Route 66 Dinner & Movie Series: The Grapes of Wrath

No American road is as iconic as Route 66. Starting in Chicago, Illinois, and snaking cross-country to Santa Monica, California, Route 66 originally consisted of 2,448 miles of highway, rich with neon-lit motels, quirky roadside attractions, and stretches of deserted landscape. With such a wealth of inspiration, it is no surprise that so many filmmakers have used Route 66 as a backdrop for their films.

Monday, September 29 The Grapes of Wrath will be featured. Based on John Steinbeck’s novel of the same name, this 1940 film tells the story of an Oklahoman family heading to California on Route 66. Taking place during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl period, the poverty-stricken Joad family leaves Oklahoma in search of a better life. Interestingly, Steinbeck was the person who first coined the term the “Mother Road” to describe Route 66, and many of its locations are prominently featured in this movie. The Grapes of Wrath is 129 minutes, rated PG and will be shown at 6 p.m. Library programs are free and open to the public; a meal will be provided.