Michael and Karen Villalpando, publishers. (photo by Rebecca Villalpando)

Welcome to the 80th anniversary issue of the Park Labrea News and Beverly Press! We celebrate this milestone with pride as the publishers of this local beacon. And concurrently, we celebrate 100 years of the Mother Road – Route 66. Journey with us as we cruise down memory lane, visit rural towns in the Midwest along the route, and discover amazing people and places along the way.

Former editor Brian Boyé strolls through our humble beginnings and where the road has since taken him. It seems as much as things change, they stay connected, and so do we.

Chris Erskine lands at the end of Route 66 – the Santa Monica Pier, where he bumps into local folks spending their day riding the Ferris Wheel or the carousel and fishing off the rustic planks.

We interview a Route 66 historian, Michael Wallis, who quite literally guides readers from Chicago to L.A. It just may inspire you to hop in the car and head east.

Take a magical mystical tour with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson as he ponders a Route 66 in space, and other cosmic adventures. deGrasse Tyson pushes interstellar space boundaries and opens the “spacecraft door” to endless possibilities.

Part of every road trip is stopping at drive-ins and diners to taste the local fare. Along Route 66 in Los Angeles – or just adjacent, hungry drivers will find delis like Canter’s, Langer’s and Nate ‘N Al’s, classic diners like Du-par’s and Norms, and of course Pink’s hot dogs and Tommy’s burgers. Interviews with chefs Nancy Silverton and Wolfgang Puck give a peek under the cloche of their culinary inspirations. Dig into this section and plan a day trip eating your way through L.A.

Get your kicks on Route 66 by reading about the origins of the snappy tune. Another all-time favorite “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” finds its origins right here at Park Labrea, written by resident Albert Von Tilzer. Prolific songwriter Jimmy Webb fittingly wrote “The Highwayman,” which became globally famous when Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofferson, known as “The Highwaymen,” recorded it.

Explore Route 66 on film through Tim Posada’s lens. “The Grapes of Wrath,” “Easy Rider,” “Rain Man,” and “Cars” memorialize the journey across the country, embedding images in our collective memories.

Speaking of cars, the curators at the Petersen Museum steer readers through the collection of classic automobiles and how cars became such an integral part of American life. From the Model T to the ’57 Chevy and ’66 Thunderbird, the automobile made travel accessible to everyone.

Perhaps the earliest inhabitants near Route 66 in Los Angeles were saber-toothed cats, Columbian mammoths or even tiny toads. A new species was recently discovered at the La Brea Tar Pits by scientist Dr. J. Alberto Cruz. He and curator Dr. Emily Lindsey explain the significance of the find and its relationship to climate change. A fascinating read.

We hope you enjoy the 80th anniversary issue of the Park Labrea News and Beverly Press. Learn a little about the newspapers’ history, venture on unknown paths, and dive into a favorite diner or drive-in. It’s a remarkable journey!