a timeless piece of television one can still enjoy after more than fifty years of its original broadcast.