Six(ty-Six) Degrees of Separation

Back in the early 1960s, there was a TV show called Route 66. It starred Martin Milner and George Maharis. (Maharis later left the show and was replaced by Glenn Corbett.)

Milner and Maharis

But I'm not here to talk about the show itself.

I'm here to talk about its theme song.

Now, forty-five years after the series left the airwaves, there are people out there who think that the theme to Route 66, composed by the one and only Nelson Riddle, was instead the old standard "Route 66"... also known as "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66."

It's an easily-understood mistake, but a mistake nonetheless.

"(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66" has been performed by numerous artists... everyone from Nat "King" Cole to Chuck Berry to the Rolling Stones to... Well, the list goes on.

There's a little game I play, one where I connect the Route 66 theme to the other "Route 66," using the old "six degrees of separation" set-up.

Here 'tis:

1. As mentioned above, Route 66 starred Martin Milner and George Maharis.
2. Martin Milner went on to star with Kent McCord in Adam-12.
3. Adam-12 was produced by Jack Webb (of Dragnet fame).
4. Jack Webb also produced Emergency.
5. Emergency featured Bobby Troup in its supporting cast.
6. Bobby Troup was better known as a songwriter than an actor... and he had written "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66" in the 1940s!

Bobby Troup

And last but not least, both songs, for your enjoyment!

Thanks for your time.