Route 66 (1960)
A landmark CBS road drama following two restless young men navigating America's open highway, one unforgettable encounter at a time.
Route 66 - Series Information
- Original Title: Route 66
- First Air Year: 1960
- Last Air Year: 1964
- Created by: Stirling Silliphant, Herbert B. Leonard
- Type: TV Series
- Genres: Drama, Crime, Action, Adventure, Mystery
- Content Rating (US): TV-Y7
- Episode Runtime: Average runtime per episode (60 minutes)
- Number of Seasons: 4
- Number of Episodes: 116
- Status: Ended
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- First Air Date: October 7, 1960 (United States - TV-PG), October 7, 1960 (Canada - PG), October 7, 1960 (Germany - 12), October 7, 1960 (France - 12), October 7, 1960 (Spain - 13)
- Networks: CBS
- Production Companies: Screen Gems Television, Lancer-Edling Productions, Lancer Productions Limited
- Production Countries: United States of America
Route 66 - Plot
After discovering that his late father has gone through most of the family fortune, Tod Stiles hits the title trans-America highway in his Corvette in search of adventure with friend Buz Murdock, a survivor of New York's mean streets. The two work odd jobs as they meet and interact with colorful characters and find themselves plunged into one situation after another, some of them romantic, some of them very dangerous. Later, Linc Case, a Vietnam war hero trying to find himself, takes over as Tod's travel companion.
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Route 66 - Cast & Crew
Creator(s)
- Stirling Silliphant
- Herbert B. Leonard
Main Cast
- Martin Milner
- George Maharis
- Glenn Corbett
- Ed Asner
- Alex Cord
- Bert Remsen
- Lois Smith
- Nina Foch
- Frank Overton
- Fred Stromsoe
Writers
- Stirling Silliphant
- Howard Rodman
- Leonard Freeman
- Shimon Wincelberg
- Joseph Petracca
Route 66 - FAQs
Where can you stream Route 66 online?
Route 66 is available to stream on Amazon Prime Video, Amazon Prime Video with Ads, Tubi TV, The Roku Channel, Shout! Factory TV, and Hoopla at no extra cost. It can also be purchased through Amazon Video and Google Play Movies for digital ownership.
What is Route 66 about?
Route 66 follows Tod Stiles and Buz Murdock, two young men traveling America's iconic highway in a Corvette. They take on odd jobs and encounter a vivid cast of characters, facing romantic entanglements and dangerous situations. Later, Vietnam veteran Linc Case joins Tod as a new travel companion.
Was Route 66 actually filmed on Route 66?
Yes, Route 66 was notably filmed on location across the United States rather than on studio backlots. The production traveled to real towns, cities, and landscapes throughout America, giving the series an authentic documentary-like quality that distinguished it from most television dramas of the era.
Who are the main actors in Route 66?
The series stars Martin Milner as Tod Stiles and George Maharis as Buz Murdock for most of its run. Glenn Corbett later joined as Linc Case. The show also featured notable guest appearances and supporting roles from Ed Asner, Alex Cord, Nina Foch, Lois Smith, and Frank Overton.
How many seasons and episodes does Route 66 have?
Route 66 ran for four seasons on CBS, comprising 116 episodes in total. Season 1 contained 30 episodes, Season 2 had 32, Season 3 featured 31, and Season 4 concluded the series with 23 episodes. The show aired from October 1960 through March 1964.
Why did George Maharis leave Route 66?
George Maharis departed Route 66 during Season 3, primarily due to health issues, including a bout of hepatitis that forced him to miss significant filming time. His character Buz Murdock was written out of the series, and Glenn Corbett was introduced as Linc Case to fill the co-lead role alongside Martin Milner.
When did Route 66 first air on television?
Route 66 premiered on CBS on October 7, 1960. The series ran for four seasons, concluding in 1964. It aired on Friday nights and became one of the defining dramatic series of early 1960s American television, celebrated for its on-location filming and literary-quality scripts.
Who created and wrote Route 66?
Route 66 was created by Stirling Silliphant and Herbert B. Leonard. Silliphant, who later won an Academy Award for In the Heat of the Night, wrote the majority of the episodes himself. Other notable contributors to the writing staff included Howard Rodman, Leonard Freeman, and Sam Peckinpah.
More About Route 66
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