Shellee Graham on Good Morning America

Jane Dippel and I were invited by "GMA" 2 weeks ahead of time to be on the show. This is May 1997. They called us from NYC and informed us about their road trip down Route 66. We "auditioned" by phone by answering questions about our interest in Rt. 66. They liked that the whole family had traveled Route 66 and that my son Trevor was born 6 pounds, 6 ounces!

At 4:30 AM (don't ask me why we had to be there an 2 hours before the show even started), we drove our '66 Corvair down to Ted Drewes Frozen Custard for the taping. My (then) husband, 4-year-old-son and my 2 Shar Pei dogs were all invited. We were unsure who would be on TV, would we get a speaking part, etc. It was cold and we were all eating frozen custard. I was very nervous and both my (ex)husband and I were interviewed. BUT the best part was that ABC showed about 9 of my photographs while I spoke about vintage neon signs and how the decaying ruins of a landmark may interest me the most. That was awesome; to say I have been interviewed on a well known national TV show and have my artwork shown was a big thrill.

Despite the light rain, there were several Route 66 enthusiasts on hand that day. Initially, more people were going to be interviewed, but were "bumped" from the show as the show progressed. My friend Jane was a bumpee.

Jane Dippel and I (Shellee G.) in our matching Route 66 shirts
we bought at the Big Texan in Amarillo -- Yeehah!

Jane is a wonderful example of a real "Ambassador of Route 66." Jane is very friendly and knows everyone up and down the route. She has been aboard member of the Route 66 Association of Missouri for seven years. Every year she travels the entire length of Route 66 by herself, or occasionally with a companion, in her little red car. She carries Rt. 66 maps and information in her trunk and hands them out to fellow travelers and interested parties. Jane is a riot to travel with and gets my vote for the person who has done the most for Missouri Route 66 and tourism.