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Shuts and Failures

by Michael Maiello

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Orlando Motel: Get Your Kicks

by Articleman 8/12/2009 - 9:02 pm   |

The saying is that a picture is worth a thousand words.  Or Rod Stewart says that every picture tells a story.  Well, now it can be told:  This Orlando Motel is located on old Route 66 in northern Arizona, on the segment that runs north of Interstate 40 between Seligman and Kingman.  I'm doing a photo project about old Route 66, and while driving this segment a few weeks ago, saw this particular ruin while driving out of a small town.  I couldn't pass up the chance to take this seedy motel (even seedy kind of understates it) and send the result to O, which I have since done.

As is usually the case, the pictures I think about least, or which I notice in passing out of the corner of my eye while thinking in too linear a fashion about what's in front of me, I like the most.  While most of the rest of this roll didn't make me that happy, I have enlarged this one to 15x20.  And it enlarged as well as a shot from a tripod despite being a handheld, much to my surprise.

When I'm back from my little break, I'll upload the ruined diner in Winslow, which has a different, 40s feel.  Orlando?  She evinces a little more hip, 60s retro feel, as you can see.  Whether or not you stay at the mysterious Orlando Motel, you can definitely get your kicks on Route 66.  Or pics.  Or something like that.

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I love this picture, although it also saddens me deeply.  My grandparents (Jim and Mary Orlando) built this motel by hand back in the early 60s.  I spent my childhood summers running and playing in the dirt parking lot with my sisters and with the children whose families were staying at the hotel.  Due to US40 opening, my grandparents sold the motel and moved back to Michigan (where they were from originally).  I have such great and amazing memories of the summers I spent in AZ with my grandparents. 

by Ann (not verified) 10/24/2010 - 12:43 pm

Sorry it saddened you!  Thanks so much for writing.  I have others in color that I enjoyed taking.  The Motel is very beautiful to me, I hope seeing the pic gives you some positive memory to enjoy too.  If you want a color print, please mail me through the site's "contact" feature and I'll make you a print and mail it to you.  Thanks so much for coming by.  Route 66 is beautiful, but the passing of that past time is sad, sorry if my post brought it back to you in that way.

by Articleman 10/24/2010 - 12:56 pm (re: Ann)

Maybe my relative worked here, his name was Elmer Ferenczy. Your grandparents may know him.

by Tom (not verified) 3/21/2011 - 10:14 am (re: Ann)

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